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| Aztec Camera > Albums & Lyrics |
Roddy Frame, a native of East Kilbride near Glasgow, Scotland,
formed AZTEC CAMERA in 1980. Their first two singles were released in 1981 on leading Scottish independent label "Postcard Records", and both records featured heavily on the Independent Charts that year. In May 1982 Roddy and bass player Campbell Owens moved to London and together with David Ruffy on drums and Bernie Clarke on keyboards, recorded the first album entitled "HIGH LAND, HARD RAIN" on Rough Trade Records.
In 1983 the LP was released and three singles were taken from it, with all the singles and the LP entering the British charts. During this period with the line-up of Roddy, Campbell, David and Craig Gannon on rhythm guitar, the band toured extensively in America and Europe to a wealth of critical acclaim.
1984 saw the recording and release of AZTEC CAMERA's second album "KNIFE", from which two singles were taken. The latter months of 1984 and most of 1985 were spent touring around the world, with Roddy, Campbell and David being joined by ex-Orange Juice guitarist Malcolm Ross on rhythm guitar, and Eddie Kulak on keyboards.
In 1986 Roddy withdrew from public attention to write and prepare for the next album, which he began recording in New York early in 1987.
Using musicians he knew and respected, the album was completed at the end of summer, released in November, and was entitled "LOVE".
Four singles were taken from "LOVE" and AZTEC CAMERA spent a year touring and promoting around the world with the biggest touring band to date; a nine piece outfit that comprised of Dave Ruffy on drums, Eddie Kulak on keyboards, both from earlier tours and new members Steve Sidelnyk on percussion, Paul Powell on bass, Gary Sanford on rhythm guitar, Ruby and Sylvia James on backing vocals and Tommy Barlow on saxophone, as always Roddy took lead guitars and vocals.
1988 ended with the good news that "LOVE" was nominated for the "Best British LP of 1988" award by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
Roddy spent the first half of 1989 writing songs for the follow up album and then assembled a strong line-up for the recording: Paul Powell on bass, Gary Sanctuary on keyboards and Frank Tontoh on drums. Roddy handled all the vocals and guitars himself. Nine songs were recorded over the winter of 1989/90 at a residential studio in Wales, the result was released in June 1990 and entitled "STRAY". Two tracks from the album were released as singles, "The Crying Scene" and "Good Morning Britain", a bitingly political song that sees Roddy duet with ex-Clash and B.A.D. frontman Mick Jones.
The release of "STRAY" was followed by a world tour with Roddy being joined by Gary Sanford on guitar, Eddie Kulak on keyboards (who were both on the "LOVE" tour) and a new rhythm section of Frank Tontoh on drums and Clare Kenny on bass. The tour ended at the Brixton Academy on December 20th.
1991 began with Roddy being asked to open for Bob Dylan at his shows at London's Hammersmith Odeon. He did so acoustically with Gary Sanctuary accompanying on piano.
Throughout 1991 Roddy proceeded to play more acoustic shows, always with Gary, and together they played intimate club dates in Japan and Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club in London to huge open air festivals like Cambridge Folk Festival in England and Nurbugring in Germany.
During 1992 Roddy worked on the fifth AZTEC CAMERA album in New York with producer/musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. The first fruits of this collaboration was the single entitled "SPANISH HORSES", and was released in July 1992 in the UK. The second single "DREAM SWEET DREAMS" was released April 19th, the album "DREAMLAND" was released May 17th 1993. As with all of AZTEC CAMERA's previous album releases, all the songs on "DREAMLAND" were written by Roddy Frame.
In the months following the release of "DREAMLAND" AZTEC CAMERA toured the United Kingdom, Europe, USA and Japan. The line-up consisted of Roddy Frame, guitars and vocals, Frank Tontoh, drums, Steve Sidelnyk, percussion, Mark Edwards, keyboards, Gary Sanford, guitar and Clare Kenny, bass. [Editor's note: The U.S. leg featured only Roddy and Mark Edwards and was billed as the "Guitar and Piano" tour.]
1994 saw Roddy back in London writing. During this time he also co-wrote and recorded a song for inclusion on Ryuichi Sakamoto's album "Sweet Revenge". Towards the end of the year Roddy toured Japan, playing acoustically with Mark Edwards on piano.
November 1995 saw the release of the sixth AZTEC CAMERA album entitled "FRESTONIA". Roddy toured using the band that played on the record, Roddy - guitar & vocals, Mark Edwards - keyboards, Yolanda Charles - bass, Jeremy Stacey - drums.
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