Barry Adamson (born in Moss Side, Manchester, 11 June 1958) is an English rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic. He has also worked on film soundtracks for David Lynch, and released numerous solo recordings.

Early life

He read comic books from an early age. In school he absorbed himself in art, music and film, writing his first song, "Brain Pain", at the age of 10. His musical influences were diverse, ranging from Alice Cooper to Motown to David Bowie.

Career

Adamson left school and shifted into graphic design attending Stockport Art College but quit shortly after, favouring to venture into the exploding punk rock scene of the late 1970s. He joined ex-Buzzcocks singer Howard Devoto's band Magazine, playing bass guitar, scoring one chart single, "Shot by Both Sides"; in late 1977, he also joined Buzzcocks, as a short-time replacement of Garth Smith. He played on all of Magazine's albums, and contributed to Devoto's solo album and his next band, Luxuria. He also contributed to the studio-based band Visage, playing on the ensemble's first two albums, Visage and The Anvil.

After Magazine broke up, Adamson worked with another ex-Buzzcock, Pete Shelley, before joining Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. He appeared on four of that band's albums: From Her to Eternity, The Firstborn Is Dead, Kicking Against the Pricks and Your Funeral, My Trial. After his stint in the band, he went solo, releasing an EP, The Man with the Golden Arm in 1988, and his first solo album, Moss Side Story, the following year, the soundtrack to a non-existent film noir. The album incorporated newscasts and sampled sound effects and featured guest musicians Marcia Schofield (of The Fall), Diamanda Galas, and former colleagues from the Bad Seeds. Adamson's second solo album was the soundtrack to a real film this time - Carl Colpaert's Delusion, and he would go on to provide sountracks for several other films.

Adamson's third album, Soul Murder, was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 1992.

His solo work is influenced by John Barry, Elmer Bernstein and Ennio Morricone. Later works have included jazz, electronica, soul, funk, and dub styles.

In 2002, Adamson left his long-term label, Mute Records, and started his own 'production home', Central Control International. In 2006, he released Stranger on the Sofa, first for his Central Control International imprint, to critical acclaim. Back To The Cat, his second album for the label, was released in March 2008.

In 2007 it was announced that Magazine would reform for concerts in 2008. Adamson will be part of this and the same line up that recorded Secondhand Daylight will reform, with the exception of the late John McGeoch. McGeoch will be replaced by Luxuria/Apollo 440 member Noko.

Film soundtracks

His "Refugee Song" was included in Derek Jarman's The Last of England. Adamson also contributed soundtrack material to Gas Food Lodging, David Lynch's Lost Highway and Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers.

In the earliest Real Life Magazine videos Adamson is seen using a Rickenbacker JG, (although possibly a 4001 or 4003 model) and in Secondhand Daylight, a Gibson SG. However, his primary bass during Magazine was an Ovation Magnum 2. For the Magazine 2009 concerts he alternates between the Ovation, a Fender Artist and a Fender Jaguar.

Albums

EP's

Singles

Soundtracks

• www.barryadamson.com
• www.centralcontrol.co.uk - Barry's art-house
• shotbybothsides.com - Unofficial Magazine Site
• Unofficial Adamson Site
• Barry Adamson at IMDB
• Review of Stranger on the Sofa
• January 2007 Interview
• Back To The Cat Review