Nick Feldman

Last updated

The Honourable
Nick Feldman
Birth nameNicholas Laurence Feldman
Also known asNick de Spig
Born (1955-05-01) 1 May 1955 (age 69)
Origin North London, England
GenresRock, pop, pop rock, dance, new wave
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, composer, manager, publisher, investor, audition judge & talent scout for The Voice
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, vocals
Years active1977–present
LabelsRewind Records (1980)
Arista Records (1981–1982)
Geffen Records (1982–1991)
Epic Records (1991)
Sony Records (1992)
Website www.wangchung.com

Nicholas Laurence Feldman (born 1 May 1955) is an English musician best known for forming the British new wave band Wang Chung in 1980. [1] Feldman was half of the duo Promised Land, which also featured Jon Moss of Culture Club. He was a founding investor in Interactive Ideas and has worked for Warner Brothers, Sony Music and SonyBMG.

Contents

Biography

Feldman was raised Jewish. [2] He attended Highgate School and the University of Liverpool, originally studying psychology; however, his interest in the subject waned before graduation. After leaving the university he joined DJM Live Music Agency, signing Adam and the Ants. Before university, Feldman was involved in music. He left DJM to become a musician and form a band. Feldman has a younger brother, Steven, and a sister, Alexandra (a logo designer who designed the album art for Huang Chung ). His father was Basil Feldman, Baron Feldman, a Conservative member of the House of Lords, and his aunt was the actress Fenella Fielding.

Wang Chung era (1977–1991)

Bassist-keyboardist Feldman formed a band in the mid-1970s. He placed a help-wanted advertisement in the weekly British music magazine Melody Maker for additional band members. Singer and guitarist Jeremy Ryder (known professionally as Jack Hues) answered Feldman's ad. Feldman and Hues would eventually form the core duo of Wang Chung. Mike Berry (an American bassist and songwriter) also answered the ad. Mike Smith (a keyboardist friend of Feldman) and drummer Paul Hammond were already members of the band. Hammond had already enjoyed some success in the 1970s band Atomic Rooster. Smith soon left after being signed as a songwriter by Chinn and Chapman. After a year and a half, Berry left the band, going solo as Michael Hamilton Berry. In less than a year, the band split up.

With the rising punk music movement in Britain in the late 1970s, Feldman and Hues formed the Intellektuals [3] in mid-1977. Two years later, Feldman and Hues formed 57 Men with future Wang Chung drummer Darren Costin, bassist Leigh Gorman, keyboardist Simon Campbell and vocalist Glenn Gregory. The band broke up 18 months later, but Feldman, Hues, and Costin remained together and in late 1979 became known as Huang Chung. At this time, Feldman was known professionally as Nick De Spig.

Huang Chung released two singles in 1980 for independent music company Rewind Records. In May 1981, the band signed a two-album agreement with Arista Records, releasing its self-titled debut album the following year. That year (still as Nick De Spig), Feldman co-wrote one track of the album Walls Have Ears by Blanket of Secrecy.

In 1983, Huang Chung signed with Geffen Records in the U.S. They wanted to change their name from Huang Chung to something more understandable; Geffen insisted that they keep the name, only changing the spelling to Wang Chung. Feldman returned to his real name professionally. After a summer tour for their first Geffen album (Points on the Curve) in 1984, Costin left the band to pursue a solo career. Without a full-time drummer, Wang Chung continued recording, releasing singles (including "Dance Hall Days" and "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" which reached No. 2 on the Billboard chart in 1986 [4] ), four gold and platinum albums and touring extensively. In addition to writing and producing for Wang Chung, Feldman scored the William Friedkin film To Live and Die in L.A. , and wrote and performed for John Hughes' The Breakfast Club . [2]

Post-Wang Chung era

The band quietly broke up in 1990. [4] Shortly afterward, Feldman joined Jon Moss of Culture Club to form Promised Land. [5] They released a cover version of Thunderclap Newman's "Something in the Air", which was the New Musical Express Single of the Week upon its release. Promised Land was signed by Pete Tong's FFRR label, recording their self-titled debut album for Epic Records in the U.S. Within two years the band broke-up and Feldman became a founding investor in a multimedia software distribution company, Interactive Ideas. [4]

After scoring a number of film and TV projects, Feldman became A&R manager for Warner Music UK Limited.

