Dave Formula
Background information
Birth nameDavid Tomlinson
Also known asDavid Tomlinson, Dave Tomlinson, Dave Formula
Born (1946-08-11) 11 August 1946
Whalley Range, Manchester, England
GenresRock, beat, post-punk, synthpop, new wave, electronic, jazz, funk
Instrument(s)Keyboards, synthesizer
Years activec. 1965–present
LabelsDecca Records, Virgin, EMI, Polydor
WebsiteDave Formula's official MySpace site
wire-sound: Dave Formula

Dave Formula (born David Tomlinson[1] 11 August 1946, Whalley Range, Manchester, England),[2] is an English keyboardist and film-soundtrack composer from Manchester, who played with the post-punk bands Magazine and Visage during the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s and in the "world music" band The Angel Brothers.

Biography

Early Years and St. Louis Union

He lived his early youth in Whalley Range, Manchester.[3]

He worked under the name of David Tomlinson and achieved some success back in the mid-sixties with the R&B blues/soul band St. Louis Union, including appearances on Top of the Pops Thank Your Lucky Stars and in the film The Ghost Goes Gear (also featuring the Spencer Davis Group); at the time he formed the group, he was working as an apprentice television engineer with the band’s bass player John Nichols [2] Later he was a cabaret musician and before moving to London, whilst with Magazine, he shared a flat with record producer Martin Hannett.

Magazine

Formula performing with Magazine in 2011

Formula was a member of Magazine, joining in 1978 after the departure of Bob Dickinson and the release of their debut single "Shot By Both Sides", until the band's breakup in 1981. His multi-layered keyboard sounds, made with equipment such as the Yamaha CP70 electric grand piano, Yamaha YC45D Organ, an ARP Odyssey, a Yamaha SS30 string synth and on later albums a Prophet 5, were a defining part of the band.

Magazine reformed in February 2009 with Formula returning to play keyboards.

Visage

Formula joined New Romantic ensemble Visage with Magazine's John McGeoch and Barry Adamson in 1978; he played on their first two albums, Visage and The Anvil. He left the group in 1983 after having some differences with drummer Rusty Egan regarding the musical style of their third album.

Ludus

Formula was a performing and songwriting member of Ludus in 1982 and remained for at least five years.[4]

Inaura

Formula also joined a band called Inaura in the mid-1990s and played on their album One Million Smiles.[5][6]

The Angel Brothers

Whilst lecturing in popular music, Formula met up with Keith Angel, Dave Angel & Andy Seward which eventually led to him joining the "world music" band The Angel Brothers in 2003, playing on their two critically acclaimed albums Punjab To Pit Top and Forbidden Fruit.

Design For Living

After his stint with Magazine, he formed part of a band called Design For Living.[7]

Solo album

In January 2007 Formula began working on a solo album. Recording has been at his own Red Bird Studios. Entitled Satellite Sweetheart, it features over 30 guest musicians. The list includes almost all the members of Magazine – Howard Devoto, Barry Adamson, John Doyle, John McGeoch (posthumously) and Robin Simon - as well singer/ songwriter Robert Wyatt, Swing Out Sister's Corrine Drury, Dennis Rollins and Joel Purnell. The release was delayed due to Magazine's 2009 activity and the album was released in February 2010 on Wire Sound.[8] A video of the collaboration with Howard Devoto; "Via Sacra" is on YouTube[9]

Discography

  • Satellite Sweetheart album (release February 2010)

References

  1. ↑ "What's On: Music, Film, & Things To Do in Manchester - Manchester Evening News". Citylife.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Manchester Beat – "St. Louis Union are tops", a newspaper from 1965". Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  3. ↑ Dave Formula interview Archived 8 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine Yeah, I grew up in Whalley Range Dave Formula
  4. ↑ Ludus – The Damage (booklet notes)
  5. ↑ Inaura on ArtistInfo retrieved May 26, 2023
  6. ↑ Inaura live review specifically mentioning Formula in band, Melody Maker November 25, 1995
  7. ↑ "The Great Rock Discography", p. 492. Edited by M.C. Strong. Published by Giunti, 1998. ISBN 88-09-21522-2, ISBN 978-88-09-21522-1
  8. ↑ "wire—sound | 360-degree music entertainment company". Wire-sound.com. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Dave Formula & Howard Devoto "Via Sacra"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
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