Examine individual changes

'{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{BLP sources|date=November 2013}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Francis Dunnery | image = Francis_Dunnery_Robin.jpg | caption = Dunnery performing in 2007 | background = solo_singer | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1962|12|25}} | death_date = | origin = [[Egremont, Cumbria]], England | instrument = Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, [[tapboard]], programming | genre = [[pop music|pop]], [[rock music|rock]], [[progressive rock]], acoustic rock, [[R&B]] | occupation = Musician, record producer | years_active = 1984–present | label = [[Aquarian Nation]] | associated_acts = [[It Bites]], [[Robert Plant]], [[The Syn]], [[Ian Brown]], [[Chris Difford]], [[David Sancious]], [[James Sonefeld]] | website = [http://www.francisdunnery.com Official website] }} '''Francis Dunnery''' (born 25 December 1962)<ref name="EgremontTimesDecember2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.egremont-today.com/812barry.htm|title=Musician Who Was Egremont Through & Through|publisher=Egremont Today|author=Alan Williams|date=December 2008|access-date=30 November 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710173406/http://www.egremont-today.com/812barry.htm|archive-date=10 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> is an English musician, singer-songwriter, record producer and record label owner. Dunnery was the lead singer and guitarist for British [[progressive rock|prog]]-[[progressive pop|pop]] band [[It Bites]] between 1982 and 1990. Since 1990 he has pursued a solo career, and has owned and run his own record label, Aquarian Nation, since 2001.<ref name="WOMADJune2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.womad.org/artists/francis-dunnery|title=Label info|publisher=WOMAD.org|author=WOMAD|date=June 2002|access-date=6 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131108215944/http://www.womad.org/artists/francis-dunnery|archive-date=8 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He has collaborated with artists including [[Robert Plant]], [[Ian Brown]], [[Lauryn Hill]], [[Santana (band)|Santana]] and [[Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe]] and as a producer and/or collaborator with [[David Sancious]], [[Chris Difford]] (of ''Squeeze''), [[James Sonefeld]] ([[Hootie and the Blowfish]]), [[A Girl Called Eddy|Erin Moran]], Steven Harris (ex-[[The Cult]], [[Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction]]), and Ashley Reaks (Younger Younger 28s). Dunnery was one of the candidates invited to audition as a lead singer and frontman for [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] following [[Phil Collins]]' departure in 1996.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)|url=http://www.fabricationshq.com/francis-dunnery-sep-2010.html|access-date=2021-09-22|website=FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music|language=en}}</ref> He also played in the reformed 1960s beat/prog band [[The Syn]] between 2008 and mid-2009. ==Early life== Francis Dunnery grew up as part of a working-class musical family in the small Cumberland town of [[Egremont, Cumbria|Egremont]] (at 28 Queens Drive on the Gulley Flats estate). He is the younger son of Charlie Dunnery (a former member of the [[Jimmy Shand]] band) and his wife, Kathleen.<ref>[http://www.mandy.co.uk/it-bites/articles/history.html] {{dead link|date=October 2023}}</ref> He displayed an interest in music from an early age, with his mother later recalling that "he was always drumming with his hands. Asking him what he wanted for his tea, he'd be drumming on something the whole time."<ref name="Egremont Today (issue 134)">{{cite web|url=http://www.egremont-today.com/dunnery107.htm|title=Calling All the Heroes|publisher=Egremont Today|author=Thelma Atherton|date=15 June 2001|access-date=14 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710173457/http://www.egremont-today.com/dunnery107.htm|archive-date=10 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> His elder brother Barry "Baz" Dunnery (whom Dunnery cites as his greatest single influence)<ref name="BeenThereDunneryThat">{{cite web|url=http://www.ckdcf.org/been_there.html|title=Been There Dunnery That|publisher=The Whitehaven News (reproduced on CKDCFC homepage)|author=Karl Connor|date=18 October 2007|access-date=30 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724094701/http://www.ckdcf.org/been_there.html|archive-date=24 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> was a guitarist with heavy rock band [[Necromandus]] and subsequently [[Ozzy Osbourne]]'s first post-[[Black Sabbath]] band and the [[Electric Light Orchestra|ELO]]-spinoff [[Violinski]]. {{Quote box | quote = "The only thing that was ever permanent in my life was my [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] collection. When things got weird at home and the alcohol cycle was in full rotation, I could return to that little piece of upper class England where [[Peter Gabriel]] and his boys were playing croquet on the lawn, eating cucumber sandwiches and deciding which one of their country cottages they would visit next. Still to this day, old Peter can soothe my anxiety faster than [[Eckhart Tolle]]... My Genesis albums were my security." | source = Francis Dunnery on the inspiration he found in the music of Genesis<ref name="FDNothingLastsForLong"/> | width = 30% | align = right }}Dunnery has described his family home as having been like "a bustling café" full of musicians and family friends of all generations, and recalls "my Mam and Dad were the greatest. They were kind, funny and gracious in a working class way. They were giving people. They had a way about them that made everyone feel welcome in our home... My Mam and Dad would feed them great food, share cigarettes and partake in humorous and interesting conversation."<ref name="FDNothingLastsForLong"/> His childhood was blighted by his parents' mutual alcoholism.