Jump to content

Justin Currie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 80.229.216.59 (talk) at 16:31, 13 August 2018 (→Del Amitri). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For the American football player, see Justin Currie (American football).
Justin Currie
Justin Currie on stage with Del Amitri at the Guildhall in Southampton, 16 May 2002
Justin Currie on stage with Del Amitri at the Guildhall in Southampton, 16 May 2002
Background information
Birth nameJustin Robert Currie
Born (1964-12-11) 11 December 1964 (age 59)
OriginGlasgow, Scotland
GenresPop rock, power pop, alternative rock, folk rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass
Years active1983–present
WebsiteJustinCurrie.com

Justin Robert Currie (born 11 December 1964). He is a Scottish singer and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the band Del Amitri and, along with Iain Harvie, is one of only two members of the group to be present throughout its entire existence.

Professional career

Del Amitri

Justin Currie was born in Glasgow and established the band Del Amitri while still at school in the early 1980s, after putting up a sign in a music shop asking for other people who could play instruments to get in contact with him. As well as being the lead singer and chief songwriter of the band, Currie also plays bass with them.

As a songwriter, he co-wrote many of the Del Amitri tracks with Harvie, but some of their most successful songs have been tracks penned solely by Currie. These include "Nothing Ever Happens", "Always the Last to Know" and "Roll to Me".

Although there have been no official reports of Del Amitri splitting up, the band were dropped by record company Mercury in 2002 after a perceived lack of success for their album of that year, Can You Do Me Good?. Since then Currie has been working on several other critically acclaimed[citation needed] projects.

Currie has stated on his own website during 2012 that he is still a member of Del Amitri. Del Amitri would undertook UK tours in early 2014 and mid 2018, when a new album was said to be a possibility, as Currie had been on a writing session and had written songs specifically for the band.

Other projects

Currie performing at a Del Amitri concert at Vicar Street, Dublin, in January 2014.

In 2003 he fronted the soul and jazz covers band Button Up for a short tour of Scotland together with The Proclaimers guitarist Stuart Nisbet and drummer Ross McFarlane - who also played with chart-toppers Stiltskin - bassist Gary John Kane and keyboard player Andy May.

From 2004 - 2006 Currie has regularly joined singer songwriters Eddi Reader and Colin MacIntyre (aka Mull Historical Society) and Scottish folk band Blazin' Fiddles to perform in Scotland as part of the project "With Strings Attached".

In 2004 Currie also teamed up with Kevin and Jim McDermott (of Kevin McDermott Orchestra) to record A Terrible Beauty, a semi-comedy 60's pastiche rock album which they released anonymously under the name The Uncle Devil Show. Currie denied his involvement ever since the release and does not perform songs from the release. The others members have never denied his involvement and have spoken openly of it. Video clips on YouTube clearly show that Currie was in the trio.

Solo career

File:Justin Currie 1984.jpg
Justin Currie photographed by Alan Dimmick in 1984.

Currie also continues to perform live as a solo artist in the UK. In 2006 he was a special guest on Tom McRae's Hotel Cafe Tour. In 2005 he wrote and recorded an album with the working title 'Rebound'. It was subsequently re-titled What Is Love For and released on Rykodisc on 8 October 2007. A single/EP from the album, "No, Surrender", was released on 24 March 2008.

Currie's second album The Great War was released on 3 May 2010, a single titled "A Man with Nothing to Do" was released 26 April 2010.[1]

A third solo album, titled Lower Reaches, recorded in Texas, and was released on 19 August 2013.[2] It is preceded by a free download of the track "Little Stars", plus a track released to radio in July 2013, "Bend To My Will". The album reached number 46 in the UK Albums Chart.

Solo discography

Family

Currie is the son of John Currie, who was chorusmaster for the Scottish National Orchestra Chorus from 1965 to 1984 and music director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale from 1986 to 1991. His cousin is Nick Currie, also known as "Momus".

Personal life

He is currently[when?] engaged to his longtime girlfriend Emma. The couple have not yet set a date for the wedding.[4]

He is nicknamed 'Ruby', after 'Ruby Murray', the cockney rhyming slang for 'a curry'.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "Justin Currie". Rykopress. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  2. ^ Hutchinson, Andrew (14 February 2013). "Music interview: Justin Currie". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "JUSTIN CURRIE - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  4. ^ Lyons, Beverley (27 June 2007). "Showbuzz". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 August 2007. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Justin_Currie&oldid=854765129"