Roxy Music

From ArticleWorld

Roxy Music are a British Art-Rock band from the Glam Rock period of the early 1970’s. The band were formed out of the union of two Art School graduates Bryan Ferry and Brian Eno. With Ferry as the vocalist and occasional keyboard player and Eno on synthesisers the backbone of the groups creative element was formed. The band officially came into existence in 1971 remaining together until 1983, although Eno was a conspicuous absence after 1973 when he quit the group.

The original line up from 1971 was bought together by an advertisement that the then ceramics teacher, Bryan Ferry posted. Ferry advertised for a Keyboard player to join his fledgling group, which so far comprised of himself and bassist Graham Simpson. Rather oddly Andy MacKay responded to the advert, he had no knowledge of keyboard playing but was an accomplished saxophonist and oboe player. Fortunately MacKay also had a VCS3 synthesiser, plus a friend from university with an experimental knowledge of the instrument named Brian Eno. With drummer Paul Thompson also responding to an advert for a ‘wonder drummer’ and guitarist Phil Manzanera joining, the first line-up of Roxy Music was formed.

Success for the band was almost immediate with their first single ‘‘Virginia Plain’’ reaching number 4 in the U.K charts. The song typified the bands experimental use of music and lyrics, blending a strong synthesiser based soundtrack with articulate and often poetic language. Their eponymous first album was also highly successful, but trouble for the band was not far away. Founding member Graham Simpson was sacked by Ferry for not being dedicated to the band after the release of their first album. Following hot on the tails of Simpson was Eno, who for many was the primary creative force in the band, and credited with creating there experimental and highly distinctive sound. Eno left after having artistic differences with Ferry during the recording of the second album ‘‘For Your Pleasure.’’ Displeasure was rife in the band especially in Manzanera and Thompson, but both remained in Roxy Music throughout. Post Eno records ‘’Stranded’’ (1973) and ‘’Country Life’’ (1974) showed little sign of a decline in popularity, with former Curved Air Keyboard player Eddie Jobson adding his own classically trained style to Roxy Music. But the band were still in turmoil Jobson would leave after just 3 years, and in 1980 original drummer Paul Thompson would also leave (only to return for the 2001 world tour). In 1976 after the success of their album ‘’Siren’’ the band briefly disbanded only to reunite once again in ’78, but still there were problems, often caused by Ferry’s domineering stance in the band and his parallel solo career.

Roxy Music enjoyed only one top spot in their long history, which quite ironically was their only cover song, a version of John Lennons ‘’Jealous Guy’’ recorded shortly after his murder in 1980. The re-united band created three more albums after their 2-year hiatus, ‘’Manifesto’’, ‘’Flesh + Blood’’ and their last album ‘’Avalon’’. Roxy Music officially disbanded in 1983, but in 2001 original members Ferry, Thompson, Manzanera and McKay reunited for a world tour. The one conspicuous absentee was Eno, but new reports suggest that an album of new material is in production with Brian Eno putting aside differences to once again take on his role as the experimental synthesiser player.