- David Ryder Prangley
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David Ryder Prangley is a musician best known for his work with the glam punk band Rachel Stamp and as bass player for Adam Ant.[1] Born in Dinas Powys, South Wales, Ryder Prangley started his music career aged 9 years old as a member of Welsh language boy-band Bechgyn Sêr (often referred to as the 'Welsh Menudo'). At 13 Ryder Prangley took up guitar and toured and recorded with Rock Bottom (alongside and future Games Workshop and Blizzard Entertainment artist/designer Mark Gibbons) before taking up singing and forming Rockets (later Hollyweird). After limited local success in the Cardiff area including an appearance on ITV's Welsh music showcase 'Rough Mix', Ryder Prangley moved to London in 1994 and formed Rachel Stamp (as lead singer and bassist) with guitarist Will Crewdson.
Having signed a publishing deal with Eurythmics guitarist David A. Stewart's Anxious Music on the strength of a demo tape produced by Thighpaulsandra (Spiritualized/Coil), Rachel Stamp signed a recording contract with WEA after playing only four gigs but the liaison was cut short when the band's A&R man Clive Black (who signed the group) left the label. The album recorded for WEA ('Rachel Stamp Fight The Force of Evil') remains unreleased. However, after the addition of Robin Guy and Shaheena Dax to the band Rachel Stamp achieved commercial and critical success in the UK with three independently released albums ('Hymns For Strange Children', 'Stampax' and 'Oceans Of Venus') reaching the Independent Chart top ten. In 1999 Rachel Stamp became the first unsigned band to sell out the London Astoria. During this time Ryder Prangley was known for his androgynous appearance (the Melody Maker called him 'the most beautiful frontman since David Sylvian'[2]) and unique fashion style. After a 2003 tour of the USA supporting Chicago Industrial collective Pigface (on which Ryder Prangley regularly appeared onstage with the headliners) and a final single 'Honey'/Queen Of The Universe' Rachel Stamp went on hiatus before reforming in 2009 for a sell out show at London's Islington Academy in support of the Serena/Cargo release 'Now I'm Nailed To Your Bedroom Wall I've Only Got Myself To Blame- The Best Of Rachel Stamp'.
In 2005 Ryder Prangley formed David Ryder Prangley and the Witches (as lead singer and guitarist) with a revolving group of musicians. The band played several concerts but never recorded (a conscious decision by Ryder Prangley to 'eliminate any commercial expectations'). During this time Ryder Prangley acted in the pilot for the comedy movie 'Big FM' playing the part of a Welsh Glam Rock DJ and also moved into music production, producing the first two singles by My Passion ('Bitter Too' and 'Hot In The Doll's House') and the first single 'Diamonds' by Lilygun. He also became involved in London's East End cabaret scene, regularly performing at Hanky Panky Cabaret where he invented the Sans bouche mime style after being drafted into a production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the last minute and not having time to learn the lines. From 2008 to 2010 Ryder Prangley toured as bass guitarist with former Bay City Rollers guitarist Eric Faulkner and also performed with Adam Ant and Livan.
More recently Ryder Prangley has directed two videos for former Flesh For Lulu singer Nick Marsh's 'A Universe Between Us' album, written and recorded the music for the short film 'Annabelle's Tea Party' and collaborated on a comic book ('Vampire Deluxe') with New York artist Lawrence Gullo.
References
External links
- http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/575410649
- http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/david-ryder-prangley-purple-turtle-londonbr-ghosts-water-rats-london-432091.html
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=025MEH6EGKk
- http://theblackletters.net/vampire-deluxe-by-lawrence-gullo-david-ryder-prangley-2009-e/
- David Ryder Prangley on Myspace
Categories:- Living people
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