David Ryder Prangley
Encyclopedia
David Ryder Prangley is a musician best known for his work with the glam punk band Rachel Stamp
and as bass player for Adam Ant
. Born in Dinas Powys
, South Wales, Ryder Prangley started his music career aged 9 years old as a member of Welsh language boy-band Bechgyn Sêr (often referred to as the 'Welsh Menudo'). At 13 Ryder Prangley took up guitar and toured and recorded with Rock Bottom (alongside and future Games Workshop
and Blizzard Entertainment
artist/designer Mark Gibbons) before taking up singing and forming Rockets (later Hollyweird). After limited local success in the Cardiff area including an appearance on ITV's Welsh music showcase 'Rough Mix', Ryder Prangley moved to London in 1994 and formed Rachel Stamp (as lead singer and bassist) with guitarist Will Crewdson
.
Having signed a publishing deal with Eurythmics
guitarist David A. Stewart
's Anxious Music on the strength of a demo tape produced by Thighpaulsandra
(Spiritualized
/Coil
), Rachel Stamp signed a recording contract with WEA
after playing only four gigs but the liaison was cut short when the band's A&R man Clive Black (who signed the group) left the label. The album recorded for WEA ('Rachel Stamp Fight The Force of Evil') remains unreleased. However, after the addition of Robin Guy and Shaheena Dax to the band Rachel Stamp achieved commercial and critical success in the UK with three independently released albums ('Hymns For Strange Children
', 'Stampax
' and 'Oceans Of Venus
') reaching the Independent Chart top ten. In 1999 Rachel Stamp became the first unsigned band to sell out the London Astoria. During this time Ryder Prangley was known for his androgynous appearance (the Melody Maker
called him 'the most beautiful frontman since David Sylvian') and unique fashion style. After a 2003 tour of the USA supporting Chicago Industrial collective Pigface
(on which Ryder Prangley regularly appeared onstage with the headliners) and a final single 'Honey'/Queen Of The Universe' Rachel Stamp went on hiatus before reforming in 2009 for a sell out show at London's Islington Academy in support of the Serena/Cargo release 'Now I'm Nailed To Your Bedroom Wall I've Only Got Myself To Blame- The Best Of Rachel Stamp'.
In 2005 Ryder Prangley formed David Ryder Prangley and the Witches (as lead singer and guitarist) with a revolving group of musicians. The band played several concerts but never recorded (a conscious decision by Ryder Prangley to 'eliminate any commercial expectations'). During this time Ryder Prangley acted in the pilot for the comedy movie 'Big FM' playing the part of a Welsh Glam Rock DJ and also moved into music production, producing the first two singles by My Passion
('Bitter Too' and 'Hot In The Doll's House') and the first single 'Diamonds' by Lilygun. He also became involved in London's East End cabaret scene, regularly performing at Hanky Panky Cabaret where he invented the Sans bouche
mime style after being drafted into a production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest
' at the last minute and not having time to learn the lines. From 2008 to 2010 Ryder Prangley toured as bass guitarist with former Bay City Rollers
guitarist Eric Faulkner
and also performed with Adam Ant
and Livan
.
More recently Ryder Prangley has directed two videos for former Flesh For Lulu
singer Nick Marsh's 'A Universe Between Us' album, written and recorded the music for the short film 'Annabelle's Tea Party' and collaborated on a comic book ('Vampire Deluxe') with New York artist Lawrence Gullo.
Rachel Stamp
Rachel Stamp is a British rock band formed in London, England in 1994. Their debut album, Hymns For Strange Children was released in 2000, followed by Oceans of Venus two years later.-Biography:...
and as bass player for Adam Ant
Adam Ant
Adam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
. Born in Dinas Powys
Dinas Powys
Dinas Powys is a large village and a community in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales which takes its name from the Dinas Powys hillfort that dates from the Iron Age...
, South Wales, Ryder Prangley started his music career aged 9 years old as a member of Welsh language boy-band Bechgyn Sêr (often referred to as the 'Welsh Menudo'). At 13 Ryder Prangley took up guitar and toured and recorded with Rock Bottom (alongside and future Games Workshop
Games Workshop
Games Workshop Group plc is a British game production and retailing company. Games Workshop has published the tabletop wargames Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000...
and Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. is an American video game developer and publisher founded on February 8, 1991 under the name Silicon & Synapse by three graduates of UCLA, Michael Morhaime, Allen Adham and Frank Pearce and currently owned by French company Activision Blizzard...
artist/designer Mark Gibbons) before taking up singing and forming Rockets (later Hollyweird). After limited local success in the Cardiff area including an appearance on ITV's Welsh music showcase 'Rough Mix', Ryder Prangley moved to London in 1994 and formed Rachel Stamp (as lead singer and bassist) with guitarist Will Crewdson
Will Crewdson
Will Crewdson is a London-based guitarist/writer/producer best known for his work with the UK band Rachel Stamp, US singer Johnette Napolitano and Adam Ant....
.
Having signed a publishing deal with Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
guitarist David A. Stewart
David A. Stewart
David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...
's Anxious Music on the strength of a demo tape produced by Thighpaulsandra
Thighpaulsandra
Thighpaulsandra is a Welsh experimental musician and multi-instrumentalist known mostly for performing on synthesizers and keyboards. As Tim Lewis, he began his career working with Julian Cope. A collaboration with Cope in 1993 followed, as the experimental duo Queen Elizabeth...
