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From the day Richard went to school carrying a steam iron as an accessory, he was destined to be a little ‘different’. Fascinated by the world of art and fashion, he soon made tracks for late 70s London where he began working alongside Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren.
As a new personality on the London scene, with refined looks and a sophisticated air he became a ‘sounding board’ for many of the artists, musicians and designers of the time. Throughout the 80s Richard ran his own, internationally acclaimed men’s wear label with outlets in New York, Tokyo, London, Paris and Milan. Considered as a ‘great figure’ by the British fashion elite, his futuristic knitwear designs are now highly desired and collected.
In the early 90s, however, Richard felt he needed to express himself differently and turned to a career in music. Already a vinyl junkie and sometime DJ, he set about developing his own system of guitar theory and notation. He soon moved on to computers and electronics and is now one of London’s most respected underground electronic artists.
Throughout the 90s Richard worked alongside legendary performance artist Leigh Bowery in the Art Rock group Minty, performing in clubs, galleries and festivals around the world. When Leigh tragically died, Matthew Glamorre took over the role of singer and Minty went on the release an album, two EPs and four singles.
Richard has also released under the names Menthol, The Paper People and (with Matthew and Bishi) The Sound Storm.
For The Siren Suite Richard plays samplers, laptop, synths and MD/ CDR.
1960 -------------Born in Red Hill Surrey. dad was an airline pilot & met mum while she was an airline hostess, grew up in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. & for a while Antigua in the Carribean. With a brother & sister.
1975-------------Made experimental music. Went to the 'Watchfield Free festival' took acid & then became infamous at school for carrying a steam iron around whereever I went.
1977 started kniting in public, at punk clubs in particular, & in avant garde art school bands.
1978 - 1981 --- Moved to London to study Fashion at Middlesex Poly. Spotted by Malcolm McLaren while walking down Regent Street. I was asked to audition for Bow Wow Wow. Failed that, but met & went to work as assistant for Vivienne Westwood (as she was closing Seditionaries & Inventing 'Pirates').
Produced first own collection, shown at Olympia. Models included John Maybury, Cerith Wynn Evans, Princess Julia. Led to freelance work in Italy & San Francisco designing knitwear & bags. Derek Jarman who had bought my clothes, found me a business partner.
1982---1989----Richard Torry label started selling at Browns in London & in the USA agented by Suzanne Bartsch sold to Macys, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Barneys, Charavari etc Knitwear collected by Boy George & clothes worn by Errol Brown, David Bowie, Heaven 17, Muriel Gray, Baby Ford & for Dynasty (tv)
1985 ------------After showing in Tokyo, got backing from the 'Hanae Mori' company, & worked in Japan for the next 5 years. In London got life centered around 'The House Of Beauty & Culture' Shop & workshop with Judy Blame & John Moore.)
1991------------Change to Music, started 'Un Homme Et Une Femme' with Louise Pray (Now part of 'Ping Pong Bitches'). Signed to Rhythm King/Emi but then caught up in record company politics - kept on the shelf & not released.
1992------------Started 'Minty' with Leigh Bowery. My first attempt in 1984 with John Richmond & Judy Blame didn't get anywhere beyond writing a couple of songs. But now with Paul Hitchman (former manager of 'Un Homme Et Une Femm') new record company 'Candy' behind us, we could at least get a record out. Wrote songs on the new atari computer.
1993-------------Mathew Glamorre joined & expanded 'Minty' into a live Band. Some incredible performances, particularly 'Fete Worse than Death', & Amsterdams 'Love Ball'
1994 --1997----After Leigh's death Minty continued & expanded into 'The Offset' . Dj'ing at various clubs such as 'Torture Garden' 'Pique' 'Naive' 'Harder Faster Louder' Released 5 singles as Minty, toured independantly & supporting Pulp (filmed for BBC documentary). The album 'Open Wide' came out in 97.
1998---2001---The Offset' trmsformed into 'The Sound Storm' . Launching 'Little Richard Powers' 'The Paper People' musical puppet show, 'Menthol' (my own electronic music), Patrick Wolf, Bishi Bhattacharya, among others. Mixing & making music for fashion shows by 'Robert Cary Williams' 'Deisel' 'Fabio Piras' & more. Michael K from DHR records sent the 'Paper People' song 'Point' to various people, including the bombastic Jonathan King, who in 2000, championed the song for 'The Eurovision Song Contest'. After getting through to the last 20 of 1700 entries Mr King was arrested for sexual misdoings. Also collaborations with Andrew Aveling -'The White Sport', & 'Princess Julia'.
2001----Now -'The Siren Suite' with Mathew Glamorre & Bishi B started at the 'Mint Bar' in Farringdon. Mixing clasical music with live synths, samplers, filters. Performances include 'The Royal Festival Hall' supporting 'Cornelius'. Performers at 'The Siren Suite' include Jarvis Cocker & Also members of 'The London Sinfonetta'. Weekly 'Sound Storm' Radio Show on Resonance 104.5 Fm' Provided 'Menthol' music for the Charlie Atlas film 'The Legend Of Leigh Bowery'
Please take a look at Richard's website at www.richardtorry.com
Creation date : 19/01/2007 @ 15:49
Last update : 19/01/2007 @ 15:49
Category : Music
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