Phil Manzanera: Biography

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• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

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• Peter Gabriel
• Adrian Belew
• IQ
• David Bowie
• Utopia
• Be Bop Deluxe

• Thom Yorke

• Neil Finn
• John Wetton
• 801
• John Cale
• Quiet Sun
• Tim Finn
• Bryan Ferry

• Bill MacCormick
• Tim Finn
• Sergio Dias

• Roxy Music
• The Explorers
• Quiet Sun

• Rhett Davies
• Eddie Jobson
• Bryan Ferry
• Paul Thompson
• Andy Mackay

Birth Name:

Philip Targett-Adams

Born:

Jan 31, 1951 in London, England

Genres:

Rock Music, Alternative Rock Music, Progressive Rock Music

Decades Active:

1970's|1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Low

Cultural Impact

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

The longtime guitarist for legendary British art pop sophisticates Roxy Music, Phil Manzanera was born Philip TargettAdams in London on January 31, 1951. The child of an English father and Colombian mother, he was raised in various spots, including Hawaii and Cuba, and while living in Venezuela began playing guitar at the age of eight. Profoundly influenced by both Latin music and rock roll, while attending school at London's Dulwich College in 1966 Manzanera cofounded the psychedelic band Pooh and the Ostrich Feather, later rechristened Quiet Sun concurrent with a move toward a more avantgarde approach. When the group dissolved in 1972, Manzanera replaced guitarist Dave O'List in Roxy Music, joining in time to record their selftitled debut LP. A series of classic albums followed and upon completion of 1974's Country Life, Manzanera returned to the studio to record his first solo effort, the largely instrumental Diamond Head. Around that same time, he contributed to solo efforts from fellow Roxy Music alums Bryan Ferry (Another Time, Another Place) and Brian Eno (the groundbreaking Here Come the Warm Jets and Taking Tiger Mountain [By Strategy]), and even cut a Quiet Sun reunion LP, Mainstream.

Manzanera continued balancing his Roxy Music duties with solo projects and session dates, in 1975 producing the upandcoming New Zealand group Split Enz; with Roxy Music entering a state of suspended animation a year later, he formed the shortlived 801 before touring with Ferry. The 801 aegis was revived for 1977's Listen Now; upon completing the followup, KScope, Manzanera joined the revived Roxy Music for Manifesto, their bestselling album in the U.S. He remained with the group through their last studio album, the 1982 masterpiece Avalon, and following their final tour he reunited with exRoxy saxophonist Andy Mackay as the Explorers, also recording a 1986 LP with onetime Asia frontman John Wetton. While 1990's Southern Cross featured extensive vocal contributions from onetime Split Enz member Tim Finn, Manzanera was largely absent from the studio during much of the decade to follow, primarily focusing on live performances (including appearances at the Guitar Legends and WOMAD festivals). In 1999, he issued the Latininfluenced Vozero, closing out the year by backing Ferry at the British Gas Millennium Concert, their first joint performance in 18 years.

- Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide