Githead
Encyclopedia
Githead is a musical collaboration that includes Wire
's Colin Newman
as well as electronic musician Robin Rimbaud
(Scanner
) alongside ex-Minimal Compact
members Malka Spigel
and Max Franken
.
& rock
environment rather than a purely experimental
one.
The band's genesis was in the proverbial 'one off' as part of the celebrations of the Swim ~
label's 10th anniversary at the ICA
, but it quickly became apparent that the band was more than a mere collection of individuals and that it was able to generate its own style.
Initially 'drummer-less', the band wrote and rehearsed in Swim's otherwise over-cramped studio from the outset. This basically guaranteed that all outbreaks of creativity could be instantly recorded. This meant that as well as building up a repertoire, the band was also recording towards an end of released material, and was subsequently able to fairly rapidly develop enough finished material to enable selections to be made for release.
Thus the debut EP Headgit was released before the band had played its third gig, and material towards the debut album Profile was already in the works before the band had even played two gigs.
The first three shows were performed without a live drummer, but it had always been the band's intention to be able play with live drums. Various applicants were considered, but in the end it was perhaps inevitable that Max Franken
from Malka's band Minimal Compact
would be the man to fill the drum stool.
Githead made their debut as a live four-piece in Antwerp in March 2005 following on with gigs in Spring and Summer that year. These included the Queen Elizabeth Hall
in London, Cité de la Musique
in Paris, The Paradiso
in Amsterdam, Barby
in Tel Aviv, The Botanique
in Brussels and The Garage
in London.
In autumn 2005 the band concentrated on writing and recording their 2nd album, which included a stint at Frank Lievaart's new Metropolis 22 studio in Rotterdam
. Their second album Art Pop was released in May 2007 to general positive reviews. Their third album, Landing, was released November 2009.
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
's Colin Newman
Colin Newman
Colin Newman is an English musician, record producer and record label owner.-Biography:Newman is a member of the rock band Wire. When the band temporarily split in 1980, Newman pursued a solo career. His first solo LP, A-Z, was released in 1980 on the Beggar's Banquet label...
as well as electronic musician Robin Rimbaud
Robin Rimbaud
Robin Rimbaud is an electronic musician who works under the name Scanner due to his use of cell phone and police scanners in live performance...
(Scanner
Robin Rimbaud
Robin Rimbaud is an electronic musician who works under the name Scanner due to his use of cell phone and police scanners in live performance...
) alongside ex-Minimal Compact
Minimal Compact
Minimal Compact were an Israeli rock band associated with the post punk and indie rock movement of the 1980s.-Biography:Between its foundation in 1981 and its dissolution seven years later, Minimal Compact played a small role in the European rock scene...
members Malka Spigel
Malka Spigel
Malka Spigel is a founding member of the Israeli rock band Minimal Compact. She has also worked as a solo artist, and as a visual artist, exhibiting in prominent venues such as The Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Royal Festival Hall...
and Max Franken
Max Franken
Max Franken was the drummer for Minimal Compact, an Israeli rock band that achieved success outside the country. He is also a member of Githead along with Colin Newman, Robin Rimbaud and fellow Minimal Compact member Malka Spigel.-External links:*...
.
Biography
The appearance of Githead and the release of their debut EP Headgit in 2004 surprised many, mainly because of the unlikely 'line up' and the fact that they operate in a popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
& rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
environment rather than a purely experimental
Experimental rock
Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
one.
The band's genesis was in the proverbial 'one off' as part of the celebrations of the Swim ~
Swim ~
swim~ is a record label founded in 1993, and jointly run, by Wire guitarist and singer Colin Newman, and Minimal Compact bass player and singer Malka Spigel...
label's 10th anniversary at the ICA
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
, but it quickly became apparent that the band was more than a mere collection of individuals and that it was able to generate its own style.
Initially 'drummer-less', the band wrote and rehearsed in Swim's otherwise over-cramped studio from the outset. This basically guaranteed that all outbreaks of creativity could be instantly recorded. This meant that as well as building up a repertoire, the band was also recording towards an end of released material, and was subsequently able to fairly rapidly develop enough finished material to enable selections to be made for release.
Thus the debut EP Headgit was released before the band had played its third gig, and material towards the debut album Profile was already in the works before the band had even played two gigs.
