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Sussex, England (1949 – present)
Fred Frith (born February 17, 1949) is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.
Probably best-known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-prog group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew. He has collaborated with a number of prominent musicians, including Robert Wyatt, Brian Eno, Lars Hollmer, The Residents, Lol Coxhill, John Zorn, Bill Laswell, Derek Bailey, Iva Bittová and Bob Ostertag. He has also composed several long works, including Traffic Continues (1996, performed 1998 by Frith and Ensemble Modern) and Freedom in Fragments (1993, performed 1999 by Rova Saxophone Quartet).
Frith was born in Heathfield in Sussex, England into a family where music was considered an essential part of life. He started violin lessons at the age of five and became a member of his school orchestra. But at 13 he switched to guitar after watching a group imitating a popular instrumental band at the time, The Shadows. He decided to learn how to play guitar and get into a band. Frith taught himself guitar from a book of guitar chords and soon found himself in a school group called The Chaperones, playing Shadows and Beatles covers. But when Frith started hearing blues music from the likes of Snooks Eaglin and Alexis Korner it changed his whole approach to the guitar, and by the time he was 15, The Chaperones had become a blues band. Frith’s first public performances were in 1967 in folk clubs in the North of England, where he sang and played traditional and blues songs.
Probably best-known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-prog group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew. He has collaborated with a number of prominent musicians, including Robert Wyatt, Brian Eno, Lars Hollmer, The Residents, Lol Coxhill, John Zorn, Bill Laswell, Derek Bailey, Iva Bittová and Bob Ostertag. He has also composed several long works, including Traffic Continues (1996, performed 1998 by Frith and Ensemble Modern) and Freedom in Fragments (1993, performed 1999 by Rova Saxophone Quartet).
Frith was born in Heathfield in Sussex, England into a family where music was considered an essential part of life. He started violin lessons at the age of five and became a member of his school orchestra. But at 13 he switched to guitar after watching a group imitating a popular instrumental band at the time, The Shadows. He decided to learn how to play guitar and get into a band. Frith taught himself guitar from a book of guitar chords and soon found himself in a school group called The Chaperones, playing Shadows and Beatles covers. But when Frith started hearing blues music from the likes of Snooks Eaglin and Alexis Korner it changed his whole approach to the guitar, and by the time he was 15, The Chaperones had become a blues band. Frith’s first public performances were in 1967 in folk clubs in the North of England, where he sang and played traditional and blues songs.
Shouts:
102 shouts
Top Albums
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Stone, Brick, Glass, Wood, Wire
Fred Frith
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Gravity
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Speechless
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Step Across The Border
Fred FrithBuy- Download Album
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Shoutbox
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Ikresusto wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oor5C_JVdCQ
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Wombfruit wrote:
http://www.last.fm/group/Guitar+Excursions+into+the+Unknown
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iamholgerczukay wrote:
"Only a Mother" I don't know, but I love the rest. Snakefinger is #19 on my overall right now, I think I like him better than the Residents! I do need more Ralph though, for sure.
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toztizokzndz wrote:
If you like those on Ralph records you should just listen to more Ralph Records, I'm talking about Snakefinger, RATL, Only a Mother and the eyeballs themselves.
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astrophobos wrote:
Allies & Gravity are two fucking masterpieces.
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iamholgerczukay wrote:
I enjoy his more ambient/guitar solos type material, but did he do any more album like the three he did for Ralph Records and/or Skeleton Crew? Where there is a strong... almost post-punk sort of vibe going on? Cheap at Half the Price is still my favorite record after having discovered it 3 years ago.
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zorzynek wrote:
Warsaw gig was pure magic.
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yorammorad wrote:
also what are the chances that he'll come to Israel?
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yorammorad wrote:
I've brought Spring Any Day Now to my jazz ensemble. Needless to say they aren't very happy about it...
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qishmish wrote:
Yeah, Synaestesys or how it's called - Death Ambient second album - is very beauiful in some way
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JamesHippieKid wrote:
More people need to listen to his project Death Ambient.. They have 3 albums with amazing replay value.. and it's the best Dark Ambient out there...
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rod32lop wrote:
Cheap at Half the Price.
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rod32lop wrote:
8/10
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Socax wrote:
Yeah, Step Across the Border is great.
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JamesHippieKid wrote:
His bass playing is super underrated. [2]
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iamholgerczukay wrote:
His bass playing is super underrated. I can always tell when he's playing bass on a track, it's a very distinct percussive tone.
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thybbuk wrote:
also, anal morons who tag files "frith, fred" should die a thousand anal deaths each.
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thybbuk wrote:
in my shelf.
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Hoxerijo wrote:
Please join forces with Residents again.
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mezzanotte_ wrote:
@sermonis: Returning Home trilogy from the album "Eye to Ear II"
Videos
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Play
/ Iva Bittová/ Pavel Fajt…
2 shouts
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Play
Same old me
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Play
Step Across the Border -endpiece
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Play
Hello Music
1 shout
Events
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Apr
23
Fred Frith
Teatro Vascello, Roma, Rome, Italy
1 going
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Aug
25
Fred Frith & friends play Gravity
Slim's, San Francisco CA, United States
2 going
Top Listeners
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shigezane
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xabimetraila
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obdewl_x
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blownstereo
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Recent Activity
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tymfts, OrlandoForioso, matthiasbatline and 3 other people added Fred Frith to their libraries. yesterday evening
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Proselyte added Fred Frith to the lineup of Fred Frith & friends play Gravity at Slim's. Sunday evening
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postti and jacobus73186 added Fred Frith to their libraries. Sunday evening
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papiesztanczy connected Fred Frith to the group Dekoboko Hajime. last week
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eyesbomb added Fred Frith to the lineup of Fred Frith at Teatro Vascello. last week
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marcjacobsprair, jens_thulin, lmrwick and 5 other people added Fred Frith to their libraries. last week
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papiesztanczy connected Fred Frith to the group TYLKO AWANGARDA KURWO. last month
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sebiye tagged Fred Frith with ‘avant-garde’. last month
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sebiye, stevesleep, talesdemixcoac and 2 other people added Fred Frith to their libraries. last month
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JulianaDexa added Fred Frith to JulianaDexa’s library. last month
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Groups (95)
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Henry Cow
69 members
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Ambiances Magnétiques
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free guitar
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Avant-Prog
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