Dan Hipgrave
Encyclopedia
Dan Hipgrave is a musician
, writer and presenter. He is best known as the guitarist
of the indie rock
band Toploader
.
at the University of Sussex
, until he left in 1996 to devote his full-time energies towards his band.
, a subsidiary of Sony Records. They went on to tour worldwide in their own right as well as support act to Paul Weller
, Robbie Williams
and Bon Jovi
(where they became the last British band to play the original Wembley stadium). Toploader's debut album, Onka's Big Moka
, released in 2000, sold over two million records. The album featured various chart hits including their cover of "Dancing in the Moonlight
" and "Achilles Heel", and "Only For A While". Toploader's second LP Magic Hotel was released in 2002, and despite it entering the UK Albums Chart
at number 3, the band were dropped by their label. The band split in 2003 stating 'personal differences'.
as well as reporting live from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Maidstone
for BBC One
.
, The Daily Telegraph
, The Independent
, The Mail on Sunday
and other publishing outlets.
in 2001; they have one daughter, Honey, from the marriage. By 2004 they had separated and later divorced.
In August 2007, Hipgrave announced his engagement to television and radio presenter Lynsey Horn
marrying her on 8 November 2008 at Langley Castle
, Northumbria
.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, writer and presenter. He is best known as the guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
of the indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Toploader
Toploader
Toploader are an English band from Eastbourne who formed in 1997, with over two million album sales to their name and a string of top 20 hits both home and abroad. Their debut album, Onka's Big Moka, sold over 1 million units and remained in the Top 5 of the UK album chart for over six months...
.
Early life
Hipgrave studied psychiatric nursingPsychiatric Nursing
Psychiatric Nursing is a 1958 documentary film directed by Lee R. Bobker. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature....
at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
, until he left in 1996 to devote his full-time energies towards his band.
Music career
In April 1998, they signed a six-album deal with S2 RecordsS2 Records
S2 Records, formerly named Sony Soho Square after its location at London's Soho Square, is a record label subsidiary of Sony Music.Lincoln Elias, currently Managing Director of Virgin Records, was the founder of the label. It is now headed by Muff Winwood, brother of Steve Winwood.S2 features...
, a subsidiary of Sony Records. They went on to tour worldwide in their own right as well as support act to Paul Weller
Paul Weller
Paul Weller is an English singer-songwriter. Starting with the band The Jam , Weller then went on to branch out musically to a more soulful style with The Style Council...
, Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
and Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
(where they became the last British band to play the original Wembley stadium). Toploader's debut album, Onka's Big Moka
Onka's Big Moka
Onka's Big Moka is an album released in 1999 by the pop rock band Toploader. The album reached #4 on the UK charts, and a song from the album, "Dancing in the Moonlight", a cover of the King Harvest song, was featured in a television commercial for supermarket chain Sainsbury's.The title is a...
, released in 2000, sold over two million records. The album featured various chart hits including their cover of "Dancing in the Moonlight
Dancing in the Moonlight
"Dancing In The Moonlight" is the title song on the 1973 King Harvest album. The track was released as a single in 1972 and it reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. They released other singles but these were never able to match the success of "Dancing in the Moonlight"...
" and "Achilles Heel", and "Only For A While". Toploader's second LP Magic Hotel was released in 2002, and despite it entering the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at number 3, the band were dropped by their label. The band split in 2003 stating 'personal differences'.
Media career
Hipgrave has turned his attention towards writing and television work, making a number of appearances in both media. In 2008 Hipgrave appeared as the resident travel expert on BBC2's Market KitchenMarket Kitchen
Market Kitchen is a cookery programme, made by Optomen, that premiered on Good Food in 2007. Presented by Rachel Allen, Amanda Lamb, Matt Tebbutt, Tom Parker Bowles and Matthew Fort, the programme concentrates on seasonal cooking and features visits to a local market to obtain seasonal produce...
as well as reporting live from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
for BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
.
Writing
He has also written articles for The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, The Mail on Sunday
The Mail on Sunday
The Mail on Sunday is a British conservative newspaper, currently published in a tabloid format. First published in 1982 by Lord Rothermere, it became Britain's biggest-selling Sunday newspaper following the closing of The News of the World in July 2011...
and other publishing outlets.
Travel Company
In 2010 Dan launched his own music travel company originalmusictravel.com in partnership with award winning travel company Original Travel. They sell music focused holidays, festival packages and VIP concert tickets around the world.Personal life
Hipgrave married TV presenter Gail PorterGail Porter
Gail Porter is a Scottish television presenter.- Life and career :Porter attended Portobello High School. She studied a BTEC HND in Media Production at West Herts College...
in 2001; they have one daughter, Honey, from the marriage. By 2004 they had separated and later divorced.
In August 2007, Hipgrave announced his engagement to television and radio presenter Lynsey Horn
Lynsey Horn
Lynsey Hipgrave, formerly known as Lynsey Horn, is an English television and radio presenter.-Radio:Hipgrave's big break came on Manchester radio station Galaxy 102 where she presented the breakfast show, before being appointed a travel reporter on Radio 5 Live.She co-presents the Saturday morning...
marrying her on 8 November 2008 at Langley Castle
Langley Castle
Langley Castle is a restored medieval tower house, now operated as an hotel, situated in the village of Langley in the valley of the River South Tyne some south of Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, England. It is a Grade I listed building.-Details:...
, Northumbria
Northumbria
Northumbria was a medieval kingdom of the Angles, in what is now Northern England and South-East Scotland, becoming subsequently an earldom in a united Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England. The name reflects the approximate southern limit to the kingdom's territory, the Humber Estuary.Northumbria was...
.