The first three shows were performed without a live drummer, but it had always been the band's intention to be able play with live drums. Various applicants were considered, but in the end it was perhaps inevitable that Max Franken
Max Franken
Max Franken was the drummer for Minimal Compact, an Israeli rock band that achieved success outside the country. He is also a member of Githead along with Colin Newman, Robin Rimbaud and fellow Minimal Compact member Malka Spigel.-External links:*...
from Malka's band Minimal Compact
Minimal Compact
Minimal Compact were an Israeli rock band associated with the post punk and indie rock movement of the 1980s.-Biography:Between its foundation in 1981 and its dissolution seven years later, Minimal Compact played a small role in the European rock scene...
would be the man to fill the drum stool.
Githead made their debut as a live four-piece in Antwerp in March 2005 following on with gigs in Spring and Summer that year. These included the Queen Elizabeth Hall
Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is a music venue on the South Bank in London, United Kingdom that hosts daily classical, jazz, and avant-garde music and dance performances. The QEH forms part of Southbank Centre arts complex and stands alongside the Royal Festival Hall, which was built for the Festival...
in London, Cité de la Musique
Cité de la Musique
The Cité de la Musique is a group of institutions dedicated to music and situated in the La Villette quarter, 19th arrondissement, Paris, France. It was designed by the architect Christian de Portzamparc and opened in 1995...
in Paris, The Paradiso
Paradiso (Amsterdam)
Paradiso is an iconic rock music venue and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.-History:It is housed in a converted former church building that dates from the nineteenth century and that was used until 1965 as the meeting hall for a liberal Dutch religious group known as the "Vrije...
in Amsterdam, Barby
Barby
-Places:England*Barby, Northamptonshire, a village in EnglandGermany*Barby, Germany, a town in Saxony-Anhalt, GermanyFrance*Barby, Ardennes, a village in Champagne-Ardennes, France*Barby, Savoie, a village in Rhône-Alpes, France...
in Tel Aviv, The Botanique
Le Botanique
Le Botanique or Kruidtuin is a cultural complex in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode near Brussels opened in 1984 on the site of the Botanical Garden.-External links:*...
in Brussels and The Garage
The Garage
The Garage may refer to:Places*The Garage , a small shopping center located in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts*The Garage , a large night club located in Glasgow, Scotland...
in London.
In autumn 2005 the band concentrated on writing and recording their 2nd album, which included a stint at Frank Lievaart's new Metropolis 22 studio in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. Their second album Art Pop was released in May 2007 to general positive reviews. Their third album, Landing, was released November 2009.
Band Lineup
- Malka SpigelMalka SpigelMalka Spigel is a founding member of the Israeli rock band Minimal Compact. She has also worked as a solo artist, and as a visual artist, exhibiting in prominent venues such as The Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Royal Festival Hall...
- bass, vocals - Robin RimbaudRobin RimbaudRobin Rimbaud is an electronic musician who works under the name Scanner due to his use of cell phone and police scanners in live performance...
- guitar - Max FrankenMax FrankenMax Franken was the drummer for Minimal Compact, an Israeli rock band that achieved success outside the country. He is also a member of Githead along with Colin Newman, Robin Rimbaud and fellow Minimal Compact member Malka Spigel.-External links:*...
- drums - Colin NewmanColin NewmanColin Newman is an English musician, record producer and record label owner.-Biography:Newman is a member of the rock band Wire. When the band temporarily split in 1980, Newman pursued a solo career. His first solo LP, A-Z, was released in 1980 on the Beggar's Banquet label...
- vocals, guitar
Discography
- HeadgitHeadgit (Githead album)Headgit is first EP/release by the British rock band Githead, issued in 2004.-Track listing:#"Reset" – 4:00#"Fake Corpses" – 3:38#"To Have & to Hold" – 3:53#"Craft Is Dead" – 3:40#"Profile" – 3:38#"12 Buildings" – 2:31...
(Nov 2004) - ProfileProfile (Githead album)Profile is second release and first full-length album by the British rock band Githead, issued in 2005.-Track listing:#"Alpha" – 5:54#"My Lca " – 3:50#"Cosmology for Beginners" – 4:25#"Antiphon" – 4:46...
(June 2005) - Art PopArt Pop (Githead album)Art Pop is the third release and second full-length album by the British rock band Githead, issued in 2007.- Track listing :# "On Your Own" – 3:08# "Drop" – 4:41# "Drive By" – 3:42# "Lifeloops" – 3:17# "These Days" – 3:58...
(May 2007) - Landing (November 2009)