(Spiritualized
Spiritualized
Spiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
/Coil
Coil
A coil is a series of loops. A coiled coil is a structure in which the coil itself is in turn also looping.-Electromagnetic coils:An electromagnetic coil is formed when a conductor is wound around a core or form to create an inductor or electromagnet...
), Rachel Stamp signed a recording contract with WEA
WEA
The Wea are a Native American tribe.WEA may refer to:* Wanganui East Athletic, a New Zealand association football club* Warner-Elektra-Atlantic, another/former name for Warner Music Group...
after playing only four gigs but the liaison was cut short when the band's A&R man Clive Black (who signed the group) left the label. The album recorded for WEA ('Rachel Stamp Fight The Force of Evil') remains unreleased. However, after the addition of Robin Guy and Shaheena Dax to the band Rachel Stamp achieved commercial and critical success in the UK with three independently released albums ('Hymns For Strange Children
Hymns For Strange Children
-Overview:Hymns for Strange Children is the début album from London-based glam rockers Rachel Stamp. It was released in 2000 on Cruisin' Records. Recorded by John Fryer in as little as 2 weeks, Rachel Stamp's debut album was a long time in the making...
', 'Stampax
Stampax
Stampax is a live album by London-based glam rockers Rachel Stamp. It was released in 2000 on Cruisin' Records. The album was recorded during the band's UK tour in support of their debut album, Hymns For Strange Children- The Album :...
' and 'Oceans Of Venus
Oceans of Venus
Oceans of Venus is the second album from London based glam rockers, Rachel Stamp.-Overview:Oceans of Venus was released in 2002 on Pure Stirling Records...
') reaching the Independent Chart top ten. In 1999 Rachel Stamp became the first unsigned band to sell out the London Astoria. During this time Ryder Prangley was known for his androgynous appearance (the Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
called him 'the most beautiful frontman since David Sylvian') and unique fashion style. After a 2003 tour of the USA supporting Chicago Industrial collective Pigface
Pigface
Pigface is an industrial rock supergroup formed in 1990 by Martin Atkins and William Rieflin.-History:Pigface was formed from Ministry's The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour, which produced the In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up live album and video. For the tour, Al Jourgensen brought...
(on which Ryder Prangley regularly appeared onstage with the headliners) and a final single 'Honey'/Queen Of The Universe' Rachel Stamp went on hiatus before reforming in 2009 for a sell out show at London's Islington Academy in support of the Serena/Cargo release 'Now I'm Nailed To Your Bedroom Wall I've Only Got Myself To Blame- The Best Of Rachel Stamp'.
In 2005 Ryder Prangley formed David Ryder Prangley and the Witches (as lead singer and guitarist) with a revolving group of musicians. The band played several concerts but never recorded (a conscious decision by Ryder Prangley to 'eliminate any commercial expectations'). During this time Ryder Prangley acted in the pilot for the comedy movie 'Big FM' playing the part of a Welsh Glam Rock DJ and also moved into music production, producing the first two singles by My Passion
My Passion
My Passion is an English band formed in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England in 2005. They released their debut album, Corporate Flesh Party, in May 2009 on Cool Green Recordings...
('Bitter Too' and 'Hot In The Doll's House') and the first single 'Diamonds' by Lilygun. He also became involved in London's East End cabaret scene, regularly performing at Hanky Panky Cabaret where he invented the Sans bouche
Sans bouche
Sans Bouche is a theatrical movement in which actors are made to perform to pre-recorded dialogue. In most cases, the point is not to lip-synch to the exact words, but to convey the emotion behind the dialogue in stylized expressions similar to silent film acting or pantomime...
mime style after being drafted into a production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae in order to escape burdensome social obligations...
' at the last minute and not having time to learn the lines. From 2008 to 2010 Ryder Prangley toured as bass guitarist with former Bay City Rollers
Bay City Rollers
The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...
guitarist Eric Faulkner
Eric Faulkner
Eric Faulkner is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer, best known as a member of the Scottish pop band, the Bay City Rollers....
and also performed with Adam Ant
Adam Ant
Adam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
and Livan
LIVAN
-Singles:*"Undead"*"Life Is Smiling"*"If Only" / "If Jesus Lived Today"*"King of the World"*"Happy Returns"*"Where I Bleed"*"Faces For The Future"-Reception:...
.
More recently Ryder Prangley has directed two videos for former Flesh For Lulu
Flesh for Lulu
Flesh for Lulu was an Alternative rock/Gothic band formed in Brixton, London, UK, and was active between 1982 and 1992. Their music was a mix of the New York Dolls and Rolling Stones with gothic rock's gloomy atmosphere and aesthetics.-History:...
singer Nick Marsh's 'A Universe Between Us' album, written and recorded the music for the short film 'Annabelle's Tea Party' and collaborated on a comic book ('Vampire Deluxe') with New York artist Lawrence Gullo.
External links
- http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/575410649
- http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/david-ryder-prangley-purple-turtle-londonbr-ghosts-water-rats-london-432091.html
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=025MEH6EGKk
- http://theblackletters.net/vampire-deluxe-by-lawrence-gullo-david-ryder-prangley-2009-e/