| Tony Friel | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 May 1958 |
| Origin | Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside, England |
| Genres | Punk rock, New Wave, Post-Punk, Synthpop |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, guitar |
| Years active | 1976 – present |
| Labels | [2] |
| Associated acts | The Fall, Contact, The Passage, The Teardrops, Woodband Streetband |
Tony Friel (born in Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside, 4 May 1958)[1] is a bass guitarist known for his role in different New Wave bands.
He attended Heys Boys Secondary School, where met Martin Bramah and got, along him, Art O Level. He and Bramah shared many interests. In mid-1970s, they were introduced, by their friend Barbara Smith, to her brother Mark E. Smith and Una Baines, friend of the latter. Smith, Baines, Bramah and Friel shared interests in music, and formed their first band, The Fall.[2] Friel remained until December 1977, when left.
After The Fall, he formed a project called Contact and a band called The Passage. In late 1978, he and his formed Fall bandmate Karl Burns joined The Teardrops, group comprised by Buzzcocks bassist Steve Garvey, releasing subsequently the Leave Me No Choice EP, and in 1980, the Final Vinyl album, until they broke up.
The next years, he played with R&B bands. Later he was member of the Woodband Streetband.[3]