David Gray (musician)
Encyclopedia
David Gray is an English singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder
six years later. It was the first of three UK chart-toppers
in six years for Gray, the latter two of which also made the Top 20 in the US.
and brought up in Altrincham
, Cheshire before moving with his family to Wales
where he grew up in the small coastal town of Solva
in Pembrokeshire
and went on to attend the Carmarthenshire College of Art. He later moved back to the north-west of England to attend the University of Liverpool
.
Gray's first two albums A Century Ends
and Flesh
were issued in 1993 and 1994 respectively and led to Gray becoming popular in folk-rock circles, but both failed in terms of commercial sales.
In 1996 Gray released his third album, Sell, Sell, Sell
. With his first two albums having been entirely composed of acoustic folk music, this was his first mature exhibition and saw him use his now-trademark blend of folk, alternative rock and electronics for the first time. Despite critical acclaim, the album did not chart, but the song "Late Night Radio" received some airplay on alternative UK radio stations.
, in 2000 on ATO Records
, brought him commercial success and critical attention. The album included his best-known songs: "This Year's Love
", "Babylon", "Please Forgive Me
" and "Sail Away
". White Ladder was originally released on Gray's own label IHT Records
in November 1998. After its re-release, combined with the release and success of single "Babylon", it sold 100,000 copies in Ireland alone, making it number one for six weeks, and it remains the biggest-selling album in Ireland. In August 2000, "Babylon" hit No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart
; it remains his biggest UK hit to date. In the United States, the album received a boost from jam-band leader Dave Matthews
, who made it the first release by ATO Records
, the record company he co-founded. "Babylon" was also the first of three US chart entries for Gray to date. In Ireland, White Ladder remains his biggest-selling album.
The album was No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart
, two years and five months after its original release, spending a total of 151 weeks on the chart. Aside from "Please Forgive Me," which charted at No. 72 on the UK Singles Chart
, all other single releases charted within the Top 20: the re-released "Please Forgive Me" charted at #18, and "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" and "Sail Away" peaked at #26.
The year 2001 also saw the release of two compilation album
s of Gray's early works and unreleased material, The EPs 1992-1994
and Lost Songs 95-98
, both of which followed White Ladder into the Top 20 in the UK Albums Chart.
In November 2002, Gray released the follow-up to White Ladder, entitled A New Day at Midnight
. The new release did not receive the same critical acclaim as its predecessor, but still went straight in at Number One, famously beating Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates
's debut album What My Heart Wants to Say
to the summit and selling nearly 150,000 copies in its first week of release; it went on to reach platinum status within a year, eventually being certified four times platinum overall, and was the second-biggest selling album by a UK artist in 2002, behind Pop Idol winner Will Young
's debut album From Now On. A New Day at Midnight spawned two further UK Top 30 hits in "The Other Side" and "Be Mine" and a minor US hit with "Dead in the Water".
in September 2005, which, like its predecessor, also hit the top of the UK album chart in its first week of release. After the much-criticised A New Day at Midnight, Life in Slow Motion was hailed as a return to form by many critics. Lead single "The One I Love
" was a Top 10 hit in the UK in October 2005 and spent three months in the UK chart. Following the relative commercial failure of follow-up singles "Hospital Food
" and "Alibi
", Gray again went into hiatus during 2006.
In March 2007, Gray released the compilation album Shine: The Best of the Early Years.
On 7 July 2007, Gray performed with Damien Rice
at the UK leg
of Live Earth
at Wembley Stadium
in London. Gray released a compilation CD of live covers entitled A Thousand Miles Behind
exclusively through his official website on 8 October 2007 on CD and digital download.
On 13 November 2007, Gray released a Greatest Hits
album which includes many of his best known songs as well as two new songs, including the lead single "You're the World to Me
."
On 28 May 2009, Gray announced that his new album, entitled Draw the Line
, would be released on 14 September 2009 in the UK and on 22 September in the United States. The album features guest appearances by Annie Lennox
and Jolie Holland
. The album's first single "Fugitive
" was released on 7 September 2009. An expansive worldwide tour coincides.
On 19 September 2009, Gray performed his self-proclaimed first pool-side concert at the Rooftop Pool at The Colonnade Hotel in Boston for the Mix 104.1 End of Summer Bash. Gray performed songs from the new album, including "Fugitive," "Draw the Line," and "Jackdaw."
In an interview for an issue of Hot Press
released on 3 December 2009, Gray revealed to Jackie Hayden that he was working on his next album, Foundling
. Gray also revealed that one of the tracks will be called "The Old Chair." According to Gray, "It features just a drum kit and me on my Steinway piano. It's very quiet."
Originally, Foundling was to be released on 14 September 2010 in the United States. In an interview with the Miami Herald, Gray reiterated that it would be released in September 2010. However, it was released in the UK on 16 August 2010 and in the US on 17 August. Foundling is a double album: the first CD consists of eleven new songs and the second bonus CD consists of eight previously unreleased songs. A ninth previously unreleased song is included when Foundling is ordered through iTunes
.
, with occasional piano. 1996's Sell, Sell, Sell
featured some rock arrangements and electric instrumentation. Starting with the release of White Ladder
, Gray began to make significant use of computer-generated music to accompany his voice and acoustic instrumentation, a technique which differentiates him from many of his peers. A New Day at Midnight
continued this direction, although lyrically it was darker in tone than White Ladder and the instrumentation much more downbeat. In the liner notes, Gray dedicated the album to his father, who died in 2001. Gray also provided vocals on the electronic-based band Orbital
's 2001 single "Illuminate." Despite the move to more complex music, Gray has used small-scale, often home-based, recording methods and equipment and espoused a do-it-yourself
approach to music production. However, 2005's Life in Slow Motion
is a collaboration with the record producer, Marius de Vries
.
For summer 2011, he will also be playing at the Dave Matthews festivals in Atlantic City and Chicago.
Those former longterm band members left the band in late 2006:
, Dave Matthews Band
and Radiohead
, He has had multiple tour dates in many different places such as Australia, Austria, Belgium
, Canada, Denmark
, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands
, New Zealand, Norway
, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.
. (The band is named after the Velvet Underground song "Venus in Furs
" whose title and lyrics in turn reference a novel of that name by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
.) Gray provided vocals in the band which also included Thom Yorke
and Jonny Greenwood
of Radiohead
, Andy Mackay
of Roxy Music
and Bernard Butler
of Suede
.
White Ladder
White Ladder is the multi-platinum selling fourth studio album by British singer-songwriter David Gray, first released in November 1998. Worldwide sales of the album stand at 7 million.-Background:...
six years later. It was the first of three UK chart-toppers
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
in six years for Gray, the latter two of which also made the Top 20 in the US.
Early career
Gray was born in SaleSale, Greater Manchester
Sale is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Cheshire, the town lies on flat ground on the south bank of the River Mersey, south of Stretford, northeast of Altrincham, and southwest of the city of Manchester...
and brought up in Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
, Cheshire before moving with his family to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
where he grew up in the small coastal town of Solva
Solva
Solva is a village and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK.-Location:Solva lies on the north side of St Bride's Bay, in North Pembrokeshire in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. It lies on a deep ravine at the mouth of the River Solva. In the ravine is...
in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
and went on to attend the Carmarthenshire College of Art. He later moved back to the north-west of England to attend the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
.
Gray's first two albums A Century Ends
A Century Ends
- Musicians :* David Gray – vocals, guitar* Neil MacColl – guitar, mandolin, backing vocals* Dave Anderson – piano, Wurlitzer, organ* Mark Smith – bass* Steve Sidelnyk – drums, percussion* Mike Smith – saxophone- Production :...
and Flesh
Flesh (album)
-Musicians:* David Gray – vocals, guitar* Neil MacColl – backing vocals, guitar, mandolin, autoharp, slide guitar, hi-strung guitar, Danelectro guitar* David Nolte – bass* Seamus Beaghen – piano* Andy Metcalfe – organ, piano* Craig McClune – drums, percussion...
were issued in 1993 and 1994 respectively and led to Gray becoming popular in folk-rock circles, but both failed in terms of commercial sales.
In 1996 Gray released his third album, Sell, Sell, Sell
Sell, Sell, Sell
Sell, Sell, Sell is the third studio album by British musician David Gray, released in April 1996 by EMI. Two promotional-only singles were released: "Faster Sooner Now" and "Late Night Radio."- Track listing :- Musicians :...
