Nick Lowe

| isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}

| isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}

After leaving Brinsley Schwarz in 1975 Lowe began playing bass in [[Rockpile]] with [[Dave Edmunds]]. In August 1976, Lowe released "[[So It Goes (Nick Lowe song)|So It Goes]]" b/w "Heart of the City", the first single on the [[Stiff Records]] label, where he was an in-house producer. The single and the label were initially funded by a loan of £400 from [[Dr. Feelgood (band)|Dr. Feelgood]]'s [[Lee Brilleaux]]. The label's first [[Extended play|EP]] was Lowe's 1977 four-track release ''[[Bowi (EP)|Bowi]]'', apparently named in response to [[David Bowie]]'s contemporaneous LP ''[[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]''. The joke was repeated when Lowe produced [[the Rumour]]'s album ''Max'' as an 'answer' to [[Fleetwood Mac]]'s ''[[Rumours (album)|Rumours]]''. Lowe continued producing albums on Stiff and other labels, including The Damned's first album.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/damned-damned-damned-mw0000193727|title=Damned Damned Damned – The Damned|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=6 June 2007|last=Raggett|first=Ned}} In 1977 he produced Dr. Feelgood's album, ''[[Be Seeing You]]'', which included "That's It, I Quit", written by Lowe. ''[[Private Practice (album)|Private Practice]]'', issued the next year, included "[[Milk and Alcohol]]", written by Lowe and [[Gypie Mayo]]. This song and "[[I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass]]" are the only Lowe compositions to reach the Top 10 of the [[UK Singles Chart]].{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |edition=19th |year=2006 |page=162 |isbn=1-904994-10-5}}

After leaving Brinsley Schwarz in 1975, Lowe began playing bass in [[Rockpile]] with [[Dave Edmunds]]. In August 1976, Lowe released "[[So It Goes (Nick Lowe song)|So It Goes]]" b/w "Heart of the City", the first single on the [[Stiff Records]] label, where he was an in-house producer. The single and the label were initially funded by a loan of £400 from [[Dr. Feelgood (band)|Dr. Feelgood]]'s [[Lee Brilleaux]]. The label's first [[Extended play|EP]] was Lowe's 1977 four-track release ''[[Bowi (EP)|Bowi]]'', apparently named in response to [[David Bowie]]'s contemporaneous LP ''[[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]''. The joke was repeated when Lowe produced [[the Rumour]]'s album ''Max'' as an 'answer' to [[Fleetwood Mac]]'s ''[[Rumours (album)|Rumours]]''. Lowe continued producing albums on Stiff and other labels, including the Damned's first album.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/damned-damned-damned-mw0000193727|title=Damned Damned Damned – The Damned|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=6 June 2007|last=Raggett|first=Ned}} In 1977, he produced Dr. Feelgood's album, ''[[Be Seeing You]]'', which included "That's It, I Quit", written by Lowe. ''[[Private Practice (album)|Private Practice]]'', issued the next year, included "[[Milk and Alcohol]]", written by Lowe and [[Gypie Mayo]]. This song and "[[I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass]]" are the only Lowe compositions to reach the top 10 of the [[UK Singles Chart]].{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |edition=19th |year=2006 |page=162 |isbn=1-904994-10-5}}

Because the two main singers in Rockpile had [[recording contract]]s with different record labels and managers, albums were always credited to either Lowe or Edmunds, so there is only one official Rockpile album, 1980's ''[[Seconds of Pleasure]]'', which was not released until the waning days of the collaboration. ''Seconds of Pleasure'' featured the Lowe songs "When I Write the Book" and "Heart". However, two of the pair's most significant solo albums from the period, Lowe's ''[[Labour of Lust]]'' and Edmunds' ''[[Repeat When Necessary]]'', were effectively Rockpile albums, as was [[Carlene Carter]]'s Lowe-produced ''[[Musical Shapes]]'' album. Lowe's album ''Labour of Lust'' received a gold certification in Canada in November 1979.{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/certification/gold-albums/page/515/ |title=GOLD ALBUM(S) Archives - Page 515 of 590 |work=Music Canada |date=December 1984 |access-date=14 March 2016}} "[[Cruel to Be Kind]]", drawn from that album, was Lowe's only international Top 40 hit, coincidentally reaching No. 12 in four separate territories: the UK, Canada, Australia, and the US (on [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart) in 1979. "Cruel To Be Kind", which was a new Rockpile re-recording of a previously issued Brinsley Schwarz outtake, also charted in the top 40 in Ireland and New Zealand.

