Mark Hollis
Encyclopedia
Mark Hollis is an English musician, singer and songwriter. He achieved commercial success in the 1980s as singer with the synth pop/post-rock
band Talk Talk
, but retired from the music industry after his 1998 critically praised solo album.
, Lee Harris
and Simon Brenner, with whom he formed Talk Talk in 1981, soon signing to the EMI label.
Hollis is most famous as the lead singer of the band Talk Talk, and was praised for his "always remarkable voice." It was he, along with unofficial Talk Talk member Tim Friese-Greene
, who took the lead in evolving the band's style from New Romantic
into what would later become known as post-rock
.
In 1998, he released an eponymous solo
debut album, Mark Hollis
, and participated in occasional musical projects, including playing on and producing Anja Garbarek
's 2001 album Smiling & Waving. He has now retired from the music business. He has stated about his decision to retire from performing, "I choose for my family. Maybe others are capable of doing it, but I can't go on tour and be a good dad at the same time." Despite Hollis's absence from the public eye, he (as well as Talk Talk) continue to be mentioned in the press, inside Britain and outside, often as an example of an artist who refused to sacrifice his artistic ambition to commercial success and as a yardstick for current artists.
In 2004, Hollis resurfaced briefly to receive a Broadcast Music Inc. award for having written "It's My Life." His withdrawal from the public continues to fascinate music critics. Hollis lives in London with his wife and two children, born in 1987/1988 and 1990/1991.
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
band Talk Talk
Talk Talk
Talk Talk were an English musical group, active from 1981 to 1991. The group had a string of international hit singles including "Today", "Talk Talk", "It's My Life", "Such a Shame", "Dum Dum Girl", "Life's What You Make It" and "Living in Another World"....
, but retired from the music industry after his 1998 critically praised solo album.
Biography
The younger brother of Ed Hollis, a disc jockey and producer who went on to manage bands such as Eddie and the Hot Rods, Hollis originally planned to become a child psychologist but in 1975 left university to relocate to London, eventually forming a band called The Reaction. In 1977, The Reaction recorded a demo for Island Records; among the tracks was a Hollis original titled "Talk Talk" which later surfaced on the Beggars Banquet punk compilation Streets. After just one single, 1978's "I Can't Resist," The Reaction disbanded, and through his brother, Hollis was first introduced to musicians Paul WebbPaul Webb
Paul Douglas Webb is an English musician.Webb attended secondary school with Lee Harris, and the two became good friends. They played in the reggae band Eskalator before being recruited to form Talk Talk in 1981. Webb played bass for Talk Talk until 1988.In the early 1990s he and Harris formed...
, Lee Harris
Lee Harris
Lee Harris is an American author and essayist who writes for Policy Review and Tech Central Station who lives in Stone Mountain, Georgia.-Books by Lee Harris:*The Suicide of Reason: Radical Islam's Threat to the West Basic Books...
and Simon Brenner, with whom he formed Talk Talk in 1981, soon signing to the EMI label.
Hollis is most famous as the lead singer of the band Talk Talk, and was praised for his "always remarkable voice." It was he, along with unofficial Talk Talk member Tim Friese-Greene
Tim Friese-Greene
Timothy Alan Friese-Greene is an English musician and producer. From 1983 to their breakup in 1992, he worked with the band Talk Talk. He currently releases solo albums under the name "Heligoland".-Producer:...
, who took the lead in evolving the band's style from New Romantic
New Romantic
New Romanticism , was a pop culture movement in the United Kingdom that began around 1979 and peaked around 1981. Developing in London nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz and spreading to other major cities in the UK, it was based around flamboyant, eccentric fashion and new wave music...
into what would later become known as post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
.
In 1998, he released an eponymous solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
debut album, Mark Hollis
Mark Hollis (album)
Mark Hollis is the only solo album by the former Talk Talk frontman Mark Hollis. It was released on Polydor on 2 February 1998, then reissued on Pond Life on 13 March 2000. In 2003, the album was released in LP format on Universal Records. Its sound is noted for being extremely sparse and minimal;...
, and participated in occasional musical projects, including playing on and producing Anja Garbarek
Anja Garbarek
Anja Garbarek is a Norwegian singer-songwriter of mixed Norwegian and Polish descent. She is the daughter of the Norwegian jazz saxophonist Jan Garbarek and grew up around Oslo. She received the Spellemannsprisen in 2001 for her album Smiling & Waving in the open class category. She is married to...
's 2001 album Smiling & Waving. He has now retired from the music business. He has stated about his decision to retire from performing, "I choose for my family. Maybe others are capable of doing it, but I can't go on tour and be a good dad at the same time." Despite Hollis's absence from the public eye, he (as well as Talk Talk) continue to be mentioned in the press, inside Britain and outside, often as an example of an artist who refused to sacrifice his artistic ambition to commercial success and as a yardstick for current artists.
In 2004, Hollis resurfaced briefly to receive a Broadcast Music Inc. award for having written "It's My Life." His withdrawal from the public continues to fascinate music critics. Hollis lives in London with his wife and two children, born in 1987/1988 and 1990/1991.
Solo discography
- Mark HollisMark Hollis (album)Mark Hollis is the only solo album by the former Talk Talk frontman Mark Hollis. It was released on Polydor on 2 February 1998, then reissued on Pond Life on 13 March 2000. In 2003, the album was released in LP format on Universal Records. Its sound is noted for being extremely sparse and minimal;...
(1998)
Collaborations
- Hollis played the pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
on the track 'Piano' from the 1998 minimalistMinimalismMinimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
album AV 1, by Phill Brown and Dave Allinson, under the pseudonym John Cope. - Hollis played piano on the track "Chaos" on the 1998 trip-hop album Psyence FictionPsyence Fiction-Samples:*"Intro "**Quannum MCs – "Blue Flames"**Massive Attack – "Teardrop"**Air – "All I Need"**Invisibl Skratch Piklz – "Invisibl Skratch Piklz vs...
by UNKLEUNKLEUnkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined...
. - Hollis provided musical accompaniment on Anja GarbarekAnja GarbarekAnja Garbarek is a Norwegian singer-songwriter of mixed Norwegian and Polish descent. She is the daughter of the Norwegian jazz saxophonist Jan Garbarek and grew up around Oslo. She received the Spellemannsprisen in 2001 for her album Smiling & Waving in the open class category. She is married to...
's 2001 album Smiling & Waving.
External links
- Within Without - large unofficial Mark Hollis and Talk Talk homepage
- Talkingspace GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Mark Hollis and Talk Talk fan page - It's My Talk Talk Pages - Unofficial French Talk Talk page