<ref name=prog14022024>[https://www.loudersound.com/features/francis-dunnery-it-bites-FD "I didn’t want the job with Robert Plant, I wasn’t after it and there were 5,000 guys that were - but they called me. When things come into your life, embrace them; when they leave, let them go": Francis Dunnery’s lessons in life] - article by Dave Ling in ''Prog'' magazine, 14 February 2024</ref> He described them as "binge drinkers, two weeks on and two months off... Once my Mam and Dad started drinking alcohol I never knew what was going to happen. Everything seems to happen fast. One minute it was paradise and the next minute it was sheer hell. It was horrific. ... Anyone who has lived under this nervousness will know exactly what I mean. I lived under this constant threat all my life."<ref name="FDNothingLastsForLong" /> From the age of eleven, Frank spent four days a week living by himself on a trailer park to avoid problems at home, going to school during the day and bolstering his independence and living expenses by working as a musician at night. His first professional work was as half of an early teens duo with his friend Peter Lockhart which played local venues including the Tarnside Caravan Club and various cabaret venues.<ref name="FDNothingLastsForLong" /> He recalls "we were the cute little duo that would open up for the main act... I would just bash along as Peter sang Elvis songs and played the organ."<ref name="FDNothingLastsForLong" /> Adding guitar and singing to his musical skills, Dunnery moved on to other projects of varying levels of commitment – "I played in a few local bands and with lots of different musicians, especially a group called Waving at Trains I was in with Don Mackay, who is a fantastic musician. He wrote some really good songs, too." Waving At Trains featured Mackay as frontman, Dunnery on lead guitar and vocals, and Glyn Davies and Frank Hall on bass guitar and drums respectively (both of the latter having also played in bands with Frank's brother Barry, including [[Necromandus]] and Nerves).<ref name="BeenThereDunneryThat" /><ref>[http://fenderstrat.co.uk/MorningDew.htm Morning Dew/Kobblers Dream page] on 'Cumbrian Bands of The 70s' homepage</ref> Regarding this period, Dunnery commented "There was no one I could rely on... I somehow made sure that I had other places to live and spend my time (talk about the power of the human spirit) because I couldn't bear to be at home when my parents were drinking. I can still remember the smell of the house when my parents were drowning in hops. To this day the smell of Carlsberg Special Brew makes me want to vomit."<ref name="FDNothingLastsForLong" /> ==Career== ===1982–1990: It Bites=== {{Main|It Bites}} In 1982, when he was nineteen, Dunnery formed the rock band [[It Bites]] (taking the role of lead singer and guitarist). The other members of the band were his Egremont school friends [[It Bites|Bob Dalton]] (drums, vocals) and [[It Bites|Dick Nolan]] (bass, vocals); plus [[John Beck (It Bites)|John Beck]] (keyboards, vocals) who came from Mirehouse, a suburb of [[Whitehaven]]. Following a career playing the pub and youth club circuit the band temporarily split, with Dunnery moving to London. The band reformed some time later and left Egremont entirely to relocate to London in 1984, eventually signing a record contract with [[Virgin Records]].<ref name="prog14022024"></ref> It Bites released three studio albums, ''The Big Lad in the Windmill'' (1986), ''Once Around the World'' (1988) and ''Eat Me in St Louis'' (1989). It Bites' biggest [[hit record|hit]] single was "[[Calling All The Heroes]]" in 1986, which reached No. 6 in the [[UK Singles Chart]]. [[It Bites]] split up in 1990 in Los Angeles on the eve of recording their fourth studio album. Commenting on the breakup, Dunnery said: "the band had come to the end. It was a natural process. We fell out over a few things, there wasn't one big issue or problem, it was daft little things. We had just drifted apart. It wasn't anyone's fault, but we split."<ref name="BeenThereDunneryThat"/> In 2024, however, he recalled: {{block quote|There are a million different answers I could give you. We were under a lot of pressure to come up with huge success when nobody really knew what we should be doing. All we were being told was: "No, that's not right," or, "No, you can't do that." Towards the end of It Bites there was a lot of trying to make the sun shine when it was raining. It became obvious that we just didn't fit into what was going on within the industry. Nobody wanted us. It was like being English in a Welsh bar. The most profound thing was realising that it didn’t matter the kind of music we were making. The music side of things was the least important. That was the saddest thing. Walking away from all of that felt very liberating. I've got a brash personality and that didn’t help. I was still drinking and I didn't have very good social skills. I was too much of a live wire and in that sense I contributed to my own downfall.<ref name="prog14022024"></ref>}} Following Dunnery's departure, [[It Bites]] briefly continued with a new frontman (Lee Knott) and a succession of new names (including Navajo Kiss and Sister Sarah) but split up after failing to sign a new recording deal. A post-breakup [[It Bites]] live album (drawn mainly from 1989 concerts) called "Thank You and Goodnight," was released in 1991. ===1990–1995: Los Angeles and London=== {{Quote box | quote = "The last night I drank I had a gun put to my head and I was smoking crack on Hollywood Boulevard, out of my brains on whiskey, crack and crystal meth. It scared the living shit out of me. That was the moment in my life where I went, 'Something's gotta change.'" | source = Francis Dunnery on quitting alcohol and drug abuse<ref name=" HappyToBeAlive"/> | width = 30% | align = right }} Following the 1990 break-up of [[It Bites]], Dunnery moved to Los Angeles, indulging what he later acknowledged to be a disastrously hedonistic lifestyle.<ref name="BeenThereDunneryThat"/><ref name=" HappyToBeAlive">{{cite web|url=http://www.pauseandplay.com/dunnery.htm|title=Francis Dunnery's Just Happy To Be Alive|publisher=Pause & Play online music magazine|author=Gerry Galipault|date=17 August 1995|access-date=30 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="PerformingMusician2009"/> During this period he recorded his first solo album, ''[[Welcome to the Wild Country]]'', which was released on Virgin Records in 1991 and produced by [[David Hentschel]]. The record enjoyed little success and was released only in Japan. He regained the rights in 2001, re-issuing it on Aquarian Nation Records.