Because the two main singers in Rockpile had [[recording contract]]s with different record labels and managers, albums were always credited to either Lowe or Edmunds, so there is only one official Rockpile album, 1980's ''[[Seconds of Pleasure]]'', which was not released until the waning days of the collaboration. ''Seconds of Pleasure'' featured the Lowe songs "When I Write the Book" and "Heart". However, two of the pair's most significant solo albums from the period, Lowe's ''[[Labour of Lust]]'' and Edmunds' ''[[Repeat When Necessary]]'', were effectively Rockpile albums, as was [[Carlene Carter]]'s Lowe-produced ''[[Musical Shapes]]'' album. Lowe's album ''Labour of Lust'' received a gold certification in Canada in November 1979.{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/certification/gold-albums/page/515/ |title=GOLD ALBUM(S) Archives - Page 515 of 590 |work=Music Canada |date=December 1984 |access-date=14 March 2016}} "[[Cruel to Be Kind]]", drawn from that album, was Lowe's only international top 40 hit, coincidentally reaching No. 12 in four separate territories: the UK, Canada, Australia, and the US (on [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart) in 1979. "Cruel to Be Kind", which was a new Rockpile re-recording of a previously issued Brinsley Schwarz outtake, also charted in the top 40 in Ireland and New Zealand.

In 1979, Lowe married country singer [[Carlene Carter]], daughter of fellow country singers [[Carl Smith (country musician)|Carl Smith]] and [[June Carter Cash]] and stepdaughter of [[Johnny Cash]].{{cite book |last=Tobler |first=John |title=NME Rock 'N' Roll Years |publisher=Reed International Books Ltd |location=London |edition=1st |year=1992 |page=329 |id=CN 5585}} He adopted her daughter, Tiffany Anastasia Lowe. The marriage ended in 1990, but they remained friends, and Lowe remained close to the Carter/Cash family. He played and recorded with Johnny Cash, and Cash recorded several of Lowe's songs. Lowe and Carter's 1979 wedding was filmed and the footage became the basis for the promotional video clip for "Cruel to Be Kind".

In 1979, Lowe married country singer [[Carlene Carter]], daughter of fellow country singers [[Carl Smith (country musician)|Carl Smith]] and [[June Carter Cash]] and stepdaughter of [[Johnny Cash]].{{cite book |last=Tobler |first=John |title=NME Rock 'N' Roll Years |publisher=Reed International Books Ltd |location=London |edition=1st |year=1992 |page=329 |id=CN 5585}} He adopted her daughter, Tiffany Anastasia Lowe. The marriage ended in 1990, but they remained friends, and Lowe remained close to the Carter/Cash family. He played and recorded with Johnny Cash, and Cash recorded several of Lowe's songs. Lowe and Carter's 1979 wedding was filmed and the footage became the basis for the promotional video clip for "Cruel to Be Kind".

After the demise of Rockpile, Lowe toured for a period with his band Noise to Go and later with the Cowboy Outfit, which also included the noted keyboard player [[Paul Carrack]]. Lowe was also a member of the short-lived mainly studio project [[Little Village]] with [[John Hiatt]], [[Ry Cooder]] and [[Jim Keltner]], who originally got together to record Hiatt's 1987 album ''[[Bring the Family]]''.

After the demise of Rockpile, Lowe toured for a period with his band Noise to Go and later with the Cowboy Outfit, which also included the noted keyboard player [[Paul Carrack]]. Lowe was also a member of the short-lived mainly studio project [[Little Village]] with [[John Hiatt]], [[Ry Cooder]] and [[Jim Keltner]], who originally got together to record Hiatt's 1987 album ''[[Bring the Family]]''.

In 1990 he wrote a song, "Who Was That Man?"{{cite web|title=NICK LOWE lyrics – Who Was That Man?|url=http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/nick_lowe/who_was_that_man.html|website=Oldielyrics.com|access-date=5 November 2014}} about a man who died in the [[King's Cross fire]]. In 1992 "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" was [[cover version|covered]] by [[Curtis Stigers]] on the soundtrack album to ''[[The Bodyguard (1992 film)|The Bodyguard]]'', an album that sold about 44 million copies worldwide.

In 1990, he wrote the song "Who Was That Man?"{{cite web|title=NICK LOWE lyrics – Who Was That Man?|url=http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/nick_lowe/who_was_that_man.html|website=Oldielyrics.com|access-date=5 November 2014}} which is about a man who died in the [[King's Cross fire]]. In 1992, "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" was [[cover version|covered]] by [[Curtis Stigers]] on the soundtrack album to ''[[The Bodyguard (1992 film)|The Bodyguard]]'', an album that sold about 44 million copies worldwide.

A New York ''Daily News'' article{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2007/06/17/2007-06-17_cruel_to_be_kind_of_old-1.html |title="Cruel to be kind of old," by Jim Farber, New York Daily News, 17 June 2007 |publisher=Nydailynews.com |date=17 June 2007 |access-date=22 February 2014}} quoted Lowe as saying his greatest fear in recent years was "sticking with what you did when you were famous." "I didn't want to become one of those thinning-haired, jowly old geezers who still does the same shtick they did when they were young, slim and beautiful," he said. "That's revolting and rather tragic." Rock critic Jim Farber observed, "Lowe's recent albums, epitomised by the new ''[[At My Age]]'', moved him out of the realms of ironic pop and animated rock and into the role of a worldly balladeer, specialising in grave vocals and graceful tunes. Lowe's four most recent solo albums mine the wealth of American roots music, drawing on vintage country, soul and R&B to create an elegant mix of his own."

A New York ''Daily News'' article{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2007/06/17/2007-06-17_cruel_to_be_kind_of_old-1.html |title="Cruel to be kind of old," by Jim Farber, New York Daily News, 17 June 2007 |publisher=Nydailynews.com |date=17 June 2007 |access-date=22 February 2014}} quoted Lowe as saying his greatest fear in recent years was "sticking with what you did when you were famous." "I didn't want to become one of those thinning-haired, jowly old geezers who still does the same shtick they did when they were young, slim and beautiful," he said. "That's revolting and rather tragic." Rock critic Jim Farber observed, "Lowe's recent albums, epitomised by the new ''[[At My Age]]'', moved him out of the realms of ironic pop and animated rock and into the role of a worldly balladeer, specialising in grave vocals and graceful tunes. Lowe's four most recent solo albums mine the wealth of American roots music, drawing on vintage country, soul and R&B to create an elegant mix of his own."

In 2008, [[Yep Roc]] and [[Proper Records]] released a thirtieth anniversary edition of Lowe's first solo album, ''[[Jesus of Cool]]'' (entitled ''[[Pure Pop for Now People]]'' in the US, with a slightly different track listing). The re-issue includes tracks from the British and American releases in addition to several bonus tracks. In March 2009, he released a 49-track CD/DVD [[compilation album|compilation]] of songs spanning his entire career. Proper Records released it in the UK and Europe, entitled ''[[Quiet Please... The New Best of Nick Lowe]]''.

In 2008, [[Yep Roc]] and [[Proper Records]] released a thirtieth anniversary edition of Lowe's first solo album, ''[[Jesus of Cool]]'' (entitled ''[[Pure Pop for Now People]]'' in the US, with a slightly different track listing). The re-issue includes tracks from the British and American releases in addition to several bonus tracks. In March 2009, he released a 49-track CD/DVD [[compilation album|compilation]] of songs spanning his entire career. Proper Records released it in the UK and Europe, entitled ''[[Quiet Please... The New Best of Nick Lowe]]''.

In September 2010 Yep Roc issued ''[[The Impossible Bird]]'', ''[[Dig My Mood]]'' and ''[[The Convincer]]'' on vinyl for the first time, and after a one-night reunion concert with Elvis Costello in October in San Francisco,{{cite web|url=http://fortnightlyreview.co.uk/2010/12/nick-lowe-the-true-blue-basher-shows-up-for-a-friend/|title=Nick Lowe: the true blue Basher shows up for a friend |publisher=The Fortnightly Review|date=18 December 2010|access-date=18 December 2010}} Lowe embarked on his first non-solo United States tour "this millennium." His backing band consisted of [[Geraint Watkins]] (keyboards), [[Bobby Irwin|Robert Trehern]] (drums), [[Johnny Scott (musician)|Johnny Scott]] (guitar) and Matt Radford (bass). In March 2011, [[Yep Roc]] reissued Lowe's 1979 solo album ''[[Labour of Lust]]''.{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2010/08/nick_lowe_touri.html|title=Nick Lowe touring w/ full band, playing 4 NY shows (dates)|publisher=Brooklyn Vegan|date=30 August 2010|access-date=5 September 2010}}

In September 2010, Yep Roc issued ''[[The Impossible Bird]]'', ''[[Dig My Mood]]'' and ''[[The Convincer]]'' on vinyl for the first time, and after a one-night reunion concert with Elvis Costello in October in San Francisco,{{cite web|url=http://fortnightlyreview.co.uk/2010/12/nick-lowe-the-true-blue-basher-shows-up-for-a-friend/|title=Nick Lowe: the true blue Basher shows up for a friend |publisher=The Fortnightly Review|date=18 December 2010|access-date=18 December 2010}} Lowe embarked on his first non-solo United States tour "this millennium." His backing band consisted of [[Geraint Watkins]] (keyboards), [[Bobby Irwin|Robert Trehern]] (drums), [[Johnny Scott (musician)|Johnny Scott]] (guitar) and Matt Radford (bass). In March 2011, [[Yep Roc]] reissued Lowe's 1979 solo album ''[[Labour of Lust]]''.{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2010/08/nick_lowe_touri.html|title=Nick Lowe touring w/ full band, playing 4 NY shows (dates)|publisher=Brooklyn Vegan|date=30 August 2010|access-date=5 September 2010}}

Lowe played Glastonbury 2011, performing a short solo set of Brinsley Schwarz tracks on The Spirit of 71 stage, where they played back in 1971, before heading to the Acoustic Stage for a full band show. On 29 October 2013, he released his first Christmas album, ''Quality Street'', on Yep Roc Records.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/07/half-christmas-special-stream-nick-lowes-christmas.html|title=Stream Nick Lowe's New Holiday Album Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection For All The Family|work=pastemagazine.com|access-date=9 March 2018|language=en|archive-date=10 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310010948/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/07/half-christmas-special-stream-nick-lowes-christmas.html|url-status=dead}} He performed two songs from this album on 7 December taping of NPR's ''[[Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!]]''{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

Lowe played Glastonbury 2011, performing a short solo set of Brinsley Schwarz tracks on The Spirit of 71 stage, where they played back in 1971, before heading to the Acoustic Stage for a full band show. On 29 October 2013, he released his first Christmas album, ''Quality Street'', on Yep Roc Records.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/07/half-christmas-special-stream-nick-lowes-christmas.html|title=Stream Nick Lowe's New Holiday Album Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection For All The Family|work=pastemagazine.com|access-date=9 March 2018|language=en|archive-date=10 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310010948/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/07/half-christmas-special-stream-nick-lowes-christmas.html|url-status=dead}} He performed two songs from this album on the 7 December taping of [[NPR]]'s ''[[Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!]]''.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

