Bryan Ferry

Trivia

• Lead singer and keyboardist of Roxy Music.
• Dated model Jerry Hall in the 1970s, which explains her appearance on the cover of Roxy Music's 1975 album "Siren". Ferry and Hall were still dating in the late '70s when Hall met Mick Jagger for the first time....eventually leading to their a long relationship and four children together.
• Married 22-year-old Lucy Helmore at the Church of St. Anthony and St. George at Duncton, West Sussex, England, UK.
• Ferry's son Otis was arrested while attempting to plaster pro-hunting stickers over the windows of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's house during a protest in support of fox hunting.
• Kar Wai Wong credits his rendition of the standard "I'm in the Mood for Love" as the inspiration for the English title of his film 'Fa yeung nin wa (2000)'.
• Frequently ridiculed in issues of the New Musical Express in the 1970s. This came about after Ferry reportedly took exception to the manner in which he was interviewed by journalists from the magazine. In return, variations on the spelling of Ferry's name became a commonplace joke in articles. Ironically, Roxy Music were one of the most popular bands with NME journalists.
• Winner of the 2003 Ivor Novello Award for outstanding contribution to British music.
• Winner of the 2004 Q Lifetime Achievement Award (as a member of Roxy Music).
• His song "Going Strong" was recorded by Roger Daltrey on his solo album "Parting Should Be Painless" (released in 1984).
• His song "The Way You Do" was recorded by Anni-Frid Lyngstad on her solo album "Something's Going On" (released in 1982).

Quotes

• "Oh yes, much, because music is just something that comes to you. You don't question it."
• "The quality of the writing, really. Simple as that. Beautiful words. It's very nice as a singer to do great songs, which have wonderful lyrics and strong feelings underneath the song."
• "When I stopped touring in the early '80s for a few years, it was a mistake looking back. I lost touch with my audience in a way and I think that was a bad career move."
• "I've had quite a few moments I've liked, so it's good enough."
• "I'm not really sure what it was, the best moment. You always hope it's to come."
• "I'd love to follow the Tour de France one day. It's a really exciting spectacle. I've only seen it once as it was coming into Paris and that was very exciting for me. I have memories of that."
• "I suppose young people think football is glamorous - soccer - it's big money and the stars of it, they look good and have a great big house and a huge Ferrari."
• "I don't do interviews at all when I'm on tour, so this time, on a day off, I'll do that kind of thing a little bit. I don't do big promotion schedules, not when I'm touring."
• "I didn't really want to give up music."
• "I can never predict what's going to happen."

Biography

Bryan Ferry

Last Updated: Friday, October 23, 2009

Son of a coal miner, Bryan Ferry cultivated his musical abilities while studying art at the University of Newcastle. In 1971, Ferry founded Roxy Music with, among others, composer and synthesizer player Brian Eno, who left in 1973.

Ferry was Roxy's front man until its demise in 1983, but as Eno was leaving the band, Ferry released his first solo album, "These Foolish Things", which demonstrates a different approach of what he was doing at that time with Roxy Music: while the band jumped on the Glam Rock bandwagon, Ferry, in his solo efforts, showed a cool crooning style.

But as Roxy Music evolved by the years, it became clear that Ferry's career with the band or as a solo artist was a whole. Although Roxy was very popular in UK, they had little impact in America: their best known hits on this side of the Atlantic were "Love Is the Drug" (1975), "Avalon" and "More Than This" (both in 1982).

After Roxy Music disbanded, Ferry put emphasis on his solo career, releasing five albums after the Roxy years and keeping the same crooning style which became his trademark.

His biggest solo hits include "Don't Stop The Dance" (1985) and "Kiss and Tell" (1988), which was featured in the motion picture Bright Lights, Big City (1988). Ferry's solo albums contain self-penned songs (Boys & Girls, Bête Noire, Mamouna) or covers (These Foolish Things, Taxi and As Time Goes By, his latest release).