| James Murphy | |
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James Murphy at the 2010 Berlin Festival |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 4 February 1970 Princeton Junction, New Jersey[1] United States |
| Genres | Dance punk, post-punk revival, electronica, disco |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, DJ, record producer, writer |
| Years active | Band career (1988–1989, 1992–1994, 1995–1997, 2001–2011), Solo Career (1989–1992, 1994–1995, 1997–present) |
| Labels | DFA Records |
| Website | DFA Records LCD Soundsystem |
James Murphy (born February 4, 1970) is an American musician, producer, DJ, and co-founder of record label DFA Records. His most well-known musical project is LCD Soundsystem, which first gained attention with its debut single "Losing My Edge" in 2002 before releasing its eponymous debut album in February 2005 to critical acclaim and top 20 success in the UK.
Murphy has cited his influences as Liquid Liquid, Talking Heads, The Fall, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Velvet Underground, David Bowie and Daft Punk. He attended West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South in Princeton Junction, New Jersey . Murphy was a member of Falling Man from 1988 to 1989, Pony from 1992 to 1994, and Speedking from 1995 to 1997. He was also the sound engineer for Sub Pop band Six Finger Satellite. Former Six Finger Satellite member John Maclean is now on DFA records as The Juan Maclean. In 1999 he formed DFA with Tim Goldsworthy (formerly of UNKLE). At age 22, Murphy was offered a job writing for the sitcom Seinfeld which was then little-known. He did not expect the show to be successful and chose to continue with music instead.[2]
Starting in 1993, Murphy used the name Death from Above when DJing, a nickname that was given to his signature PA setup while he was the sound setup for Six Finger Satellite. The original name of Murphy's and co-owner Tim Goldsworthy's DFA Records was Death from Above Records (though this name was deemed inappropriate for a New York City-based label after the September 11, 2001 attacks). A two-man Canadian band originally called themselves Death from Above before there was a dispute over the name. In response to the threat, the Canadian group changed the minimum number of characters legally required of them and became Death from Above 1979.[3]
Murphy's second LCD Soundsystem album, entitled Sound of Silver, was released on March 12, 2007.[4] In October 2009 Pitchfork Media named the track "All My Friends" off Sound of Silver, the second best song of the decade, and a week later, Sound of Silver was ranked at #17 in The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s list. He also has a CD in the Fabriclive CD series, Fabric Live 36, made in collaboration with LCD Soundsystem drummer Pat Mahoney, released in October 2007.[5] In late 2008 Murphy also announced he is to play bass guitar in Free Energy, a classic rock band, with LCD Soundsystem drummer Pat Mahoney and friends Scott Wells and Paul Sprangers,[6] although this was later refuted by Murphy as a misinterpretation.[7]
In late 2009 Murphy moved into film scoring, writing music for Noah Baumbach's film Greenberg.[8] The soundtrack was released on March 22, 2010. LCD Soundsystem's third album This Is Happening was released on May 17, 2010 in the UK and May 18 in the US. The album was recorded over the course of 2009 and early 2010 in the famed Mansion. April saw the release of the first official single "Drunk Girls" with an accompanying music video directed by Spike Jonze. The album is dedicated to Jerry Fuchs (1974–2009), who had performed drums live with the band on occasion as well as having a big part with other associated DFA acts.
Murphy announced his retirement from LCD Soundsystem with the release of This Is Happening, and made his last television appearance under that name on February 14, 2011, on The Colbert Report. His last concert at Madison Square Garden was simulcast streaming on Pitchfork Media's website on April 2, 2011.
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