David Rhodes
Encyclopedia
David Rhodes is an English
guitarist
, songwriter
, and composer
. He is probably best-known for his extensive work with Peter Gabriel
.
, as well as the Telstars and the Beatles
.
Rhodes started playing guitar
in his early teens, while he was listening to a great deal of blues and jazz music, but put music aside to follow other passions - namely rugby football
and the fine arts. At the age of 21, he met up with David Ferguson after both attended an unsatisfying concert, and the pair decided to break new musical ground by forming a band, unhampered by the fact that neither of them had any particular musical expertise. They started as an experimental performance group, which evolved first into Manscheinen and later into Random Hold
, where they were joined by bassist Bill MacCormick
, vocalist/guitarist Simon Ainley and drummer Peter Phipps.
The Randoms achieved some early success, came to the attention of Peter Gabriel
and were subsequently invited to open for Gabriel on his 1980 U.S. tour. Soon after the tour, Rhodes left Random Hold, and has continued to record and tour with Peter Gabriel ever since (a 25-year collaboration).
In addition to his work with Gabriel, Rhodes has produced albums with T-Bone Burnett
, Akira Inoue, Indio
and Massimo DiCataldo. He composed the soundtrack for the Italian animated film La Gabbianella E Il Gatto. Rhodes also collaborated with Peter Gabriel and Richard Evans on the Golden Globe nominated soundtrack
for The Long Walk Home
, music from the film Rabbit Proof Fence
and has composed numerous film and television soundtracks with Richard Evans (as "The Footnote").
He has lent his distinctive guitar style to albums by a wide variety of artists, including Roy Orbison
, Tim Finn
, Paul McCartney
, Robert Plant
, Joan Armatrading
, Blancmange
, The Pretenders
and Scott Walker
. He also composed the soundtrack for Atlantis III: The New World
, the Cryo Interactive Entertainment video game.
In 2005, he composed the soundtrack for the Italian movie L'uomo perfetto including the song "Love can make you do some really horrible things".
In August 2009, he released a solo album, Bittersweet, through the Bowers & Wilkins
Music Club online.
During August and September 2011 he collaborated with the artist Graham Dean in 'Painting Music' which involved live painting projected across the walls, floors and audience with live music by David. There were performances at Aachen, Germany on August 24th in a converted church as part of the 'Across the Borders Festival', Heerlen, Holland on August 27th outdoors as part of the 'Cultura Nova' Festival, and Maastricht, Holland on September 11th outdoors as part of the 'Parcours' Festival.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
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...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He is probably best-known for his extensive work with Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
.
Biography
Rhodes was the third of five children, to Philip and Elizabeth, a doctor and a homemaker, respectively. Among his early musical influences were his father, who played banjo ukuleleUkulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
, as well as the Telstars and the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
.
Rhodes started playing guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
in his early teens, while he was listening to a great deal of blues and jazz music, but put music aside to follow other passions - namely rugby football
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
and the fine arts. At the age of 21, he met up with David Ferguson after both attended an unsatisfying concert, and the pair decided to break new musical ground by forming a band, unhampered by the fact that neither of them had any particular musical expertise. They started as an experimental performance group, which evolved first into Manscheinen and later into Random Hold
Random Hold
Random Hold was a British rock band from 1977 to 1980.-History:The first line-up featured David Ferguson and David Rhodes , plus Simon Ainley , Bill MacCormick and David Leach...
, where they were joined by bassist Bill MacCormick
Bill MacCormick
Bill MacCormick is an English bassist and vocalist. He was a member of the bands Quiet Sun with Phil Manzanera, brother Ian MacCormick and others; Matching Mole with Robert Wyatt and others; 801 with Manzanera, Brian Eno and others; and Random Hold...
, vocalist/guitarist Simon Ainley and drummer Peter Phipps.
The Randoms achieved some early success, came to the attention of Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
and were subsequently invited to open for Gabriel on his 1980 U.S. tour. Soon after the tour, Rhodes left Random Hold, and has continued to record and tour with Peter Gabriel ever since (a 25-year collaboration).
In addition to his work with Gabriel, Rhodes has produced albums with T-Bone Burnett
T-Bone Burnett
Joseph Henry Burnett , widely known as T-Bone Burnett, is an American musician, songwriter, and soundtrack and record producer.He was a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band on the Rolling Thunder Revue...
, Akira Inoue, Indio
Indio (music)
Indio is a Canadian singer-songwriter whose name is Gordon Peterson. Indio released one album, 1989's Big Harvest.-History:Peterson grew up in Dundas, Ontario....
and Massimo DiCataldo. He composed the soundtrack for the Italian animated film La Gabbianella E Il Gatto. Rhodes also collaborated with Peter Gabriel and Richard Evans on the Golden Globe nominated soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
for The Long Walk Home
Long Walk Home: Music from the Rabbit-Proof Fence
Long Walk Home: Music from the Rabbit-Proof Fence is the fourth soundtrack and twelfth album overall released by the British musician Peter Gabriel...
, music from the film Rabbit Proof Fence
Rabbit-Proof Fence (film)
Rabbit-Proof Fence is a 2002 Australian drama film directed by Phillip Noyce based on the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington Garimara...
and has composed numerous film and television soundtracks with Richard Evans (as "The Footnote").
He has lent his distinctive guitar style to albums by a wide variety of artists, including Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, Tim Finn
Tim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
, Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, MBE is a British singer, songwriter and guitarist. Armatrading is a three-time Grammy Award-nominee and has been nominated twice for BRIT Awards as Best Female Artist...
, Blancmange
Blancmange
Blancmange is a sweet dessert commonly made with milk or cream and sugar thickened with gelatin, cornstarch or Irish moss, and often flavored with almonds. It is usually set in a mould and served cold. Although traditionally white, blancmanges are frequently given a pink color as well...
, The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
and Scott Walker
Scott Walker (singer)
Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel on January 9, 1943 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and the former lead singer of The Walker Brothers. Despite being American born, Walker's chart success has largely come in the United Kingdom, where his first four solo albums...
. He also composed the soundtrack for Atlantis III: The New World
Atlantis III: The New World
Atlantis III: The New World is a fantasy adventure computer game developed by Cryo Interactive and published by Dreamcatcher Interactive, and released in 2001. It's the third in the Atlantis series by Cryo, as well as the last one made before Cryo's downfall. Similar to the second game, not much...
, the Cryo Interactive Entertainment video game.
In 2005, he composed the soundtrack for the Italian movie L'uomo perfetto including the song "Love can make you do some really horrible things".
In August 2009, he released a solo album, Bittersweet, through the Bowers & Wilkins
Bowers & Wilkins
Bowers & Wilkins is a British loudspeaker company that produces mid-range through reference quality hi-fi and home theater speakers. The company name is often abbreviated to just B&W.Joe Atkins is current owner and chairman...
Music Club online.
During August and September 2011 he collaborated with the artist Graham Dean in 'Painting Music' which involved live painting projected across the walls, floors and audience with live music by David. There were performances at Aachen, Germany on August 24th in a converted church as part of the 'Across the Borders Festival', Heerlen, Holland on August 27th outdoors as part of the 'Cultura Nova' Festival, and Maastricht, Holland on September 11th outdoors as part of the 'Parcours' Festival.