Dirty Harry (musician)
Encyclopedia
Dirty Harry is a British
rock
singer, who is now based in Los Angeles
, California
, United States
.
and New York
as well as in the UK
, and was raised under strict conservative family values – a vicar grandfather and mother in charge of a local Sunday school. Harry connected with singers such as Patti Smith
and Janis Joplin
– influences in both her youth and musical stylings.
As she grew up, Harry became involved in the London music and social scene. She first experienced the London nightlife in her teens, frequenting the club circuit and London fetish nightclub
s, Torture Garden and Slimelight in particular – earning her ‘Dirty’ tag along the way, and building a reputation for herself on the underground music
scene before launching a music career of her own.
(the limited release industrial pop track "Eye", and "Nothing Really Matters") on her own record label
, Dirty World Records, as well as an early version of her debut album
, The Trouble with... Harry
. However, the album's release was not an easy process and complications ensued, resulting in a legal battle leading to Harry dropping her 'Dirty' tag and rebranding herself simply as Harry.
The album was re-recorded and edited under this new name. Years after its inception, it was released in April 2003, through Telstar Records
along with the album's supporting singles - "So Real", "Imagination" and "Follow Me". In 2003, Rimmel
used "Imagination" - Harry's cover
of Belouis Some
's hit - to front a TV advertising campaign. The song was also the lead track on Harry's Under the Covers EP
which also featured the video
for the song.
photographed
Harry fully clothed for her own article in Playboy
. In July 2008, Harry was interviewed alongside Courtney Love
for Nylon
magazine.
television program
me, Faking it
, where she was to help transform a choir girl into a "rock chick". Controversy arose when the participant, Laura-Jane Foley, claimed she had been misrepresented by the show. However, the episode in question had already run into trouble before it even aired, with regular sponsors Smirnoff
refusing to be associated with its scenes of "irresponsible drinking", in which Harry appeared hungover after a night out.
Her filmwork also includes a role as Sophie Johnstone in the 1992 TV series Homeward Bound, and a small role as a lady of the night, Maria, alongside Jonny Lee Miller
in the 1999 British film
, Plunkett & Macleane
.
In May 2003 Harry appeared on the BBC
's Re:covered
programme, where she performed both "Imagination", and a cover of Blondie
's hit "One Way Or Another
".
In late 2006, Harry was chosen as the face and voice of buy.com
's $30 million national US marketing campaign, recording a song for, and appearing in the television advertisement
for the company.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer, who is now based in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life
Harry spent her early life living in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as well as in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and was raised under strict conservative family values – a vicar grandfather and mother in charge of a local Sunday school. Harry connected with singers such as Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
and Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
– influences in both her youth and musical stylings.
As she grew up, Harry became involved in the London music and social scene. She first experienced the London nightlife in her teens, frequenting the club circuit and London fetish nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s, Torture Garden and Slimelight in particular – earning her ‘Dirty’ tag along the way, and building a reputation for herself on the underground music
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
scene before launching a music career of her own.
The Trouble With... Harry
Originally recording as "Dirty Harry", Harry recorded two singlesSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
(the limited release industrial pop track "Eye", and "Nothing Really Matters") on her own record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Dirty World Records, as well as an early version of her debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, The Trouble with... Harry
The Trouble with... Harry
The Trouble With... Harry was the first album by British musician Harry .The album was released on 21 April 2003 but failed to reach the UK album top 75....
. However, the album's release was not an easy process and complications ensued, resulting in a legal battle leading to Harry dropping her 'Dirty' tag and rebranding herself simply as Harry.
The album was re-recorded and edited under this new name. Years after its inception, it was released in April 2003, through Telstar Records
Telstar Records
Telstar Records was a record label founded in 1982 by Sean O'Brien and Neil Palmer with a government loan of £120,000. It was founded as a specialist compilation marketing label and had hits with a range of compilation franchises such as the Deep Heat, Kaos Theory and 100% ranges...
along with the album's supporting singles - "So Real", "Imagination" and "Follow Me". In 2003, Rimmel
Rimmel
Rimmel is a cosmetics brand, now owned by Coty, Inc.. The House of Rimmel was originally founded by Eugene Rimmel in 1834 in Regent Street, London, UK....
used "Imagination" - Harry's cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Belouis Some
Belouis Some
Belouis Some is a British New Wave musician. He had hits in the 1980s with "Some People", "Round Round", , plus "Imagination" which also achieved success on the European and , and can be heard in the films Ghost Chase and The Business...
's hit - to front a TV advertising campaign. The song was also the lead track on Harry's Under the Covers EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
which also featured the video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song.
Collaborations
- In 2004, Harry performed a duetDuet (music)A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
on "Take" from Raymond Watts' album, PigmartyrPigmartyrPigmartyr is an album by Raymond Watts, a.k.a. PIG. This was the first album he signed as "Watts" instead of "PIG". The First copies Pigmartyr (2004) is an album by Raymond Watts, a.k.a. PIG. This was the first album he signed as "Watts" instead of "PIG". The First copies Pigmartyr (2004) is an...
. - In 2006, Harry appeared as a guest vocalist on "Making Me Crazy" for Tommy LeeTommy LeeThomas Lee Bass , best known as Tommy Lee, is an American musician and founding member of glam metal band Mötley Crüe. As well as being the band's long-term drummer, Lee founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects...
's solo album, Tommyland. - Two tracks were recorded ("Set Fire to Me" and "Never Stop") with Crystal Method for DJ HyperDJ HyperDJ Hyper is a British DJ, producer and remixer who has releases on labels such as Distinct'ive Breaks Records, Bedrock Records, and Positiva Recordings. He has done remixes for artists such as BT and Paul Van Dyk. He has also performed as a band under the Hyper moniker, featuring Prodigy members...
's album, We Control. - In the same year, she sang alongside Dani FilthDani FilthDani Filth is the lyricist, vocalist and founding member of the metal band Cradle of Filth.-Personal life:...
in Cradle of FilthCradle of FilthCradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
's recording of "TemptationTemptation (Heaven 17 song)"Temptation" is a single by Sheffield band Heaven 17, originally released in April 1983, peaking at number 2 in the UK charts. This was the second single to be taken from their second album The Luxury Gap, after November 1982's "Let Me Go"....
" (a coverCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Heaven 17Heaven 17Heaven 17 are an English synthpop band originating from Sheffield in the early 1980s. The trio comprises Martyn Ware , Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory...
) for the album ThornographyThornographyThornography is the seventh full-length studio album by Cradle of Filth released through Roadrunner Records in October, 2006. The album is produced by Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano, engineered and co-produced by Dan Turner and mixed by Andy Sneap, and once again features narration by Doug Bradley...
. She was also in the video for the song alongside the band.
Press coverage
In November 2006, Mick RockMick Rock
Mick Rock is a British photographer best known for his iconic shots of rock and roll legends such as Queen, David Bowie, Syd Barrett, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Joan Jett, Talking Heads, Roxy Music, Crossfade, Thin Lizzy, Motley Crue, and Blondie...
photographed
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
Harry fully clothed for her own article in Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
. In July 2008, Harry was interviewed alongside Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
for Nylon
Nylon (magazine)
Nylon is an American magazine that focuses on pop culture and fashion. Its coverage includes art, beauty, music, design, celebrities, technology and travel...
magazine.
Television appearances
In 2003 she appeared in a controversial episode of the UK Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
me, Faking it
Faking It
Faking It was a television programme originating on Channel 4 which has spawned various international remakes, including a US version which began in 2003 on the TLC network...
, where she was to help transform a choir girl into a "rock chick". Controversy arose when the participant, Laura-Jane Foley, claimed she had been misrepresented by the show. However, the episode in question had already run into trouble before it even aired, with regular sponsors Smirnoff
Smirnoff
Smirnoff is a brand of vodka owned and produced by the British company Diageo. The Smirnoff brand began with a vodka distillery founded in Moscow by Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov , the son of illiterate Russian peasants. It is now distributed in 130 countries.Smirnoff products include vodka, flavored...
refusing to be associated with its scenes of "irresponsible drinking", in which Harry appeared hungover after a night out.
Her filmwork also includes a role as Sophie Johnstone in the 1992 TV series Homeward Bound, and a small role as a lady of the night, Maria, alongside Jonny Lee Miller
Jonny Lee Miller
Jonathan "Jonny" Lee Miller is an English actor. During the initial days he was best known for his roles in the 1996 films Trainspotting and Hackers...
in the 1999 British film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Plunkett & Macleane
Plunkett & Macleane
Plunkett & Macleane is a 1999 British historical action comedy film directed by Jake Scott, and starring Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Liv Tyler. It follows the story of Captain James Macleane , and Will Plunkett , two men in eighteenth century Britain who are both struggling to survive...
.
In May 2003 Harry appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Re:covered
Re:covered
Re:covered was a music television show broadcast in the UK on BBC Choice in 2002 and hosted by Dermot O'Leary. Each of the ten half-hour shows featured three bands or artists who, in turn, played two songs – a current track of their own, and a cover version of their choice.A Re:covered Elvis...
programme, where she performed both "Imagination", and a cover of Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
's hit "One Way Or Another
One Way or Another
"One Way or Another" is a song by American New Wave band Blondie.-Song information:Written by Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison for the band's third studio album, Parallel Lines , the song was inspired by one of Harry's ex-boyfriends who stalked her after their break up. The song was released as a...
".
In late 2006, Harry was chosen as the face and voice of buy.com
Buy.com
Buy.com, Incorporated is an online retailer based in Aliso Viejo, California.Buy.com began by selling computers and electronics in 1997 and has since expanded into many other categories...
's $30 million national US marketing campaign, recording a song for, and appearing in the television advertisement
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
for the company.
Albums
- The Trouble with... HarryThe Trouble with... HarryThe Trouble With... Harry was the first album by British musician Harry .The album was released on 21 April 2003 but failed to reach the UK album top 75....
(2003) (released under the name Harry) - Songs From the EdgeSongs from the EdgeSongs from the Edge is the second album by British musician Dirty Harry .It was recorded as the follow-up to The Trouble with... Harry and produced by multi-platinum Grammy-nominated producer Luke Ebbin...
(2007) - (un)Released (2009) - A compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of various rare tracks from Harrys career.
EPs
- Under the Covers (2003) (released under the name Harry) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#43 - God Shaped Hole (2009)
Singles
- "Eye" (2000)
- "Nothing Really Matters" (2001)
- "So Real" (2002) (released under the name Harry) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#53 - "Follow Me" (2003) (released under the name Harry)