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Dirty Harry, born Victoria Harrison (May 10, 1982), is a British rock singer who is now based in Los Angeles.
Early life
Born in London, Harry spent her early life living in Singapore and New York as well as in the UK, and was raised under strict conservative family values – a vicar grandfather and mother in charge of a local Sunday school.
At a young age she turned her back on this strict background and alongside Madonna, Harry connected with singers like Patti Smith and Janis Joplin – great influences in both her youth and musical stylings.
As she grew up, Harry became more and more involved in the London music scene, throwing herself into the social scene at early age. She first experienced the London nightlife at 14 – frequenting the club circuit and London fetish clubs Torture Garden and Slimelight in particular – earning her ‘Dirty’ tag along the way and building a reputation for herself on the underground music scene before launching a music career of her own.
The Trouble With... Harry
Originally recording as "Dirty Harry", Harry recorded two singles (the limited release industrial pop track "Eye" and the similarly styled "Nothing Really Matters") on her own label, Dirty World Records, as well as an early version of her debut album "The Trouble with... Harry". However, the album's release was not to be an easy process and complications ensued, resulting in a legal battle leading to Harry dropping her 'Dirty' tag and rebranding simply as Harry.
The album was re-recorded and edited under this new name and finally, years after its inception, released in April 2003, through Telstar Records along with the album's supporting singles - "So Real", "Imagination" and "Follow Me". "The Trouble with... Harry" charted at #37 in the UK album chart.
In 2003 Cosmetics giants Rimmel used "Imagination" - Harry's industrial pop cover of Belouis Some's hit - to front a TV advertising campaign. The song was also the lead track on Harry's 'Under the Covers' EP which also featured the video for the song.
Collaborations
- In 2004 Harry performed a duet on Raymond Watts' album Pigmartyr. The track was called "Take".
- In 2006 Dirty Harry appeared as guest vocalist on "Making Me Crazy" for Tommy Lee's solo album Tommyland.
- Two tracks were also recorded ("Set Fire to Me" and "Never Stop") with Crystal Method for DJ Hyper's album We Control.
- In the same year, she sang alongside Dani Filth in Cradle of Filth's recording of "Temptation" (a cover of Heaven 17) for the album Thornography. She was also in the music video for the song alongside the band.
Press Coverage
Back in June/July 2008 Dirty Harry was interviewed along side of Courtney Love for the iconic magazine; Nylon (magazine). Scans of which can be found on both the myspace page and forum!
In November 2006 world famous Rock Photographer Mick Rock shot harry for her own article in PlayBoy.
Television appearances
In 2003 she appeared in a controversial episode of Channel 4 television program Faking it, where she was to help transform a choir girl into a "rock chick"[1]. Controversy arose when participant Laura-Jane Foley claimed she had been misrepresented by the show, however the episode in question had already run into trouble before it even aired, with regular sponsors Smirnoff refusing to be associated with its scenes of "irresponsible drinking" in which Harry appeared hungover after a night out.
Her filmwork also includes a role as Sophie Johnstone in the 1992 TV series Homeward Bound and a small role as lady of the night, Maria, alongside Jonny Lee Miller in the 1999 British film Plunkett & Macleane.
In May 2003 Harry appeared on "Re:covered" (a TV show on the BBC) where she performed "Imagination" and a cover of Blondie's hit "One Way Or Another".
In late 2006 Dirty Harry was chosen as the face and voice of internet retail giant buy.com’s $30 million national US marketing campaign, recording a song for, and appearing in the TV advert for the company - providing a platform from which to launch her music career in the US.
Discography
Albums
- The Trouble with... Harry (2003) (released under the name Harry) - reached #37
- Songs From the Edge (2007)
- (un)Released (2009) - A compilation of various rare tracks from Harrys career.
EPs
- Under the Covers (2003) (released under the name Harry) - reached #43
- God Shaped Hole (2009)
Singles
- "Eye" (2000)
- "Nothing Really Matters" (2001)
- "So Real" (2002) (released under the name Harry) - reached #52
- "Follow Me" (2003) (released under the name Harry) - reached #82
Digital Releases
- All 11 tracks from the album Songs From the Edge were made available to purchase from Dirty Harry's official website, Reverbnation and Myspace profiles in February 2007.