Barry Adamson | Artist
Barry Adamson is an English pop and rock musician, composer, writer, photographer and filmmaker born 1958 in Manchester. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as the bassist for post-punk band Magazine and went on to work with bands Visage, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electro musicians Pan Sonic. After leaving the Bad Seeds in 1987, Adamson decided to follow the path of film composers like John Barry, Ennio Morricone and Bernard Herrmann, whose work had intrigued him since childhood. His first album, 1989's Moss Side Story blended post-punk, industrial, spy guitar, and various classic movie composer quotes into a soundtrack to a film noir that didn't exist. This recording led to work on soundtracks for actual films in the early '90s, including Delusion, Gas Food Lodging, and Shuttle Cock. Adamson also continued to compose quasi-cinematic recordings for imaginary films like 1996's Oedipus Schmoedipus. Adamson launched his own label Central Control International, with the release of Stranger on the Sofa, in 2006. Back to the Cat, his second album for the label, was released in March 2008 and its title track was used in the popular video game Alan Wake. He also took part in the first of Howard Devoto's Magazine reunions in 2008. Then followed his next album, I Will Set You Free, released on Valentine's Day 2012, followed by a world tour. He also contributed the closing title theme to the film The Sweeney by director Nick Love and played bass on two tracks from Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' album Push the Sky Away. In terms of his characteristic sound, Adamson has been praised by artists as diverse as Duff McKagan of Guns n' Roses, and Billy Gould of Faith No More, who cite Adamson as an influence for the way he combined soul music with post-punk when he played with Magazine. To-date the artist has released 13 solo studio albums, including soundtracks. Standouts include Moss Side Story (1989), Oedipus Schmoedipus (1996), Back to the Cat (2008) and I will Set You Free (2012). Growing up in Moss Side, Manchester, Adamson produced his first song "Brain Pain" at the age of 10, based on his diverse musical tastes ranging from Alice Cooper to Motown to David Bowie.
Artist Website: barryadamson.com
Featured Albums: Barry Adamson
Related Artists: Magazine, Nick Cave, Visage
