Francis John Tovey, born on September 8, 1956, in London, England, was a British avant-garde electronic musician and vocalist best known by the stage name Fad Gadget. The first artist signed to Mute Records, he became a pioneer of synth-pop, electro, and industrial music, combining pop songwriting with experimental electronics and found-object sounds. His theatrical live performances and socially critical lyrics earned him a cult following. His albums include Fireside Favourites (1980), Incontinent (1981), Under the Flag (1982), and Gag (1984). He later recorded under his own name, exploring more acoustic music. Tovey died of a heart attack on April 3, 2002, aged 45.
