Dave Rowbotham
Encyclopedia
Dave Rowbotham was a rock musician who played guitar and bass with different Manchester bands in the 1970s and the 1980s, and as studio musician.
, Manchester, he adopted the hippie
lifestyle. During the punk era, he, alongside drummer Chris Joyce
, played in a band called Fast Breeder and was managed by Alan Erasmus
, later Factory Records
founder. In 1978, the pair, alongside Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias
bassist Tony Bowers, singer Phil Rainford
(replaced after months by Colin Sharp
) and former Nosebleeds guitarist Vini Reilly
, founded the post-punk
band The Durutti Column
.
However, the five-piece line-up didn't last long, and after releasing A Factory Sample
, a various artists compilation which contained two of their songs, Rowbotham, alongside Sharp, Bowers and Joyce, left Reilly. Rowbotham alongside the latter two formed The Mothmen
. During the early days of The Mothmen, he also rejoined Reilly in Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls, with then ex-Penetration
vocalist Pauline Murray
, playing on their eponymous album. With The Mothmen, he released two albums, Pay Attention (On-U Sound, 1981) and One Black Dot (1982). By this time, he also formed Motivation
, along with ex-Buzzcocks
bassist Steve Garvey.
By 1981 or early 1982, shortly before the release of One Black Dot, he left Mothmen. After that and Motivation, he was playing many sessions for Factory Records
.
On 8 November 1991, Rowbotham was found dead at his Burnage
flat. He had been murdered with a lathe hammer.
In his memory, the Madchester
band Happy Mondays
wrote a song called "Cowboy Dave", released on the album Yes Please!
, in 1992.
Biography
Coming from DidsburyDidsbury
Didsbury is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Mersey, south of Manchester city centre, in the southern half of the Greater Manchester Urban Area...
, Manchester, he adopted the hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
lifestyle. During the punk era, he, alongside drummer Chris Joyce
Chris Joyce
Chris Joyce is known for being drummer with different new wave groups and with Simply Red in the 1980s.Coming from Didsbury, Manchester, he adopted the hippie lifestyle...
, played in a band called Fast Breeder and was managed by Alan Erasmus
Alan Erasmus
Alan Erasmus was the co-founder of Factory Records with Tony Wilson, which signed Joy Division and Happy Mondays.He started off his career as an actor, appearing in Coronation Street and the TV film Hard Labour by Mike Leigh....
, later Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
founder. In 1978, the pair, alongside Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias
Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias
Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias were a comedy rock band, formed in Manchester, England in 1973. Their story is told in the book When We Were Thin...
bassist Tony Bowers, singer Phil Rainford
Phil Rainford
Phil Rainford is a former singer and music producer, who formed part of the Manchester music scene, in late 1970s and early 1980s, although he did few things...
(replaced after months by Colin Sharp
Colin Sharp
Colin Ainsley Sharp was a musician and writer from England, who was part of the Manchester music scene of the late 1970s and dedicated to arts in Newcastle....
) and former Nosebleeds guitarist Vini Reilly
Vini Reilly
Vincent "Vini" Gerard Reilly is an English musician and leader of the post-punk group The Durutti Column.-Biography:...
, founded the post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column are an English post-punk band formed in 1978 in Manchester, England. The band is an ongoing project of guitarist Vini Reilly who is often accompanied by drummer Bruce Mitchell. Other current members are Keir Stewart and Reilly's girlfriend Poppy Morgan...
.
However, the five-piece line-up didn't last long, and after releasing A Factory Sample
A Factory Sample
A Factory Sample is a 7-inch double sampler EP released on 24 December 1978 by Factory Records of Manchester, England. It was the first vinyl recording to be released by the label...
, a various artists compilation which contained two of their songs, Rowbotham, alongside Sharp, Bowers and Joyce, left Reilly. Rowbotham alongside the latter two formed The Mothmen
The Mothmen
The Mothmen were a short-lived post-punk band from England, formed around 1979 by Dave Rowbotham, Chris Joyce and Tony Bowers, shortly after they left The Durutti Column, including ex-Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias singer Bob Harding.-History:...
. During the early days of The Mothmen, he also rejoined Reilly in Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls, with then ex-Penetration
Penetration (band)
Penetration is a punk rock band from County Durham, England formed in 1976. They re-formed in 2001 with several new members.Their debut single, "Don’t Dictate", is now acknowledged as a classic punk rock single and their debut album, Moving Targets , is still widely admired-Biography:The lead...
vocalist Pauline Murray
Pauline Murray
Pauline Murray was the lead singer of the punk rock band, Penetration, which was originally formed in 1976.In May 1976 the then 18-year-old Murray saw the Sex Pistols...
, playing on their eponymous album. With The Mothmen, he released two albums, Pay Attention (On-U Sound, 1981) and One Black Dot (1982). By this time, he also formed Motivation
Motivation (band)
Motivation was a short-lived band formed in Manchester, England, c...
, along with ex-Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
bassist Steve Garvey.
By 1981 or early 1982, shortly before the release of One Black Dot, he left Mothmen. After that and Motivation, he was playing many sessions for Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
.
On 8 November 1991, Rowbotham was found dead at his Burnage
Burnage
Burnage is a neighbourhood of the city of Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire it was included in the county of Greater Manchester in 1974. It is about south of Manchester city centre, bisected by the busy dual carriageway of Kingsway, part of the A34...
flat. He had been murdered with a lathe hammer.
In his memory, the Madchester
Madchester
Madchester was a music scene that developed in Manchester, England, towards the end of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The music that emerged from the scene mixed alternative rock, psychedelic rock and dance music...
band Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
wrote a song called "Cowboy Dave", released on the album Yes Please!
Yes Please!
Yes Please! was the last studio album that the British band Happy Mondays recorded before leaving Factory Records. Generally seen as their poorest work, it was released in 1992 and was produced by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads...
, in 1992.
Biobliography
- Simmonds, Jeremy. The Enciclopedia of Dead Rock Stars. Chicago Reviews Press, 2008. ISBN 1556527543, 9781556527548. Pages 279 – 280