Fad Gadget
Encyclopedia
Fad Gadget is the stage name
of Francis John (Frank) Tovey (8 September 1956 – 3 April 2002), a British
avant-garde
electronic
musician and vocalist. He was a proponent of both New Wave
and early Industrial music
.
As Fad Gadget, his music was characterized by a use of synthesizers in conjunction with sounds of found object
s, including drills and electric razor
s. His bleak, sarcastic, and darkly humorous lyrics, often layered in meaning and discussing subjects such as machinery, building construction, human sexuality, and physical violence, were sung in a droning, often expressionless voice.
, known as Leeds Polytechnic at the time. He felt the need to give his mime act some sort of musical accompaniment so he went back to the idea of recording music. The initial musical pieces were formed of sound manipulation using tape recorders. Tovey began experimenting using an old Grundig
tape recorder. He disconnected the erase head from the playback head and installed a simple switch between the two. This gave him control over what sounds could be erased or kept. He spent a lot of time building up sound collages using this method. After finishing full time education Tovey began working at various day jobs and around the mid seventies managed to set up his own home studio. At the time he was living in London
, in a small house. The only space where he could set up his studio was in a cupboard. The initial equipment he used consisted mainly of his Grundig tape recorder. At this time he was using no musical instrument at all. The first keyboard instrument he owned was a Crumar
Compac electric piano. He also bought a Korg
Minipops drum machine from a home organ shop. He eventually decided to purchase a Korg synthesiser. He thought that due to his lack of musical ability he would be able to create some impressive sounds. After the purchase of this equipment he began writing music seriously; it was at this time he sent a demo tape of Back to Nature to Daniel Miller, who had just released his first single as The Normal
.
. He was the first artist to sign to Mute. Back to Nature was recorded as the second Mute Records
release at RMS Studio in London
. At the time RMS was an eight track studio. Tovey had no real experience of recording within a studio environment, so he left most of the decision making to Daniel Miller. Most of the recorded instruments on Back to Nature belonged to Tovey, although he used equipment belonging to Miller as well; this included an ARP 2600
synthesiser. Back to Nature was a great success for Mute Records so a follow-up record was produced; the follow-up was titled "Ricky's Hand
". The recording included Tovey’s wife, Barbara, singing a vocal part near the end of the recording; the vocal part is then mixed with a synthesiser part into the outro of the song. Tovey then went on to record an album for Mute Records. Fireside Favourites was recorded at Blackwing Studios
in London. He decided to record the album without Daniel Miller’s assistance. Tovey felt it very important that he made all the decisions about recording the album himself. Tovey also felt the ideas and concepts behind his live performances were just as important. He was gaining a reputation for being an exciting, original live act within the electronic music scene. He used visual gimmicks such as playing instruments with his head, usually ending up in personal injury. His live appearances progressed to dressing in stage costumes, reflecting back to his days studying visual arts. Tovey recorded two more albums for Mute Records
at Blackwing Studios
which was using more complex recording equipment. Incontinent
and Under the Flag
showed a progressive change in Tovey’s music; due both to the technological advances and his own growing knowledge of recording techniques. It was during the recording of Under the Flag that he began using the Roland MC-4 Microcomposer
. This made it easy for Tovey to create a more controlled style of music. This style was carried on with the recording of the album Gag.
in Berlin
. He had wanted a break from the way he had been recording in London. The acoustic spaces in the German studio had excited Tovey. He was also excited about the recording equipment that was installed at Hansa at that time, including the computer controlled mixing desk. He found the new recording practices refreshing, having other people collaborating in the writing and recording process. Some of these collaborators included the viola player, Joni Sackett, and keyboard player, David Simmonds. The recordings included many acoustic instruments, which veered away from the electronic instruments which had been used on previous recording sessions. Tovey had used synthesisers when they were not fashionable to use – he had now moved away from electronic instrumentation when it was the current trend with other recording artists. During the recording of Gag the German industrial band, Einstürzende Neubauten
, were also recording at Hansa and had been the support act for Fad Gadget at a gig at "The Loft" venue in Berlin. Frank liked their use of Industrial equipment and found objects something he had encouraged Nick Cash drummer and percussionist since first album to do. Frank Tovey heard a large printing press nearby which had a distinctive rhythm and got Gareth Jones the co-producer/engineer to record it, this was looped and became the basis for "Collapsing New People" with Cash drumming along and keeping the swing of the machine. Tovey then thought it would be good to ask Nuebauten if they would add some of their percussion noise to the mix, however he thought there was enough going on in the track and their contribution was used on the B.Side "Spoil The Child" and on the 12" mix of the song. Neubauten’s percussion was overdubbed over the already recorded backing tracks. The percussion tracks proved difficult to mix at the final stage, but Tovey was pleased with the final result. The track "Collapsing New People" was released as a single by Mute Records. Incidentally, Einstürzende Neubauten
translated means collapsing new buildings. After recording the album Gag, Tovey began recording under his real name – Frank Tovey. He carried on moving toward acoustic instruments and in 1984 had decided he may want to record on his own again.
Fad Gadget was known for his confrontational live performances, which included Tovey covering himself in tar and feathers
, leaping into the audience, and playing instruments with his head. Tovey was particularly infamous for spreading his naked body in shaving cream
onstage, an image of which is depicted on the cover of The Best of Fad Gadget. Sounds magazine described him as "...the bumbling but talented Dr Who
of electro-pop".
s of more experimental work under the name Frank Tovey, beginning with Easy Listening for the Hard of Hearing
, a collaboration with Boyd Rice
recorded in 1981.
In 1989, he changed musical tactics in his criticism of industrialization, recording a mostly acoustic album of protest and labor songs Tyranny and the Hired Hand including such standards as "Sixteen Tons
." He then tried his hand at writing similar material, recorded two more albums with a backing band named The Pyros. After touring in 1993, Tovey withdrew from the music business.
, on their Exciter
tour
. He continued to perform live, and was working on a new album at the time of his death.
Tovey suffered from heart problems since his childhood, and died of a heart attack on 3 April 2002 at the age of 45. He left a wife, a daughter (Morgan) and a son (Joseph).
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of Francis John (Frank) Tovey (8 September 1956 – 3 April 2002), a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
avant-garde
Avant-garde music
Avant-garde music is a term used to characterize music which is thought to be ahead of its time, i.e. containing innovative elements or fusing different genres....
electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
musician and vocalist. He was a proponent of both 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...
and early Industrial music
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
.
As Fad Gadget, his music was characterized by a use of synthesizers in conjunction with sounds of found object
Found object
A found object, in an artistic sense, indicates the use of an object which has not been designed for an artistic purpose, but which exists for another purpose already. Found objects may exist either as utilitarian, manufactured items, or things which occur in nature...
s, including drills and electric razor
Razor
A razor is a bladed tool primarily used in the removal of unwanted body hair through the act of shaving. Kinds of razors include straight razors, disposable razors and electric razors....
s. His bleak, sarcastic, and darkly humorous lyrics, often layered in meaning and discussing subjects such as machinery, building construction, human sexuality, and physical violence, were sung in a droning, often expressionless voice.
Early Years
At school Tovey tried to learn many different musical instruments. He realised he did not have the coordination to be able to play any of them really well. He drifted away from the idea of playing music, and began getting involved in other art forms instead. He later studied visual arts and mime at Leeds Metropolitan UniversityLeeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...
, known as Leeds Polytechnic at the time. He felt the need to give his mime act some sort of musical accompaniment so he went back to the idea of recording music. The initial musical pieces were formed of sound manipulation using tape recorders. Tovey began experimenting using an old Grundig
Grundig
Grundig AG is a German manufacturer of consumer electronics for home entertainment which transferred to Turkish control in 2004-2007. Established in 1945 in Nuremberg by Max Grundig, the company changed hands several times before becoming part of the Turkish Koç Holding group...
tape recorder. He disconnected the erase head from the playback head and installed a simple switch between the two. This gave him control over what sounds could be erased or kept. He spent a lot of time building up sound collages using this method. After finishing full time education Tovey began working at various day jobs and around the mid seventies managed to set up his own home studio. At the time he was living in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in a small house. The only space where he could set up his studio was in a cupboard. The initial equipment he used consisted mainly of his Grundig tape recorder. At this time he was using no musical instrument at all. The first keyboard instrument he owned was a Crumar
Crumar
Crumar is an Italian company which manufactured synthesizers and keyboards in the 60's, 70s and 80s. Its name is taken from that of its founder, Mario Crucianelli...
Compac electric piano. He also bought a Korg
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
Minipops drum machine from a home organ shop. He eventually decided to purchase a Korg synthesiser. He thought that due to his lack of musical ability he would be able to create some impressive sounds. After the purchase of this equipment he began writing music seriously; it was at this time he sent a demo tape of Back to Nature to Daniel Miller, who had just released his first single as The Normal
The Normal
The Normal is the recording artist name used by English music producer Daniel Miller, a film editor at the time, who is best known as the founder of the record label Mute Records.-Background:...
.
Signing to Mute Records
Tovey signed as Fad Gadget to Daniel Miller's Mute RecordsMute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
. He was the first artist to sign to Mute. Back to Nature was recorded as the second Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
release at RMS Studio in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. At the time RMS was an eight track studio. Tovey had no real experience of recording within a studio environment, so he left most of the decision making to Daniel Miller. Most of the recorded instruments on Back to Nature belonged to Tovey, although he used equipment belonging to Miller as well; this included an ARP 2600
ARP 2600
The ARP 2600 is a semi-modular analog subtractive audio synthesizer, designed by Alan R. Pearlman , and manufactured by his company, ARP Instruments, Inc...
synthesiser. Back to Nature was a great success for Mute Records so a follow-up record was produced; the follow-up was titled "Ricky's Hand
Ricky's Hand
"Ricky's Hand" is a song by Fad Gadget, released as a single in 1980. It was the second Fad Gadget single, following "Back to Nature" the previous year. The track was not included on any studio album, predating a debut LP by several months, but does appear on several compilations...
". The recording included Tovey’s wife, Barbara, singing a vocal part near the end of the recording; the vocal part is then mixed with a synthesiser part into the outro of the song. Tovey then went on to record an album for Mute Records. Fireside Favourites was recorded at Blackwing Studios
Blackwing Studios
Blackwing Studios was an English recording studio, most notable for early Depeche Mode and Yazoo recordings in the early 1980s.-Background:The Blackwing Studios complex was housed inside a deconsecrated church in South-East London. All Hallows church was partly destroyed during The Blitz in 1941...
in London. He decided to record the album without Daniel Miller’s assistance. Tovey felt it very important that he made all the decisions about recording the album himself. Tovey also felt the ideas and concepts behind his live performances were just as important. He was gaining a reputation for being an exciting, original live act within the electronic music scene. He used visual gimmicks such as playing instruments with his head, usually ending up in personal injury. His live appearances progressed to dressing in stage costumes, reflecting back to his days studying visual arts. Tovey recorded two more albums for Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
at Blackwing Studios
Blackwing Studios
Blackwing Studios was an English recording studio, most notable for early Depeche Mode and Yazoo recordings in the early 1980s.-Background:The Blackwing Studios complex was housed inside a deconsecrated church in South-East London. All Hallows church was partly destroyed during The Blitz in 1941...
which was using more complex recording equipment. Incontinent
Incontinent (album)
Incontinent is the second album by Frank Tovey, better known as Fad Gadget, released in 1981. While developing the industrial sound of his debut Fireside Favourites in 1980, the new album relied less on drum machines and found objects, introducing more traditional instruments such as accordion and...
and Under the Flag
Under The Flag
Under The Flag is an experimental electronic album released in 1982 by Fad Gadget.Written by Frank Tovey for the most part concerning his fear for the future of the world, in light of having just become a father. He was apparently afraid of the world his son was going to grow up in...
showed a progressive change in Tovey’s music; due both to the technological advances and his own growing knowledge of recording techniques. It was during the recording of Under the Flag that he began using the Roland MC-4 Microcomposer
Roland MC-4 Microcomposer
The Roland MC-4 Microcomposer was an early microprocessor-based music sequencer released by the Roland Corporation. It could be programmed using the ten key numeric keyboard or a synthesizer keyboard using the keyboards control voltage and gate outputs...
. This made it easy for Tovey to create a more controlled style of music. This style was carried on with the recording of the album Gag.
Recording in Berlin
The recording of Gag was a turning point in Tovey’s recording career. It would be the first time he used a band of musicians to record an album, before he had recorded most of the musical parts himself. It would also see a major change in the recording location from London to Hansa TonstudioHansa Tonstudio
Das Hansa Tonstudio is a recording studio located on Köthener Strasse in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, Germany. Amongst English-performing musical acts it used to be known as 'Hansa Studio By the Wall', 'Hansa by the Wall', or 'The Great Hall by the Wall' in reference to the fact that it was...
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...
. He had wanted a break from the way he had been recording in London. The acoustic spaces in the German studio had excited Tovey. He was also excited about the recording equipment that was installed at Hansa at that time, including the computer controlled mixing desk. He found the new recording practices refreshing, having other people collaborating in the writing and recording process. Some of these collaborators included the viola player, Joni Sackett, and keyboard player, David Simmonds. The recordings included many acoustic instruments, which veered away from the electronic instruments which had been used on previous recording sessions. Tovey had used synthesisers when they were not fashionable to use – he had now moved away from electronic instrumentation when it was the current trend with other recording artists. During the recording of Gag the German industrial band, Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten is a German post-industrial band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N.U...
, were also recording at Hansa and had been the support act for Fad Gadget at a gig at "The Loft" venue in Berlin. Frank liked their use of Industrial equipment and found objects something he had encouraged Nick Cash drummer and percussionist since first album to do. Frank Tovey heard a large printing press nearby which had a distinctive rhythm and got Gareth Jones the co-producer/engineer to record it, this was looped and became the basis for "Collapsing New People" with Cash drumming along and keeping the swing of the machine. Tovey then thought it would be good to ask Nuebauten if they would add some of their percussion noise to the mix, however he thought there was enough going on in the track and their contribution was used on the B.Side "Spoil The Child" and on the 12" mix of the song. Neubauten’s percussion was overdubbed over the already recorded backing tracks. The percussion tracks proved difficult to mix at the final stage, but Tovey was pleased with the final result. The track "Collapsing New People" was released as a single by Mute Records. Incidentally, Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten is a German post-industrial band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N.U...
translated means collapsing new buildings. After recording the album Gag, Tovey began recording under his real name – Frank Tovey. He carried on moving toward acoustic instruments and in 1984 had decided he may want to record on his own again.
Fad Gadget was known for his confrontational live performances, which included Tovey covering himself in tar and feathers
Tarring and feathering
Tarring and feathering is a physical punishment, used to enforce unofficial justice or revenge. It was used in feudal Europe and its colonies in the early modern period, as well as the early American frontier, mostly as a type of mob vengeance .-Description:In a typical tar-and-feathers attack, the...
, leaping into the audience, and playing instruments with his head. Tovey was particularly infamous for spreading his naked body in shaving cream
Shaving cream
Shaving cream is a substance that is applied to the face or wherever else hair grows, to provide lubrication and avoid razor burn during shaving. Shaving cream is often bought in a spray can, but can also be purchased in tubs or tubes. Shaving cream in a can is commonly dispensed as a foam or a gel...
onstage, an image of which is depicted on the cover of The Best of Fad Gadget. Sounds magazine described him as "...the bumbling but talented Dr Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
of electro-pop".
Recording as Frank Tovey
He recorded several LPLP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
s of more experimental work under the name Frank Tovey, beginning with Easy Listening for the Hard of Hearing
Easy Listening for the Hard of Hearing
Easy Listening for the Hard of Hearing is a collaboration album between Boyd Rice and Frank Tovey, recorded in 1981, but released in 1984 on Mute Records, and is composed on 12 tracks labeled "extractions" 1-12. Each extraction is a minimalist noise song, none of which use any conventional musical...
, a collaboration with Boyd Rice
Boyd Rice
Boyd Blake Rice is an American experimental sound/noise musician using the name of NON since the mid-1970s, archivist, actor, photographer, author, member of the Partridge Family Temple religious group, co-founder of the UNPOP art movement and current staff writer for Modern Drunkard...
recorded in 1981.
In 1989, he changed musical tactics in his criticism of industrialization, recording a mostly acoustic album of protest and labor songs Tyranny and the Hired Hand including such standards as "Sixteen Tons
Sixteen Tons
"Sixteen Tons" is a song about the life of a coal miner, first recorded in 1946 by American country singer Merle Travis and released on his box set album Folk Songs of the Hills the following year...
." He then tried his hand at writing similar material, recorded two more albums with a backing band named The Pyros. After touring in 1993, Tovey withdrew from the music business.
Return of Fad Gadget
In 2001, Tovey resurrected his old pseudonym to support his former colleagues and Mute label-mates, Depeche ModeDepeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, on their Exciter
Exciter (album)
Exciter is Depeche Mode's tenth studio album, which was released on 14 May 2001 in the UK and May 15 in the US. It uses more digital music technology compared to their other albums. It was produced by Mark Bell of Björk and LFO fame...
tour
Exciter Tour
Exciter Tour was a 2001 concert tour by English electronic band Depeche Mode in support of the group's 10th studio album, Exciter, which was released in May 2001....
. He continued to perform live, and was working on a new album at the time of his death.
Tovey suffered from heart problems since his childhood, and died of a heart attack on 3 April 2002 at the age of 45. He left a wife, a daughter (Morgan) and a son (Joseph).
As Fad Gadget
- Fireside FavouritesFireside FavouritesFireside Favourites is an album released by Frank Tovey, better known as Fad Gadget, in September 1980. The music developed the primitive industrial sound of his first recordings, the singles "Back to Nature" and "Ricky's Hand"...
(1980) - IncontinentIncontinent (album)Incontinent is the second album by Frank Tovey, better known as Fad Gadget, released in 1981. While developing the industrial sound of his debut Fireside Favourites in 1980, the new album relied less on drum machines and found objects, introducing more traditional instruments such as accordion and...
(1981) - Under the FlagUnder The FlagUnder The Flag is an experimental electronic album released in 1982 by Fad Gadget.Written by Frank Tovey for the most part concerning his fear for the future of the world, in light of having just become a father. He was apparently afraid of the world his son was going to grow up in...
(1982) - Gag (1984)
- The Best of Fad GadgetThe Best Of Fad GadgetThe Best of Fad Gadget is a double compilation album of singles and 12" mixes released by Fad Gadget . The album is split between singles and B-sides on disc one, and 12" mixes and song reworkings on disc two...
(2001)
As Frank Tovey
- Easy Listening for the Hard of HearingEasy Listening for the Hard of HearingEasy Listening for the Hard of Hearing is a collaboration album between Boyd Rice and Frank Tovey, recorded in 1981, but released in 1984 on Mute Records, and is composed on 12 tracks labeled "extractions" 1-12. Each extraction is a minimalist noise song, none of which use any conventional musical...
(1984) (with Boyd RiceBoyd RiceBoyd Blake Rice is an American experimental sound/noise musician using the name of NON since the mid-1970s, archivist, actor, photographer, author, member of the Partridge Family Temple religious group, co-founder of the UNPOP art movement and current staff writer for Modern Drunkard...
) - Snakes and Ladders (1986)
- The Fad Gadget SinglesThe Fad Gadget SinglesThe Fad Gadget Singles is the 1986 collection of singles by British musician Fad Gadget. The album versions of these songs are not only of differing lengths, they were also often alternative mixes...
(1986) - Civilian (1988)
- Tyranny & the Hired Hand (1989)
- Grand Union (1991)
- Worried Men in Second Hand Suits (1992)
- Fad Gadget by Frank Tovey (2006)
As Fad Gadget
| Year | Song | B-Side(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Back To Nature | The Box | non-album singles |
| 1980 | Ricky's Hand Ricky's Hand "Ricky's Hand" is a song by Fad Gadget, released as a single in 1980. It was the second Fad Gadget single, following "Back to Nature" the previous year. The track was not included on any studio album, predating a debut LP by several months, but does appear on several compilations... |
Handshake | |
| Fireside Favourite | Insecticide | Fireside Favourites Fireside Favourites Fireside Favourites is an album released by Frank Tovey, better known as Fad Gadget, in September 1980. The music developed the primitive industrial sound of his first recordings, the singles "Back to Nature" and "Ricky's Hand"... |
|
| 1981 | Make Room | Lady Shave | non-album single |
| 1982 | King Of The Flies flexi | Depeche Mode Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke... - Sometimes I Wish I Was Dead |
released in Flexipop Magazine Flexipop Magazine Flexipop magazine was famous for the re-emergence of the flexible music disc in the UK during the 1980s. Launched in 1980 by ex-Record Mirror journalists Barry Cain and Tim Lott, the magazine featured a flexidisc in each issue. The magazine lasted for two years... |
| Saturday Night Special (Special Mix) | Swallow It (Live) | Incontinent Incontinent (album) Incontinent is the second album by Frank Tovey, better known as Fad Gadget, released in 1981. While developing the industrial sound of his debut Fireside Favourites in 1980, the new album relied less on drum machines and found objects, introducing more traditional instruments such as accordion and... |
|
| King Of The Flies | Plain Clothes | ||
| Life On The Line | 4M | Under The Flag Under The Flag Under The Flag is an experimental electronic album released in 1982 by Fad Gadget.Written by Frank Tovey for the most part concerning his fear for the future of the world, in light of having just become a father. He was apparently afraid of the world his son was going to grow up in... |
|
| For Whom The Bells Toll | Love Parasite | ||
| 1983 | I Discover Love | Lemmings On Lover's Rock | non-album single |
| Collapsing New People with Einstürzende Neubauten Einstürzende Neubauten Einstürzende Neubauten is a German post-industrial band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N.U... |
Spoil The Child | Gag | |
| 1984 | One Man's Meat | Sleep (Electro Induced Original), Ricky's Hand (Live) | |
| 2001 | Fireside Favourite (I Monster Remix) | Ricky's Hand, Collapsing New People (Berlin Mix), Lady Shave | The Best of Fad Gadget The Best Of Fad Gadget The Best of Fad Gadget is a double compilation album of singles and 12" mixes released by Fad Gadget . The album is split between singles and B-sides on disc one, and 12" mixes and song reworkings on disc two... |
| 2003 | Collapsing New People (WestBam Remix) | Lady Shave (John Acquaviva Remix) | Herr Lehmann Herr Lehmann Herr Lehmann is a German novel by Sven Regener, published in 2001, adapted for the screen in 2003. It has been translated into English by John Brownjohn under the title Berlin Blues.... (OST) |
As Frank Tovey
- "Luxury" (1985)
- "Luddite Joe" (1986)
- "Bridge St. Shuffle" (1988)
- "Sam Hall" (1989)
- "The Liberty Tree" (1991)
- "All That Is Mine" (1992)