Reeves Gabrels

Last updated

Reeves Gabrels
150-minute almost non-stop show not enough for The Cure at Frequency Festival (7815846936).jpg
Reeves Gabrels at Frequency Festival 2012
Background information
Born (1956-06-04) June 4, 1956 (age 67)
Staten Island, New York, United States
Genres Rock
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s)
Years active1980–present
Member of
  • The Cure
  • Reeves Gabrels & His Imaginary Friends
Formerly of

Reeves Gabrels (born June 4, 1956) is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer. Currently a member of The Cure since 2012, Gabrels is also known for his work with David Bowie and Tin Machine from 1987 to 1999. He also fronts the band Reeves Gabrels & His Imaginary Friends, which is based in Nashville. [1]

Contents

As a guitarist, Gabrels is recognized for his virtuosity and versatility, and been praised for his ability to "explore sonic extremes with a great, adaptive intuition for what each song needs most." [2] He has been characterized as "one of the most daring rock-guitar improvisers since Jimi Hendrix". [3]

Early life and education

Reeves Gabrels was born in Staten Island, New York on June 4, 1956. His mother Claire was a typist, and his father Carl was a part-time jazz musician and worked as a deckhand on tugboats in New York Harbor. Gabrels started playing guitar at age 13, and the following year his father arranged for lessons with his friend Turk Van Lake. Van Lake was a professional musician who had played with Benny Goodman and others. [4]

After high school, Gabrels attended the Parsons School of Design and the School of Visual Arts in New York. He took lessons from jazz guitarist John Scofield. Gabrels then moved to Boston to attend the Berklee School of Music, though he did not graduate. [5]

Career

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Gabrels was a member of bands including The Dark, Life on Earth, The Atom Said, Rubber Rodeo, The Bentmen, Deaf School, Too Happy, and Modern Farmer. His first professional recording was in 1983 with the Christopher Jones Band. [6] Modern Farmer, which also included David Hull, released an album in 1994. [7]

David Bowie and Tin Machine

Gabrels first met David Bowie in 1987 during a Bowie tour for which Gabrels' then-wife worked as a publicist. [8] Gabrels's first project with Bowie was a re-imagining and rearrangement of the song "Look Back in Anger" for live performances combining dance, music, and video as part of a benefit for London's Institute of Contemporary Arts in 1988. Bowie expressed appreciation for Gabrels's guitar work for the project. [9]

Later in 1988, Gabrels and Bowie formed the hard rock band Tin Machine with Hunt Sales and Tony Sales, and the band released two albums before disbanding in 1992. [10] Gabrels continued to work with Bowie until 1999, co-writing and co-producing material on the albums Outside (1995), Earthling (1997), and Hours (1999). "Dead Man Walking," a Bowie/Gabrels song from Earthling, was nominated for a Grammy award. Gabrels and Bowie also created the soundtrack for the computer game Omikron: The Nomad Soul in 1999. Gabrels parted ways with Bowie in late 1999, and his last performance with Bowie was for VH1 Storytellers. [11]

From 1989 through his departure in 1999, Gabrels was the guitarist on four concert tours with Bowie: the Tin Machine Tour of 1989, the It's My Life Tour (1991-92), the Outside Tour (1995-96) and the Earthling Tour (1997).

The Cure

Gabrels first met Robert Smith of The Cure during rehearsals for Bowie's 50th Birthday Concert on January 9, 1997 at Madison Square Garden. Bowie had invited Smith to sing at this event, for which Gabrels served as musical director. Reeves then made a guest appearance on the 1997 Cure single "Wrong Number" and appeared with the band several times during their 1997 tour. [6] Gabrels, Smith, and Cure drummer Jason Cooper then formed the side project COGASM in 1998 to record the song "Sign From God" for Orgazmo , a film directed by Trey Parker. [12] Gabrels and Smith co-wrote the song "Yesterday's Gone", with Smith on vocals, for Gabrels's 1999 album Ulysses (Della Notte). [6]

