GirlHacker's Random Log

almost daily since 1999

 

Behind the bands: Trevor Horn. As a pop music producer, Trevor Horn presided over the 1980s, bringing his crack team along to shine up ABC, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones, and several others. As a musician, he founded the Buggles (“Video Killed the Radio Star”), Art of Noise, and was a member of Yes who he ultimately influenced more as a producer later on. Going into the 1990s and present day, Horn has been behind Seal, Paul McCartney, LeAnn Rimes, Belle and Sebastian, and more. In 2004, Trevor Horn celebrated 25 years in the business by holding a concert with several of his collaborators at Wembley to benefit The Prince’s Trust. He went all out with string and brass sections, several backing vocalists, his trusty session musicians, and, of course, himself. You can find Youtube videos of the performances ripped off the DVD. Most notable for me was the live performance of Art of Noise’s “Close (to the Edit)“. The recording was built from samples and sequencing, but for the concert Horn learned the bass line and recreated much of the sampled sound, though he did not go as far as to bring a car on stage to provide the engine starts and stalls. (others: “Video Killed the Radio Star“, Yes: “Owner of a Lonely Heart“, Frankie: “Relax“, PSB: “Left to my Own Devices“)

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