List of Roxy Music members

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Roxy Music in 1973, 2006 and 2022.

Roxy Music are an English rock band formed by in 1970 by singer Bryan Ferry and bassist Graham Simpson, who were soon joined by saxophonist Andy Mackay, synthesizer player Brian Eno, guitarist Roger Bunn and drummer Dexter Lloyd. By the time the band recorded their first album in 1972, Bunn and Lloyd had both departed, with drummer Paul Thompson (who joined in 1971) and guitarist Phil Manzanera (who joined just before recording began in 1972) alongside Ferry, Simpson, Mackay and Eno. The band split in 1976, reformed in 1978 and split again in 1983. Since 2001, Roxy Music has reformed several times for tours, but have not released any studio material since 1982's Avalon album. The band's current line-up, who last reunited in 2022, includes Ferry, Mackay, Thompson and Manzanera, augmented by backing musicians.

History[edit]

1970–1983[edit]

In November 1970, Bryan Ferry, who had just lost his job teaching ceramics at a girls' school for holding impromptu record-listening sessions,^[1] advertised for a keyboardist to collaborate with him and Graham Simpson, a bassist he knew from his Newcastle art-college band, the Gas Board. Andy Mackay replied to Ferry's advertisement, not as a keyboardist but a saxophonist and oboist, though he did have a EMS VCS 3 synthesizer. Mackay had already met Brian Eno during university days, as both were interested in avant-garde and electronic music. Although Eno was a non-musician, he could operate a synthesizer and owned a Revox reel-to-reel tape machine, so Mackay convinced him to join the band as a technical adviser. Before long, Eno was an official member of the group. Rounding out the original sextet were guitarist Roger Bunn (who had issued the well-regarded solo studio album Piece of Mind earlier in 1970)^[2] and drummer Dexter Lloyd, a classically trained timpanist. In 1971, Roxy Music recorded a demo tape of some early compositions. In the spring of that year, Lloyd left the band, and an advertisement was placed in Melody Maker saying "wonder drummer wanted for an avant rock group".^[3] Paul Thompson responded to the advertisement and joined the band in June 1971. Bunn left the group at the end of the summer of 1971, and in October, Roxy advertised in Melody Maker seeking the "Perfect Guitarist". The successful applicant was David O'List, former guitarist with the Nice.^[4] Phil Manzanera—soon to become a group member—was one of about twenty other players who also auditioned. Although he did not initially make the band as a guitarist, the group were impressed enough with Manzanera that he was invited to become Roxy Music's roadie, an offer which he accepted. In December 1971, after a year of writing and rehearsing, Roxy Music began playing live, with their first show at the Friends of the Tate Gallery Christmas show in London.^[5] In early February 1972, O'List quit the group abruptly after an altercation with Paul Thompson, which took place at their audition for David Enthoven of E.G. Management. When O'List did not show up for the next rehearsal, Manzanera was asked to come along, on the pretext of becoming the band's sound mixer. When he arrived he was invited to play guitar and quickly realised that it was an informal audition. Unbeknownst to the rest of the group, Manzanera had learned their entire repertoire and as a result, he was immediately hired as O'List's permanent replacement, joining on 14 February 1972.

E.G. Management financed the recording of the tracks for their debut album, Roxy Music, recorded in March–April 1972 and produced by King Crimson lyricist Peter Sinfield.^[6] During the first half of 1972, bassist Graham Simpson became increasingly withdrawn and uncommunicative, which led to his leaving the band almost immediately after the recording of the debut album. He was replaced by Rik Kenton,^[7] who was with the band until January 1973 before being replaced by John Porter.