Smith and Gabrels stayed in touch, and in 2012 Gabrels was invited to play as a guest during several Cure concerts. Gabrels then became an official member of the Cure and has performed with them ever since, [1] though the band has not released any studio albums since he joined. Gabrels was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2019 as a member of the Cure, [13] having initially been left off the list of nine current and former members. [14]

Solo career

Gabrels has released six solo albums on which he served as singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter, starting with The Sacred Squall of Now in 1995. [6] During this period he also contributed to several movie and video game soundtracks. [15] [16]

His 1999 album Ulysses (Della Notte) was nominated for a Yahoo! Internet Award in 1999 as a then-pathbreaking Internet-only release, before becoming available the following year on CD. [17] His 2005 album Rockonica was widely praised for its experimentation. For example, Guitar Player's Andy Ellis wrote: "Gabrels walks the line between song structure and wiggy sonics like no one else. [...] But bubbling and roiling under and around this foundation are layers of eerie, broken sounds and oddball textures. And Gabrels isn't shy about juxtaposing genres." [18]

His fifth and sixth albums were released under the name Reeves Gabrels & His Imaginary Friends, featuring collaborators from the music scene in Nashville, Tennessee whom Reeves first assembled in 2007. [19] Their self-titled 2015 album received a favorable review from Vintage Guitar, [20] and their 2017 live album was named as one of the best releases of the year by the guitar aficionado publications Guitar Moderne [21] and Premier Guitar. [22] Gabrels continues to tour with this ensemble during breaks in his work with the Cure. [23] [24]

Collaborations

Gabrels is an in-demand session and touring musician, starting in 1993 with Paul Rodgers, [25] and later with artists such as Jeffrey Gaines [26] and Los Duran. [27] He was briefly a member of the European heavy metal supergroup X-World/5. [28]

After moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 2006, Gabrels often collaborates informally with local musicians for live performances in small venues. [6] These impromptu collaborations led to some studio albums, such as The Magnificent Others and Sonic Mining Company. During this period Gabrels began collaborating periodically with the Boston-based improvisational and instrumental group Club d'Elf, appearing on their album Now I Understand in 2006. Gabrels still collaborates with this group periodically, and has credited their experimental and improvisational techniques for improving his live performances with the Cure. [5]

Gabrels also frequently serves as a guest musician for artists in a variety of genres, such as gODHEAD, The Mission, Deaf School, Sandie Shaw, The Rolling Stones, and Ozzy Osbourne. [29] He released the experimental guitar duo album Fantastic Guitars with Bill Nelson in 2014. [30] In 2022 he played guitar on the album The Long Morrow by Big Scenic Nowhere. [31]

Instruments

Gabrels has used many different guitars throughout his career, selecting instruments to suit the music. He has favored Steinberger guitars, the Parker Fly, and Fernandes Guitars; but also plays Gibson and Fender guitars. He has often chosen lesser-known makers, explaining in interviews that he prefers a guitar without a set history and with which he is free to create sounds from his own imagination. [3]

In 2008, Gabrels began playing guitars designed by Reverend Musical Instruments. Gabrels and Reverend have since developed a series of Reverend Reeves Gabrels signature model guitars. [32] [33] The first featured at the 2010 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, and several updated designs have been developed in the years since. [34] [35]

Personal life

Gabrels's first wife Sara Terry was a press agent for the Glass Spider Tour in 1987, and Gabrels first collaborated with David Bowie via this connection. [8] Gabrels married Susan Van Wie Kastan in 2018, and they currently reside in Troy, New York. Susan serves as business manager for Reeves Gabrels & His Imaginary Friends. [36]

Partial discography

Tin Machine

David Bowie

Solo

Collaborations

The Cure

Other Guest Performances/Song Collaborations

Related Research Articles

<i>Earthling</i> (album) 1997 studio album by David Bowie

Earthling is the 21st studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 3 February 1997 through RCA Records in the United Kingdom, Virgin Records in the United States, and Arista Records/BMG in other territories. Mostly self-produced by Bowie, it was primarily recorded from August to October 1996 at New York City's Looking Glass Studios. Bowie composed the tracks with Reeves Gabrels and Mark Plati, who are credited as co-producers, with Mike Garson, Gail Ann Dorsey and Zack Alford providing overdubs later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tin Machine</span> British–American rock band

