Guggi

Guggi
Guggi
	Guggi
Background information
Birth name	Derek Rowen
Born	13 May 1959 (age 65); Dublin, Ireland
Genres	Post-punk
Occupation	Vocals

Guggi (born Derek Rowen) is an Irish artist and musician who was once a member of the post-punk band Virgin Prunes.

Early life

Derek Rowen was born in Dublin in 1959. He is one of 10 children. He grew up with and remains best friends with U2's Bono,^[1] who gave him his nickname.^[2]

Career

The Virgin Prunes were founded in 1977 by vocalists Guggi, Gavin Friday (né Fionan Hanvey), and Dave-iD Busaras; guitarist Dik Evans (brother of U2's The Edge); bassist Strongman (Trevor Rowen, brother of Guggi); and drummer Pod (Anthony Murphy).^[3] Known for their outrageous and controversial stage performances, the band began playing small shows in Dublin and gained a cult audience.^[3] The band released a single, "Moments and Mine (Despite Straight Lines)", on 27 June 1981.^[4]^[5] In November 1982, the Virgin Prunes released their debut studio album, ...If I Die, I Die (produced by Colin Newman of Wire), as well as the double 10" EP Hérésie, a French box set.^[3] In 1984, Guggi left the band.^[3]

Guggi left the Virgin Prunes to dedicate himself solely to painting. Since the early 1990s, Guggi's artwork has continued to explore the depiction of common everyday objects.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Guggi has five sons, the eldest with his first partner and four with his ex-wife Sybille. He lives in Killiney with his partner Gabriella Janni.^[6]

References

^ "Bowling for recognition". Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ Egan, Barry (13 January 2020). "'We promised each other we would never grow up' - Bono and Guggi on their lifelong friendship". Irish Independent.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1220/1. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
^ "Virgin Prunes - Moments And Mine (Despite Straight Lines)". Discogs. 29 November 1981. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ Gimarc, George (15 October 1997). Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982. Macmillan. p. 174. ISBN 9780312169688. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
^ "Guggi on surviving a brush with death: 'I didn't feel an ounce of fear. There were far greater forces at work'". independent. Retrieved 7 April 2023.

External links

[:0-1] "Bowling for recognition". Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[2] Egan, Barry (13 January 2020). "'We promised each other we would never grow up' - Bono and Guggi on their lifelong friendship". Irish Independent.

[Larkin-3] Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1220/1. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.

[4] "Virgin Prunes - Moments And Mine (Despite Straight Lines)". Discogs. 29 November 1981. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[5] Gimarc, George (15 October 1997). Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982. Macmillan. p. 174. ISBN 9780312169688. Retrieved 21 September 2014.

[6] "Guggi on surviving a brush with death: 'I didn't feel an ounce of fear. There were far greater forces at work'". independent. Retrieved 7 April 2023.

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