Barry Andrews

Born

1956-09-12

Birthplace

West Norwood, London, England, UK

Biography

Barry Andrews (born 12 September 1956) is an English songwriter, singer and keyboard player who is a co-founder of Shriekback and was formerly a member of XTC and the League of Gentlemen. On leaving school, Andrews played keyboards in covers bands in Swindon and Exeter before joining XTC in 1978. He played on the band’s first two albums, White Music and Go 2, before leaving in 1979. That same year, he recorded the solo EP Town and Country (Virgin) and played on Iggy Pop’s Soldier (Arista) with David Bowie, Ivan Král, Glen Matlock, Klaus Krüger and Steve New. In 1980 he recorded the single Rossmore Road/Win a Night Out with a Well-Known Paranoiac on Virgin. Also in 1980, Andrews joined Robert Fripp's The League of Gentlemen with Sara Lee and Jonny TooBad. They recorded one album for E.G. Records before Fripp dismissed the band. Andrews then formed Restaurant for Dogs with Kevin Wilkinson, Dave Marx and Bruce McRae. Latterly Clare Hirst, Sara Lee and Carlo Asciutti joined the band. In 1981, Andrews met up with bassist Dave Allen who had recently left Gang of Four and the pair, along with guitarist/vocalist Carl Marsh, formed Shriekback. Shriekback have been active for 44 years, recording 18 studio albums.