Mark Hollis (musician)

Mark Hollis
Birth name Mark David Hollis
Born 4 January 1955
Origin Tottenham, London, England
Genres Art rock, post-rock, folk, jazz, ambient, synthpop
Occupation(s) Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano, organ, melodica, bass guitar
Years active 1977–1998
Associated acts Talk Talk, Unkle, Anja Garbarek
Notable instruments
Gretsch Country Gentleman

Mark David Hollis (born 4 January 1955, Tottenham, London) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. He achieved commercial success in the 1980s as singer with the synthpop/post-rock band Talk Talk, but retired from the music industry after his 1998 solo debut album.

Biography

Early career

The younger brother of Ed Hollis, a disc jockey and producer who went on to manage bands such as Eddie and the Hot Rods, Hollis originally planned to become a child psychologist but in 1975 left university to relocate to London, where he eventually formed a band called The Reaction. In 1977, The Reaction recorded a demo for Island Records; among the tracks was a Hollis original titled "Talk Talk" which later surfaced on the Beggars Banquet punk compilation Streets. After just one single, 1978's "I Can't Resist," The Reaction disbanded, and through his brother, Hollis was first introduced to musicians Paul Webb, Lee Harris and Simon Brenner, with whom he formed Talk Talk in 1981, soon signing to the EMI label.

Talk Talk

Hollis is most famous as the lead singer and primary songwriter of the band Talk Talk, and was praised for his "always remarkable voice."[1] It was he, along with unofficial Talk Talk member Tim Friese-Greene, who took the lead in evolving the band's style from New Romantic into what would later become known as post-rock.
"The Colour of Spring"
Excerpt from "The Colour of Spring", the opening track from Hollis' solo album
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Solo work

In 1998, he released an eponymous solo debut album, Mark Hollis,[2] and participated in occasional musical projects, including playing melodica and bass guitar on Anja Garbarek's 2001 album Smiling & Waving, as well as producing it.[3] He has now retired from the music industry.[4] He has stated about his decision to retire from performing, "I choose for my family. Maybe others are capable of doing it, but I can't go on tour and be a good dad at the same time."[5] Despite Hollis's absence from the public eye, he (as well as Talk Talk) continue to be mentioned in the press, inside Britain and outside, often as an example of an artist who refused to sacrifice his artistic ambition to commercial success and as a yardstick for current artists.[6][7][8]

In 2004, Hollis resurfaced briefly to receive a Broadcast Music Inc. Award for having written "It's My Life".[9] His withdrawal from the public continues to fascinate music critics.[4][10] By the time his solo album was released Hollis had moved back from the countryside to London, to provide his two sons with a more cosmopolitan environment.[11]

In 2012, a piece of specially commissioned music, entitled "ARB Section 1", was used in the television series Boss.[12]

Solo discography

Collaborations

References

  1. ↑ Gilbert, Ruth (23 January 1989). "Hotline: Music (Spirit of Eden)". New York Magazine. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  2. ↑ "A record that floors me each time." Parkes, Jason A. (12 May 2007). "Rev. of Mark Hollis, Mark Hollis". Julian Cope Presents Head Heritage. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  3. ↑ Mark Hollis. "Mark Hollis | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 McGee, Alan (9 April 2008). "Wherefore art thou Mark Hollis?". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  5. ↑ "Interview :: paul's talk talk pages – Fansite dedicated to Talk Talk". Web.archive.org. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Aizlewood, John (18 November 2002). "Why Ashcroft is missing Verve". Evening Standard.
  7. ↑ Schmickl, Gerald (14 December 2001). "Rev. of Talk Talk, Missing Pieces". Wiener Zeitung. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  8. ↑ Lees, Alasdair (19 September 2008). "Shearwater, Bush Hall, London". The Independent. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  9. ↑ "'It's My Life' Writer Receives London Award | News". BMI.com. 19 October 2004. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  10. ↑ Masi, Bruno (18 March 2006). "Retour sur la planète Merz". Libération. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  11. ↑ In't Veld, Holger; Stefan Weber (trans.). "Mark Hollis Interview: The path over the burnt bridge". Subadio. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  12. ↑ Talk Talk's Mark Hollis Resurfaces With New Music for the Kelsey Grammer TV Show "Boss" Retrieved 1 September 2012.