- Robbie France
Robbie France (born 1959) is an English
drummer , producer, arranger,journalist , music educator, and broadcaster.Early life and career: Australia
France was born in
Sheffield , and emigrated to Australia in about 1970. He studied at theNational Academy of Rudimentary Drummers of Australia until 1974, under tutorHarry Lebler , and aged only fifteen went on to teach at theAustralian Academy of Music (1974–1975).While living in and travelling around Australia, France formed the jazz-fusion group, Carnival, performed at the
Oz Jazz Festival , and supported John McLaughlin. He worked withStevie Wright of theEasybeats ,Marty Rhone ,Ray Burgess , andTim Gaze , as well as most major Australian artists. He amassed over 1,000 television, radio, and advertising credits, including eight documentaries and fourfilm scores (including "Band on the Run", one of the most successful surfing films ever made).Back to England
France left Australia in 1982 to return to
England , where he joined Diamond Head the following year. Part of theNWOBHM movement, they performed at Castle DoningtonMonsters of Rock , then went on to record their thirdalbum , "Canterbury". He played on the hit single "Making Music".In 1985 France toured and recorded with UFO, replacing
Andy Parker . Leaving UFO in 1986, he formed One Nation with Kipper (now Sting's producer). By now France was also teaching in drum clinics all over the world, from Australia toScotland , usually on behalf of theAvedis Zildjian cymbal company.He set up a teaching studio in
Kingston upon Thames , where he worked withGary O'Toole (a leadingsession musician ),Hugo Degenhardt ,Gary Wallis ,Gary Ferguson ,Mark Price ,Tim Burgess ,Mark Brzezicki , Chris Halford and many top drummers, helping them with their technique. Mark BrzezickiFrance had started writing for magazines in Australia, at the age of fifteen. During 1987, he began his acclaimed monthly column for the popular British drummer's magazine "Rhythm".In 1987 France joined
Ellis, Beggs, & Howard (E.B.H.), whose first single, "Big Bubbles No Troubles", won the Diamond Award for best new group. This was France's favourite band. It consisted ofSimon Ellis ,Nick Beggs , formerly with 1980s pop groupKajagoogoo ,Austin Howard , who is currently writing forJoss Stone , and Paul Harvey ofPrefab Sprout . They were described by oneScandinavia n journalist as the world's best live band, and Austin Howard was constantly referred to as the blackMick Jagger .Fact|date=February 2007After E.B.H., in 1990 France joined
Wishbone Ash , with whom he toured and recorded the album "Strange Affair". He then joinedAnxious Records ' band, Pleasure, touring as support to theEurythmics . By this time, however, France felt too drained to commit to any more touring or recording work.In 1991, after working with Simon Ellis,
East 17 , ,S Club 7 , and others), France returned to Australia to form a solojazz project, The Gab. In 1994 he returned to London, where he became a founder member ofSkunk Anansie and recorded and co-produced their debut album "Paranoid & Sunburnt". He co-wrote the hit track "Weak", which has since been covered byRod Stewart . He also recorded theB-side , "Army of Me", withBjörk .France left Skunk Anansie in 1995, joining the German group
Alphaville the next day. He toured and recorded with Alphaville until an accident in which he severed hisAchilles tendon . He lived inPoland for over two years, hosting his ownradio programme, and appearing on numeroustelevision shows. In 1998 he moved toPuerto de Mazarron ,Spain , in order to concentrate on writing his first novel.He now co-owns/runs Pulpo Negro Records, Pulpo Negro Publishing, Pulpo Negro Studios, GCBC Productions, with his partner, Tim Oldfield.
He produced the award-winning Spanish bands Second, Renochild, and Blue Aliens Temple, as well as Screw Coco. He also produced, wrote, and arranged for London based artist
Keke .His present preoccupation is a return to Radio broadcasting for both Costa Calida International and TKO Gold, where he can be heard on the airways, seven-day a week.
Producer/co-producer
*
Skunk Anansie
*Blue Alien's Temple
*Second
*Keke
*Screw Coco
*Renochild ources and external links
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dzb1z85a8yvj~T1 Robbie France] — entry from All Music Guide
* [http://wishboneash.com/bandmembers_detail.asp?memberid=18 Robbie France] — biography at US Wishbone Ash page
* [http://www.wishboneash.co.uk/personnel/13.aspx Robbie France] — biography at UK Wishbone Ash page
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