In spring 2019 he embarked on tours, in both the US and UK, with American [[instrumental rock]] band [[Los Straitjackets]].{{cite web|url=http://nicklowe.com/tour-dates/|title=Tour|website=Nicklowe.com|access-date=25 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/music/article/Nick-Lowe-talks-about-peace-love-and-Los-13257831.php|title=Nick Lowe talks about peace, love and Los Straitjackets - HoustonChronicle.com|date=26 September 2018|website=Houstonchronicle.com|access-date=25 May 2019 |last1=Dansby |first1=Andrew }}{{cite web|url=http://www.music-news.com/review/UK/13703/Live/Nick-Lowe-and-Los-Straitjackets|title=Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets|website=Music-News.com|access-date=25 May 2019}} In June 2019 Lowe played at the [[Glastonbury Festival 2019|Glastonbury Festival]].{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/nick-lowes-quality-rock-roll-review-acoustic-stage-glastonbury/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/nick-lowes-quality-rock-roll-review-acoustic-stage-glastonbury/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Nick Lowe's Quality Rock and Roll Review, Acoustic Stage, Glastonbury, review: played with virtuosity and sung with a gorgeous, gliding croon|first=Neil|last=McCormick|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=28 June 2019|access-date=29 June 2019}}{{cbignore}} In July 2024, he helped close out the [[Newport Folk Festival]] with [[Conan O'Brien]].{{Cite web |last=Dunning |first=Savana |title=Conan O'Brien promised special guests to close out the Newport Folk Festival. Here's who came |url=https://www.newportri.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/07/28/newport-folk-festival-2024-conan-obrien-and-special-guests-jack-white-mavis-staples-langhorn-slim/74582707007/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Newport Daily News |language=en-US}}

In spring 2019, he embarked on tours in both the US and UK, with American [[instrumental rock]] band [[Los Straitjackets]].{{cite web|url=http://nicklowe.com/tour-dates/|title=Tour|website=Nicklowe.com|access-date=25 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/music/article/Nick-Lowe-talks-about-peace-love-and-Los-13257831.php|title=Nick Lowe talks about peace, love and Los Straitjackets - HoustonChronicle.com|date=26 September 2018|website=Houstonchronicle.com|access-date=25 May 2019 |last1=Dansby |first1=Andrew }}{{cite web|url=http://www.music-news.com/review/UK/13703/Live/Nick-Lowe-and-Los-Straitjackets|title=Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets|website=Music-News.com|access-date=25 May 2019}} In June 2019, Lowe played at the [[Glastonbury Festival 2019|Glastonbury Festival]].{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/nick-lowes-quality-rock-roll-review-acoustic-stage-glastonbury/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/nick-lowes-quality-rock-roll-review-acoustic-stage-glastonbury/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Nick Lowe's Quality Rock and Roll Review, Acoustic Stage, Glastonbury, review: played with virtuosity and sung with a gorgeous, gliding croon|first=Neil|last=McCormick|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=28 June 2019|access-date=29 June 2019}}{{cbignore}} In July 2024, he helped close out the [[Newport Folk Festival]] with [[Conan O'Brien]].{{Cite web |last=Dunning |first=Savana |title=Conan O'Brien promised special guests to close out the Newport Folk Festival. Here's who came |url=https://www.newportri.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/07/28/newport-folk-festival-2024-conan-obrien-and-special-guests-jack-white-mavis-staples-langhorn-slim/74582707007/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Newport Daily News |language=en-US}}

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

[[Category:People educated at Woodbridge School]]

[[Category:People educated at Woodbridge School]]

[[Category:People from Walton-on-Thames]]

[[Category:People from Walton-on-Thames]]

[[Category:People from Brentford]]

[[Category:Power pop musicians]]

[[Category:Power pop musicians]]

[[Category:Proper Records artists]]

[[Category:Proper Records artists]]