<ref>[http://www.aquariannation.com/Francis%20Dunnery/FrancisDunnery.htm Francis Dunnery biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330091934/http://aquariannation.com/Francis%20Dunnery/FrancisDunnery.htm |date=30 March 2010 }}, Aquarian Nation Records homepage</ref> Dunnery has since described ''Welcome to the Wild Country'' as "having been recorded at a time when I didn't know who I was". Towards the end of his time in Los Angeles, Dunnery addressed his drugs and alcohol problems and cleaned up his lifestyle. He has subsequently been open about his problems with alcohol addiction and drug abuse during this period.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/australia/guitar-techniques/20140221/282707635007202|title=Francis Dunnery|via=PressReader|access-date=27 October 2023}}</ref> In 1993, Dunnery returned to the UK and joined [[Led Zeppelin]] singer [[Robert Plant]]'s live band, performing on several tracks on Plant's 1993 album ''[[Fate of Nations]]'' and on the accompanying world tour. Regarding this period, Dunnery has commented. "I have a good relationship with (Plant) because I think I’m as spunky and aggressive as he’d like to be... He likes the way I go at [the instrument], so we always get on well. In those two or three years we spent together I got to do things I could never have done otherwise. Staying in big hotels, playing massive stadiums and flying first class, I went to the top of the hill. At that time it was the biggest guitar job in the world and for a while it was mine. It made me feel complete... I didn't apply for that job, which made me realise that I’m not very effective at strategies. I see others making plans and going from A to B and it makes me think, "Wow!" In my life I tend to get blown around in the wind, I end up in the most fantastic places that nobody could even imagine. I didn't want the job with Robert, I wasn’t after it and there were five thousand guys that were, but they called me up and that was it. When things come into your life, embrace them, and when they leave, let them go – simple."<ref name="prog14022024"></ref> Dunnery has also credited his time with Plant as "(giving) me an education in the blues".<ref name="prog14022024"></ref> Dunnery then released ''[[Fearless (Francis Dunnery album)|Fearless]]'' on [[Atlantic Records]] in 1994, promoting the album with his first solo tour of the UK. The Glasgow date of the tour was recorded for a live album, ''[[One Night in Sauchiehall Street]]'', released in 1995. ===1995–1999: New York and Vermont=== In 1995, Dunnery relocated to [[New York City]]. His third studio album, ''[[Tall Blonde Helicopter]],'' was released on Atlantic that year. {{Quote box|quote="I try everything and the number of times I fail is unreal, but I never ever let it beat me and I try something else. People might look at me and say that I am successful, but that is just because I try so many different things. Someone once said to me that Americans are not Americans because they are born there, being an American is a state of mind. It is the need to expand and grow, to explore, basically a pioneering spirit ... I think I have that, the American mindset."|source=Francis Dunnery<ref name="BeenThereDunneryThat"/>|width=30%|align=left}} In 1996, Dunnery was approached to audition as lead singer for Genesis (although the position ultimately went to [[Ray Wilson (musician)|Ray Wilson]]).<ref name="auto"/> Dunnery has reminisced "I did audition for them, though I knew I wouldn’t get the job. I can sing [[Peter Gabriel]] better than Peter Gabriel, but I just can’t do [[Phil Collins]]... all that screaming on "[[Mama (Genesis song)|Mama]]", no way. Singing Genesis is all about the phrasing; you don’t add blues because it’s like classical music. So I knew I wouldn’t get it, but I wasn’t about to turn down the chance to go to Genesis’ studio, sit there and sing "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway". And you know what? I believe I was the best man for the job because I’m creative enough to make [[Tony Banks (musician)|Tony Banks]] angry... I wouldn’t back down to any of those guys because I’m incredibly creative, probably more than they are."<ref name="prog14022024"></ref> Dunnery's next album, ''[[Let's Go Do What Happens]]'', was released in 1998 on [[Razor and Tie Records]], initially only in the United States. During this period, Dunnery also played on [[Lauryn Hill]]'s 1998 debut album ''[[The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill]]'', and [[Carlos Santana]]'s 1999 album ''[[Supernatural (Santana album)|Supernatural]]''.<ref name="prog14022024"></ref> {{Quote box | quote = "I don't feel fulfilled by just doing music; I have other sides of my nature that I need to express. It's very damaging not to express yourself, so I like to keep my life full and diverse." | source = Francis Dunnery<ref name="ArtAsRevelation">{{cite web|url=http://www.aquariannation.com/Home%20Page/Latest%20News%20Files/Art_As_Revelation.htm|title=Art As Revelation|publisher=phillyBurbs.com (reproduced on Aquarian Nation homepage)|author=Nalia Francis|year=2008|access-date=30 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725042252/http://www.aquariannation.com/Home%20Page/Latest%20News%20Files/Art_As_Revelation.htm|archive-date=25 July 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | width = 30% | align = right }}Dunnery went into semi-retirement as a musician later in 1998 and set up a new home in the [[Vermont]] mountains where he devoted the next few years to breeding and training horses (for which he studied under [[John Lyons (horse trainer)|John Lyons]], the "horse whisperer"<ref name="BeenThereDunneryThat"/>) as well as carpentry, astrology, and [[Carl Jung|Jungian]] psychology.<ref name="InConversationWithFrancisDunnery">{{cite web|url=http://www.netdirectsolutions.com/fdclassic_rock_society_artcles.htm|title=In Conversation with Francis Dunnery|publisher=Classic Rock Society (copy of article hosted on Francis Dunnery fanpage)|year=2001|access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref> ===2000–2003: Return to music=== In 2000, inspired by watching a televised [[Shakti (band)|Shakti]] concert, Dunnery later admitted he "realised there was still a musician in me, and that I had to be as true to that side of my character as I was being to the other sides."<ref name="BeenThereDunneryThat"/> He decided to re-engage with the music business by returning to the UK for the first time in five years to play a few concerts, and by creating his own internet-based record label, Aquarian Nation, with the intention of releasing his future albums as well as albums by other artists.<ref name="InConversationWithFrancisDunnery"/> For the UK tour, Dunnery formed a new backing band called The Grass Virgins, featuring second guitarist [[Dave Colquhoun]], bass guitarist [[Matt Pegg]], and singer/keyboard player Erin Moran, followed soon afterwards by a larger tour and support slots with [[Hootie and the Blowfish]]. Dunnery's first new album following his comeback was ''[[Man (Francis Dunnery album)|Man]]'', released in 2001. On the album, Dunnery said: "I was very depressed when I wrote the 'Man' CD. It was a difficult birth. I was going through such turmoil in my life. My mother was dying, my relationship was ending, and in complete contrast, my daughter Ava was being born. [But] I think I'm at peace with that side of my life now."<ref name="AManOfManyParts">{{cite web|author=Nalia Francis|year=2009|title=Francis Dunnery, A Man of Many Parts|url=http://www.aquariannation.com/Home%20Page/Latest%20News%20Files/Art_As_Revelation.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725042252/http://www.aquariannation.com/Home%20Page/Latest%20News%20Files/Art_As_Revelation.htm|archive-date=25 July 2010|access-date=30 April 2010|publisher=PhillyBurbs.com (copy of article subsequently hosted on Francis Dunnery homepage under the title "Art As Revelation")|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Dunnery toured the UK to promote ''Man'', accompanied by Matt Pegg on bass guitar. A live album – ''[[Hometown 2001]]'' – was recorded 14 June 2001 at the Whitehaven Civic Hall in Cumbria and released later the same year. During 2002, Dunnery played on and produced several albums released on Aquarian Nation. The first of these releases was [[Chris Difford]]'s ''I Didn't Get Where I Am,'' with whom Dunnery also toured to promote the album. This was followed by John & Wayne's debut ''Nearly Killed Keith'', and ''Songs From the Mission of Hope'', the debut album by [[Kid Chaos|Stephen Harris]]. In 2003, Dunnery performed with former [[It Bites]] members John Beck, Dick Nolan and Bob Dalton at the [[Union Chapel, Islington|Union Chapel]], with the event was recorded and released on DVD as ''Live at the Union Chapel'' the following year.<ref name="prog14022024"></ref> ===2004–2007=== In 2005, Dunnery released ''[[The Gulley Flats Boys]]'', a more sedate and acoustic album than its predecessor, featuring next to no drum or percussion parts and sparse use of electric guitar. It was recorded by Dunnery with piano/keyboard player [[David Sancious]] and Dorie Jackson on backing vocals.<ref>[https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/live/francis-dunnery-with-david-sancious-bush-hall-london "Francis Dunnery with David Sancious @ Bush Hall, London"] - review by Vik Bansal in ''musicOMH'', 26 January 2005</ref> {{Quote box | quote = "''(The house concerts)'' give the incredible feeling of being heard. For an artist – in fact, for every human being – it's an incredible and fabulous feeling to sense that someone really heard what you said or played... During the house concerts there's the intimacy of one man with an acoustic guitar, talking to people about philosophical things. You can't really get into people's souls like that if they've had a pint of beer and are standing screaming at a rock god." | source = Francis Dunnery on playing house concerts<ref name="PerformingMusician2009"/> | width = 35% | align = right }} In 2005, Dunnery embarked on a "house concert" world tour, suggesting to fans that they book him to perform in their own homes for a paying audience, in a drug and alcohol-free environment. Dunnery continues to perform house concerts to this day.<ref name="PerformingMusician2009"/> During the same year Dunnery was recruited into Steve Nardelli's revived 1960s progressive rock/beat band [[The Syn]] as guitarist, playing alongside Nardelli, [[Yes (band)|Yes]] bassist [[Chris Squire]], keyboard player Gerard Johnson and drummer [[Gary Husband]]. This lineup was scheduled to play as part of the More Drama Tour of summer and autumn 2005 (alongside two other Yes-related acts, [[Alan White (Yes drummer)|White]] and [[Steve Howe]]). Dunnery left the band after the cancellation of the tour, and was replaced by [[Shane Theriot]]. In October 2007 Dunnery released a free download of ''Feels Like Summertime'', a song which had initially been written for [[It Bites]] shortly before the band's original split in 1990 and was reworked as part of the unsuccessful 2003 reunion. ===2008–2011=== In 2008, Dunnery performed numerous solo performances and house concerts, this time centred on material from ''Tall Blonde Helicopter''. His summer and fall schedule included a full-band tour, culminating in a performance in Seattle which was recorded by Flying Spot, Inc. for subsequent release as a special edition concert/documentary DVD. (Originally scheduled for a 2009 release and titled ''Louder Than Usual'', this was finally released in September 2010 as a DVD with accompanying CD) In 2010, Dunnery released an "official video bootleg" DVD from the 2001 ''Man'' tour, titled ''In The Garden of Mystic Lovers,'' and produced and played on ''Snowman Melting'', the first solo album by [[James Sonefeld]] of [[Hootie and the Blowfish]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} In 2008, Dunnery rejoined [[The Syn]] as part of a new line-up also featuring Nardelli and keyboard player [[Tom Brislin]]. Joined by Dorie Jackson, bass player Jamie Bishop and (as well as by two members of American progressive rock band [[Echolyn]], guitarist Brett Kull and drummer Paul Ramsey) the band recorded a new album, ''Big Sky'', released early 2009, which was voted the best progressive rock album of 2009 at USA Progressive Music website.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Francis Dunnery|url=https://www.progstock.com/2017/artists-schedule/2017-artists/friday/francis-dunnery/|access-date=2021-09-22|website=ProgStock 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://usaprogmusic.