. With his first two albums having been entirely composed of acoustic folk music, this was his first mature exhibition and saw him use his now-trademark blend of folk, alternative rock and electronics for the first time. Despite critical acclaim, the album did not chart, but the song "Late Night Radio" received some airplay on alternative UK radio stations.
White Ladder (1998–2002)
The re-release of Gray's fourth record album, White LadderWhite Ladder
White Ladder is the multi-platinum selling fourth studio album by British singer-songwriter David Gray, first released in November 1998. Worldwide sales of the album stand at 7 million.-Background:...
, in 2000 on ATO Records
ATO Records
According to Our Records was founded in early 2000 by Dave Matthews , Coran Capshaw, Chris Tetzeli, and Michael McDonald as a division of RCA Records...
, brought him commercial success and critical attention. The album included his best-known songs: "This Year's Love
This Year's Love (song)
"This Year's Love" is a song by singer-songwriter David Gray, taken from his fourth studio album White Ladder. Originally released as the album's first single on 8 March 1999, it was re-issued on 5 March 2001. The single peaked at #20 in the UK Singles Chart.Gray himself makes an appearance in the...
", "Babylon", "Please Forgive Me
Please Forgive Me (David Gray song)
"Please Forgive Me" is a song by singer-songwriter David Gray, from his fourth album White Ladder. The song was released as the third single on 12" vinyl on 22 November 1999, then re-issued as the fifth single on CD and 10" vinyl on 16 October 2000...
" and "Sail Away
Sail Away (David Gray song)
"Sail Away" is a song by David Gray. It was released as the fourth single from White Ladder on 16 July 2001. Remixes by Rae and Christian and Biffco were also commissioned and featured on the single formats. The DVD single features live video footage taken from his concert DVD release David Gray:...
". White Ladder was originally released on Gray's own label IHT Records
IHT Records
IHT Records is a record label founded and owned by David Gray. His breakthrough 1999 album White Ladder was released on the label....
in November 1998. After its re-release, combined with the release and success of single "Babylon", it sold 100,000 copies in Ireland alone, making it number one for six weeks, and it remains the biggest-selling album in Ireland. In August 2000, "Babylon" hit No. 5 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 ...
; it remains his biggest UK hit to date. In the United States, the album received a boost from jam-band leader Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
, who made it the first release by ATO Records
ATO Records
According to Our Records was founded in early 2000 by Dave Matthews , Coran Capshaw, Chris Tetzeli, and Michael McDonald as a division of RCA Records...
, the record company he co-founded. "Babylon" was also the first of three US chart entries for Gray to date. In Ireland, White Ladder remains his biggest-selling album.
The album was No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, two years and five months after its original release, spending a total of 151 weeks on the chart. Aside from "Please Forgive Me," which charted at No. 72 on 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 ...
, all other single releases charted within the Top 20: the re-released "Please Forgive Me" charted at #18, and "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" and "Sail Away" peaked at #26.
The year 2001 also saw the release of two compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s of Gray's early works and unreleased material, The EPs 1992-1994
The EPs 1992-1994
The EPs 1992–1994 is a compilation album by David Gray, released in July 2001. The compilation's release coincided with Hut Records' reissues of Gray's first two albums, A Century Ends and Flesh...
and Lost Songs 95-98
Lost Songs 95-98
Lost Songs 95-98 is the fifth studio album by musician David Gray, released in February 2001. The songs on the album were written between 1995 and 1998, and recorded across nine days in October 1999.-Track listing:-Musicians:...
, both of which followed White Ladder into the Top 20 in the UK Albums Chart.
In November 2002, Gray released the follow-up to White Ladder, entitled A New Day at Midnight
A New Day at Midnight
A New Day at Midnight is the sixth studio album by British singer-songwriter David Gray, released on 28 October 2002 in the UK by East West Records and iht Records and 5 November 2002 in the US by the former RCA imprint ATO Records and iht as well...
. The new release did not receive the same critical acclaim as its predecessor, but still went straight in at Number One, famously beating Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates
Gareth Gates
Gareth Paul Gates , is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly...
