Kevin Rowland (born 17 August 1953, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton) is an English singer-songwriter and former frontman for the pop band Dexys Midnight Runners, which had several hits in the early 1980s, the most notable being "Geno" and "Come On Eileen".
[edit] Career
Rowland was born in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, England on 17 August 1953 to Irish parents from Crossmolina,Co. Mayo.[1] His first group, Lucy & The Lovers, were influenced by Roxy Music and turned out to be short-lived. His next project, punk rock act The Killjoys, were slightly more successful, releasing the single "Johnny Won't Go To Heaven" in 1977. Alienated by the punk scene, Rowland, together with Killjoys guitarist, Kevin Archer, decided to form a new soul-influenced group, Dexys Midnight Runners. Many of the group's songs were inspired by Rowland's Irish ancestry and were recognisable through Rowland's idiosyncratic vocal style. On forming the band Rowland thought it was "important to have a vocal style", he later recalled, "and I had the idea of putting that 'crying' voice on", partly inspired by General Johnson of Chairmen of the Board.[2]
When Dexys disbanded in 1987, Rowland recorded a solo album, The Wanderer which, together with its three singles, was a commercial failure. His next release was not until 1999 when he recorded a collection of interpretations of classic songs called My Beauty, the album cover of which depicted a heavily made-up Rowland in a dress and women's lingerie.
In 2003, Rowland reformed Dexys Midnight Runners - featuring only one other original member, bassist Pete Williams who fulfilled the role as Rowland's co-vocalist - and embarked on a successful comeback tour backed up with a greatest hits compilation album including two newly recorded songs, "Manhood" and "My Life in England". Both of these new songs were radio tested by the record label, but neither received enough airplay for them to be considered worthwhile releasing.
In December 2006, Rowland launched his own MySpace page[3] where he has promised another Dexys album, and posted some articles to his blog. The song, "It's OK Johanna", is available there.
[edit] Acclaim
According to Paul Moody in Uncut in 2007, "Rowland - as singer and songwriter with Dexys Midnight Runners - gave us some of the great pop moments. From the bolshy vision of Searching for the Young Soul Rebels through the celtic-gumbo of Too-Rye-Ay and '85's neglected masterpiece, Don't Stand Me Down, his is a towering contribution to British music, both visually and musically."[4]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
| Year |
Album details |
| 1988 |
The Wanderer
|
| 1999 |
My Beauty
|
[edit] Singles
| Year |
Single |
Peak positions |
Album |
UK
[5] |
| 1988 |
"Walk Away" |
95 |
The Wanderer |
| "Tonight" |
81 |
| "Young Man" |
— |
| 1999 |
"Concrete and Clay" |
— |
My Beauty |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |
[edit] Guest appearances
[edit] Quotation
| “ |
I never did feel like a star. I was always uptight about something and uncomfortable and not very good. I felt weighed down by it, the pressure. It's terrible I should have enjoyed it but I didn't; I was thinking about what we should do all the time, I wasn't able to run with it. |
” |
Interview - March 2010[6]
| “ |
I did loads of stupid things, like the way I used to argue with EMI Records. I just look back to the time now and wonder how I would have reacted to some prick coming into my office shouting and kicking things. |
” |
NME - July 1982[7]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Rowland, Kevin |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
17 August 1953 |
| Place of birth |
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