Ken Lockie
Encyclopedia
Ken Lockie born in Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
is a singer/songwriter and keyboard player, singer of New Wave
band Cowboys International
.
releasing the album The Original Sin
in October 1979. Cowboys International recorded and played with many punk and new wave era luminaries including Keith Levene
from Public Image Limited, Jimmy Hughes
of The Banned
and Department S
, Terry Chimes
from The Clash
, Marco Pirroni
of Adam and the Ants
, Paul Simon
from Radio Stars
, Steve Shears of Ultravox!, etc.
in 1981 (featuring guest appearances by ex-Cowboys International members Steve Shears and Paul Simon, and John McGeoch
of Magazine, Jim Kerr
of Simple Minds
, Nash The Slash
and Preston Heyman
of Tom Robinson Band
).
in 1982. At this point Lockie was no longer a contributor to PIL.
of Streetwise picked up on the single and it became a smash success in the spring of 1984 (#1 on Billboard Dance Chart for 10 weeks). This track later became part of the Grosse Pointe Blank
movie soundtrack in 1997. Lockie continued to produce and write on the strength of this but finally opted out of the music business soon after the birth of his first son in 1986.
2003 saw him set up his own label Pnuma Records, and re-issue a collection of Cowboys International recordings from The Original Sin and various singles on CD. He recorded a new Cowboys International album in 2004 "The Backwards Life of Romeo" performing a live show at Eyedrum
in Atlanta GA in 2005.
Solo:
Related Releases and Collaborations:
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
is a singer/songwriter and keyboard player, singer of New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band Cowboys International
Cowboys International
Cowboys International were a New Wave and synthpop band formed by vocalist and songwriter Ken Lockie that put out one album in 1979, the influential The Original Sin, and a handful of 45s before dissolving in 1980...
.
Cowboys International
Lockie fronted his own band Cowboys InternationalCowboys International
Cowboys International were a New Wave and synthpop band formed by vocalist and songwriter Ken Lockie that put out one album in 1979, the influential The Original Sin, and a handful of 45s before dissolving in 1980...
releasing the album The Original Sin
The Original Sin (album)
The Original Sin is an album by Cowboys International, from the British post-punk New Wave era. The band's lone album made Melody Maker's Top 20 poll in 1979 and received rave reviews from Rolling Stone magazine.-Description:...
in October 1979. Cowboys International recorded and played with many punk and new wave era luminaries including Keith Levene
Keith Levene
Keith Levene is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was an early member of The Clash, but is best known as being a founding member of Public Image Limited, along with John Lydon....
from Public Image Limited, Jimmy Hughes
Jimmy Hughes (musician)
James Hughes is an English bassist who has played with many punk rock and New Wave bands, and whose career as a rock musician and writer continues to this day....
of The Banned
The Banned
The Banned are a fictional band in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The storyline aired in 1986 and although it was considered to be a failure on-screen, it nevertheless became a successful part of the serial's extensive merchandising industry that year, as it spawned two Hit singles in the UK Music...
and Department S
Department S (band)
Department S were a British new wave band formed in 1980, who took their stage name from the 1960s TV series Department S. They are best known for their debut single, "Is Vic There?", which was originally released in December 1980.-1980s:...
, Terry Chimes
Terry Chimes
Terry Chimes was the original drummer of punk rock group The Clash. He originally played with them from July 1976 to November 1976, January 1977 to April 1977, and again from May 1982 to February 1983. He was the drummer for Hanoi Rocks in 1985, before the band broke-up that same year...
from The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, Marco Pirroni
Marco Pirroni
Marco Francesco Andrea Pirroni is an English guitarist, songwriter and record producer...
of Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...
, Paul Simon
Paul Simon (UK musician)
Paul Simon is a British drummer born in Halifax, Calderdale, West Yorkshire, who played with different punk and New Wave artists, like Ian North, Radio Stars, John Foxx and Glen Matlock...
from Radio Stars
Radio Stars
Radio Stars are an English new wave group formed in early 1977. They released three albums and had one UK Top 40 single.-Biography:Radio Stars were formed by ex-John's Children vocalist Andy Ellison, Sparks exile Martin Gordon , and Ian MacLeod in 1977, following the end of their underachieving...
, Steve Shears of Ultravox!, etc.
