Entertainment For Lively Minds
Strange career paths in rock.
I’m currently reading Paul Du Noyer’s fine history of London music, In the City. One of his recommended essential London tracks is a piece of late 60s psychedelia called Nodnol (see what they did there?) by a bunch of unknowns called the Spectrum. The title tickled my fancy, I’ve had a listen and it’s rather lovely. But the fascinating thing, on digging deeper, was the subsequent career of said Spectrum’s Keith Forsey:
Spectrum existed between 1967 & 1970 releasing several singles and one album to little or no success…. apart, that is, from performing the theme tune to Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, having their costumes designed by Gerry Anderson’s wife and appearing in the Lady Penelope comic.
The story doesn’t end there. Post-Spectrum he worked with Giorgio Moroder and played drums on I Feel Love and various Boney M tracks amongst others.
He then produced Billy Idol throughout his ‘glory’ years.
He then went on to write Don’t You Forget About Me and Flashdance and produce the soundtracks Flashdance, Beverly Hills Cop II and the Breakfast Club, no doubt turning himself into a multi-millionaire in the process.
From psychedelic also-ran, through game-changing innovator, to artistically questionable 80s enormo-success in 15 easy years. Can anyone beat that?
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That's good
I was impressed by Dave Dee.
On a smaller scale
Going from The Vibrators to Roxy Music, and then to Prince Charming-era Adam and the Ants all in the space of about four years, and subsequently US indie giants The Fixx, always seemed to me to be some impressive genre hoping by Gary Tibbs.
Not forgetting
starring in the fillum Breaking Glass in 1980 and followed it up with 8 episodes in Strike It Rich! TV series in 1986 (IMDb)
Thomas Dolby?
He's done a fair bit in various genres. And Alison "Betty Boo" Clarkson and Cathy Dennis have both put themselves about with alacrity, although they've kept mainly to the poppy end of things. And the other lass with the big gob who did "What's Up." Hair. Lots of it. Looked like her face fell in half on the big notes. Linda thingy. Perry.
I reckon that Rod Temperton
could challenge Keith Forsey. He started life in Cleethorpes, worked for a while in a frozen food factory in Grimsby and went on to write Boogie Nights for Heatwave, Ya Mo B There for Michael McDonald. Then he got a new pal - Quincey Jones - and wrote a few more songs including Thriller. Cleethorpes?
Keith Forsey? Wow
I never knew that. Sorry but what a CV! The man basically played the most solid drum track ever, and pretty much invented the sound of the mid 80s. Artistically questionable?! I think not.
The obvious one is the mighty Rob Davis who started life as the Bass Player in the 'Tiger Feet' Hitmakers, The Mud, and ended up co-writing 'Can't get you out of my head' for Jason Donovans ex, and the arguably even better 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) for human Manga character Sophie 'Janet' Ellis Bextor. Kerching!