Eddie Argos
Encyclopedia
Eddie Argos is the lead singer of English
rock band Art Brut,
born in Weymouth, England
. He later moved to Poole
, Dorset
as a young child, and has subsequently written about the Martin Kemp-Welch School there (now St Aldhelm's Academy), in the song Martin Kemp-Welch Five A Side Football Rules from the album Brilliant! Tragic!
. He lives in Berlin
.
Argos is infamous for his zany stage show, where he has played the vacuum, skipped with his microphone wire, escaped from a sack, danced with the audience and stopped songs halfway through to tell the audience his thoughts on various topics. Argos is also known for his humorous, frank lyrics which talk mostly about his family, how he has embarrassed himself or his past love interests.
According to an interview with Artrocker
magazine and the lyrics of 'I Found This Song In The Road', he usually writes them (often on his phone) whilst going for a long walk and/or drunk.
Eddie sometimes plays the bass guitar in Keith TOTP (And His Minor UK Indie Celebrity Allstar Backing Band).
In March 2010 Argos complained that his Wikipedia entry was full of misinformation regarding his interests.
Argos is also the lead singer of the project Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now!
, in which he and multi-instrumentalist Dyan Valdes of The Blood Arm
write musical responses to pop songs. Their album "Fixin' the Charts, Volume 1" was recorded in Joshua Tree in summer 2008.
In June 2011, Eddie appeared as guest vocalist on Akira The Don
's "Living In The Future" single.
. According to Argos, the cover represents a fictional demo tape. Argos says, 'Art Bruts first ever recordings, our demos that were intended to be free on our website, became our first single. I've always been proud of the fact the front cover was of a fictional demo tape that I had imagined was in a charity shop in Poole waiting to be picked up by somebody like me'. Argos also painted the cover for the 'Spoiler Alert' E.P, one of his many side projects.
His paintings frequently (though not exclusively) make references to Art Brut songs; he has created images for Art Brut songs 'Clever, Clever Jazz', 'St.Pauli' and 'Formed A Band' for example. On his blog, he has said that he intends to 'paint a picture for every song that I've ever written and will ever write'. These pictures are sold online, through the Eddie Argos blog resource and The Eddie Argos Shop. When touring, Argos frequently creates individual postcard
themed paintings, commemorating each show on the tour. These paintings are also sold online but can also be purchased at shows.
Argos explained his love of painting to Skyscraper
Magazine
: "I really enjoy painting. I love painting great big thick black lines of acrylic paint on canvas. I don’t paint very complicated things, just simple images and words really. Nothing ever comes out the way I intend it to, probably because of my Dyspraxia, so I’m always surprised at how they turn out".
's 'Phonogram
: The Singles Club' graphic novel.
A life long comic book enthusiast, Eddie's passion for comic books has already crossed over into Art Brut's music and art work, with Art Brut vs Satan's "DC Comics
& Chocolate
Milkshake
referencing the legendary publishers of Batman
, Superman
, Wonder Woman
, Justice League
and Green Lantern
. The same album also had artwork designed by acclaimed graphic novelist Jeff Lemire
. In 2010, Argos unveiled his comic book themed side project named "Spoiler Alert", whose three track EP featured songs inspired by DC Comics characters Batman
, Booster Gold
and Blue Beetle
. Art Brut's 2011 album, Brilliant! Tragic!
was created by acclaimed comic book artist Jamie McKelvie
.
"I can remember the first comic I ever read" Argos said, "it was the Beano
, the day I had my tonsils out. I was given it as a treat as I couldn't eat anything. It might have been the only time I've turned down Ice Cream
, it blew my tiny 6 year old mind. I loved comic books growing up but always had a fear they might be something I would have to give up as an adult. Then one day somebody, I still don't know who, put some Batman
comics through our letter box. These blew my tiny 11 year old mind. They were pretty full on, nothing at all like the Adam West
goofing around show I had seen Saturday morning television. In these stories people were being murdered, they were political, and morally ambiguous. If my mum had known how different they were from the Saturday morning kids show she would have taken them off of me. I loved them though and realised then that they were something that would stay with me into adult life and have spent all my money on comics ever since". Argos has also gone on record stating "Batman is the greatest fictional character of all time. No argument".