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=343&Itemid=34 |title=Top 2009 Albums |website=Usaprogmusic.com |date=2010-01-02 |access-date=2012-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717175558/http://usaprogmusic.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=343&Itemid=34 |archive-date=17 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Although he didn't play on the Syn's "Reason and Ritual" single of October 2008, Dunnery was in the band for the US tour scheduled for spring 2009. Unfortunately, the tour was cancelled after six dates following Nardelli's return to the UK to pursue separate interests, with the band breaking up acrimoniously as a result after a final performance at Rosfest on 1 May 2009, recorded and eventually released as ''The Syn Live Rosfest'' in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progressionmag.com/2009/04/10/the-syn-schedules-charity-benefit-shows-details/ |title=Progression Magazine » The Syn schedules charity benefit shows — details |website=Progressionmag.com |date= |access-date=2015-07-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://progarchy.com/2015/05/30/new-album-the-syn-live-rosfest-by-paul-watson/?blogsub=confirming#blog_subscription-2 |title=NEW ALBUM: 'THE SYN LIVE ROSFEST' by Paul Watson &#124; Progarchy: Pointing toward Proghalla |website=Progarchy.com |date=2015-05-30 |access-date=2015-07-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/LIVE-ROSFEST-BONUS-DVD-Syn/dp/B00TZ0K7OK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425973090&sr=8-1&keywords=the+syn |title=LIVE ROSFEST (WITH BONUS DVD) by The Syn |website=Amazon.co.uk |date= |access-date=2015-07-04}}</ref> Brett Kull would dismiss the project as having "bad organization, bad mojo, bad energy."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/astheworld/conversations/topics/4339 |title=Yahoo! Groups |website=Groups.yahoo.com |date= |access-date=2015-07-04}}</ref> Despite the Syn debacle, all members of the line-up (bar Nardelli) would continue to work with Dunnery. Kull, Brislin, Ramsey, Bishop and Jackson all appeared on Dunnery's next album ''[[There's a Whole New World Out There]]'' (released on 3 October 2009) as part of his new group The New Progressives. Consisting of reworkings of It Bites and solo songs from across Dunnery's career (plus covers of songs by [[Robert Plant]], [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]], [[David Sylvian]] and [[Joy Division]]) the album also featured guest appearances from guitarists [[Phil Campbell (musician)|Phil Campbell]] ([[Motörhead]]), Simon Rogers ([[Also Eden]]) and [[Luke Machin]] (Maschine, [[The Tangent]]), flute player [[Theo Travis]] ([[Soft Machine]], [[Gong (band)|Gong]], The Tangent) and - perhaps most surprisingly - Dunnery's own replacement in It Bites, [[John Mitchell (musician)|John Mitchell]]. The New Progressives toured the UK, American and Australia to promote the record, with various guests (from both on and off the record) appearing when available. In 2009, [[Jem Godfrey]] ([[Frost*]]) announced on the Frost* Forum that he and Dunnery had both contributed solos to the title track of [[Big Big Train]]'s upcoming album, ''[[The Underfall Yard]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Godfrey and Dunnery |publisher=frostmusic.net |url=http://www.frostmusic.net/frosties/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1207 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725180103/http://www.frostmusic.net/frosties/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1207 |archive-date=25 July 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> ===2011–2017=== On 12 August 2011, Dunnery released the contemporary R'n'B-influenced ''[[Made in Space (album)|Made in Space]]''. He supported the album with a tour of the UK, which featured himself and Dorie Jackson. He also announced that he would be recording a cover version of [[Peter Gabriel]]'s ''The Rhythm of the Heat'' as part of Sonic Elements, a new "fantasy rock" band put together by [[Sonic Reality|Dave Kerzner]]. In 2012, Dunnery made a guest appearance on [[Steve Hackett]]'s album ''[[Genesis Revisited II]]'', singing on two tracks – "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight" and "Supper's Ready" (the "As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs (Aching Men's Feet)" section) – as well as contributing additional guitar.<ref name="prog14022024"></ref> Dunnery also made a guest appearance on Hackett's subsequent ''Genesis Revisited'' tour, singing at the [[Arcada Theater Building|Arcada Theater]] show in [[St. Charles, Illinois|St Charles, Illinois]] on 20 September 2013, and at the Scottish Rites Auditorium in [[Collingswood, New Jersey]]. From late 2012 to autumn 2013, Dunnery recorded ''[[Frankenstein Monster (album)|Frankenstein Monster]]'', a covers album featuring songs from his brother's former band [[Necromandus]]. Regarding the album, Dunnery commented: "I must say that this has been one hell of a journey both emotionally and musically. I learned so much about my brother during the making of this album and so much about myself ... Listening back now as it comes into focus I am very pleased and proud of the results. We have kept very close to the originals, sometimes exact and where it need a little more musicality or space we were smart enough to add our own parts without ruining the song. I know exactly what Baz would have liked so I only added things I know he would have liked."<ref name="dunnerynewsoctober2013">{{Cite web|url=http://www.francisdunnery.com/latest-news|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021123937/http://www.francisdunnery.com/latest-news/|url-status=dead|title=News on ''Frankenstein Monster'' project on Francis Dunnery newspage, October 2013|archive-date=21 October 2013|access-date=27 October 2023}}</ref> In late 2013, Dunnery put together The Sensational Francis Dunnery Electric Band, which toured both Necromandus songs and songs from the Francis Dunnery back catalogue.