David Sylvian

The son of a South London plasterer, David Batt was inspired by the likes of David Bowie and Roxy Music to completely reinvent himself as the charismatic, slightly mysterious, glam character David Sylvian, front man with the band Japan. He formed Japan in 1974 with bassist Mick Karn, guitarist Rob Dean, keyboardist Richard Barbieri and his brother Steve Jansen on drums, developed a powerful visual image that was instantly embraced by the new romantic movement of the day and signed a contract with Hansa Records.

Between 1978 and 1981 Japan recorded five albums, winning a devoted following despite internal clashes between Sylvian and Karn. After his split from Japan, Sylvian collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto on 'Bamboo Houses/Bamboo Music' resulting in a UK top 20 hit 'Forbidden Colours' which featured in the 1983 movie 'Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence'. He eventually released his debut solo album 'Brilliant Trees' (1984) featuring Sakamoto and ex-Can bassist Holger Czukay, including the hit single 'Red Guitar'. In 1986 Sylvian released the even more ambitious double album 'Gone to Earth' and then moved to emotive ballads on 'Secrets of the Beehive' in 1987.

Further collaborations with Holger Czukay and other members of Can followed as well as Robert Fripp on 'The First Day' (1993). Sylvian broke a barren period with the solo album 'Dead Bees On a Cake' (1999) before launching his own label Samadhi Sound with the jazz fusion album 'Blemish'. A new solo album 'Manafon' emerged in 2009 followed two years later by double album 'Died in the Wool'. After a bout of ill health, 2013 saw him release 'Do You Know Me Now?', a remastered version of 'Where's Your Gravity?' followed by 'There's a Light That Enters Houses With No Other House in Sight' in 2014. 'Playing the Schoolhouse' followed in 2015 with a collaboration with Confront Recordings in 2017 titled 'There Is No Love'.