Grant Showbiz
Encyclopedia
Grant Showbiz is a British record producer principally known for his work with The Fall, The Smiths
, and Billy Bragg
plus as an artist in his own right with Moodswings
. He continues his work with both Billy Bragg & The Fall to this day, having worked on more albums by both The Fall (15) & Billy Bragg (14) than any other producer. Showbiz has been awarded Gold Records for The Smiths' Rank
, Billy Bragg's Don't Try This At Home and The Wilco
/Bragg collaboration Mermaid Vol.1
, and received Grammy nominations for both Mermaid Avenue Vols 1 & 2.
in 1976. Showbiz ran the sound and stage at many free festival
s such as Windsor
and Stonehenge
. Stamping his personality on proceedings, using a microphone plugged into the soundboard, he would often amiably harangue those onstage to get on with it, or off, as circumstances might merit. He quickly forged links with the punk
scene, producing albums for Alternative TV
& The Fall. In 1979 he set up the Ladbroke Grove
-based Street-Level Studio with Kif Kif (ex drummer of Here & Now), going on to record a swathe of bands including The Fall, Alternative TV
, Mark Perrys' Good Missionaries, The Door And The Window, 012, World Domination Enterprises
, The Mob, Impossible Dreamers, The Astronauts, Blythe Power, Brian Brain
, The Petticoats, Androids Of Mu, The Instant Automatons & Take It - many released on the associated pioneering DIY
record label Fuck Off Records. At this time Showbiz also began making music himself, playing bass in Blue Midnight (who he continues to record & play live with).
Through connections with Rough Trade
Showbiz became The Smiths
live sound engineer, working with them from their 5th gig until their demise in 1986. He produced their live album Rank
and recorded their last ever tracks "Work Is A Four Letter Word" & "I Keep Mine Hidden". He filmed a backstage video Reel around the fountain. of their 1984 UK tour & recorded most of their live shows.
In the 2000s Showbiz was member of studio-based band Moodswings
.
Showbiz continues to tour as sound engineer for Billy Bragg.
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, and Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
plus as an artist in his own right with Moodswings
Moodswings (band)
Moodswings is a musical duo composed of Grant Showbiz and James F.T. Hood. Grant Showbiz was a onetime roadie and guitar tech who later produced albums by The Smiths, Billy Bragg, Silverfish, and Gong. James Hood was a former drummer for The Pretenders, The Impossible Dreamers, Kid Creole & the...
. He continues his work with both Billy Bragg & The Fall to this day, having worked on more albums by both The Fall (15) & Billy Bragg (14) than any other producer. Showbiz has been awarded Gold Records for The Smiths' Rank
Rank (album)
Rank is a live album by the English rock band The Smiths. It was released in September 1988 by their British record company, Rough Trade, and reached No. 2 in the British charts. In the United States, the album was released on Sire Records and made No. 77.-About the album:Rank was released as a...
, Billy Bragg's Don't Try This At Home and The Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
/Bragg collaboration Mermaid Vol.1
Mermaid Avenue
Mermaid Avenue is a 1998 album of previously unheard lyrics written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie, put to music written and performed by British singer Billy Bragg and the American band Wilco. The project was organized by Guthrie's daughter, Nora Guthrie. Mermaid Avenue was released on the...
, and received Grammy nominations for both Mermaid Avenue Vols 1 & 2.
Career
Showbiz started as a soundman for anarcho-hippypunks Here & NowHere & Now (band)
Here & Now are an English psychedelic/space rock band formed in early 1974. They have close connections with the band Gong and in 1977/1978 worked with Gong's Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth under the name Planet Gong...
in 1976. Showbiz ran the sound and stage at many free festival
Free festival
Free festivals are a combination of music, arts and cultural activities for which, often, no admission is charged, but involvement is preferred. They are identifiable by being multi-day events connected by a camping community without centralised control. The Free festival movement being the...
s such as Windsor
Windsor Free Festival
The Windsor Free Festival was a British Free Festival held in Windsor Great Park from 1972 to 1974. Organised by some London commune dwellers, notably Ubi Dwyer and Sid Rawle, it was in many ways the forerunner of the Stonehenge Free Festival, particularly in the brutality of its final suppression...
and Stonehenge
Stonehenge Free Festival
The Stonehenge Free Festival was a British free festival from 1972 to 1984 held at Stonehenge in England during the month of June, and culminating on the summer solstice on June 21. The festival was a celebration of various alternative cultures...
