- Dave Rowbotham
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Dave Rowbotham 
Dave Rowbotham in a poster of his band Motivation (c. 1981)Background information Also known as David Rowbotham, Cowboy Dave (posthumously) Born 1958 Origin Didsbury, Manchester, England Died c. 8 November 1991 Genres Punk rock, Post-punk, New Wave, Alternative rock Occupations Musician Years active 1977–1991 Labels Factory Associated acts Fast Breeder, The Durutti Column, The Mothmen, Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls, Motivation Dave Rowbotham (Manchester, England, 1958 – Burnage, Manchester ?, c. 8 November 1991)[1] was a rock musician who played guitar and bass with different Manchester bands in the 1970s and the 1980s, and as studio musician.
Contents
Biography
Coming from Didsbury, Manchester, he adopted the hippie lifestyle.[2] During the punk era, he, alongside drummer Chris Joyce, played in a band called Fast Breeder and was managed by Alan Erasmus, later Factory Records founder.[3] In 1978, the pair, alongside Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias bassist Tony Bowers, singer Phil Rainford (replaced after months by Colin Sharp) and former Nosebleeds guitarist Vini Reilly, founded the post-punk band The Durutti Column.
However, the five-piece line-up didn't last long, and after releasing A Factory Sample, a various artists compilation which contained two of their songs, Rowbotham, alongside Sharp, Bowers and Joyce, left Reilly. Rowbotham alongside the latter two formed The Mothmen. During the early days of The Mothmen, he also rejoined Reilly in Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls, with then ex-Penetration vocalist Pauline Murray, playing on their eponymous album. With The Mothmen, he released two albums, Pay Attention (On-U Sound, 1981) and One Black Dot (1982).[4] By this time, he also formed Motivation, along with ex-Buzzcocks bassist Steve Garvey.[5]
By 1981 or early 1982, shortly before the release of One Black Dot, he left Mothmen. After that and Motivation, he was playing many sessions for Factory Records.
On 8 November 1991, Rowbotham was found dead at his Burnage flat. He had been murdered with a lathe hammer.[6]
In his memory, the Madchester band Happy Mondays wrote a song called "Cowboy Dave", released on the album Yes Please!, in 1992.
Biobliography
- Simmonds, Jeremy. The Enciclopedia of Dead Rock Stars. Chicago Reviews Press, 2008. ISBN 1556527543, 9781556527548. Pages 279 – 280
References
- ^ Simmonds, Jeremy. The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars. Chicago Reviews Press, 2008. ISBN 1556527543, 9781556527548. Pg. 279
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Simmonds, Jeremy. The Enciclopedia of Dead Rock Stars. Chicago Reviews Press, 2008. ISBN 1556527543, 9781556527548. Page 279 – 280
- ^ Manchesyer District Music Archive
- ^ Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. pg. 1274. Guinness Pub., 1995. ISBN 1561591769, 9781561591763. On 8 November 1991, former Durutti guitarist Dave Rowbotham was discovered axed to death at his Manchester home. A murder hunt followed.
External links
Categories:- 1958 births
- 1991 deaths
- English bass guitarists
- English guitarists
- Musicians from Manchester
- People from Didsbury
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