Tin Machine were a British–American rock band formed in 1988. The band consisted of English singer-songwriter David Bowie on lead vocals, saxophone and guitar; Reeves Gabrels on guitar and vocals; Tony Fox Sales on bass and vocals; and Hunt Sales on drums and vocals. The Sales brothers had previously performed with Bowie and Iggy Pop during the 1977 tour for The Idiot. Kevin Armstrong played additional guitar and keyboards on the band's first and second studio albums and first tour, and American guitarist Eric Schermerhorn played on the second tour and live album Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby (1992).

<i>Tin Machine</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Tin Machine

Tin Machine is the debut studio album by the Anglo-American hard rock band Tin Machine, released on 22 May 1989 through EMI America Records. The band consisted of the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, the American guitarist Reeves Gabrels and brothers Tony Fox and Hunt Sales on bass and drums, respectively, while Englishman Kevin Armstrong acted as an additional guitarist. The project was spearheaded by Bowie, who felt disconnected in his career by 1987 and looked to reinvent himself. After meeting Gabrels through his Glass Spider Tour, the two agreed to work together and would collaborate frequently for the next decade. Bowie hired the Sales brothers, neither of whom he had worked with since the 1970s, after a meeting in Los Angeles, while English producer Tim Palmer was hired to co-produce.

<i>Tin Machine II</i> 1991 studio album by Tin Machine

Tin Machine II is the second and final studio album by the Anglo-American rock group Tin Machine, released on 2 September 1991 through Victory Music. The band, composed of David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels on guitar and brothers Tony Fox and Hunt Sales on bass and drums, respectively, recorded it in Sydney, Australia in late 1989 at the conclusion of the Tin Machine Tour. After Bowie completed his solo Sound+Vision Tour in late 1990, recording resumed in Los Angeles, California until March 1991. The production was handled by Tin Machine and Tim Palmer, who produced their debut studio album (1989), with additional production by Hugh Padgham on "One Shot". While the album musically retains a hard rock sound, the songs are more melodic compared to its predecessor, with lyrics focusing on love.

<i>Hours</i> (David Bowie album) 1999 studio album by David Bowie

Hours is the 22nd studio album by the English musician David Bowie. It was originally released on 21 September 1999 through the Internet on the artist's website BowieNet, followed by a physical CD release on 4 October through Virgin Records. It was one of the first albums by a major artist available to download over the Internet. Originating as a soundtrack to the video game Omikron: The Nomad Soul (1999), Hours was the final collaboration between Bowie and guitarist Reeves Gabrels, with whom he had worked since 1988. The album was recorded in mid-1999 between studios in Bermuda and New York City. A song contest conducted on BowieNet in late 1998 resulted in a fan contributing lyrics and backing vocals to one of the tracks.

<i>Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby</i> 1992 live album by Tin Machine

Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby is a live album by Anglo-American rock band Tin Machine, originally released through London Records on 2 July 1992. The album includes songs, all from the band's two albums, recorded between 20 November 1991 and 11 February 1992 from five different venues on the North American and Asian legs of Tin Machine's It's My Life Tour. The maligned album title was intended as a pun on U2's 1991 album Achtung Baby. Oy Vey, Baby has received negative reviews, with many criticising the performances. It failed to chart in both the UK and the US. It was accompanied by a concert video of the same title, which was filmed at The Docks, Hamburg on 24 October 1991. Following its release, Tin Machine disbanded and Bowie quickly resumed his solo career with Black Tie White Noise (1993).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tin Machine (song)</span> Song by Tin Machine

"Tin Machine" is a song by Anglo-American hard rock band Tin Machine, and the song from which they took their name, a track from their debut album, also of the same name. It was released as a single in September 1989, as a double A-side with a live cover of Bob Dylan’s “Maggie's Farm”.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Belong in Rock n' Roll</span> Song by Tin Machine

