Guggi (born Derek Rowen) is an Irish artist and musician who was once a member of the post-punk band Virgin Prunes.
Guggi | |
|---|---|
 Guggi | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Derek Rowen |
| Born | 13 May 1959 Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Post-punk |
| Occupation | Vocals |
Early life
editDerek Rowen was born in Dublin in 1959. He is one of 10 children. He grew up with and remains best friends with U2's Bono,[1] who gave him his nickname.[2]
Career
editThe Virgin Prunes were founded in 1977 by vocalists Guggi, Gavin Friday (né Fionan Hanvey), and Dave-iD Busaras; guitarist Dik Evans (brother of U2's The Edge); bassist Strongman (Trevor Rowen, brother of Guggi); and drummer Pod (Anthony Murphy).[3] Known for their outrageous and controversial stage performances, the band began playing small shows in Dublin and gained a cult audience.[3] The band released a single, "Moments and Mine (Despite Straight Lines)", on 27 June 1981.[4][5] In November 1982, the Virgin Prunes released their debut studio album, ...If I Die, I Die (produced by Colin Newman of Wire), as well as the double 10" EP Hérésie, a French box set.[3] In 1984, Guggi left the band.[3]
Guggi left the Virgin Prunes to dedicate himself solely to painting. Since the early 1990s, Guggi's artwork has continued to explore the depiction of common everyday objects.[citation needed]
Personal life
editGuggi has five sons, the eldest with his first partner and four with his ex-wife Sybille. He lives in Killiney with his partner Gabriella Janni.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Bowling for recognition". Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2007.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Egan, Barry (13 January 2020). "'We promised each other we would never grow up' - Bono and Guggi on their lifelong friendship". Irish Independent.
- ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1220/1. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ "Virgin Prunes - Moments And Mine (Despite Straight Lines)". Discogs. 29 November 1981. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
- ^ Gimarc, George (15 October 1997). Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982. Macmillan. p. 174. ISBN 9780312169688. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ^ "Guggi on surviving a brush with death: 'I didn't feel an ounce of fear. There were far greater forces at work'". independent. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
External links
edit