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Vini Reilly photographed
by Mark Warner (1988) |
The Durutti Column / Vini
Reilly. The Durutti Column is a project for British guitarist, pianist, and composer Vini Reilly (aka Vincent Gerard Reilly [birth name] born Aug. 4, 1953 in Higher Blackley, Manchester, UK). Vini Reilly has worked with various artists during The DC's lifetime. The formation of the project was initially a band name for drummer Chris Joyce and guitarist Dave Rowbotham in the beginning of 1978. Shortly after (still in Jan.), Vini Reilly, who was by then a former guitarist for a local punk rock band Ed Banger and The Nosebleeds, joined the two. Few weeks later vocalist Phil Rainford and bassist Tony Bowers joined the band, and only four months later Rainford was replaced by a new vocalist, Colin Sharp. The only recordings with this formation is two tracks featuring on
A Factory Sample, an ep released Dec. '78 together with Joy Division, John Dowie and Cabaret Voltaire to promote the newly founded Factory Records. Actually, The Durutti Column was the first band to sign with the record label. Still as of '78, the band split with band members leaving to join other bands, and Reilly was then the only member to continue the 'band', which he did, encouraged by manager Tony Wilson, who gave Reilly studio recording time with producer Martin Hannett, which eventually resulted in the debut album
The Return of The Durutti Column (1980). The jazz percussionist Bruce Mitchell began working (as drummer and co-manager with Tony Wilson) with Reilly on the project around 1981. Vini Reilly wrote and composed music for the project, and in time, various artists, drummers, percussionists, pianists, etc. have played with Reilly to help releasing new material, and the most persisting collaborator is drummer Bruce Mitchell. The Durutti Column has released about 50 albums (including at least 3 live albums) over the past three decades, some of which have been released as limited rarities, as Reilly has worked in many parts of the world. He has never experienced huge sales or big nominations but he is an internationally respected instrumentalist and composer. The studio debut album was indeed far from what was released at the time, but Reilly was never part of mainstream trends but kept to his original expression. His classical musical background is a foundation that flows in all compositions, and his musical style is mostly of an ambient neo-classical jazz compound. Some critics would claim his compositions are repetitious as well as albums but you could suggest the same thing about Beethoven, Mozart or Philip Glass, all composers he may have more in common with than contemporary modern pop artists, and that may very likely be a reason for his narrow crowd of followers. Personally, Vini Reilly is one of my absolute favourite musicians, and I have collected some 20 albums (so far, including 1 live album) from his hands. They are all original releases and several are true modern masterpieces. He is a musical genius but is most likely not to be recognised as such until... a near future, or after his death. He has stayed with small recording companies and seems like a very shy and private person who could never survive with a stardom he ironically deserves. He was the musical and compositional force behind Morrissey's debut album
Viva Hate (1988) but didn't tour with Morrissey and once again he decided to work on his own, as he obviously prefers the quiet and unnoticed life in private.
Unfortunately, his health hasn't been strong - having struggled with anorexia for years - and in 2010 (at 57) he suffered two minor strokes, which caused some numbness in his left hand and the loss of control in his legs. A third stroke followed in 2011, which for some time left him completely unable to play the guitar and has left him declared disabled. [
2013 article ].
Here's just a few of my favourite albums with The Durutti Column:
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(4 / 5)
The Return of...
(1980)
[cd] | (4 / 5)
LC
(1981)
[cd] | (4 / 5)
Without Mercy
(1984)
[vinyl] | (3,5 / 5)
The Guitar and
Other Machines
(1987) [vinyl] | (4 / 5)
Vini Reilly
(1989)
[vinyl] |
