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Holly Beth Vincent

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Holly Beth Vincent
BornMay 1959 (age 65)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
GenresAlternative rock, pop punk
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, artist
Years active1980–present
LabelsVirgin, Epic, Mammoth, Daemon, Wounded Bird

Holly Beth Vincent (born May 1959)[citation needed] is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer and former leader of the band Holly and the Italians.

Career

Holly and the Italians

Holly and the Italians were a female led American punk pop band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1978 by Chicago-born singer, songwriter and guitarist Holly Beth Vincent and Los Angeles drummer Steve Young, who were later joined in the UK by bassist Mark Sidgwick. The band started their activities in London, England where, after playing on the pub circuit extensively, they aroused the interest of BBC disc jockey and music historian Charlie Gillett, who signed them to his record label Oval Records. In the UK, they were also opening act for fellow Americans Blondie.

Through Oval Records, Holly and the Italians released the single "Tell That Girl to Shut Up" which was a hit in the UK Singles Chart, (No. 45)[1] and elsewhere, helping to create a buzz about the band and resulting in offers from several labels. The band eventually signed a two-album deal with Virgin Records. The song, written by Vincent, became a UK top 50 hit again in 1988 when it was covered by Transvision Vamp[2] as the second single from their debut album Pop Art.[3] The song was cited by Mojo Magazine as one of the top 20 killer New Wave tracks from the US (2008 Mojo Classic special edition).

Holly and the Italians recorded their debut album, The Right to Be Italian, at The Record Plant studio in New York City. The album was produced by Richard Gottehrer, who replaced the originally chosen 60's girl-group producer Shadow Morton when he suddenly departed. The Right to Be Italian featured musical backing by several members of what later became "The World's Most Dangerous Band": Paul Schaffer, Anton Fig, and Will Lee, now better known as the house band for the Late Show with David Letterman. The album was given a final remix in the UK by producer John Brand and released in January 1981. Contemporary reviews were negative and the album peaked only at No. 177 in the US Billboard 200 chart.

The album was reevaluated in modern times and appears at No. 40 in an article "60 Great Albums You've probably Never Heard" by Jody Rosen from Vulture online magazine, (originally appearing in the November 18, 2013 issue of New York Magazine) where she wrote as follows; "Holly & the Italians, The Right to Be Italian (1981). No one was going to deny Chicagoan turned Londoner Holly Beth Vincent the right to be Italian—or the right to snarl bratty New Wave anthems like "Rock Against Romance" and "Tell That Girl to Shut Up"."

In August 1980, Holly and the Italians played the major Heatwave festival near Toronto. The band notably toured with ska band The Selecter, opened for The Clash during their Combat Rock album release pre-Bonds shows in New York City and did several shows around the US with the Ramones. After the tour Holly and the Italians disbanded.

Solo

In 1982, Vincent released a second album for Virgin Records entitled Holly and the Italians. The chaos surrounding the release of her former band's debut album and its bad critical reception was an experience that affected Vincent and her writing greatly. Her second album reflects this, featuring a moodier, more introspective and alternative sound.

The album, produced by Mike Thorne was critically acclaimed and the subsequent video gained some airtime on MTV. Neither of the albums under the moniker Holly and the Italians produced a major hit and when the two-album deal was fulfilled and the contract with Virgin Records finished, Vincent returned to New York City.

Holly and the Italians is one of Ira Robbins/Trouser Press record guide's top albums of all-time.[4]

In 1982 Virgin Records released a duet/cover version by Holly of the song "I Got You Babe" with Ramones singer Joey Ramone, and synth-pop artist Thomas Dolby on keyboards.

In 1984 she briefly fronted The Waitresses for a few weeks after the departure and before the return of lead singer Patty Donahue and, a short time later, she sang in a combo called the Wild Things with Anthony Thistlethwaite (The Waterboys) and Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones).

In 1990 she relocated to Los Angeles, and in 1992 formed a band called The Oblivious. With that group, she wrote, played instruments on, and produced an album entitled America,[5] which was released in 1993 on Daemon Records, a label run by Amy Ray of The Indigo Girls.[6] She did two US tours with this band as support for Concrete Blonde.

In 1995 she teamed up with Concrete Blonde vocalist Johnette Napolitano for an album entitled Vowel Movement; she performed as drummer, guitarist, and shared vocal duties with Napolitano. The women recorded the music in six days, and released the album without mixing it. It earned favorable reviews including one "album of the year" vote from the San Francisco Weekly.

In 2007, Vincent released the album Super Rocket Star and in 2009, Minnesota-California.

She appeared as guest vocalist on the Michael Monroe album Not Fakin' It and, in May 2012, as guest lead and background vocalist with other musicians and singers on the second and final posthumous release of Joey Ramone, titled ...Ya Know? on BMG.

She has been voice artist in national commercials for Nike, Nintendo, Pepsi and Squirt.

She was actor in an indie film titled "The Dwarf" directed by Richard Monteverde starring Ann "Anna" Magnuson. She studied acting briefly in NYC with teacher Catherine Gaffigan.

Vincent film music credits are; "Untamed Heart," "The Boys Club," "Dead Beat," and "Slap Her, She's French." TV credits; MTV series "Rich Girls" and "American Idol: Season 10."

Holly Vincent lives in Los Angeles, California and is active writing songs, playing and recording.

Discography

  • "Tell That Girl to Shut Up" 7-inch by Holly and the Italians (1980)
  • The Right to Be Italian by Holly and the Italians (1981) US Albums #177
  • Holly and the Italians by Holly Beth Vincent (1982)
  • "I Got You Babe" 7-inch by Holly and Joey (1982)
  • America by the Oblivious [Holly Beth Vincent] (1993)
  • Vowel Movement by Johnette Napolitano/Holly Vincent (1995)
  • Demos Federico a demo compilation by Holly Beth Vincent/Holly and the Italians (1998)
  • Super Rocket Star by Holly Beth Vincent (2007)
  • Minnesota-California by Holly Beth Vincent (2009)
  • Paris by Buff Roshi feat. Holly Beth Vincent (2013)
  • Paperdoll Technologies by Holly Beth Vincent (2014)

References

  1. ^ "Official Charts > Transvision Vamp". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  2. ^ Peterson, Karla. "Vincent's music never went away", The San Diego Union-Tribune, 1993-10-14, p. ND.
  3. ^ "Transvision Vamp – Tell That Girl To Shut Up at Discogs". Discogs.com. July 9, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  4. ^ Robbins, Ira. "Rock's Pioneer Woman Keeps on Moving", Newsday, 1995-07-30, p. 19.
  5. ^ "America - Holly Beth Vincent". AllMusic. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  6. ^ "Holly & The Italians". AllMusic. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
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