Rhodri Marsden

Rhodri Marsden (born October 1, 1971) [cite news
last = Marsden
first = Rhodri
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Playing at Trains
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = 2007-10-01
url = http://rhodri.livejournal.com/610625.html
accessdate = 2007-10-01] is a London-based journalist, musician and blogger. [cite news
last = Pax
first = Salam
authorlink = Salam Pax
coauthors = Marsden, Rhodri; Wright, Gregor
title = Blog all about it
work = Arts
pages =
language =
publisher = Guardian Unlimited
date = 2004-04-19
url = http://arts.guardian.co.uk/guesteditors/story/0,,1194724,00.html
accessdate = 2007-09-27]

Journalism

Rhodri Marsden currently writes "The Independent"'s "Cyberclinic" column on technology issues. He previously wrote "The Observer Music Monthly's" "Guitarist Wanted" column, which required him to go undercover to audition for bands that he had no intention of joining. Apart from music and technology writing, Marsden is well known for his humorous offbeat features written in an understated, self-deprecating style. Other publications he has written for include "The Guardian", "Time Out" and "Olive" magazine. His first book, "FWD This Link: A Rough Guide to Staying Amused Online When You Should Be Working" is due to be published by Rough Guides on October 1, 2008. [ [http://www.amazon.co.uk/FWD-This-Link-Staying-Reference/dp/1848360193 FWD This Link] , Amazon.co.uk]

Music

From 1990-95 Marsden played guitar in London art-punk collective The Keatons, who notably supported "Blur" on their first tour of the UK but were thrown off for being unprofessional – as documented in Blur's biography. He also sang with Gag, who recorded a Peel Session in 1993 – although Marsden had an earlier run-in with John Peel at the age of 17 when his fanzine, Glottal Stop, was the subject of a piece on Peel's show on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

In 2007 he worked on a DIY music project called "The Schema" [cite web| last = Marsden| first = Rhodri| title = The Schema| url = http://www.theschema.co.uk/| accessdate = 2007-09-27] – an attempt to get a single written, recorded, released and promoted on the internet in the space of a month. The accompanying video, directed by Alex de Campi and starring Marysia Kay, became a hit on YouTube, but the single sold poorly. [cite news| last = Marsden| first = Rhodri| title = How the internet can make you a pop star for almost nothing| work = Daily Mail| publisher = Associated Newspapers | date = 2007-09-04| url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=479791&in_page_id=1770| accessdate = 2007-09-27]

He has produced several recordings for the band Spearmint, and has released three albums of his own music under the name The Free French on Spearmint's record label, Hitback Records. He currently plays keyboards with Scritti Politti and Keith John Adams, and has also appeared in Frank Sidebottom's Oh Blimey Big Band.

References

External links

* [http://rhodri.biz/ Rhodri.biz] , Marsden's official site
* [http://freefrench.net The Free French] official band site
* [http://imomus.livejournal.com/91369.html?style=mine Interview with Rhodri]

Persondata
NAME = Marsden, Rhodri
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = British journalist and musician
DATE OF BIRTH = October 1, 1971
PLACE OF BIRTH =
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =