Roxy Music
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Background information
Origin: London, England
Genres: Art rock, glam rock, new wave, new romanticism
Years active: 1971 - 1976, 1978 - 1983, 2001 - present
Labels: E.G., Virgin, ATCO Records, Reprise / Warner Bros. Records
Members: Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay, Paul Thompson, Phil Manzanera, Past members: Brian Eno, Graham Simpson, David O'List, Dexter Lloyd, Rik Kenton, Roger Bunn, John Porter, Eddie Jobson, John Gustafson, John Wetton, Paul Carrack, Alan Spenner, Gary Tibbs, Andy Newmark, Neil Hubbard, and Jimmy Maelen.
Roxy Music is an English art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera (guitar), Andy Mackay (saxophone and oboe) and Paul Thompson (drums and percussion). Former members include Brian Eno (synthesizer and ''treatments''), and Eddie Jobson (synthesizer and violin). Although the band took a break from group activities in 1983, they reunited for a concert tour in 2001, and have toured together intermittently since that time.
Roxy Music attained popular and critical success in Europe and Australia during the 1970s and early 1980s, beginning with their debut album, Roxy Music (1972). The band was highly influential, as leading proponents of the more experimental, musically sophisticated element of glam, as well as a significant influence on early English punk music. They also provided a model for many New Wave acts and the experimental electronic groups of the early 1980s. The group is distinguished by their visual and musical sophistication and their preoccupation with style and glamour. Ferry and co-founding member Eno have also had influential solo careers, the latter becoming one of the most significant record producers and collaborators of the late 20th century.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked Roxy Music #98 on its ''The Immortals Ð 100 The Greatest Artists of All Time'' list. Their music was influenced by other British artists of the time such as The Beatles (which were Ferry's favorite band and which at the time of Roxy Music's founding had just dissolved after a period of superstardom), King Crimson, David Bowie, Elton John, Pink Floyd, The Kinks, The Move, The Rolling Stones, Traffic, The Who, The Creation and The Pretty Things. Eno's ''treatments'' were influenced by the experimental sound of The Velvet Underground.