For Your Pleasure, was released in March 1973. Soon after the tour to promote the album ended, Brian Eno left Roxy Music amidst increasing differences with Ferry.^[8][9] He was replaced by 18-year-old multi-instrumentalist Eddie Jobson, formerly of progressive rockers Curved Air, who played keyboards and electric violin. John Porter also left at this time, and for the next few years, Roxy would undergo several more changes in bassist. The band's next three albums–Stranded (1973), Country Life (1974) and Siren (1975)– were recorded with John Gustafson (ex-Merseybeats and Quatermass) on bass, though the only time he played live with Roxy Music was during the first half of the Siren tour in 1975. Other Roxy bassists during this period were Sal Maida on the 1973/74 Stranded tour, John Wetton (ex-King Crimson and future Uriah Heep, U.K. and Asia member) on the 1974/75 Country Life tour, and Rick Wills (future Foreigner member) on the second half of the 1975/76 Siren tour. The Siren tour also saw the core sextet augmented by backing singers Doreen Chanter and Jacquie Sullivan, nicknamed "The Sirens". Roxy Music disbanded in June 1976. Their live album Viva! was released two months later. The album includes recordings from the tours with Maida, Wetton and Gustafson. Wills is also credited on the album, though no recordings from his time with the band are actually included.^[10]

Roxy Music reunited during 1978 to record a new studio album, Manifesto. The band was now a core quartet of Ferry, Mackay, Manzanera and Thompson, augmented both in the studio and on stage by various backing musicians. Bassists Alan Spenner and Gary Tibbs and keyboardist Paul Carrack (ex-Ace and future Squeeze and Mike and the Mechanics member) are the only external musicians credited on the album, although it later came to light that a number of other musicians also contributed to the sessions.^[11] On the subsequent Manifesto tour, Tibbs and keyboardist Dave Skinner played alongside Ferry, Mackay, Manzanera and Thompson.

After the tour and before the recording of the next album, Flesh + Blood (1980), Thompson broke his thumb in a motorcycle mishap and took a leave from the band. After Ferry, Mackay and Manzanera completed the album with several session drummers, Thompson rejoined them, briefly, in the spring of 1980 and made some television appearances as part of the album's early promotion. By the time the Flesh + Blood tour properly began, Thompson had left again due to musical differences with Ferry.^[12] Roxy continued as a core trio of Ferry, Mackay and Manzanera, augmented by a variety of musicians over the next few years including Alan Spenner, Gary Tibbs, Paul Carrack, drummer Andy Newmark and guitarist Neil Hubbard. Later, with more sombre and carefully sculpted soundscapes, the band's eighth—and final—studio album, Avalon (1982), recorded at Chris Blackwell's Compass Point Studios. Ferry, Mackay and Manzanera toured extensively from August 1982 to May 1983,^[13] with a backing band consisting of Newmark, Spenner, Hubbard, Jimmy Maelen (percussion), future Dire Straits member Guy Fletcher (keyboards) and Tawatha Agee, Michelle Cobb and Fonzi Thornton (all backing vocals).^[14] The Avalon tour was documented on the live albums The High Road, released in March 1983, and Heart Still Beating, released in October 1990. Roxy Music officially split after completion of the tour in May 1983.

Reunions[edit]

Ferry, Manzanera, Mackay and Thompson re-formed in 2001 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band, and toured extensively. Other musicians for their 2001 tour included Colin Good (piano), Zev Katz (bass), Julia Thornton (percussion, keyboards), Lucy Wilkins (keyboards, violin), Sarah Brown (backing vocals) and Chris Spedding (guitar).^[15]

Their 2003 tour included returning musicians Good, Spedding and Thornton, along with Mark Smith (bass), Louise Peacock (violin, keyboards) and Michelle John and Sharon White (backing vocals).^[16] Good, Spedding, Thornton and Peacock also stayed for their 2005 tour, alongside David Williams (guitar) Guy Pratt (bass) and Sarah Brown and Me'sha Bryan (backing vocals).^[17] Only Pratt stayed into 2006, alongside Andy Newmark (Drums; replacing the ailing Thompson), Oliver Thompson (guitar), Leo Abrahams (guitar) and Me'sha Bryan and Joy Malcolm (backing vocals) and Louise Clare Marshall (backing vocals & keyboards).^[18]

Roxy Music remained inactive until 2010 when they toured again with a band of Colin Good (piano and keyboards), Oliver Thompson (guitar), Sewuese Abwa Hannah Kemoh, Aleysha Lei (Gordon) (backing vocals), Anna Phobe (violin), Jerry Meehan (bass)^[19] and for three dates, Andy Newmark (drums).^[20] And again into 2011 with Colin Good (piano), Oliver Thompson (guitar), Jerry Meehan (bass), Sewuese Abwa (vocals), Aleysha Lei (Gordon) (vocals), Hannah Kemoh (vocals), Jorja Chalmers (keyboards & saxophone) and Tara Ferry (percussion).^[21] In a Rolling Stone Magazine interview on 3 November 2014, Manzanera stated that Roxy had been inactive since 2011 and were unlikely to perform together again.^[22] On 29 March 2019, Roxy Music were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Ferry, Mackay, Manzanera and Eddie Jobson performing a six-song set at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.^[23] The band included Jorja Chalmers (saxophone & keyboards), Luke Bullen (drums),^[24] Neil Jason (bass), Chris Spedding (guitar), Fonzi Thornton and Tawatha Agee (backing vocals);^[25] all musicians (minus Bullen) had performed with the band in the past.

Roxy Music reformed in 2022 for a 50th anniversary tour of the United Kingdom and the United States to be held that autumn.^[26] The band included Christian Gulino (Musical Director & Keyboards), Tom Vanstiphout (Guitar), Jorja Chalmers (Sax & Keys), Neil Jason (Bass), Nathen 'Tugg' Curran (Percussion), Chloe Beth Smith (Keyboards) and Fonzi Thornton, Senab Adekunle and Phebe Edwards (Backing Vocals). For UK dates, Gulino was replaced by Richard Cardwell.^[27]

Members[edit]

Current line-up[edit]

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Bryan Ferry	1970–1976 1978–1983 2001–2011 2019 2022	vocals keyboards piano harmonica occasional rhythm guitar	all releases
	Andy Mackay		saxophone oboe keyboards backing vocals
	Paul Thompson	1971–1976 1978–1979 2001–2006 2006–2011 2022	drums	all releases except Flesh and Blood (1980), "Jealous Guy" (1981), Avalon (1982), The High Road (1983) and Heart Still Beating (1990)
	Phil Manzanera	1972–1976 1978–1983 2001–2011 2019 2022	lead guitar occasional backing vocals and bass	all releases

Former members[edit]

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Brian Eno	1970–1973	synthesizer "treatments" backing vocals	Roxy Music (1972) "Virginia Plain" (1972) "Pyjamarama" (1973) For Your Pleasure (1973) Greatest Hits (1977) four tracks Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Graham Simpson	1970–1972 (died 2012)	bass	Roxy Music (1972) Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Dexter Lloyd	1970–1971	drums	Roxy Music (1972) 40th anniversary deluxe reissue
	Roger Bunn		guitar
	David O'List	1971–1972
	Rik Kenton	1972–1973	bass	"Virginia Plain" (1972) Roxy Music (1972) one track on North American release Greatest Hits (1977) one track Total Recall: A History (1990)
	John Porter	1973		"Pyjamarama" (1973) For Your Pleasure (1973) Greatest Hits (1977) three tracks Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Eddie Jobson	1973–1976 2019	keyboards synthesizers electric violin backing vocals	Stranded (1973) Country Life (1974) Siren (1975) Viva! (1976) Greatest Hits (1977) seven tracks Total Recall: A History (1990)
	John Gustafson	1973 1974 1975 (died 2014)	bass	Stranded (1973) Country Life (1974) Siren (1975) Viva! (1976) one track Greatest Hits (1977) seven tracks Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Sal Maida	1973–1974		Viva! (1976) two tracks Total Recall: A History (1990)
	John Wetton	1974–1975 (died 2017)		Viva! (1976) five tracks Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Rick Wills	1975–1976		Viva! (1976) credit only Total Recall: A History (1990)

Other contributors[edit]