"You Belong in Rock n' Roll" is a song by Anglo-American hard rock band Tin Machine, released ahead of their second album in August 1991. The song was the band’s first release on Victory Records, which was distributed by London Records in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Universal</span> Song by Tin Machine

"Baby Universal" is a song by Anglo-American hard rock band Tin Machine, released as the second single from their Tin Machine II album in October 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Look Back in Anger (song)</span> Song by David Bowie

"Look Back in Anger" is a song written by English artists David Bowie and Brian Eno for the album Lodger (1979). It concerns "a tatty 'Angel of Death'", and features a guitar solo by Carlos Alomar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Read</span> Song by David Bowie

"I Can't Read" is a song written by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels for Tin Machine on their debut album in 1989. The song was subsequently re-recorded by Bowie and Gabrels together in 1997, and performed live during Bowie's concerts in the late 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hallo Spaceboy</span> Song by David Bowie

"Hallo Spaceboy" is a song by the English musician David Bowie from his 1995 album Outside. It originated as an instrumental by Reeves Gabrels called "Moondust", which Bowie and Brian Eno stripped down and used to form the final track. An industrial rock and electronica number influenced by the Pixies and Nine Inch Nails, the song contains a hypnotic sound, with synthesisers, loops and distorted guitar lines. Lyrically influenced by Brion Gysin, the song contains images of apocalypse and continues the androgynous conundrums of former Bowie songs such as "Rebel Rebel".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven Years in Tibet (song)</span> 1997 single by David Bowie

"Seven Years in Tibet" is a song written by English musician David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels from the 1997 album, Earthling. It was released as the album's fourth single. In some territories, a version of the song sung by Bowie in Mandarin Chinese was released as "A Fleeting Moment".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dead Man Walking (song)</span> Song by David Bowie

"Dead Man Walking" is a song by English musician David Bowie, released as the third single from his 21st studio album, Earthling (1997). Written by Bowie and Reeves Gabrels, it was a top 40 hit in the UK, peaking at number 32. Bowie described "Dead Man Walking" as his homage "to rock and roll that is still young while we are all growing old". As such, the lyrics reflect his thoughts on aging at this point in his career.

<i>A Reality Tour</i> (film) 2004 video by David Bowie

A Reality Tour is a DVD released in 2004 of David Bowie's performance at Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland in 2003 during the A Reality Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earthling Tour</span> 1997 concert tour by David Bowie

The Earthling Tour was a concert tour by the English musician David Bowie, in promotion of his album Earthling, released in 1997, The tour started on 7 June 1997 at Flughafen Blankensee in Lübeck, Germany, continuing through Europe, North America before reaching a conclusion in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 7 November 1997.

David Tronzo is an American guitarist, best known for his innovation of pairing the techniques of electric slide guitar with the genres of bebop, modern jazz, rock, downtown music, and experimental music. He has recorded with former David Bowie guitarist Reeves Gabrels, Wayne Horvitz, David Sanborn, and The Lounge Lizards.

<i>VH1 Storytellers</i> (David Bowie album) 2009 live album by David Bowie

VH1 Storytellers is a live album by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was released on 6 July 2009 and features a 23 August 1999 performance on Storytellers, a VH1 program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven's in Here</span> Song by David Bowie

"Heaven's in Here" is the lead track from the eponymous debut album by the Anglo-American hard rock band Tin Machine. Written by David Bowie, it was released as a promotional lead single from the album in 1989.

<i>Is It Any Wonder?</i> (EP) 2020 EP by David Bowie

Is it Any Wonder? is a six-track EP by David Bowie that was released in early 2020. It is composed mostly of older Bowie songs that Bowie re-recorded during his Earthling (1997) recording sessions and Earthling Tour rehearsals in early 1997.