<ref name="dunnerynewsoctober2013" /> The band also featured on Dunnery's 2016 release ''Vampires'', an album of re-recorded It Bites songs. In January 2016, Dunnery began broadcasting "The Francis Dunnery Radio Show" on British progressive rock radio station [[Progzilla Radio]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Kathleen Stauffer on|title=The Francis Dunnery Radio Show |website=Progzilla.com|url=https://progzilla.com/shows/the-francis-dunnery-radio-show/|access-date=2021-09-20|language=en-GB}}</ref> In February 2016, Dunnery released ''Vampires'', the follow-up to ''There's a Whole New World Out There''. Like its predecessor, it featured reworkings of old It Bites material with the smoother instrumentation which Dunnery now favoured. The album was also released as an instrumental-only version. In July 2016, Dunnery continued his tendency to rework, remix and re-release with ''Return to the Wild Country'', a re-recording of 1990's ''Welcome to the Wild Country'' solo debut. This was followed in March 2017 by ''Whole New World'' (a remix of ''There's a Whole New World Out There'') and a remix of ''Frankenstein Monster'' in May 2017. ===2018–present=== In November 2021, Dunnery released his first album of fully original material for eleven years. ''The Big Purple Castle'' was a download-only triple album with songs reflecting on Dunnery's past, his life in the music industry and his current philosophies. In January 2022, Dunnery released the "winter remix" of ''The Gulley Flats Boys'' in both vocal/instrumental and instrumental-only form. In July 2022, he released ''Tall Blonde Helicopter Live'', a remastered audio-only version of the live footage from his ''Louder than Usual'' DVD featuring a band with Brett Kull, Paul Ramsey and Jamie Bishop from his Syn/New Progressives era plus Erica Brilhart on keyboards. Wanting to alter his musical approach, Dunnery's next new project was a blues band and the touring and recording of a collection of original blues songs. ''The Blues Of Tombstone Dunnery Volume 1'' was released on 17 October 2023. The Tombstone Dunnery band featured Paul Brown on bass guitar, Quint Starkie on rhythm guitar, Phil Beaumont on drums, Nigel Hopkins on keyboards, Neil Yates on brass and woodwind, and Deanne Blazey on backing vocals. Prior to the tour, Dunnery commented "I can't wait to just play with this band and play traditional blues. I can sit back and just be the musician. I've teamed up with some amazing musicians for the tour and the album. I just love [[BB King]], and his guitar playing is emotive, and from one note, a story can be told."<ref>[https://www.metaltalk.net/francis-dunnery-talks-blues-astrology-it-bites-and-being-frank.php "Francis Dunnery talks blues, astrology, It Bites and being frank"] - article by Sara Harding in ''Metal Talk, 10 October 2022</ref> <ref>[https://www.metaltalk.net/francis-dunnery-announces-vol-1-of-the-authentic-blues-sound-of-tombstone-dunnery.php Francis Dunnery announces Vol. 1 of the authentic blues sound of Tombstone Dunnery"] - article by Sara Harding in ''Metal Talk'', 2 September 2023</ref> During this period, Dunnery had also begun to revisit his It Bites music more vigorously. He carried out a British tour with a band he referred to as "Francis Dunnery's It Bites", performing the original band's material. In addition to Dunnery, the band featured Brown, Quint Starkie (in a multi-instrumental role), second guitarist Luke Machin, keyboardist/singer Pete Jones and drummer Björn Fryklund. Following this band's UK tour in January 2023, Dunnery renamed it from "Francis Dunnery's It Bites" to the more straightforward "It Bites FD". In September 2023, he released the double live album ''Live from the Black Country'' (recorded in Wolverhampton during January of the same year); copies of the Blu-ray edition came with a bonus EP called ''Raw'' EP, featuring three vintage It Bites tracks with all instruments performed by Dunnery. In December 2023, Dunnery announced a new line-up of It Bites FD (himself, Brown, keyboard player Tony Turrell, drummer [[Chad Wackerman]] and "atmospherics" player [[Dave McCracken]]). A short three-date UK tour in January 2024 quickly followed the release of studio album Return To Natural, which was recorded at the famous Rockfield Studios near Monmouth in December 2023.<ref>[https://www.loudersound.com/news/francis-dunnerys-it-bites-will-release-new-studio-album-return-to-natural-early-next-year 'Francis Dunnery's It Bites will release new studio album Return To Natural early next year'] - article by Jerry Ewing in ''Prog'' magazine, 8 December 2023</ref>. In the first couple of months following the album release, Dunnery remixed Return To Natural (twice) and issued these mixes for download on his Bandcamp page, alongside an instrumental version of the album. He also announced that audio recordings of the gigs from the January 2024 tour would be released, and a film of one of them would be issued on DVD. ==Musical style== {{Quote box|quote="When I heard [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]] on fire, I wanted to be on fire like that. When I heard [[Allan Holdsworth]], I could hear a different approach and wanted to know what he was doing. I once saw [[Shakti]] on a TV show in the '70s, and these guys played themselves into a fucking frenzy and the molecules were jumping around. It was always that kind of stuff that excited me about music ... Later in [[It Bites]], we were criticised for being virtuosos, but I was silly enough to think that I could change people's opinions about musicianship. I thought I could get everyone to listen to [[Soft Machine]], [[Yes (band)|Yes]], [[Focus (band)|Focus]] and [[Pink Floyd]]. And I badmouthed bands like [[The Smiths]], saying that they couldn't play!"|source=Francis Dunnery on early musical influences,<ref name="PerformingMusician2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.performing-musician.com/pm/oct09/articles/francisdunnery.htm|title=Francis Dunnery takes to the stage again|publisher=Performing Musician magazine|author=Paul Tingen|date=October 2009|access-date=30 March 2010}}</ref>|width=30%|align=right}} Dunnery's musical approach is diverse. His early musical influences were [[progressive rock]] (with [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] being a particular inspiration)<ref name="FDNothingLastsForLong">{{cite web|url=http://www.francisdunnery.com/pop%20up%20Nothing%20Lasts.html|title=Nothing Lasts For Long (2009 article by Francis Dunnery on the music of Genesis, his childhood and reimagining his music)|publisher=Francis Dunnery homepage|author=Francis Dunnery|year=2009|access-date=30 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416013114/http://www.francisdunnery.com/pop%20up%20Nothing%20Lasts.html|archive-date=16 April 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and jazz-rock fusion musicians including [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Soft Machine]], [[Focus (band)|Focus]], [[Return to Forever]] and [[Jeff Beck]].