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Chris Laurence	1973	double bass	Stranded (1973) one track
	Doreen Chanter	1975	backing vocals	Viva! (1976) one track Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Jacquie Sullivan
	Gary Tibbs	1978–1981	bass backing vocals	Manifesto (1979) exact number of tracks unconfirmed "Angel Eyes" (re-recorded single version 1979) Flesh and Blood (1980) one track "Jealous Guy" (1981) On the Road (1990) Concert Classics (1998) Concerto (2001) Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Alan Spenner	1978–1979 1979–1980 1981–1983 (died 1991)	bass	Manifesto (1979) exact number of tracks unconfirmed Flesh and Blood (1980) five tracks Avalon (1982) six tracks The High Road (1983) Heart Still Beating (1990) Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Rick Marotta	1978–1979 1981–1982	drums	Manifesto (1979) exact number of tracks unconfirmed Avalon (1982) one track
	Steve Ferrone	1978–1979		Manifesto (1979) exact number of tracks unconfirmed
	Melissa Manchester		backing vocals
	Luther Vandross	1978–1979 (died 2005)
	Richard Tee	1978–1979 (died 1993)	piano
	Paul Carrack	1978–1979 1979–1980 1981–1982	keyboards backing vocals	Manifesto (1979) exact number of tracks unconfirmed "Angel Eyes" (re-recorded single version 1979) Flesh and Blood (1980) two tracks Avalon (1982) one track Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Dave Skinner	1979 1980–1981		On the Road (1990) Concert Classics (1998) Concerto (2001) Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Fiona Hibbert	1979	harp	"Angel Eyes" (re-recorded single version 1979)
	Neil Hubbard	1979–1981 1981–1983	guitar	Flesh and Blood (1980) six tracks Avalon (1982) nine tracks The High Road (1983) Heart Still Beating (1990) Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Neil Jason	1979–1980 1981–1982 2019 2022	bass	Flesh and Blood (1980) three tracks Avalon (1982) four tracks
	Simon Phillips	1979–1980	percussion	Flesh and Blood (1980) one track
	Allan Schwartzberg		drums percussion	Flesh and Blood (1980)
	Andy Newmark	1979–1980 1981–1983 2006	drums	Flesh and Blood (1980) two tracks "Jealous Guy" (1981) Avalon (1982) eight tracks The High Road (1983) Heart Still Beating (1990) Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Michael Dawe	1980–1981		none
	Jimmy Maelen	1981–1983 (died 1988)	percussion	Avalon (1982) six tracks The High Road (1983) Heart Still Beating (1990) Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Kermit Moore	1981–1982 (died 2013)	cello	Avalon (1982) one track
	Fonzi Thornton	1981–1983 2019 2022	backing vocals	Avalon (1982) six tracks The High Road (1983) Heart Still Beating (1990) Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Yanick Étienne	1981–1982 (died 2022)		Avalon (1982) one track
	Tawatha Agee	1982–1983 2019		The High Road (1983) Heart Still Beating (1990) Total Recall: A History (1990)
	Michelle Cobbs	1982–1983
	Guy Fletcher		keyboards backing vocals
	Colin Good	2001–2005 2010–2011	piano backing vocals	Live at the Apollo (2002) Live (2003)
	Chris Spedding	2001–2005 2019	guitar
	Julia Thornton	2001–2005	percussion keyboards backing vocals
	Zev Katz	2001	bass
	Lucy Wilkins		violin keyboards backing vocals
	Sarah Brown	2001 2005	backing vocals
	Vicky Akpewrene	2001 (substitute)		none
	Louise Peacock	2003–2005	violin keyboards
	Mark Smith	2003	bass
	Michelle John		backing vocals
	Sharon White
	Guy Pratt	2005–2006	bass
	Me'sha Bryan		backing vocals
	David Williams	2005	guitar
	Oliver Thompson	2006–2011
	Leo Abrahams	2006
	Louise Clare Marshall		backing vocals keyboards
	Joy Malcolm		backing vocals
	Sewuese Abwa	2010–2011
	Hannah Kemoh
	Aleysha Lei (Gordon)
	Jerry Meehan		bass
	Anna Phoebe	2010	violin
	Jorja Chalmers	2011 2019 2022	keyboards saxophone
	Tara Ferry	2011	percussion
	Luke Bullen	2019	drums
	Tom Vanstiphout	2022	guitar
	Nathen 'Tugg' Curran		percussion
	Chloe Beth Smith		keyboards
	Senab Adekunle		backing vocals
	Phebe Edwards
	Christian Gulino		keyboards musical director
	Richard Cardwell

Timeline[edit]

Line-ups[edit]

References[edit]