David Virgin

David Virgin singing live in the band Sekret Sekret

David Virgin (born 14 January 1962) is an Irish born musician, song-writer, poet, author and music producer who emigrated to Australia with his family as a child. He found musical success initially during the 1980s in Sydney's vibrant punk scene with seminal industrial noise group SPK ^[1] and later with post-punk, psychedelic band Sekret Sekret.^[2] He remained active through the 1990s and 2000's touring Europe and Australia solo as well as performing and recording with Jimmy Willing & The Real Gone Hickups, Blurter, Black Train and Sekret Sekret and The Cruel Sea Guitarist Dan Rumour.

David continues to perform and record music in Ireland, Australia and across Europe.

History

Early career

David Virgin playing bass in SPK aged 16

David Virgin was born in North Dublin on the 14h of January 1962. At the age of 7 he emigrated to Australia with his family. In 1978, at the age of 16, David formed his first band The Broken Toys as bass player and main songwriter with Peter Mullany (of Johnny Dole & The Scabs) on lead guitar, Andrew Campbell on rhythm guitar and vocals and David's brother John on drums, later replaced by Paul Cosgrove.^[3] The Broken Toys played 60's pop inspired melodic punk in the style of The Buzzcocks and performed regularly at the (now legendary) Grand Hotel, Broadway, Sydney.^[4] In 1979 David Virgin joined Graeme Revell, Neil Hill and guitarist Dan Rumour as bassist for the pioneering industrial noise group SPK co-writing ^[5] and recording the early 7" records; No More ^[6] and Mekano.^[7]

The Broken Toys disbanded in '79 and shortly after that David formed The Ugly Mirrors with Dan Rumour, Des Devlin and Peter McGregor. The Ugly Mirrors quickly became Sekret Sekret with the final line up including Colin Ellis on drums and Peter Mullany on second guitar. Sekret Sekret performed and recorded for six years earning 5 number one singles on the Australian independent charts including the "noted underground classic New King Jack".^[8] Sekret Sekret's final line up included Ken Gormley (The Cruel Sea) on bass and James Elliot (The Cruel Sea) on Drums with Des Devlin moving to share the lead guitar duties with Dan Rumour. In 1985 Sekret Sekret released their last single "Just to Love You", disbanding shortly after. Three of the members of Sekret Sekret went on to form successful Australian rock band The Cruel Sea with singer Tex Perkins.^[9]

Solo Career to Present

David Virgin playing live in Dublin 2013

In 1984 David recorded and released a split single with Leonard Samperi titled Possession/Give It Up through Waterfront Records.^[10] The single was co-produced and engineered by Clive Shakespeare of Australian pop, rock group Sherbet who also engineered a number of Sekret Sekret singles including Girl With a White Stick/Chimes and Just To Love You/Waterbirds.

In 1991 David reunited with SPK and Sekret Sekret band-mate Dan Rumour to record the David Virgin solo album "Landlord Green" ^[11] before touring Europe in '92. Since then David has maintained a presence on the underground music scenes of Europe and Australia recording five more solo albums; "No Fun Sessions", "Dublin 7", "Rock N Roll Meditations", "Posing As A Sodomite," and "International Treasure". He also recorded a second album with Dan Rumour in 2004 titled "Virgin & Rumour". Over his live career David has shared the stage with many respected musicians and acts including Nick Cave, John Cooper Clark, Jonathan Richman, Mary Black, INXS, The Church, The Triffids, The Go Betweens, Cat Power, Lloyd Cole, Billy Bragg and Tim Freedman.^[12]

In 2012 David Virgin released a book titled "Potato Mashi: The Underground Non-Dualist Sensation", a non-dualist/stoic work featuring the sayings of a wise potato with illustrations of Potato Mashi himself in various situations and with his girlfriend Carottini ^[13]

David Virgin now lives in Dublin, Ireland and continues to write, record and perform music solo and with his two sons Rohan and Alex, of The Dublin City Rounders,^[14] in the vintage, western swing and blues act David Virgin & The Stanley Knife Brothers. In November 2013 David Virgin released a 23 song best-of album titled "Three Decades of David Virgin" through Beardfire Entertainment.^[15]

David Virgin in 2014

Discography

Albums

• Landlord Green (1992)
• Virgin & Rumour (2004)
• Dublin 7 (2006)
• Sekret Sekret – Happy Town Sounds (Singles, Live & Rare) (2008)
• Rock N Roll Meditations (2008)
• Posing As A Sodomite (2009)
• International Treasure (2012)
• No Fun Sessions (2013)
• Three Decades of David Virgin (2013)
• David Virgin & The Stanley Knife Brothers - Party Like It's 1899 (2014)

Compilations

• Tales From The Australian Underground Vol. 1 (2003)
• Tales From The Australian Underground Vol. 2 (2006)
• The Beardfire Music Cafe Mix Tape (2013)

Singles

• Charity (1980)
• New King Jack (1981)
• Girl With A White Stick (1984)
• Give It Up (1984)
• Just To Love You (1985)
• Landlord Green (1992)
• Rock N Roll Man (2008)
• White Trash (2009)
• International Treasure (2012)

References