Vini Reilly
Vincent Gerard "Vini" Reilly (born 4 August 1953)[1][2] is an English musician and leader of the post-punk group the Durutti Column.
Vini Reilly | |
---|---|
Vini Reilly in 2007 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Vincent Gerrard Reilly |
Born | 4 August 1953 |
Origin | Blackley, Manchester, England |
Genres | Post-punk, dream pop |
Instruments | Guitar, vocals, piano, bass |
Years active | 1978–present |
Labels | Factory, Artful, Kookydisc |
Associated acts | The Durutti Column, Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds, BT, Holly Johnson, Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls, Morrissey |
Biography
Reilly was born in Higher Blackley, Manchester,[3] and raised in Withington, Wythenshawe[4] and Didsbury, Manchester. His father was an engineer who did not allow his five children to watch television.[4] At age 16, Reilly's father died. He later lamented that he did not admire[5] or know him enough.[6] As a youngster, Reilly was a talented footballer. He was offered a trial for Manchester City F.C., but he declined, opting to concentrate on music.[4][6]
His first recorded work was Ed Banger & The Nosebleeds' "Ain't Bin To No Music School".[5]
Reilly was Tony Wilson's first signing to Factory Records in Manchester. Brian Eno cited Reilly's album LC as his all-time favourite album[4] and Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante has stated that Reilly is "the best guitarist in the world".[7]
Reilly arranged music and played guitar on fellow Manchester artist Morrissey's first post-Smiths album Viva Hate (1988). Morrissey and Reilly have both been members of The Nosebleeds, but in different incarnations of the group. Reilly has also recorded with artists including John Cooper Clarke, Pauline Murray, Anne Clark, The Wake, Richard Jobson, Quando Quango, Craig Davies, Swing Out Sister and Holly Johnson (on his 2014 album Europa). He also attempted to produce the Happy Mondays' debut Forty Five E.P., but found that he could not work with the band.
In September 2010, Reilly suffered a "minor" stroke which made him lose "some feeling in his left hand".[8][9] Despite this, in February 2011 it was reported that he was working on a new album.[10] The new tracks are slower because, since the stroke, he cannot play as fast as he used to.[11] In January 2013, Reilly's nephew made an Internet appeal on his behalf for donations because the guitarist had debts for unpaid rent from the time between his strokes and his assessment for disability benefit. Fans sent £3,000 within a day and Reilly was reported to feel that their generosity had "lifted the weight of the world off his shoulders".[12]
Discography
References
- Dedications for Vini 4 August 2013
- Larkin, Colin The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Volume 1. Pág. 750. Guinness, 1992. ISBN 1-882267-01-X, 9781882267019
- Frame, Pete. Pete Frame's Rockin' Around Britain: Rock'n'roll Landmarks of the UK and Ireland. Omnibus, 1999. ISBN 0-7119-6973-6, ISBN 978-0-7119-6973-5
- Taylor, Paul (25 April 2003). "Durutti Column man speaks out". CityLife – M.E.N. Media. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- "Vini Reilly: Always The Bridesmaid, Never The Bride". The Quietus. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- "THE DURUTTI COLUMN – VINI REILLY". Phase 9 Entertainment. 24 April 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
- Hendrix, Page, Townshend ... and Vini Reilly. The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
- "Valuable passages". The Durutti Column – Official site. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- Mayer Nissim (9 September 2010). "Vini Reilly recovering from minor stroke". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- "Vini Reilly Records New Album After Stroke". Contactmusic.com. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- Alex Hudson (23 February 2011). "Durutti Column's Vini Reilly Bounces Back from Stroke with New Material". Exclaim!. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- "Fans rally round Durutti Column star Vini Reilly". BBC News. 4 January 2013.