's debut album What My Heart Wants to Say
What My Heart Wants to Say
What My Heart Wants to Say is the debut album from Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates. The album was released on 26 October 2002, almost a year after his success in the show. The album was produced by Mike Peden, and featured a range of Gates' own songs, as well as covers...
to the summit and selling nearly 150,000 copies in its first week of release; it went on to reach platinum status within a year, eventually being certified four times platinum overall, and was the second-biggest selling album by a UK artist in 2002, behind Pop Idol winner Will Young
Will Young
William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
's debut album From Now On. A New Day at Midnight spawned two further UK Top 30 hits in "The Other Side" and "Be Mine" and a minor US hit with "Dead in the Water".
Recent career
After a three-year hiatus which saw him wind down his recording and touring schedule due to exhaustion, Gray returned with his seventh album, Life in Slow MotionLife in Slow Motion
-Musicians:* David Gray – vocals, piano, acoustic and electric guitar, harmonium, Wurlitzer, melodica* Craig McClune – drums, percussion, dulcimer, glockenspiel, whistles, backing vocals...
in September 2005, which, like its predecessor, also hit the top of the UK album chart in its first week of release. After the much-criticised A New Day at Midnight, Life in Slow Motion was hailed as a return to form by many critics. Lead single "The One I Love
The One I Love (David Gray song)
"The One I Love" is a song by David Gray. It was released in August 2005 as the first single from Life in Slow Motion. The song was produced by famed producer Marius de Vries and is Gray's second-highest achievement on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #8...
" was a Top 10 hit in the UK in October 2005 and spent three months in the UK chart. Following the relative commercial failure of follow-up singles "Hospital Food
Hospital Food
"Hospital Food" is a song by David Gray, released on 28 November 2005 as the second single from his album Life in Slow Motion. The song was produced by producer Marius de Vries...
" and "Alibi
Alibi (David Gray song)
"Alibi" is a song by David Gray. It was released as the third and final single from his album Life in Slow Motion. The single coincided with the release of his Live in Slow Motion DVD, filmed live at the Hammersmith Apollo on December 13, 2005. The version of "Alibi" on CD2 features the live...
", Gray again went into hiatus during 2006.
In March 2007, Gray released the compilation album Shine: The Best of the Early Years.
On 7 July 2007, Gray performed with Damien Rice
Damien Rice
Damien Rice is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who plays guitar, piano, clarinet and percussion....
at the UK leg
Live Earth concert, London
The Live Earth concert in the United Kingdom was held at Wembley Stadium, London, England on 7 July 2007.-Running order:In order of appearance :...
of Live Earth
Live Earth
-Background:Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in London. Gray released a compilation CD of live covers entitled A Thousand Miles Behind
A Thousand Miles Behind
A Thousand Miles Behind released in August 2007, contains 12 live covers, recorded between 2001 and 2007. The album title comes from a line in Bob Dylan's "One Too Many Mornings." The compilation is only available from Gray's or at Gray's live performances...
exclusively through his official website on 8 October 2007 on CD and digital download.
On 13 November 2007, Gray released a Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (David Gray album)
-References:...
album which includes many of his best known songs as well as two new songs, including the lead single "You're the World to Me
You're the World to Me
"You're the World to Me" is the first single taken from David Gray's Greatest Hits album. The single was produced by legendary producer Chris Thomas and released on 5 November 2007...
."
On 28 May 2009, Gray announced that his new album, entitled Draw the Line
Draw the Line (David Gray album)
- Personnel :*David Gray - vocals, guitar, piano*Neill MacColl - guitar, backing vocals*Rob Malone - bass, backing vocals*Keith Pryor - drums*James Hallawell - keyboards*Caroline Dale - Cello*Iestyn Polson - Programming*Simon Changer - Mix Engineer...
, would be released on 14 September 2009 in the UK and on 22 September in the United States. The album features guest appearances by Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
and Jolie Holland
Jolie Holland
Jolie Holland is an American singer and performer who combines elements of folk, traditional, country, rock, jazz, and blues...
. The album's first single "Fugitive
Fugitive (David Gray song)
"Fugitive" is the first single taken from David Gray's eighth studio album Draw the Line. The song had its first exclusive play on Ken Bruce's BBC Radio 2 show on 21 July 2009 and was released in the UK on 7 September 2009....
" was released on 7 September 2009. An expansive worldwide tour coincides.
On 19 September 2009, Gray performed his self-proclaimed first pool-side concert at the Rooftop Pool at The Colonnade Hotel in Boston for the Mix 104.1 End of Summer Bash. Gray performed songs from the new album, including "Fugitive," "Draw the Line," and "Jackdaw."
In an interview for an issue of Hot Press
Hot Press
Hot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
released on 3 December 2009, Gray revealed to Jackie Hayden that he was working on his next album, Foundling
Foundling (album)
-Personnel:* David Gray - vocals, guitar, piano, harmonium, Wurlitzer, suitcase organ* Keith Prior - drums, percussion* Robbie Malone - bass, acoustic and electric guitar, bouzouki, harmonium, backing vocals...
. Gray also revealed that one of the tracks will be called "The Old Chair." According to Gray, "It features just a drum kit and me on my Steinway piano. It's very quiet."
Originally, Foundling was to be released on 14 September 2010 in the United States. In an interview with the Miami Herald, Gray reiterated that it would be released in September 2010. However, it was released in the UK on 16 August 2010 and in the US on 17 August. Foundling is a double album: the first CD consists of eleven new songs and the second bonus CD consists of eight previously unreleased songs. A ninth previously unreleased song is included when Foundling is ordered through iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
.
Musical direction
Gray's early music was in a contemporary folk-rock, singer-songwriter mode; his primary instrument was acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitar
A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
, with occasional piano. 1996's Sell, Sell, Sell
Sell, Sell, Sell
Sell, Sell, Sell is the third studio album by British musician David Gray, released in April 1996 by EMI. Two promotional-only singles were released: "Faster Sooner Now" and "Late Night Radio."- Track listing :- Musicians :...
featured some rock arrangements and electric instrumentation. Starting with the release of White Ladder
White Ladder
White Ladder is the multi-platinum selling fourth studio album by British singer-songwriter David Gray, first released in November 1998. Worldwide sales of the album stand at 7 million.-Background:...
, Gray began to make significant use of computer-generated music to accompany his voice and acoustic instrumentation, a technique which differentiates him from many of his peers. A New Day at Midnight
A New Day at Midnight
A New Day at Midnight is the sixth studio album by British singer-songwriter David Gray, released on 28 October 2002 in the UK by East West Records and iht Records and 5 November 2002 in the US by the former RCA imprint ATO Records and iht as well...
continued this direction, although lyrically it was darker in tone than White Ladder and the instrumentation much more downbeat. In the liner notes, Gray dedicated the album to his father, who died in 2001. Gray also provided vocals on the electronic-based band Orbital
Orbital (band)
Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows...
's 2001 single "Illuminate." Despite the move to more complex music, Gray has used small-scale, often home-based, recording methods and equipment and espoused a do-it-yourself
DIY ethic
The DIY ethic refers to the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks oneself as opposed to having others who are more experienced or able complete them for one's behalf. It promotes the idea that an ordinary person can learn to do more than he or she thought was possible...
approach to music production. However, 2005's Life in Slow Motion
Life in Slow Motion
-Musicians:* David Gray – vocals, piano, acoustic and electric guitar, harmonium, Wurlitzer, melodica* Craig McClune – drums, percussion, dulcimer, glockenspiel, whistles, backing vocals...
is a collaboration with the record producer, Marius de Vries
Marius de Vries
Marius Van Wyk de Vries is an English music producer and composer. He has been behind some of the key albums and soundtracks of recent times, gathering five Grammy nominations, two BAFTAs, and an Ivor Novello award along the way.-Music Producer:...
.
For summer 2011, he will also be playing at the Dave Matthews festivals in Atlantic City and Chicago.
Band
- David Gray – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
- Rob Malone – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Neill MacColl – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals
- Keith Prior – drums, percussion
- Tim Bradshaw – keyboards, lap steel, backing vocals
Those former longterm band members left the band in late 2006:
- Craig "Clune" McClune – drums, percussion, bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- David Nolte – guitar, backing vocals
Discography
- A Century EndsA Century Ends- Musicians :* David Gray – vocals, guitar* Neil MacColl – guitar, mandolin, backing vocals* Dave Anderson – piano, Wurlitzer, organ* Mark Smith – bass* Steve Sidelnyk – drums, percussion* Mike Smith – saxophone- Production :...
(April 1993) - FleshFlesh (album)-Musicians:* David Gray – vocals, guitar* Neil MacColl – backing vocals, guitar, mandolin, autoharp, slide guitar, hi-strung guitar, Danelectro guitar* David Nolte – bass* Seamus Beaghen – piano* Andy Metcalfe – organ, piano* Craig McClune – drums, percussion...