To accompany the album Brilliant! Tragic!
, Art Brut commissioned a comic book to be released simultaneously. The Brilliant! Tragic! comic book features artwork by a range of artists, including Akira The Don
, Bryan Lee O'Malley
, Hope Larson
, Jamie McKelvie
, Jeffrey Brown
, Jeffrey Lewis
, Let's Be Friends Again, Marc Ellerby, Mr Solo
, Sian Superman and Patrick McQuade. Eddie Argos was "over the moon and incredibly flattered that these artists took time out to work" on the comic.
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...
rock band Art Brut,
born in Weymouth, 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...
. He later moved to Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
as a young child, and has subsequently written about the Martin Kemp-Welch School there (now St Aldhelm's Academy), in the song Martin Kemp-Welch Five A Side Football Rules from the album Brilliant! Tragic!
Brilliant! Tragic!
Brilliant! Tragic! is the fourth studio album by Art Brut, released on 23 May 2011. The first single from the album will be "Lost Weekend". The album was recorded in Salem, Oregon and is the second to be produced by Frank Black, best known as the frontman of Pixies...
. He lives in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Argos is infamous for his zany stage show, where he has played the vacuum, skipped with his microphone wire, escaped from a sack, danced with the audience and stopped songs halfway through to tell the audience his thoughts on various topics. Argos is also known for his humorous, frank lyrics which talk mostly about his family, how he has embarrassed himself or his past love interests.
According to an interview with Artrocker
ArtRocker
Artrocker is a UK-based collective involved in music promotion and publishing. It was started by Paul Cox and Tom Fawcett who had been co-promoters of a London night called The Sausage Factory...
magazine and the lyrics of 'I Found This Song In The Road', he usually writes them (often on his phone) whilst going for a long walk and/or drunk.
Eddie sometimes plays the bass guitar in Keith TOTP (And His Minor UK Indie Celebrity Allstar Backing Band).
In March 2010 Argos complained that his Wikipedia entry was full of misinformation regarding his interests.
Argos is also the lead singer of the project Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now!
Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now!
Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now! are a band dedicated to writing responses to popular songs, featuring Eddie Argos of Art Brut and Dyan Valdés of The Blood Arm. They have released one album, Fixin' the Charts, Vol...
, in which he and multi-instrumentalist Dyan Valdes of The Blood Arm
The Blood Arm
-Band Information:The Blood Arm were formed in LA in 2003 and were nominated for the LA Weekly Music Award for Best New Artist in 2004. They won the Best Live Act award at the 2005 South By Southwest Music Conference. Franz Ferdinand have often mentioned The Blood Arm as their favourite band in...
write musical responses to pop songs. Their album "Fixin' the Charts, Volume 1" was recorded in Joshua Tree in summer 2008.
In June 2011, Eddie appeared as guest vocalist on Akira The Don
Akira the Don
Akira The Don is an independent British musician. Born in West Bromwich and raised in North Wales, in recent years he has lived in Hackney, East London....
's "Living In The Future" single.
Paintings
As well as his musical output, Argos is also an enthusiastic painter. Notably, he painted the front cover of Art Brut's debut single, Formed a BandFormed a Band
"Formed a Band" is the debut single from English-based indie rock band Art Brut, and the first single from their 2005 album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll. It reached number 52 on the UK Singles Chart in 2004....
. According to Argos, the cover represents a fictional demo tape. Argos says, 'Art Bruts first ever recordings, our demos that were intended to be free on our website, became our first single. I've always been proud of the fact the front cover was of a fictional demo tape that I had imagined was in a charity shop in Poole waiting to be picked up by somebody like me'. Argos also painted the cover for the 'Spoiler Alert' E.P, one of his many side projects.
His paintings frequently (though not exclusively) make references to Art Brut songs; he has created images for Art Brut songs 'Clever, Clever Jazz', 'St.Pauli' and 'Formed A Band' for example. On his blog, he has said that he intends to 'paint a picture for every song that I've ever written and will ever write'. These pictures are sold online, through the Eddie Argos blog resource and The Eddie Argos Shop. When touring, Argos frequently creates individual postcard
Postcard
A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope....
themed paintings, commemorating each show on the tour. These paintings are also sold online but can also be purchased at shows.