In 1997, (whilst still working for Warner Bros) Feldman and Hues briefly reunited for the release of their first greatest-hits album on Geffen records, recording a new track ("Space Junk") as a bonus track. Feldman worked at Warner Bros until 2001, when he became head of A&R at Sony Europe for five years. [2]

In 2005, Wang Chung appeared on Hit Me Baby One More Time on ABC in the U.S., performing "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Hot in Herre" by Nelly. Wang Chung reformed, working on a new album whilst Feldman still worked at Sony. He left Sony to concentrate on finishing the Wang Chung album and to expand into artist management.

Wang Chung has toured the U.S. four times from June 2009 to September 2010 and planned to release their album, Tazer Up!, in conjunction with another tour. In 2011–2012 Feldman judged auditions and talent-scouted for the BBC One show, The Voice . [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wang Chung (band)</span> British new wave band

Wang Chung is an English new wave band, formed in London in 1980 by Nick Feldman, Jack Hues and Darren Costin. The name Wang Chung is Chinese, meaning "yellow bell" in English, and is the first note in the Chinese classical music scale. The band found their greatest success in the US, with five top 40 hits there, all charting between 1983 and 1987, including "Dance Hall Days", "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Let's Go!".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Have Fun Tonight</span> 1986 Single by Wang Chung

"Everybody Have Fun Tonight" is a song by the English new wave band Wang Chung, released as a single from their fourth studio album Mosaic in 1986. Collaboratively written by Jack Hues, Nick Feldman, and Peter Wolf, it reached no. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart during the 1986 Christmas season. It also hit No. 1 on the Canada RPM Top 100 Singles chart the week of 17 January 1987. With some different lyrics, the original ballad version of the song was placed on the B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Buckinghams</span> American pop band formed in 1966

The Buckinghams are an American pop band from Chicago. They formed in 1966 and went on to become one of the top-selling acts of 1967, charting their only five top 40 hits in the U.S. that year. The band dissolved in 1970, but re-formed in 1980 and as of 2022 they continue to tour throughout the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davey Johnstone</span> British guitarist

David William Logan Johnstone is a Scottish rock guitarist and vocalist, best known for his long-time collaboration with Elton John as a member of the Elton John Band.

Adam Gates is a graphic designer and musician from Orinda, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climax Blues Band</span> British blues rock band

Climax Blues Band are a British blues rock & pop band that has released 22 albums. "Couldn't Get It Right" reached No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977. "I Love You" peaked on the Billboard chart at No. 12 in 1981.

<i>Points on the Curve</i> 1984 studio album by Wang Chung

Points on the Curve is the second studio album by English new wave band Wang Chung, released in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Hues</span> English musician

Jeremy Allan Ryder, better known as Jack Hues, is an English singer, songwriter and musician who is best known for forming and fronting the 1980s English new wave band Wang Chung. Hues was also a member of the one-off band Strictly Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance Hall Days</span> 1982 single by Wang Chung

"Dance Hall Days" is a song by the English new wave band Wang Chung. It was originally released as a single in 1982 when the band was called Huang Chung, then it was re-recorded and released a year later in 1983 for the studio album Points on the Curve. It was the band's only single to make the top 40 in the UK. In the US, it peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went to number one on the Dance Club Songs chart.

<i>The Warmer Side of Cool</i> 1989 studio album by Wang Chung

The Warmer Side of Cool is the fifth studio album by Wang Chung released in May 1989 by Geffen Records. The album marked an artistic change from the new wave sound of their previous albums into a more traditional rock sound. Commercially, the album was a disappointment, peaking at #123 on the Billboard 200 in its sixth and final week on the chart. Despite poor sales, the album managed to provide a minor hit with "Praying to a New God", which peaked at #63 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 27, 1989. Another song, "Swing", was scheduled to be the second single from The Warmer Side Of Cool, but its release was ultimately cancelled.

