Colin Sharp
Encyclopedia
Colin Ainsley Sharp was a musician and writer from England
, who was part of the Manchester
music scene of the late 1970s and dedicated to arts in Newcastle
.
In the late 1970s, he joined post-punk
band The Durutti Column
as singer during the last months of 1978, replacing original vocalist Phil Rainford
. The band featured Vini Reilly
and Dave Rowbotham
as guitarists and future Simply Red
members Tony Bowers
on bass and Chris Joyce
on drums. With him, the band continued to play live performances and recorded two songs, "No Communication" and "Thin Ice (Detail)", for the A Factory Sample
EP (a various artist compilation which featured also other artists from Factory Records
(label who signed the band): Joy Division
, Cabaret Voltaire
and John Dowie
). Shortly afterwards, only Vini Reilly remained in the band.
In 1978, by the time he joined and left The Durutti Column, he formed a glam punk band, The Roaring 80s, who were active until their split in 1981, opening shows for Magazine
, Joy Division
and others. In 1983, he founded in Newcastle
, a rock band called SF Jive, who lasted until 1990, and whom he was vocalist and percussionist.. In 1988 he formed a experimental music trio called Glow, but they were active only one year.
In 2006, he reappeared in the post-punk scene, when his collaboration with American band Vernian Process
was released within the band's second album The Forgotten Age, the song "Where Are The Young Men?", which Sharp composed in memory of his late friends who were part of the new wave
scene, like Ian Curtis
, Martin Hannett, Billy Mackenzie
, Adrian Borland
, and others.
In 2007, he published his book Who Killed Martin Hannett?: The History of Factory Records, a biography of his close friend, the producer Martin Hannett
.
He taught drama at Tyne Metropolitan College
until July 2008. Colin Sharp died after suffering a brain haemorrhage, on September 7, 2009.
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...
, who was part of the Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
music scene of the late 1970s and dedicated to arts in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
In the late 1970s, he joined post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column are an English post-punk band formed in 1978 in Manchester, England. The band is an ongoing project of guitarist Vini Reilly who is often accompanied by drummer Bruce Mitchell. Other current members are Keir Stewart and Reilly's girlfriend Poppy Morgan...
as singer during the last months of 1978, replacing original vocalist Phil Rainford
Phil Rainford
Phil Rainford is a former singer and music producer, who formed part of the Manchester music scene, in late 1970s and early 1980s, although he did few things...
. The band featured Vini Reilly
Vini Reilly
Vincent "Vini" Gerard Reilly is an English musician and leader of the post-punk group The Durutti Column.-Biography:...
and Dave Rowbotham
Dave Rowbotham
Dave Rowbotham was a rock musician who played guitar and bass with different Manchester bands in the 1970s and the 1980s, and as studio musician.-Biography:...
as guitarists and future Simply Red
Simply Red
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
members Tony Bowers
Tony Bowers
Tony Bowers is a musician based in Italy who has worked with many bands, including Simply Red in the 1980s.He debuted with a blues band called Blind Eye, as second guitarist, although isn't considered as former member...
on bass and Chris Joyce
Chris Joyce
Chris Joyce is known for being drummer with different new wave groups and with Simply Red in the 1980s.Coming from Didsbury, Manchester, he adopted the hippie lifestyle...
on drums. With him, the band continued to play live performances and recorded two songs, "No Communication" and "Thin Ice (Detail)", for the A Factory Sample
A Factory Sample
A Factory Sample is a 7-inch double sampler EP released on 24 December 1978 by Factory Records of Manchester, England. It was the first vinyl recording to be released by the label...
EP (a various artist compilation which featured also other artists from Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
(label who signed the band): Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, Cabaret Voltaire
Cabaret Voltaire (band)
Cabaret Voltaire were a British music group from Sheffield, England.Initially composed of Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk and Chris Watson, the group was named after the Cabaret Voltaire, a nightclub in Zürich, Switzerland that was a centre for the early Dada movement.Their earliest performances...
and John Dowie
John Dowie (humourist)
John Dowie is a British comedian, musician, and writer. He began performing stand-up comedy in 1969.-Career:Dowie was among the inaugural acts on Tony Wilson's Factory Records label. In 1978 he contributed three comedic songs to the first Factory music release, A Factory Sample, along with Joy...
). Shortly afterwards, only Vini Reilly remained in the band.
In 1978, by the time he joined and left The Durutti Column, he formed a glam punk band, The Roaring 80s, who were active until their split in 1981, opening shows for Magazine
Magazine (band)
Magazine are an English post-punk group active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. Their debut single, "Shot by Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time...
, Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
and others. In 1983, he founded in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, a rock band called SF Jive, who lasted until 1990, and whom he was vocalist and percussionist.. In 1988 he formed a experimental music trio called Glow, but they were active only one year.
In 2006, he reappeared in the post-punk scene, when his collaboration with American band Vernian Process
Vernian Process
Vernian Process is an Avant-Garde band formed in San Francisco in 2003. Taking its name from the works of 19th century author Jules Verne, Vernian Process is a band that creates music themed around Victorian scientific romance and its modern counterpart steampunk...
was released within the band's second album The Forgotten Age, the song "Where Are The Young Men?", which Sharp composed in memory of his late friends who were part of the new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
scene, like Ian Curtis
Ian Curtis
Ian Kevin Curtis was an English singer and lyricist, famous for leading the post-punk band Joy Division. Joy Division released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and recorded their follow-up, Closer, in 1980...
, Martin Hannett, Billy Mackenzie
Billy Mackenzie
William MacArthur "Billy" Mackenzie was a Scottish singer, with a distinctive falsetto voice best known as a member of The Associates.- Biography :...
, Adrian Borland
Adrian Borland
Adrian Borland was an English singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer, bestknown as the lead singer of post-punk band The Sound...
, and others.
In 2007, he published his book Who Killed Martin Hannett?: The History of Factory Records, a biography of his close friend, the producer Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett , sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was a record producer and an original partner in Factory Records with Tony Wilson...
.
He taught drama at Tyne Metropolitan College
Tyne Metropolitan College
Tyne Metropolitan College is a large college of further education in North Tyneside, England.-Admissions:The main college site is situated in Willington Square, off the A1058 Coast Road, and a kilometre west of the main A19/A1058 intersection .-Tynemouth High School:Tynemouth Municipal High School...
until July 2008. Colin Sharp died after suffering a brain haemorrhage, on September 7, 2009.
External links
- Discogs.com: Colin Sharp discography
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2007/07/10/100707_hannett_sharp_feature.shtml
- Post-Punk.com - In Memoriam Colin Sharp on Tony Wilson
- Facebook - Colin Sharp The Legend Tribute facebook site