(September 1994) - Sell, Sell, SellSell, Sell, SellSell, Sell, Sell is the third studio album by British musician David Gray, released in April 1996 by EMI. Two promotional-only singles were released: "Faster Sooner Now" and "Late Night Radio."- Track listing :- Musicians :...
(August 1996) - White LadderWhite LadderWhite Ladder is the multi-platinum selling fourth studio album by British singer-songwriter David Gray, first released in November 1998. Worldwide sales of the album stand at 7 million.-Background:...
(November 1998) - Lost Songs 95-98Lost Songs 95-98Lost Songs 95-98 is the fifth studio album by musician David Gray, released in February 2001. The songs on the album were written between 1995 and 1998, and recorded across nine days in October 1999.-Track listing:-Musicians:...
(February 2001) - A New Day at MidnightA New Day at MidnightA New Day at Midnight is the sixth studio album by British singer-songwriter David Gray, released on 28 October 2002 in the UK by East West Records and iht Records and 5 November 2002 in the US by the former RCA imprint ATO Records and iht as well...
(October 2002) - Life in Slow MotionLife in Slow Motion-Musicians:* David Gray – vocals, piano, acoustic and electric guitar, harmonium, Wurlitzer, melodica* Craig McClune – drums, percussion, dulcimer, glockenspiel, whistles, backing vocals...
(September 2005) - Draw the LineDraw the Line (David Gray album)- Personnel :*David Gray - vocals, guitar, piano*Neill MacColl - guitar, backing vocals*Rob Malone - bass, backing vocals*Keith Pryor - drums*James Hallawell - keyboards*Caroline Dale - Cello*Iestyn Polson - Programming*Simon Changer - Mix Engineer...
(September 2009) - FoundlingFoundling (album)-Personnel:* David Gray - vocals, guitar, piano, harmonium, Wurlitzer, suitcase organ* Keith Prior - drums, percussion* Robbie Malone - bass, acoustic and electric guitar, bouzouki, harmonium, backing vocals...
(August 2010)
Tours
Gray has been touring since 1993. Prior to his breakthrough album White Ladder in 1998, Gray had been the supporting act for the likes of Kirsty MacCollKirsty MacColl
Kirsty Anna MacColl was an English singer-songwriter.MacColl scored several pop hits from the early 1980s to the early 1990s...
, Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
and Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, He has had multiple tour dates in many different places such as Australia, Austria, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Canada, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, New Zealand, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.
Personal life
Gray is married to Olivia, whom he wed in Los Angeles in 1993. Gray and his wife have 2 daughters. David Gray is an Atheist.Venus in Furs
The band Venus in Furs was formed in 1998 for the film Velvet GoldmineVelvet Goldmine
Velvet Goldmine is a 1998 British/American drama film directed and co-written by Todd Haynes. The film tells the story of a pop star based mainly on David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust' character and is set in Britain during the days of glam rock in the early 1970s.Sandy Powell received another Academy...
. (The band is named after the Velvet Underground song "Venus in Furs
Venus in Furs (song)
"Venus in Furs" is a song by The Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed and originally released on the 1967 album The Velvet Underground & Nico. Inspired by the book of the same name by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, the song includes sexual themes of sadomasochism, bondage and...
" whose title and lyrics in turn reference a novel of that name by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch was an Austrian writer and journalist, who gained renown for his romantic stories of Galician life. The term masochism is derived from his name....
.) Gray provided vocals in the band which also included Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
and Jonny Greenwood
Jonny Greenwood
Jonathan Richard Guy "Jonny" Greenwood is an English musician and composer, best known as a member of the English rock band Radiohead. Greenwood is a multi-instrumentalist, but serves mainly as lead guitarist and keyboard player. In addition to guitar and keyboard, he plays viola, harmonica,...
of Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, Andy Mackay
Andy Mackay
Andrew "Andy" Mackay is an English multi-instrumentalist, best known as a founder member of the art-rock group Roxy Music....
of Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
and Bernard Butler
Bernard Butler
Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...
of Suede
Suede (band)
Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...
.
Quotation
External links
- David Gray collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive - David Gray Music in Australia