References

  1. 1 2 Sanders, Daryl (September–October 2012). "Our Weird American Cousin: How East Nashville Guitar God Reeves Gabrels Became the Newest Member of the Iconic British Band The Cure". The East Nashvillian Vol 3 No 1, 33–36, 38.
  2. ↑ Adam McGovern, "Reeves Gabrels", MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, 2nd ed., p. 466 (Detroit & London, Visible Ink Press, 1998).
  3. 1 2 Drozdowski, Ted (November 1, 2000). "Reeves Gabrels: Scary Monsters and Other Nasty Noises". Guitar.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Turk Van Lake – Jazz Guitarist, 84". The New York Times . October 5, 2002. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Mahoney, Leslie (June 26, 2012). "Alumni Profile: Reeves Gabrels". berklee.edu. Berklee School of Music.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Price, Simon (2023). Curepedia: An A-Z of The Cure. New York, NY: William Morrow. pp. 147–149. ISBN   978-0-06-306864-3.
  7. ↑ "Modern Farmer Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  8. 1 2 O'Gorman, Martin (November 2003). "I'm With the Band! David Bowie and Tin Machine". MOJO Bowie Special Edition. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  9. ↑ "1988 David Bowie with La La La Human Steps – Intruders At The Palace". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  10. ↑ Sinclair, David (1993). "Station to Station". Rolling Stone . Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  11. ↑ "David Bowie: How Tin Machine Saved Him From Soft Rock". May 22, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  12. ↑ Price, pp. 62-63.
  13. ↑ Grow, Kory (March 30, 2019). "Read Cure Frontman Robert Smith's Gracious Rock Hall Induction Speech". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  14. ↑ "The Rock Hall Inducts Another Member of The Cure". www.futurerocklegends.com.
  15. ↑ "PBS Frontline on The Farmer's Wife". PBS. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Game Credits for Deus Ex". Moby Games. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
  17. ↑ Graff, Gary (February 2001). Guitar World .{{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ↑ Ellis, Andy (May 18, 2005). "Review: Reeves Gabrels". Guitarplayer.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014.
  19. ↑ Gabrels, Reeves (July 15, 2009). "Dispatches From the Road: The New Reality of Touring". Music Player Network, Guitar Player Forum: GP Daily Blog. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  20. ↑ Jordan, Oscar (November 6, 2014). "Music Reviews: Reeves Gabrels, Reeves Gabrels & His Imaginary Friends". Vintage Guitar. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  21. ↑ Ross, Michael (December 21, 2017). "Guitar Moderne Top Records of 2017". Guitar Moderne. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  22. ↑ "PG Editors' Best Music of 2017". Premier Guitar. December 29, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  23. ↑ Frost, Matt (November 6, 2014). "On the record: Reeves Gabrels & His Imaginary Fr13nds: Former David Bowie and current Cure guitarist discusses fifth album". MusicRadar. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  24. ↑ Ward, Sarah (October 6, 2014). "Guitar legend who performed with David Bowie and The Cure comes to Tunbridge Wells". Kent and Sussex Courier. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Paul Rodgers, Cologne, 3 février 1994 (Rockpalast)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 18, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  26. ↑ "News: Jeffrey Gaines, 24 Sep 1998". DavidBowie.com. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Critics Picks". Nashville Scene. May 26, 2007.
  28. ↑ "Latest Big Swede News: X/World-5 – New Universal Order – Re-Release Out Today". Big Swede Studios. April 6, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Reeves Gabrels Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  30. ↑ Quantick, David (July 22, 2014). "Reeves Gabrels and Bill Nelson: Fantastic Guitars" . Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  31. ↑ Ewing, Jerry (October 7, 2021). "Big Scenic Nowhere team up with Reeves Gabrels and Per Wiberg for The Long Morrow". LouderSound.com. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  32. ↑ Bosso, Joe (March 5, 2012). "Reeves Gabrels on his new Reverend Signature Model Guitar". Musicradar.com.
  33. ↑ Ross, Michael (February 25, 2011). "Review: Reverend Reeves Gabrels Signature Model". Guitar Player online. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  34. ↑ Hodgson, Peter (July 21, 2017). "Reverend Unveils Reeves Gabrels Dirtbike". Australian Guitar Magazine.
  35. ↑ Dodge, Phillip (April 18, 2014). "Reverend Spacehawk". ToneReport.com.
  36. ↑ Reyes, Nina (January 6, 2018). "Maybe In Another Life Becomes Now". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 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.