Solo career
The band toured extensively throughout the UK and in Europe in 1980, at which point Lockie pursued a solo career with Virgin; releasing the album The ImpossibleThe Impossible (album)
The Impossible is the only solo album of English singer Ken Lockie, after dissolving his band, Cowboys International, in 1980. It was released by Virgin Records, in 1981, and was recorded with the help of two of the former Lockie bandmates in Cowboys International, guitarist Stevie Shears and...
in 1981 (featuring guest appearances by ex-Cowboys International members Steve Shears and Paul Simon, and John McGeoch
John McGeoch
John Alexander McGeoch, , was a Scottish guitarist who played with a number of bands of the post-punk era, including Magazine, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Visage and Public Image Ltd....
of Magazine, Jim Kerr
Jim Kerr
James "Jim" Kerr is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the band Simple Minds who achieved five UK #1 albums and a #1 single "Ballad of the Streets EP". He released his first solo album, Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr, on the 27 May 2010.- Simple Minds :Kerr attended...
of Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
, Nash The Slash
Nash the Slash
Nash the Slash is a Canadian musician. Though a multi-instrumentalist, he is known primarily for playing electric violin and mandolin, as well as harmonica, keyboards, glockenspiel, and other instruments .Nash worked as a solo artist beginning in 1975, then founded the progressive rock band FM in...
and Preston Heyman
Preston Heyman
Preston Heyman is a British session drummer. His credits include playing with the Tom Robinson Band on the album TRB Two. He is the co-founder of London based production company Flipside Productions and plays live with Zohar and Avivit on the London circuit....
of Tom Robinson Band
Tom Robinson Band
Tom Robinson Band were a British rock band, established in 1976 by singer, songwriter and bassist Tom Robinson...
).
Public Image Ltd.
Lockie joined Public Image Limited in New York City in 1981 in preparation for recording in Chicago in November of that year. His contributions to PIL stemmed back to "Metal Box" where he contributed and co-wrote "Radio 4" in 1979 (although not officially credited). Due to complications with Virgin and funding, recording in 1981 was delayed. PIL entered into various recording sessions in NYC during this period until finally entering into Park South Studios to record what became Commercial ZoneCommercial Zone
Commercial Zone is an album of studio recordings by Public Image Ltd., recorded in 1982-1983 and released in 1984 by PiL founding guitarist Keith Levene. Following his departure from the band, Levene fled with the master tapes to America, where he sold the rights for the material and had several...
in 1982. At this point Lockie was no longer a contributor to PIL.
Other projects
After his departure from PIL in 1982 Lockie found some success in dance music co-producing with Ivan Brietmann and co-wroting with Stuart Agarbright "Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight". Arthur BakerArthur Baker (musician)
Arthur Baker is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, and the British group New Order.-Early career:...
of Streetwise picked up on the single and it became a smash success in the spring of 1984 (#1 on Billboard Dance Chart for 10 weeks). This track later became part of the Grosse Pointe Blank
Grosse Pointe Blank
Grosse Pointe Blank is a 1997 American Black comedy film, directed by George Armitage, and starring John Cusack and Minnie Driver.In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted Grosse Pointe Blank the 21st greatest comedy film of all time. The film's soundtrack features mainly independent music hits...
movie soundtrack in 1997. Lockie continued to produce and write on the strength of this but finally opted out of the music business soon after the birth of his first son in 1986.
2003 saw him set up his own label Pnuma Records, and re-issue a collection of Cowboys International recordings from The Original Sin and various singles on CD. He recorded a new Cowboys International album in 2004 "The Backwards Life of Romeo" performing a live show at Eyedrum
Eyedrum
Eyedrum is a non-profit art space and venue in Atlanta, Georgia focused on contemporary art and experimental music ranging from contemporary chamber music, sound sculpture to drone noise music, and art rock. Up until Jan. 1, 2011, they were located in the Old Fourth Ward district, and had three art...
in Atlanta GA in 2005.
Discography
Cowboys International:- The Original SinThe Original Sin (album)The Original Sin is an album by Cowboys International, from the British post-punk New Wave era. The band's lone album made Melody Maker's Top 20 poll in 1979 and received rave reviews from Rolling Stone magazine.-Description:...
(1979) - The Original Sin Revisited (2003)
- The Backwards Life of Romeo (2004)
Solo:
- The ImpossibleThe Impossible (album)The Impossible is the only solo album of English singer Ken Lockie, after dissolving his band, Cowboys International, in 1980. It was released by Virgin Records, in 1981, and was recorded with the help of two of the former Lockie bandmates in Cowboys International, guitarist Stevie Shears and...
album (1981) - Dance House single (1981)
- Today single (1981)
Related Releases and Collaborations:
- Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call - Simple MindsSimple MindsSimple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
(1981) - Backing Vocals - BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
- Public Image Limited (1979) - Keyboards