Vivien Goldman
Encyclopedia
Vivien Goldman is a British journalist, writer and musician. She was born in London, the child of two German-Jewish
refugees from Nazi Germany
. She studied English and American literature at the University of Warwick
. She began her career as a PR officer
for Island Records
.
Goldman lived in Paris for a year and a half, where she was a member of new wave duo Chantage, which gained modest fame in France. She released the "Dirty Washing EP" in 1981, with tracks produced by John Lydon
and Adrian Sherwood
. The EP appeared first on Ed Bahlman
's iconic 99 Records
imprint on June 3rd, 1981. Later the song "Launderette" was included on Gomma Records' "Anti NY" compilation and the Chicks On Speed
-produced Girl Monster collection. In that year she also contributed vocals (on 'Private Armies') to the New Age Steppers
' self-titled debut.
Goldman wrote for the music magazines NME
, Sounds
and Melody Maker
about reggae
, punk
and post-punk
. She was a founding member of The Flying Lizards
, shared a flat with fellow NME journalist and The Pretenders
singer Chrissie Hynde
, wrote songs for artists such as Massive Attack
, launched the video career of Flavor Flav
, and penned the first biography of Bob Marley
. Goldman is also an accomplished documentarian and adjunct professor of punk and reggae at New York University
's (NYU) Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music.
In January 2007, BBC America began a regular Ask the Punk Professor feature on their website with Goldman answering questions and commenting on current events. The feature ran through 2008.
History of the Jews in Germany
The presence of Jews in Germany has been established since the early 4th century. The community prospered under Charlemagne, but suffered during the Crusades...
refugees from Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. She studied English and American literature at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
. She began her career as a PR officer
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
for Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
.
Goldman lived in Paris for a year and a half, where she was a member of new wave duo Chantage, which gained modest fame in France. She released the "Dirty Washing EP" in 1981, with tracks produced by John Lydon
John Lydon
John Joseph Lydon , also known by the former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a singer-songwriter and television presenter, best known as the lead singer of punk rock band the Sex Pistols from 1975 until 1978, and again for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s...
and Adrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood is an English record producer best known for his work with dub music as well as for remixing a number of popular acts such as Coldcut, Depeche Mode, The Woodentops, Primal Scream, Pop Will Eat Itself, Sinéad O'Connor, and Skinny Puppy...
. The EP appeared first on Ed Bahlman
Ed Bahlman
Ed Bahlman is founder of the independent record shop 99 Records in New York. This was also the name of the record label he started. 99 specialised in Indie/dub/new wave music and was founded in 1980....
's iconic 99 Records
99 Records
99 Records was an independent record label active from 1980-1984. 99 was run out of a record store with the same name, located at 99 MacDougal Street in New York City's Greenwich Village, and owned by Ed Bahlman...
imprint on June 3rd, 1981. Later the song "Launderette" was included on Gomma Records' "Anti NY" compilation and the Chicks On Speed
Chicks on Speed
Chicks on Speed is a multi-national musical ensemble, formed in Munich in 1997, when members Melissa Logan, Kiki Moorse and Alex Murray-Leslie met at the Academy of Fine Arts....
-produced Girl Monster collection. In that year she also contributed vocals (on 'Private Armies') to the New Age Steppers
New Age Steppers
New Age Steppers, one of the On-U Sound stable, under the creative direction of Adrian Sherwood, was a collective of musicians which varied over time...
' self-titled debut.
Goldman wrote for the music magazines NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
and Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
about reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and 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...
. She was a founding member of The Flying Lizards
The Flying Lizards
The Flying Lizards were an English experimental rock band, who were formed in 1976 in England. They are best remembered as New wave one-hit wonders, thanks to their deliberately eccentric cover of Barrett Strong's "Money", which became a UK and US chart success in 1979.-Career:Formed by and led by...
, shared a flat with fellow NME journalist and The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
singer Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
, wrote songs for artists such as Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
, launched the video career of Flavor Flav
Flavor Flav
William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. , better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper and television personality who rose to prominence as a member of the rap group Public Enemy...
, and penned the first biography of Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
. Goldman is also an accomplished documentarian and adjunct professor of punk and reggae at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's (NYU) Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music.
In January 2007, BBC America began a regular Ask the Punk Professor feature on their website with Goldman answering questions and commenting on current events. The feature ran through 2008.
Books
- The Book of Exodus: The Making and Meaning of Bob Marley and the Wailers' Album of the Century (2006)
- The Black Chord: Visions of the Groove: Connections between Afro-Beats, Rhythm and Blues, Hip Hop, and More (with David Corio) (1999)
- Pearl's Delicious Jamaican Dishes: Recipes from Pearl Bell's Repertoire (1992)
- Kid Creole and the Coconuts: Indiscreet (1984)
- Bob Marley, Soul Rebel - Natural Mystic (1981)
External links
- Vivien Goldman's Website
- Vivien Goldman profile at Rock's Back Pages
- 99 Records History
- Video: PUNKCAST#143 Vivien Goldman @ Barnard College - NYC April 11, 2002
- Video: PUNKCAST#974 Book reading @ Soho McNally Robinson NYC May 25, 2006