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Geoff Downes

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Geoff Downes is an English keyboard player, born on 25 August 1952 in Stockport. His father was a church organist and his mother a pianist. He played in local bands, studied at the Leeds College of Music and then moved to London, where he did session work and wrote advertising jingles. In the mid-1970s he played, among others, with She's French and on Gary Boyle's Isotope. In 1976 he met Trevor Horn, with whom in 1978 he recorded the album Star to Star in the short-lived Chromium, together with Anne Dudley and Hans Zimmer.

Music and breakthrough

In 1977 he formed the Buggles with Horn. Their album The Age of Plastic from 1980 contained Video Killed the Radio Star, the first number 1 for Island Records in the United Kingdom. In May 1980 Downes moved with Horn to Yes, where they recorded Drama. After the break-up of Yes in 1981 he helped Horn with the second Buggles album Adventures in Modern Recording and formed Asia with Steve Howe. He left Asia in 1986, returned in 1990 and made solo albums including The Light Program from 1987 and Vox Humana from 1992. He also produced for Mike Oldfield and the Thompson Twins.

Influence

In 2006 he brought the original line-up of Asia back together, and in 2011 he rejoined Yes. He entered the Guinness Book of Records by playing 28 keyboards in a single performance. He is one of the keyboard players who linked new wave and progressive rock.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles and notice the keyboards and the vocals. Ask yourself what role the keyboards play here.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists