Kevin Rowland

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Kevin Rowland
Kevin Rowland in the music video of "Come on Eileen".
Kevin Rowland in the music video of "Come on Eileen".
Background information
Born August 17, 1953 (age 53)
Origin Flag of England Wolverhampton, England
Genre(s) soul
Associated
acts
Lucy & The Lovers, The Killjoys, Dexys Midnight Runners

Kevin Rowland (born August 17, 1953, in Wolverhampton, England) is a singer, songwriter and frontman of Dexys Midnight Runners. Rowland draws on his Irish ancestry in much of his music.

Rowland's first group, Lucy & The Lovers, were influenced by Roxy Music and turned out to be short-lived. His next project, punk rock act The Killjoys, were slightly more successful, releasing the single "Johnny Won't Go To Heaven" in 1977. Alienated by the punk scene, Rowland, together with Killjoys guitarist, Al Archer, decided to form a new soul influenced group, Dexys Midnight Runners.

When Dexys disbanded in 1987, Rowland recorded a solo album called 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 interpretaions of classic songs called My Beauty, the cover of which depicted a heavily made-up Rowland in a dress. This album was also a commercial failure but an artistic success.

In 2003, Rowland reformed Dexys Midnight Runners and embarked on a successful comeback tour backed up with a greatest hits album including two newly recorded songs, "Manhood" and "My Life in England". Both of these new songs were touted as new singles but, despite airplay on national radio, neither was commercially released.

Rowland recently launched his own MySpace site[1] where he has promised a new Dexy's album soon and regularly writes blogs. A new song "It's OK Johanna" is already available on there.

Contents

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

  • "Walk Away" / "Even When I Hold You" (1988)
  • "Tonight" / "Kevin Rowland's Band" (1988)
  • "Young Man" / "One Way Ticket To Palookaville" (1988)
  • "Concrete And Clay" / "I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top" (Instrumental)(1999)

[edit] Albums

  • The Wanderer ("Young Man" / "Walk Away" / "You'll Be The One For Me" / "Heartaches By The Number" / "I Am A Wanderer" / "Tonight" / "When You Walk Alone" / "Age Can't Wither You" / "I Want" / "Remember Me" (1988)
  • My Beauty ("The Greatest Love Of All" / "Rag Doll" / "Concrete And Clay" / "Daydream Believer" / "This Guy's In Love With You" / "The Long And Winding Road" / "It's Getting Better" / "I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top" / "Labelled With Love (I'll Stay With My Dreams)" / "Reflections Of My Life" / "You'll Never Walk Alone" (1999)

[edit] External Links

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