Dan Woodgate

Dan Woodgate

Woodgate performing live with Madness at Manchester Arena in 2014
Background information
Birth name Daniel Mark Woodgate
Also known as Woody
Born October 19, 1960
Kensington, London, England
Genres Ska revival, pop, new wave, alternative rock, pop rock
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Drums, keyboards, percussion
Years active 1978 - present
Associated acts Madness, Voice of the Beehive

Daniel "Dan" Mark Woodgate (born 19 October 1960 in Kensington, London)[1][2] is an English musician, songwriter, and producer. He gained fame as the drummer for the Ska/pop band, Madness and was also a member of the rock band, Voice of the Beehive in the late 1980s. He is also commonly known by his nickname Woody.

Early career

Woodgate received his first drum kit when he was 12 years of age.[3] After leaving school he worked as a sign writer/printer then building work/labourer. Woodgate was in a band called Steel Erection with his younger brother, Nick, who himself is credited as a co-writer on the Madness songs 'No Money', 'Kitchen Floor' and 'Leon', and even played all of the instruments minus drums and provided vocals for the demo version of 'Kitchen Floor'.

Career

Madness

Woodgate joined the band after being introduced at a rehearsal by bass player Mark Bedford. Woodgate is one of the less regular songwriters in the group, but is credited as co-writer on the hits 'The Return of the Los Palmas 7' and 'Michael Caine'. His only solo credit is on the track 'Sunday Morning' from The Rise & Fall album, and more recently on 'Small World' on Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da.

Voice of the Beehive

For a time from 1987, Woodgate also played drums with Voice of the Beehive.[4]

Fat

From 1992-95 he worked with his own band Fat.[5]

Personal life

Woodgate was previously married to Jane Crockford of the Mo-dettes, but now lives with his second wife Siobhan and their daughters, Iona and Mary, in Beckenham, Kent. Until recently he worked at Hayes School, Bromley, as a music technician. In 2009 he completed the London Marathon in a time of 3 hours and 45 minutes.[6]

Woodgate's brother Nick has struggled with schizophrenia and Woodgate has become an ambassador for the charity Rethink Mental Illness. As children the two lived with their divorced father in a big house in Camden Town, north London, cared for by nannies. Interviewed by the Daily Express in 2013, Woodgate recalled: "We were really close and spent every hour of every day together. When Nick was about 10 dad realised he had a real talent for playing the guitar. I couldn't play a thing so I took up the drums and we formed a band together called Steel Erection."[7]

References

  1. ↑ http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=daniel%20m&lastname=woodgate&eventyear=1960&eventyear_offset=0
  2. ↑ "Madness Power Point 001". Scribd.com. 1961-01-13. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  3. ↑ http://www.magicbrothers.com/about/
  4. ↑ "Daniel M. Woodgate Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  5. ↑ http://www.magicbrothers.com/about/
  6. ↑ "Cancer Research UK Running - Woody's 2010 Marathon Sponsorship Page". Runningsponsorme.org. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  7. ↑