Fad Gadget
Fad Gadget was the pseudonym used by British musician, synthesizer pioneer,… Read Full Bio ↴Fad Gadget was the pseudonym used by British musician, synthesizer pioneer, and performance artist Frank Tovey - an influential electronic music/New Wave artist throughout his career- from 1979 until 1984.
Tovey began his musical career after studying performance art at Leeds Polytechnic, but started recording upon his move back to his native London, UK. The songs of his early career (under the pseudonym) all feature synthesizers plus, sometimes, machine sounds like that of an electric razor or an electric drill. Almost all of his songs create a dark, mystical atmosphere, with Gadget's voice hovering monotonously over then unheard of, groundbreaking and still brilliant synthesizer sound effects. The lyrics are either very earnest, discussing subjects like guilt or life and death, or convey a black, sarcastic humour.
Initially, Fad Gadget was merely a moniker for Tovey, but as time went on a band was formed (although keeping Tovey as the main focal point). His longest-serving sidekick was drummer Nick Cash. Other members were keyboardist David Simmonds, bassist Peter Balmer, guitarist & bassist David Rogers and viola player & backing vocalist Joni Sackett
Singles included Back To Nature, Ricky's Hand and Collapsing New People. Fad Gadget was the first artist signed to the then-fledgling Mute label, on which he released four full length albums, Fireside Favourites (1980), Incontinent (1981), Under The Flag (1982) and Gag (1984). After 1984's Gag, Tovey released a compilation, (The Fad Gadget Singles), and recorded five more albums under his own name, whose styles ranged from semi-industrial electronic ballads to folk-oriented protest songs. He last appeared on a European tour supporting his latest album in 1993 and then virtually disappeared for some eight years.
In 2001 Tovey (and Cash) resurfaced with a comeback appearance and subsequently supported Depeche Mode on the Exciter tour later that year, again under his pseudonym Fad Gadget and backed by members of Temple X, whose album he had been producing. (Depeche Mode cite Tovey/Gadget as an icon and a paragon, and his influences can be heard in their music.) Tovey died of a heart attack on 3 April, 2002, aged 45, having suffered heart problems throughout his life.
Tovey began his musical career after studying performance art at Leeds Polytechnic, but started recording upon his move back to his native London, UK. The songs of his early career (under the pseudonym) all feature synthesizers plus, sometimes, machine sounds like that of an electric razor or an electric drill. Almost all of his songs create a dark, mystical atmosphere, with Gadget's voice hovering monotonously over then unheard of, groundbreaking and still brilliant synthesizer sound effects. The lyrics are either very earnest, discussing subjects like guilt or life and death, or convey a black, sarcastic humour.
Initially, Fad Gadget was merely a moniker for Tovey, but as time went on a band was formed (although keeping Tovey as the main focal point). His longest-serving sidekick was drummer Nick Cash. Other members were keyboardist David Simmonds, bassist Peter Balmer, guitarist & bassist David Rogers and viola player & backing vocalist Joni Sackett
Singles included Back To Nature, Ricky's Hand and Collapsing New People. Fad Gadget was the first artist signed to the then-fledgling Mute label, on which he released four full length albums, Fireside Favourites (1980), Incontinent (1981), Under The Flag (1982) and Gag (1984). After 1984's Gag, Tovey released a compilation, (The Fad Gadget Singles), and recorded five more albums under his own name, whose styles ranged from semi-industrial electronic ballads to folk-oriented protest songs. He last appeared on a European tour supporting his latest album in 1993 and then virtually disappeared for some eight years.
In 2001 Tovey (and Cash) resurfaced with a comeback appearance and subsequently supported Depeche Mode on the Exciter tour later that year, again under his pseudonym Fad Gadget and backed by members of Temple X, whose album he had been producing. (Depeche Mode cite Tovey/Gadget as an icon and a paragon, and his influences can be heard in their music.) Tovey died of a heart attack on 3 April, 2002, aged 45, having suffered heart problems throughout his life.
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Fad Gadget Lyrics
Ad Nauseam Tarred and feathered like a gutted chicken Stuck in a rut…
Back to Nature Back to nature - caravan on camping sand Back to nature…
Blind Eyes Close your eyes and hope for sunshine Protect your soul and…
Bridge St. Shuffle I was found in a white chapel Playing chess with the…
Cipher My words are dedicated to the one I love It's been…
Coitus Interruptus Coitus interrupts I digress, I've tried again All this lov…
Collapsing New People Faded - collapsing new people Watch them - collapsing Jaded …
Fireside Favourite Come here, baby, in front of the fire I'd like to…
For Whom The Bells Toll If I've heard them once I've heard them a thousand times…
For Whom The Bells Toll 3 If I've heard them once I've heard them a thousand times…
Ideal World As I dream, I live And as I sleep, I walk So…
Immobilise Immobilise Immobilise Invest in mkultra Your counter cu…
Innocent Bystander Wiped away the condensation Looked down at the empty street …
Insecticide Creep up the wall Then across the ceiling I spin round the…
Jump You tell yourself you're happy here And never mind the cost…
JÛMP Woooooo Check this out [verse 1] You find it so hard to fig…
King Of The Flies Right from the start I got it wrong I did the…
Lady Shave Worried girl Shaves her legs Creams her arms And she creams …
Ladyshave Worried girl Shaves her legs Creams her arms And she crea…
Life on the Line I'm sorry about the mess on the table I'm sure it…
Life On The Line IV I'm sorry about the mess on the table I'm sure it…
Love Parasite Love parasite Love parasite You're kicking inside Try not to…
Luddite Joe Speeding through landscapes stopping for no one Cutting the…
Luxury Diamonds and pearls Champagne and caviar Cigars and girls A …
Make Room Queue stretches on a mile ahead Everybody′s waiting for thei…
Newsreel Point the camera at the baby Shoot the mother giving…
One Man I felt like dropping down Sick in the street I could hardly…
One Man’s Meat I felt like dropping down Sick in the street I could hardl…
Pedestrian Locomotion took us there and back We kept our heads,…
Plain Clothes In slow motion could you play that again Watching Starsky a…
Plainsong Voices saying nothing 'Cause their heads are clean and simpl…
Ricky Scratched his head, then pulled his ear Reached out for a…
Ricky’s Hand Scratched his head, then pulled his ear Reached out for a…
Salt Lake City Sunday Salt Lake City Sunday No power can shake the glory No man…
Sam Hall Oh, me name it´s is Sam Hall Chimney sweep, chminey sweep Oh…
Saturday Night Special Every man should have the right to own a gun Every…
Scapegoat Fool's the name Sitting target for the ghouls to cane Mentio…
Sheep Look Up This is the shadow of a great cloud This is the…
Sleep Sleep, baby, sleep Daddy's out to earn your keep Sleep, ba…
Speak To Me You say I'm living a lie Well that's alright I don't mind,…
Stand Up Get up little girl, stand your ground Don't let those silly…
State of the Nation State of the nation A room you never use See…
Swallow It Take your medicine Scented roses One for the sake of it Keep…
The Box The camera pans across the room And finally comes to…
The Ring John Henry was about three days old Sittin' on his papa's…
The Sheep Look Up This is the shadow of a great cloud This is the…
Under The Flag I Well the story begins on the Isle of Dogs In a…
Under The Flag II Young man, go out And take what's yours, don't doubt There…
Under The Flag1 Well the story begins on the Isle of Dogs In a…
Wheels Of Fortune I choke on my words as I speak Brain damaged citizens…