. Stamping his personality on proceedings, using a microphone plugged into the soundboard, he would often amiably harangue those onstage to get on with it, or off, as circumstances might merit. He quickly forged links with the punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene, producing albums for Alternative TV
Alternative TV
Alternative TV were an English rock band, formed in London in 1976. Their punk rock and post-punk sound was influential for several musical artists.-History:...
& The Fall. In 1979 he set up the Ladbroke Grove
Ladbroke Grove
Ladbroke Grove is a road in west London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is also sometimes the name given informally to the immediate area surrounding the road. Running from Notting Hill in the south to Kensal Green in the north, it is located in North Kensington and straddles...
-based Street-Level Studio with Kif Kif (ex drummer of Here & Now), going on to record a swathe of bands including The Fall, Alternative TV
Alternative TV
Alternative TV were an English rock band, formed in London in 1976. Their punk rock and post-punk sound was influential for several musical artists.-History:...
, Mark Perrys' Good Missionaries, The Door And The Window, 012, World Domination Enterprises
World Domination Enterprises
World Domination Enterprises were an English indie rock band, who were active in the 1980s. The band mixed elements of indie rock, post-hardcore , and dub.World Domination Enterprises' sound was defined by their atonal guitar...
, The Mob, Impossible Dreamers, The Astronauts, Blythe Power, Brian Brain
Brian Brain
Brian Maurice Brain is a former English cricketer whose career with Worcestershire and Gloucestershire stretched over more than two decades...
, The Petticoats, Androids Of Mu, The Instant Automatons & Take It - many released on the associated pioneering DIY
DIY ethic
The DIY ethic refers to the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks oneself as opposed to having others who are more experienced or able complete them for one's behalf. It promotes the idea that an ordinary person can learn to do more than he or she thought was possible...
record label Fuck Off Records. At this time Showbiz also began making music himself, playing bass in Blue Midnight (who he continues to record & play live with).
Through connections with Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
Showbiz became The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
live sound engineer, working with them from their 5th gig until their demise in 1986. He produced their live album Rank
Rank (album)
Rank is a live album by the English rock band The Smiths. It was released in September 1988 by their British record company, Rough Trade, and reached No. 2 in the British charts. In the United States, the album was released on Sire Records and made No. 77.-About the album:Rank was released as a...
and recorded their last ever tracks "Work Is A Four Letter Word" & "I Keep Mine Hidden". He filmed a backstage video Reel around the fountain. of their 1984 UK tour & recorded most of their live shows.
In the 2000s Showbiz was member of studio-based band Moodswings
Moodswings (band)
Moodswings is a musical duo composed of Grant Showbiz and James F.T. Hood. Grant Showbiz was a onetime roadie and guitar tech who later produced albums by The Smiths, Billy Bragg, Silverfish, and Gong. James Hood was a former drummer for The Pretenders, The Impossible Dreamers, Kid Creole & the...
.
Showbiz continues to tour as sound engineer for Billy Bragg.
Albums
- The Internationale
- Don't Try This At Home
- William Bloke
- Bloke On Bloke
- Mermaid Avenue Vol 1 (with Wilco & Natalie Merchant)
- Reaching To The Converted
- Mermaid Avenue Vol 2(with Wilco)
- Bill's Bargains
- Must I Paint You A Picture? (The Essential Billy Bragg)
- England Half English
- Live At the Barbican
- Boxsets Vol 12
- Mr Love & Justice
- Pressure Drop
Albums
- Dragnet (1979)
- Totales' Turns (1980)
- Grotesque (1980)
- Slates (1981)
- Part Of America Therein (1982)
- Hex Enduction Hour (1982)
- There's A Ghost In My house (single) (1982)
- Frenz Experiment (1988)
- Hi Tension Line (single) (1990)
- Shiftwork (1991)
- Twenty Seven Points (1995)
- The Legendary Chaos Tapes (1996)
- The Unutterable(2000)
- Country On The Click - The Real New Fall Album (2003)
- Live At Deeply Vale (2005)
- Imperial Wax Solvent (2008)
- Last Night At The Palais (2009)
B sides
- Nowhere Fast
- Stretch Out And Wait
- Shakespeare's Sister
- Meat Is Murder
- Work Is A Four Letter Word
- I Keep Mine Hidden
External links
- Grant Showbiz @ Discogs.
- Grant Showbiz remembers The Smiths - 2010 radio interview.