Argos explained his love of painting to Skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
Magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
: "I really enjoy painting. I love painting great big thick black lines of acrylic paint on canvas. I don’t paint very complicated things, just simple images and words really. Nothing ever comes out the way I intend it to, probably because of my Dyspraxia, so I’m always surprised at how they turn out".
Writing & Comics
Argos writes an occasional column about comic books for http://www.playbackstl.com/ called "Pow! To The People". He has also contributed a cover quote to the collected edition of Jamie McKelvieJamie McKelvie
-Career:Since 2003, McKelvie has collaborated with journalist Kieron Gillen on a comic strip for the official Playstation Magazine UK, entitled Save Point. He has worked on a number of projects for Image Comics, including the six-issue series Phonogram...
's 'Phonogram
Phonogram
Phonogram may refer to:* Phonogram , a comic book by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie* Phonogram , a grapheme which represents a phoneme or a combination of phonemes...
: The Singles Club' graphic novel.
A life long comic book enthusiast, Eddie's passion for comic books has already crossed over into Art Brut's music and art work, with Art Brut vs Satan's "DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
& Chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
Milkshake
Milkshake
A milkshake is a sweet, cold beverage which is made from milk, ice cream or iced milk, and flavorings or sweeteners such as fruit syrup or chocolate sauce....
referencing the legendary publishers of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
, Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
and Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
. The same album also had artwork designed by acclaimed graphic novelist Jeff Lemire
Jeff Lemire
Jeff Lemire is a Canadian comics artist and writer. He is the author of the Essex County Trilogy, Sweet Tooth and The Nobody. Lemire is known for a his moody, humanistic stories and sketchy, cinematic, black-and-white art....
. In 2010, Argos unveiled his comic book themed side project named "Spoiler Alert", whose three track EP featured songs inspired by DC Comics characters Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Booster Gold
Booster Gold
Booster Gold is a fictional DC Comics superhero. Created by Dan Jurgens, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 and has been a member of the Justice League, DC Comics' all-star team of heroes. The character is initially depicted as a glory-seeking showboat from the future, using knowledge of...
and Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle is the name of three fictional superheroes that appear in American comic books published by a variety of companies since 1939.-Publication history:...
. Art Brut's 2011 album, Brilliant! Tragic!
Brilliant! Tragic!
Brilliant! Tragic! is the fourth studio album by Art Brut, released on 23 May 2011. The first single from the album will be "Lost Weekend". The album was recorded in Salem, Oregon and is the second to be produced by Frank Black, best known as the frontman of Pixies...
was created by acclaimed comic book artist Jamie McKelvie
Jamie McKelvie
-Career:Since 2003, McKelvie has collaborated with journalist Kieron Gillen on a comic strip for the official Playstation Magazine UK, entitled Save Point. He has worked on a number of projects for Image Comics, including the six-issue series Phonogram...
.
"I can remember the first comic I ever read" Argos said, "it was the Beano
Beano
Beano can refer to:* The Beano, a British children's comic* Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton, a 1966 John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers album nicknamed The Beano Album as the cover shows Clapton reading a Beano comic...
, the day I had my tonsils out. I was given it as a treat as I couldn't eat anything. It might have been the only time I've turned down Ice Cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
, it blew my tiny 6 year old mind. I loved comic books growing up but always had a fear they might be something I would have to give up as an adult. Then one day somebody, I still don't know who, put some Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
comics through our letter box. These blew my tiny 11 year old mind. They were pretty full on, nothing at all like the Adam West
Adam West
William West Anderson , better known by the stage name Adam West, is an American actor best known for his lead role in the Batman TV series and the film of the same name...
goofing around show I had seen Saturday morning television. In these stories people were being murdered, they were political, and morally ambiguous. If my mum had known how different they were from the Saturday morning kids show she would have taken them off of me. I loved them though and realised then that they were something that would stay with me into adult life and have spent all my money on comics ever since". Argos has also gone on record stating "Batman is the greatest fictional character of all time. No argument".