<i>Mosaic</i> (Wang Chung album) 1986 studio album by Wang Chung

Mosaic is the fourth studio album by the English new wave band Wang Chung, released on 14 October 1986 by Geffen Records. The album was commercially successful, producing three US Top 40 songs: "Everybody Have Fun Tonight", "Let's Go!", and "Hypnotize Me". Mosaic earned a Gold certification by the RIAA and peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard 200 album charts.

<i>To Live and Die in L.A.</i> (soundtrack) 1985 soundtrack album by Wang Chung

To Live and Die in L.A. is the third studio album by the English new wave band Wang Chung. It was released on 30 September 1985 by Geffen and is their first recording as a duo of lead vocalist Jack Hues and bassist Nick Feldman following the departure of drummer Darren Costin. The album served as the soundtrack for the 1985 film To Live and Die in L.A, directed by William Friedkin. Instead of following up the success that Points on the Curve (1983) had provided them, the band switched gears to produce an original motion picture soundtrack. The switch allowed for them to experiment with different styles of music from the more conventional pop music found on their previous studio album.

<i>Huang Chung</i> (album) 1982 Wang Chung album

Huang Chung is the self-titled debut studio album by the English new wave band Huang Chung. Huang Chung was released on March 1982 on both vinyl and cassette. Included on the album cover is the name of the band in Chinese meaning the first note in the Chinese classical music scale. On 19 September 1995, One Way Records re-released the album on CD under license from Arista Records. The album has since been discontinued.

A.i. is a three-piece rock-electroclash band based from Los Angeles, California. The band consists of Nick Young (vocals/guitar), Zack Young (drums/percussion), and Milen Kirov. In September 2007, A.i. released their second album titled "Sex & Robots" independently. In October 2019, A.i. released their new album titled "The Series".

Blanket of Secrecy (BoS) was a short-lived English new wave band formed in 1982. The band was notable for the fact that its band members, true to their band name, were never officially identified at the time - only the pseudonyms Tinker, Tailor and Soldier were disclosed to refer to the main members - as well as mention of Spy. This led to some speculation in the music press regarding the true identity of the members, with rumours that they might be the Attractions and speculation that the lead singer was Jack Hues of Wang Chung. However, they were eventually revealed to be Peter Marsh, Andy Howell (Tailor), Roger Bechirian (Soldier) and Phil McWalter (Spy).

<i>Here We Are</i> (Heroes album) 1987 studio album by Heroes

Here We Are is the debut album of Heroes, released by Wang Chung drummer Darren Costin, Michael Casswell, Mike Marshall GB, Chuck Sabo, and Colin Baldry, on RCA Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Hammond (musician)</span> Musical artist

Paul Hammond was an English rock drummer who was a member of the progressive rock band Atomic Rooster and the hard rock band Hard Stuff during the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Drop in the Gray</span> American alternative musical group

A Drop in the Gray are an alternative musical group formed in 1983, and a pioneer of the Los Angeles 1980s post punk music scene. They produced one critically acclaimed album, and several lesser recordings before disbanding in 1986. Founding members Danny Phillips and Colin Campbell are apparently actively writing and recording again with a view to releasing new material as well as a planned re-mastering and re-release of their debut album.

References

  1. ↑ Michaels, Randolph (22 September 2005). Flashbacks to Happiness: Eighties Music Revisited. iUniverse. p. 208. ISBN   978-0-595-37007-8 . Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Profile: Nick orchestrates a revival of 80s stars Wang Chung". www.jewishtelegraph.com. 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  3. ↑ Talevski, Nick (8 June 2006). Knocking on Heaven's Door: Rock Obituaries. Omnibus Press. p. 242. ISBN   978-1-84609-091-2 . Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 Hajari, Nisid; Cannon, Bob (24 June 1994). "Where are they now?". EW.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "New Releases: Promised Land". New Straits Times . Kuala Lumpur. 30 January 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.