Troy Tate
Encyclopedia
Troy Tate is a musician and record producer
who was a member of several bands including The Teardrop Explodes
and Fashion
as well as working as a solo artist.
, England
, Tate's first band was the Cheltenham
-based punk rock
band Index, who released one single, "Jet Lag" c/w "Total Bland" in 1978. He moved on to join former members of The Rezillos
in the band Shake, recording two singles with this band. In 1981 he first recorded as a solo artist, releasing the "Thomas" single on the RCA
label Why-Fi. He joined The Teardrop Explodes
in late 1980, replacing Alan Gill on guitar
, and playing on the Wilder album. While with the band, he continued his solo career, releasing "Lifeline" in 1982. He left The Teardrop Explodes, and joined Fashion
in October 1982, leaving in 1983 when he signed to Rough Trade Records
, for whom he debuted that year with "I Don't Know What Love Is Anymore". When The Smiths
(also on Rough Trade) were looking for a producer for their debut album, Tate was chosen, although after the album was recorded, the band decided to reject these recordings and re-record the album with producer John Porter
. The original version of the album is widely known as The Troy Tate Sessions and has only been released on bootlegs. "Jeane" from these sessions was released as the b-side of the "This Charming Man" single, and the version of "Pretty Girls Make Graves" was included on The Sound of The Smiths in 2008.
Tate moved on to Sire Records
in 1984, who issued a remixed version of "Thomas", which was followed by his debut solo album, Ticket To The Dark the same year. The album featured contributions from former-Teardrop Explodes member David Balfe
, Nicky Holland, Virginia Astley
and Rolo McGinty of The Woodentops
, and was described by Trouser Press
as "an exceptionally good record". A second album, Liberty, followed in 1985, which proved to be Tate's swansong.
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...
who was a member of several bands including The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes were an English post-punk/neo-psychedelic band formed in Liverpool in 1978. Best known for their Top Ten UK single "Reward" the group originated as a key band in the emerging Liverpool post-punk scene of the late 1970s, the group also launched the career of group frontman...
and Fashion
Fashion (band)
Fashion were a British New Wave band consisting of Dee Harris, Al 'Luke Sky' James, Alan Darby, John Mulligan, Marlon Recchi, and Dik Davis.The band had two or three eras...
as well as working as a solo artist.
Biography
Born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, 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...
, Tate's first band was the Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
-based punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Index, who released one single, "Jet Lag" c/w "Total Bland" in 1978. He moved on to join former members of The Rezillos
The Rezillos
The Rezillos are a punk/new wave band, who formed in Edinburgh in 1976 and still play gigs around the world in a re-formed line-up. Although frequently aligned with the punk movement, the Rezillos' irreverent glam rock image and affection for campy girl-group iconography, set them distinctly apart...
in the band Shake, recording two singles with this band. In 1981 he first recorded as a solo artist, releasing the "Thomas" single on the RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
label Why-Fi. He joined The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes were an English post-punk/neo-psychedelic band formed in Liverpool in 1978. Best known for their Top Ten UK single "Reward" the group originated as a key band in the emerging Liverpool post-punk scene of the late 1970s, the group also launched the career of group frontman...
in late 1980, replacing Alan Gill on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and playing on the Wilder album. While with the band, he continued his solo career, releasing "Lifeline" in 1982. He left The Teardrop Explodes, and joined Fashion
Fashion (band)
Fashion were a British New Wave band consisting of Dee Harris, Al 'Luke Sky' James, Alan Darby, John Mulligan, Marlon Recchi, and Dik Davis.The band had two or three eras...
in October 1982, leaving in 1983 when he signed to Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, for whom he debuted that year with "I Don't Know What Love Is Anymore". When The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
(also on Rough Trade) were looking for a producer for their debut album, Tate was chosen, although after the album was recorded, the band decided to reject these recordings and re-record the album with producer John Porter
John Porter (musician)
John Porter is an English musician and record producer.-Biography:He attended St Michael's School, Allerton Grange School, King's College, and Newcastle University....
. The original version of the album is widely known as The Troy Tate Sessions and has only been released on bootlegs. "Jeane" from these sessions was released as the b-side of the "This Charming Man" single, and the version of "Pretty Girls Make Graves" was included on The Sound of The Smiths in 2008.
Tate moved on to Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
in 1984, who issued a remixed version of "Thomas", which was followed by his debut solo album, Ticket To The Dark the same year. The album featured contributions from former-Teardrop Explodes member David Balfe
David Balfe
David Balfe is most notable for playing keyboards with The Teardrop Explodes, founding the Zoo and Food record labels, signing Blur and for being the subject of their number one hit - "Country House".-Biography:...
, Nicky Holland, Virginia Astley
Virginia Astley
Virginia Astley is an English singer-songwriter most active during the 1980s and 1990s. From the start of her songwriting career in 1980, Astley took her inspiration from many sources. Her classical training influenced her as did a desire to be experimental with her music...
and Rolo McGinty of The Woodentops
The Woodentops
The Woodentops are a British rock band that have enjoyed critical acclaim and moderate popularity in the mid-1980s.-History:The band formed in 1983 in South London with an initial line-up of Rolo McGinty , Simon Mawby , Alice Thompson , Frank DeFreitas , and Paul Hookham .After a...
, and was described by Trouser Press
Trouser Press
Trouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" ...
as "an exceptionally good record". A second album, Liberty, followed in 1985, which proved to be Tate's swansong.
Singles
- "Thomas" (1981) Why-Fi
- "Lifeline" (1982) Why-Fi
- "I Don't Know What Love Is Anymore" (1983) Rough Trade
- "Thomas" (1984) Sire
- "Sorrow" (1985) Sire
External links
- Sinclair, Mick (1981) Troy Tate Feature, SoundsSounds (magazine)Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
, August 1981