To accompany the album Brilliant! Tragic!
Brilliant! Tragic!
Brilliant! Tragic! is the fourth studio album by Art Brut, released on 23 May 2011. The first single from the album will be "Lost Weekend". The album was recorded in Salem, Oregon and is the second to be produced by Frank Black, best known as the frontman of Pixies...
, Art Brut commissioned a comic book to be released simultaneously. The Brilliant! Tragic! comic book features artwork by a range of artists, including Akira The Don
Akira the Don
Akira The Don is an independent British musician. Born in West Bromwich and raised in North Wales, in recent years he has lived in Hackney, East London....
, Bryan Lee O'Malley
Bryan Lee O'Malley
Bryan Lee O'Malley is a Canadian cartoonist. He is best known for the Scott Pilgrim series, but is also a musician using the alias Kupek.-Career:...
, Hope Larson
Hope Larson
Hope Raue Larson is an American illustrator and cartoonist. Her main field is graphic novels.-Biography:Larson is of German and Swedish descent. She grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and attendedCarolina Day School...
, Jamie McKelvie
Jamie McKelvie
-Career:Since 2003, McKelvie has collaborated with journalist Kieron Gillen on a comic strip for the official Playstation Magazine UK, entitled Save Point. He has worked on a number of projects for Image Comics, including the six-issue series Phonogram...
, Jeffrey Brown
Jeffrey Brown
Jeffrey Brown is a comic book writer and artist born in Grand Rapids, Michigan.-Biography:After growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a 25-year-old Jeffrey Brown moved to Chicago in 2000 to pursue an MFA at the School of the Art Institute. By the time he finished his studies, he had abandoned...
, Jeffrey Lewis
Jeffrey Lewis
Jeffrey Lewis is an American singer/songwriter and comic book artist.-Early life:Lewis attended State University of New York at Purchase and graduated in 1997 with a degree in Literature...
, Let's Be Friends Again, Marc Ellerby, Mr Solo
Mikey Georgeson
Mikey Georgeson is an artist, working in various media. He is a painter and illustrator, who regularly exhibits his work at Sartorial Contemporary Art and other galleries. As ‘the Vessel’, he is songwriter and singer of the cult art-rock band, David Devant and his Spirit Wife...
, Sian Superman and Patrick McQuade. Eddie Argos was "over the moon and incredibly flattered that these artists took time out to work" on the comic.
Bands
- Art BrutArt Brut (band)Art Brut are a Berlin-based English and German indie rock band. Their debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, was released on 30 May 2005, with its follow up, It's a Bit Complicated, released on 25 June 2007...
- The Art GoblinsThe Art Goblins-Biography:The Art Goblins are an English alternative rock band featuring current Art Brut members Eddie Argos and Jasper "Jeff" Future.They have four songs available on their website; AntiGravity, Disco, Fuck The MSP and My Keyboard Guitar Gently Weeps.-Members:The Art Goblins are:* Eddie Argos *...
- The Black Arts
- The English Travelling Wilburys
- Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now!Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now!Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now! are a band dedicated to writing responses to popular songs, featuring Eddie Argos of Art Brut and Dyan Valdés of The Blood Arm. They have released one album, Fixin' the Charts, Vol...
- Art Naif
- Future and the Boy
- Glam Chops (formerly known as Paranoid Dog Bark)
- Spoiler Alert!
Art Brut
- Bang Bang Rock & Roll (2005)
- It's A Bit ComplicatedIt's a Bit ComplicatedThe initial reaction to the album has been generally favorable. The Guardian awarded the album full marks, comparing the group to both The Fall and Half Man Half Biscuit...
(2007) - Art Brut vs Satan (2009)
- Brilliant! Tragic!Brilliant! Tragic!Brilliant! Tragic! is the fourth studio album by Art Brut, released on 23 May 2011. The first single from the album will be "Lost Weekend". The album was recorded in Salem, Oregon and is the second to be produced by Frank Black, best known as the frontman of Pixies...
(2011)