Zaine Griff
Encyclopedia
Zaine Griff is a singer-songwriter
who formed part of the English
new wave
scene of the 1980s. Although being educated and beginning as musician in New Zealand, he moved to England
in the 1970s, where he continued with his artistic and musical career, becoming a solo artist. He worked with Lindsay Kemp
, in arts, and The Human Instinct
, The Kinks
, David Bowie
and Hans Zimmer
, in music.
and Tahiti
by his Danish parents, he learned guitar in an early age.
In the early 1970s he joined rock band The Human Instinct
as bassist, with the stage name of Glenn Mikkelson. During his time with the band he recorded two album
s, The Hustler (1974) and Peg Leg (recorded in 1975 but not released until 2002).
By 1975, he quit The Human Instinct and moved to London
, England to continue his musical career. There, he became vocalist and bassist of a band called Baby Face and began to study mime and movement, alongside Kate Bush
, Adam Darius
and Lindsay Kemp
. At the time, he joined Kemp's production Flowers, but quit to stay in London to continue with music, when the company went to tour in Australia
.
After leaving the Kemp company, Griff joined Screemer, with whom he released two singles
, "Interplanetary Twist", in 1976, and "In The City", in 1977. Griff also played bass guitar with The Kinks
on their album, Misfits
.
In 1979 for his solo career, he used various musicians for his band among them, future film-musician Hans Zimmer
and Ultravox
drummer Warren Cann
. He released two albums, Ashes and Diamonds (recorded in 1979, released in 1980) and Figures (1982). Ashes and Diamonds was produced
by Tony Visconti
. On both albums, Zimmer played keyboards and computers. On Figures, Kate Bush sang backing vocals
in the song "Flowers", which was dedicated to their mime and dance teacher Lindsay Kemp. Also Yukihiro Takahashi
joined the other musicians. The single, "Tonight" peaked at #54 in the UK Singles Chart
in February 1980, whilst "Ashes and Diamonds" reached #68 in the same listing in June that year.
In 1982, Griff had an art exhibition in Ebury Galley, London. Warren Cann, Mick Karn
, Steve Strange
, Tony Visconti and Mary Hopkin
, all visited the exhibition. In 1984, Griff returned to New Zealand, where he became the owner of a jazz club in Auckland. He has produced several artists and wrote new songs in more recent times. In January 2010, Griff started to record his third album, with the release date planned for late spring in 2011. Plans were also made to re-release his first two albums on CD
.
With Screemer:
As solo artist:
With Helden (as guest vocalist):
With Yukihiro Takahashi:
With Gary Numan:
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
who formed part of the English
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...
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...
scene of the 1980s. Although being educated and beginning as musician in New Zealand, he moved to 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...
in the 1970s, where he continued with his artistic and musical career, becoming a solo artist. He worked with Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp is a British dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist and choreographer.Born in South Shields on May 3, 1938, Kemp's father, a seaman, was lost at sea in 1940. According to Kemp, he danced from early childhood: "I'd dance on the kitchen table to entertain the neighbours. I mean, it was a...
, in arts, and The Human Instinct
The Human Instinct
The Human Instinct are a New Zealand blues rock band that has been active since the late 1960s. The band currently consists of Maurice Greer , Phil Pritchard , Joel Haines and Tony Baird...
, The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer is a German film composer and music producer. He has composed music for over 100 films, including critically acclaimed film scores for The Lion King , Crimson Tide , The Thin Red Line , Gladiator , The Dark Knight and Inception .Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the...
, in music.
Biography
Being brought up in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
by his Danish parents, he learned guitar in an early age.
In the early 1970s he joined rock band The Human Instinct
The Human Instinct
The Human Instinct are a New Zealand blues rock band that has been active since the late 1960s. The band currently consists of Maurice Greer , Phil Pritchard , Joel Haines and Tony Baird...
as bassist, with the stage name of Glenn Mikkelson. During his time with the band he recorded two 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...
s, The Hustler (1974) and Peg Leg (recorded in 1975 but not released until 2002).
By 1975, he quit The Human Instinct and moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England to continue his musical career. There, he became vocalist and bassist of a band called Baby Face and began to study mime and movement, alongside Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
, Adam Darius
Adam Darius
Adam Darius is an American dancer, mime artist, writer and choreographer. As a performer, he has appeared in over 85 countries across six continents...
and Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp is a British dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist and choreographer.Born in South Shields on May 3, 1938, Kemp's father, a seaman, was lost at sea in 1940. According to Kemp, he danced from early childhood: "I'd dance on the kitchen table to entertain the neighbours. I mean, it was a...
. At the time, he joined Kemp's production Flowers, but quit to stay in London to continue with music, when the company went to tour in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
After leaving the Kemp company, Griff joined Screemer, with whom he released two singles
Single (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...
, "Interplanetary Twist", in 1976, and "In The City", in 1977. Griff also played bass guitar with The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
on their album, Misfits
Misfits (The Kinks album)
Misfits is a 1978 album by the English rock group The Kinks.-Track listing:On the UK version of the LP, a longer version of "Live Life" switches places with "Black Messiah". Remastered CD releases have the UK LP track order and include the shorter "Live Life" as a bonus track...
.
In 1979 for his solo career, he used various musicians for his band among them, future film-musician Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer is a German film composer and music producer. He has composed music for over 100 films, including critically acclaimed film scores for The Lion King , Crimson Tide , The Thin Red Line , Gladiator , The Dark Knight and Inception .Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the...
and Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
drummer Warren Cann
Warren Cann
Warren Reginald Cann is a drummer and drum machine programmer, best known as a member of the British New Wave band Ultravox.-Early life:...
. He released two albums, Ashes and Diamonds (recorded in 1979, released in 1980) and Figures (1982). Ashes and Diamonds was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Tony Visconti
Tony Visconti
Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
. On both albums, Zimmer played keyboards and computers. On Figures, Kate Bush sang backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
in the song "Flowers", which was dedicated to their mime and dance teacher Lindsay Kemp. Also Yukihiro Takahashi
Yukihiro Takahashi
Yukihiro Takahashi is a Japanese musician, who is best known as the drummer and lead vocalist of the Yellow Magic Orchestra, and as the former drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band.-Biography:...
joined the other musicians. The single, "Tonight" peaked at #54 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The 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 ...
in February 1980, whilst "Ashes and Diamonds" reached #68 in the same listing in June that year.
In 1982, Griff had an art exhibition in Ebury Galley, London. Warren Cann, Mick Karn
Mick Karn
Andonis Michaelides , better known as Mick Karn, was an English multi-instrumentalist musician and songwriter, who came to fame as the bassist for the art rock band Japan, from 1974 to 1982....
, Steve Strange
Steve Strange
Steve Strange , is a Welsh pop singer, best known as the lead singer and frontman of the 1980s pop group Visage...
, Tony Visconti and Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin , credited on some recordings as Mary Visconti, is a Welsh folk singer best known for her 1968 UK number one single "Those Were The Days". She was one of the first musicians to sign to The Beatles' Apple label....
, all visited the exhibition. In 1984, Griff returned to New Zealand, where he became the owner of a jazz club in Auckland. He has produced several artists and wrote new songs in more recent times. In January 2010, Griff started to record his third album, with the release date planned for late spring in 2011. Plans were also made to re-release his first two albums on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
.
Discography
With The Human Instinct:- The Hustler (Zodiac, 1974)
- Peg Leg (recorded 1975, released 2002)
With Screemer:
- "Interplanetary Twist" (Bell, 1976)
- "In The City" (Arista, August 1977)
As solo artist:
- "Tonight" - single (Automatic, February 1980)
- "Ashes and Diamonds" - single (Automatic, May 1980)
- "Run" - single (Automatic, August 1980)
- Ashes and Diamonds - album (Automatic, October 1980)
- "Figvres" - single (Polydor, July 1982)
- "Flowers" - single (Polydor, September 1982)
- Figvres - album (Polydor, October 1982)
- "Swing" - single (Polydor, October 1983)
With Helden (as guest vocalist):
- "Holding On" - single (1983)
- 'Spies' - album (unreleased)
With Yukihiro Takahashi:
- "This Strange Obsession" on What? Me Worry? album
With Gary Numan:
- "The Secret" on the album, BerserkerBerserker (Gary Numan album)Berserker is the eighth studio album, and sixth under his own name, by electronic music pioneer Gary Numan, released in 1984. It was his first album to be released under Numan's own record label, Numa Records.-Overview:...
(1984)