<ref name=" PerformingMusician2009"/> His aggressive and dramatic playing style merges hard rock, pop and funk stylings with a fluid, spiralling hammer-on lead-guitar technique inspired by [[Allan Holdsworth]]. This was particularly prominent while he was with It Bites, and he has criticised his lead guitar approach at that time as having been immature.<ref name=" PerformingMusician2009"/> He has also incorporated elements of jazz, classical and country fingerpicking into his style.<ref name="TotalGuitar2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.netdirectsolutions.com/fdtotalguitar.htm|title=Francis Dunnery on Classical Guitar|publisher=Total Guitar magazine (copy hosted on fansite)|author=Jason Sidwell|date=September 2001|access-date=30 March 2010}}</ref> On his songwriting, Dunnery has said: "I cannot write songs on a nine-to-five basis. At the risk of sounding pretentious, my songs come from somewhere else and I have to wait for them, so it's not up to me when I receive them. When the songs start to come, they all come at the same time. I may get 20 songs in three to four days and then it all stops again."<ref name="AManOfManyParts" /><ref name="AManOfManyParts2">{{cite web|author=Nalia Francis|year=2009|title=Francis Dunnery, A Man of Many Parts|url=http://www.getnoticedonline.co.uk/news/general-news/francis-dunnery-a-man-of-many-parts.html|access-date=30 April 2010|publisher=PhillyBurbs.com (second archived copy of article)}}</ref> {{Quote box | quote = "If rap stars can go on about the drug dealer on 73rd Street in [[Compton, California|Compton]] then why can't I sing about Gulley Flatts or Thornhill? That is my history, I am as valid as they are. I love [[Cumbria]], that is where my roots are. I sing about [[Wasdale]] and Murphy's pies, because that is part of my history." | source = Francis Dunnery on letting his Cumbrian roots feed into his songwriting<ref name="BeenThereDunneryThat"/> | width = 30% | align = right }} Aside from singing and playing the guitar, Dunnery plays drums, bass guitar, organ, keyboards, percussion and [[tapboard]] (a guitar-related instrument). ==Personal life== Dunnery has a daughter from a relationship with Jackie O'Sullivan. He married American singer Julie Daniels (frontwoman of the rock band [[Star 69 (band)|Star 69]]) on 8 December 1990 in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]].<ref>First Name: Francis<br>Last Name: Dunnery<br>Gender: Male<br>Spouse First Name: Julie<br>Spouse Middle Name: C<br>Spouse Last Name: Daniels<br>Spouse Gender: Female<br>Marriage Date: 8 December 1990<br>Marriage Location: Clark, NVMarriage info: Record Type: Marriage Record<br>Instrument Number: 92705<br>Book: 1214<br>Page: C247510<br>Certificate Number: 1990982705<br>Recorded Date: 14 December 1990<br>Recorded County: Clark<br>Collection: Nevada Marriage Records data<br>Source: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (1966–2007); collection of Nevada marriage records was provided by Nevada's Department of Health and Human Services, 4126 Technology Way, Suite 100, Carson City, Nevada 89706</ref> He was later in a relationship with Helena Faccenda, with whom he had a daughter in 1999. Around 2004 he met his girlfriend Erica Brilhart. During their relationship they had two children. ==Charitable work== In 2002, Dunnery founded the Charlie and Kathleen Dunnery Children's Fund<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Charlie and Kathleen Dunnery Children's Fund – The Charlie and Kathleen Dunnery Children's Fund|url=https://ckdcf.org/|website=Ckdcf.org|access-date=2021-09-20|language=en-GB}}</ref> a volunteer-run fundraising charity based in his hometown of Egremont, and named in honour of his late parents. Explaining his reasons for setting up the charity, Dunnery has said "My mother was a wonderful woman... so this is my way of honouring her and my dad. A line in one of my songs is that the only thing you get to keep is what you give away – I like that idea. I think that by the time you are 40 if you aren't doing something to help others then you probably should be. People take all the time and I think it is nice to put something back."<ref name="BeenThereDunneryThat"/> The fund raises money for projects and activities supporting the health, wellness and educational needs of children and young people in the Egremont area.<ref>[http://www.ckdcf.org Charlie and Kathleen Dunnery Children's Fund website]; ''Ckdcf.org'', accessed 14 April 2010</ref> He continues to support the charity via regular concerts in Egremont as well as participation in and publicity for various sponsored events.<ref name="Egremont Today (issue 145)">{{cite web|url=http://www.egremont-today.com/dunnery206.htm|title=Children's Fund Tribute to Frank's Parents|publisher=Egremont Today|author=Peter Watson|date=15 May 2002|access-date=14 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710173552/http://www.egremont-today.com/dunnery206.htm|archive-date=10 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Egremont Today (issue 183)">{{cite web|url=http://www.egremont-today.com/bookwell.htm|title=Dunnery Fund Helps Provide Magnificent Library for Bookwell|publisher=Egremont Today|date=12 July 2005|access-date=14 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710173558/http://www.egremont-today.com/bookwell.htm|archive-date=10 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ==Discography== ===Studio albums=== *''[[Welcome to the Wild Country]]'' (Virgin Records, 1991) *''[[Fearless (Francis Dunnery album)|Fearless]]'' (Atlantic Records, 1994) *''[[Tall Blonde Helicopter]]'' (Atlantic Records, 1995) *''[[Let's Go Do What Happens]]'' (Razor and Tie Records, 1998) *''[[Man (Francis Dunnery album)|Man]]'' (Aquarian Nation, 2001) *''[[The Gulley Flats Boys]]'' (Aquarian Nation, 2005) *''[[The Gulley Flats Boys]]'' (remixed and