FAD GADGET - Frank Tovey - Interviewed by Darrel Hughes - ELEKTRA.
Fad Gadget, dark, abrasive alternative electronic pop. Formed in
England during 1979 Fad Gadget (Frank Tovey), was the main man
within the explosion of post punk bands embracing new technology
via synthesizers and drum machines, along with other artists at that
time such as; John Foxx, The Human League, Cabaret Voltaire.
Fad Gadget lyrically explored the underworld of the human psyche
and having crafted a pioneering sound that harnessed classic songs,
singles, and albums, too many to mentions here, it was testament to
the quality of his dark art that Fad Gadget spawned a legion of post 80’s
dark electronic, industrial hybrid artists and bands that praised his work
and sighted him as a very strong influence to the 90’s and present day
alternative electronic music culture.
Early 2001 Fad Gadget returned to full activity, performing at various
festivals across Europe. Having just completed 29 shows as support
for Depeche Mode on the European dates of their Exciter Tour, Fad
Gadget is now on the eve of recording a new album for release in
2002, and has plans for more touring.
Here I find myself listening to Fad Gadget carrying out a sound check
for the Birmingham NEC show of the Depeche Mode Exciter Tour. Now
behind stage, I finally get to meet the living legend himself, a very polite
man then shares his views and wisdom.
DH: What inspired the name Fad Gadget?.
FAD: When I first started I was just performing by myself, I didn’t have
a band, it was just me and a drum machine, an electric piano and a
synthesizer. I didn’t want people to think it was just one person if I used
my own name, so I wanted a band name. I wanted a band name that
was unpretentious, something that sounded like a soap powder, and
it was after punk and everyone had silly names.
DH: When did Frank Tovey decided it was time for Fad Gadget to return?.
FAD: The last few years I’ve been doing some production work, I produced
a band called Temple X, their from Austria and they are now my backing
band. I produced an album for them, and last November they were doing a
show in Austria and they got me on stage to do three songs, I did that and
it felt kind of good again, so I decided to start playing again, funny thing was,
I only decided last Christmas to start playing again, I was in Austria at that
time, the first day I came back someone phoned me up and asked me if I
wanted to do the Electrofest in London, so I said yes. As the members of
Temple X were the only guys I had been working with at that time, they
became my band.
I was introduced to Temple X by Iris Luchner...
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