Kevin Rowland
Kevin Rowland (born August 17, 1953 in Wolverhampton , England ) is a British singer and composer of Irish descent. He is the band leader of the Dexys Midnight Runners .
Life
Before starting his musical career, he worked for his father's construction company and trained as a hairdresser in Birmingham.
Rowland's first group, Lucy & The Lovers, was influenced by Roxy Music and was short-lived.
His next project The Killjoys was much more successful in 1977 thanks to the song Johnny Won't Go To Heaven . Alienated from the punk scene , Kevin Rowland and Killjoy's guitarist Kevin "Al" Archer formed a new group influenced by soul and Celtic folk : the Dexys Midnight Runners . With this group he had his greatest successes, especially the title Come On Eileen was a number 1 hit in England and America and one of the greatest hits of the 1980s. In addition, the single Geno was a number 1 hit in Great Britain earlier in 1980.
When Dexys broke up in 1987, Rowland recorded a solo album called The Wanderer . The album with its three released singles was a commercial flop. His next album wasn't released until 1999. It's a collection of cover versions like My Beauty . Despite the applause from the music critics, the album could not be sold successfully again.
Rowland often had problems with his band members, or they with him, due to partially egomaniacal and over-controlling behavior. This kept changing members. He also struggled with depression and cocaine addiction . According to his own statements, Rowland was plagued by fear of failure throughout his musical career.
In April 2003, the Dexys were put back together by Rowland for a tour. In September 2003, the band was able to release the highly acclaimed biggest hits record Let's Make This Precious on the market.
In an interview with the BBC in June 2005, he announced that the group Dexys Midnight Runners had come together again in the studio to record a new album. In 2012 the band released a new album, which is now called Dexys, with the title One Day I'm Going To Soar .
Discography
Singles
- 1988: Walk Away / Even When I Hold You
- 1988: Tonight / Kevin Rowland's Band
- 1988: Young Man / One Way Ticket To Palookaville
- 1999: Concrete And Clay / I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top (Instrumental)
Albums
- 1988: The Wanderer ( Young Man / Walk Away / You'll Be The One For Me / Heartaches By The Number / I Am A Wanderer / Tonight / When You Walk Alone / Age Can't Wither You / I Want / Remember Me )
- 1999: My Beauty ( The Greatest Love Of All / Rag Doll / Concrete And Clay / Daydream Believer / This Guy's In Love With You / The Long and Winding Road / It's Getting Better / I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top / Labeled With Love (I'll Stay With My Dreams) / Reflections Of My Life / You'll Never Walk Alone )
- 2012 One Day I´m Going To Soar ( Now / Lost / Me / She got A Wiggle / You / I´m Thinking of You / I´m Always Going To Love You / Incapable Of Love / Nowhere Is Home / Free / It ´s OK John Joe ) Label: Buback
Individual evidence
- ↑ "I don't want to be degraded to a jukebox" with Thomas Winkler, interview in taz, the daily newspaper. Issue 18./19. August 2012.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Rowland, Kevin |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British singer, composer and band leader |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 17th August 1953 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Wolverhampton , England |