reissued 2022 as ''The Gulley Flats Boys - Winter Remix'' vocal version) *''[[The Gulley Flats Boys]]'' (remixed and reissued 2022 as ''The Gulley Flats Boys - Winter Remix'' instrumental version) *''[[There's a Whole New World Out There]]'' (Aquarian Nation, 2009) (re-recordings of solo/It Bites songs, plus cover versions) *''[[There's a Whole New World Out There]]'' (remixed and reissued 2017 as ''Whole New World Remix'') *''[[Made in Space (album)|Made in Space]]'' (Aquarian Nation, 2011) *''[[Frankenstein Monster (album)|Frankenstein Monster]]'' (Aquarian Nation, 2013) (cover versions and reworkings of [[Necromandus]] songs) *''[[Frankenstein Monster (album)|Frankenstein Monster]]'' (remixed and reissued 2017 as ''Frankenstein Monster Remix'') *''Vampires'' (Aquarian Nation, 2016) (re-recordings of It Bites songs) *''Vampires (Instrumental)'' (instrumental versions of the re-recordings of It Bites songs) *''Return to the Wild Country'' (Aquarian Nation, 2016) (complete re-recording/reworking of ''Welcome to the Wild Country'') *''The Big Purple Castle'' (Aquarian Nation, 2021) *''The Blues Of Tombstone Dunnery'' (2023) *''Raw'' (2023) (Three song EP of new It Bites re-recordings) *''Return To Natural'' (2024) (Eight song CD album released under the name It Bites FD) *''Return To Natural'' (Super Remix, 2024) (Remixed album briefly released on Bandcamp) *''Return To Natural'' (Instrumental Remix, 2024) (Instrumental version of the Super Remix released on Bandcamp) *''Return To Natural'' (Final Mix, 2024) (Remixed album released on Bandcamp, replacing the Super Remix) ===Live=== *''One Night in Sauchiehall Street'' (Cottage Industry 1995) *''Hometown 2001'' (Aquarian Nation, 2001) *''Tall Blonde Helicopter Live'' (Aquarian Nation, 2022) *''Live From The Black Country'' (2023) ===Singles=== *"American Life in the Summertime" (Atlantic Records, 1994) AUS #18<ref name="ARIA">{{cite Ryan|page=88}}</ref> *"What's He Gonna Say?" (Atlantic Records, 1995) *"Homegrown" (Atlantic Records, 1995) Australia *"Too Much Saturn" (Atlantic Records, 1995) USA/ UK Promo only *"The Way Things Are" (Atlantic Records, 1995) USA Promo only *"I Believe I Can Change My World" (Atlantic Records, 1996) Europe/ Australia *"Spiritual" (Atlantic Records, 1996) US Promo only 12" *"My Own Reality" (Razor & Tie, 1998) Promo only *"Riding on the Back" (Razor & Tie, 1998) US Promo only *"The Wounding & Healing of Men" (Aquarian Nation, 2003) US Promo only *"Good Life" (Aquarian Nation, 2005) US Promo only ===DVDs=== *''Live at the Union Chapel'' (Aquarian Nation, 2004) *''In the Garden of Mystic Lovers'' (Aquarian Nation, 2008) *''Louder than Usual'' (Aquarian Nation/Flying Spot Entertainment, 2010) *''Live From The Black Country'' (2023, BluRay) === Other appearances === ==== as group member ==== *'''[[It Bites]]''' – ''[[The Big Lad in the Windmill]]'' (Virgin/Geffen, 1986) *'''[[It Bites]]''' – ''[[Once Around the World]]'' (Virgin/Geffen, 1988) *'''[[It Bites]]''' – ''[[Eat Me in St. Louis]]'' (Virgin/Geffen, 1989) *'''[[It Bites]]''' – ''The It Bites Album'' (Virgin Japan, 1990 - compilation album) *'''[[It Bites]]''' – ''Thankyou and Goodnight – Live'' (Virgin, 1991 - live album) *'''[[It Bites]]''' – ''The Best of It Bites – Calling All the Heroes'' (EMI, 1995 - compilation album) *'''[[It Bites]]''' – ''Live in Montreux'' (It Bites self-released, 2003 - live album) *'''[[It Bites]]''' – ''Whole New World: The Virgin Albums 1986–1991'' (Virgin, 2014 - box set) *'''[[It Bites]]''' – ''Live in London'' (It Bites self-released, 2018 - live album) *'''[[The Syn]]''' – ''Big Sky'' (Alliance Records, 2009) *'''[[The Syn]]''' – ''The Syn Live Rosfest'' (Umbrello Records, 2015) ==== guest and session appearances ==== *'''[[Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe]]''' – ''[[Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (album)|Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe]]'' (1989, Arista Records) – backing vocals. *'''[[Robert Plant]]''' – ''[[Fate of Nations]]'' (1993, Es Paranza) – rhythm guitar on 'Come into My Life, lead guitar on "Promised Land." *'''[[Lauryn Hill]]''' – ''[[The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill]]'' (1998) – guitar on "Every Ghetto, Every City" & "Nothing Even Matters." *'''[[Santana (band)|Santana]]''' – ''[[Supernatural (Santana album)|Supernatural]]'' (1999) – rhythm guitar on "Do You Like The Way?" *'''[[Ian Brown]]''' – ''[[Music of the Spheres (Ian Brown album)|Music of the Spheres]]'' (2001, Polydor Records) – guitars on all tracks, also co-wrote "El Mundo Pequeño." *'''[[Big Big Train]]''' – ''[[The Underfall Yard]]'' (2009) – guest lead guitar on "The Underfall Yard." *'''[[Steve Hackett]]''' – ''Genesis Revisited II ''(2012) – lead vocal songs "Supper's Ready", "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight." ====as producer==== *'''[[Chris Difford]]''' – ''I Didn't Get Where I Am'' (Aquarian Nation, 2002) – also co-wrote and played guitars and keyboards on all tracks. *'''John & Wayne''' – ''Nearly Killed Keith'' (Aquarian Nation, 2002) – also co-wrote and played drums and organ on all tracks. *'''[[Kid Chaos|Stephen Harris]]''' – ''Songs From The Mission of Hope'' (Aquarian Nation, 2002) – also co-wrote and played guitar, piano and [[Mellotron]] on all tracks. *'''John Gilmour Smith''' – ''The Story We've Been Sold'' (Aquarian Nation, 2010) – also co-wrote, and sang on several tracks ==References== {{reflist|2}} == External links == * [http://www.francisdunnery.com Official Site] * [http://www.aquariannation.com Aquarian Nation Records] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051218050949/http://www.itbites.com/ It Bites Official Site] {{It Bites}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dunnery, Francis}} [[Category:1962 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:English male singers]] [[Category:English rock guitarists]] [[Category:English male guitarists]] [[Category:English drummers]] [[Category:British male drummers]] [[Category:English record producers]] [[Category:English rock singers]] [[Category:English male songwriters]] [[Category:English multi-instrumentalists]] [[Category:English people of Irish descent]] [[Category:English people of Scottish descent]] [[Category:People from Egremont, Cumbria]] [[Category:It Bites members]]'