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Kevin Rowland

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Kevin Rowland
Rowland in 2012
Rowland in 2012
Background information
Born (1953-08-17) 17 August 1953 (age 71)
Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • piano
Years active1974–present
LabelsMercury, Creation
Member ofDexys Midnight Runners
Formerly of

Kevin Rowland (born 17 August 1953) is a British singer and musician best known as the frontman for the pop band Dexys Midnight Runners (currently called Dexys).[1] The band had several hits in the early 1980s, the most notable being "Geno" and "Come On Eileen", both of which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.

Early life

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Rowland was born in Wednesfield, Staffordshire (now Wolverhampton), on 17 August 1953 to Irish parents from Crossmolina, County Mayo, Ireland,[2][3] and he lived for three years in Ireland from the age of one year old before returning to Wolverhampton. The family moved to Harrow when he was 11 and he left school aged 15.[4]

Before his music career, Rowland worked as a hairdresser.[5]

Career

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Rowland's first group, Lucy & the Lovers, were influenced by Roxy Music and turned out to be short-lived. His next project, the punk rock act the Killjoys, were slightly more successful, releasing the single "Johnny Won't Get To Heaven" in 1977.

Alienated by the punk scene, Rowland, together with Killjoys guitarist Kevin Archer, formed a new soul-influenced group, Dexys Midnight Runners. Many of the group's songs were inspired by Rowland's Irish ancestry and were recognisable through Rowland's idiosyncratic vocal style. On forming the band Rowland thought it was "important to have a vocal style", he later recalled, "and I had the idea of putting that 'crying' voice on", partly inspired by General Johnson of Chairmen of the Board.[6] The band had several hit singles, such as "Come On Eileen" (1982).[7]

At the end of the 1980s, Rowland wanted to explore different songwriting, and Dexys Midnight Runners began recording more "introspective, mournful" music. The new material was unsuccessful; Dexys Midnight Runners were dropped by their label and disbanded.[7] Rowland said: "I’d been too confident, too arrogant. I thought everyone would hear our new music and go: 'Wow.'"[7] He became reliant on drugs, lost his money, and entered rehab.[7]

When Dexys disbanded in 1987, Rowland recorded a solo album, The Wanderer, which, together with its three singles, was a commercial failure. His next release was not until 1999 when he recorded a collection of interpretations of classic songs called My Beauty, the album cover of which depicted a heavily made-up Rowland in a dress and lingerie.

In 2003, Rowland reformed Dexys Midnight Runners—featuring only one other original member, bassist Pete Williams, who fulfilled the role as Rowland's co-vocalist—and embarked on a successful comeback tour backed up with a greatest hits compilation album including two newly recorded songs, "Manhood" and "My Life in England". Both of these new songs were radio tested by the record label, but neither received enough airplay to be considered for release.

In 2012 Rowland re-launched Dexys Midnight Runners as "Dexys" with a new album One Day I'm Going to Soar accompanied by a UK tour. Rowland has always identified strongly with his Irish background and in 2016 Dexys released their fifth album, Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul, featuring interpretations of Irish folk songs such as "Women of Ireland" and "Carrickfergus", among others.

Since around 2005, Rowland has hosted a popular DJ tour in clubs and venues throughout the UK. His eclectic set includes his personal favourites, vintage soul and pop numbers from such notables as T-Rex, Roxy Music, and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.[8]

In summer of 2020 Rowland released a new video for the song Rag Doll, a promo which features his grandson Roo.[9] In September 2020, My Beauty was re-released by Cherry Red Records and finally became a UK chart hit in October, peaking at number 73 in the albums chart.[10][11]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album details
1988 The Wanderer
1999 My Beauty

Singles

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Year Single Peak positions Album
UK
[12]
1988 "Walk Away" 95 The Wanderer
"Tonight" 81
"Young Man" 102
1999 "Concrete and Clay" — My Beauty
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Guest appearances

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Year Song Album
1988 "Sean" (with The Proclaimers) Sunshine on Leith

References

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  1. ^ Michaels, Sean (13 February 2012). "Dexys Midnight Runners to release first new album in 27 years". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  2. ^ Simpson, Dave (24 August 2007). "Interview: Kevin Rowland and The Proclaimers". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Dexys' Kevin Rowland talks to The Works Presents". RTE News. 7 October 2016.
  4. ^ Thomson, Gordon (2 November 2003). "My team: Kevin Rowland on Wolverhampton Wanderers". The Observer. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  5. ^ Reed, John. "A Tale of Two Kevins". Record Collector. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  6. ^ Haslam, Dave (March 2010). "Kevin Rowland interview". davehaslam.com.
  7. ^ a b c d Duerden, Nick (16 April 2022). "'That's it? It's over? I was 30. What a brutal business': pop stars on life after the spotlight moves on". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  8. ^ "DJ Kevin Rowland: Man of Many Hats: Star and Garter, Manchester - live review - Louder Than War". Louder Than War. 24 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  9. ^ Jonze, Tim (21 July 2020). "Kevin Rowland on the My Beauty furore: 'I wasn't cracking up. I just wanted to wear a dress'". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Kevin Rowland: My Beauty, Expanded CD Edition".
  11. ^ "KEVIN ROWLAND | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  12. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Kevin Rowland". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
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