Gary Crowley

Gary Crowley (born 8 October 1961) is an English broadcaster, TV presenter and DJ.^[1]

While still at school (Rutherford School, Marylebone, London) in the late 1970s Gary Crowley founded the new wave fanzine "The Modern World" interviewing many of the most significant bands of the day including the, Sex Pistols, The Clash The Jam and Oasis band. Unknown schoolboy Crowley famously persuaded Joe Strummer to give him an exclusive interview and later spent time with the band as they rehearsed for their Complete Control tour in London's Chalk Farm studios.^[2] Crowley's ability to spot new talent has been a signature of his thirty-year broadcasting career, and he remains today as one of London's most respected champions of independent music.^[3]

On leaving school in 1978 Crowley took up a junior position at Decca records before joining the staff of the NME, taking over from Danny Baker as the telephone receptionist at their offices in Carnaby Street.^[1] At this time the weekly music paper was at the centre of the punk explosion under the editorship of Neil Spencer; Crowley was at the NME alongside writers Julie Burchill, Tony Parsons, Nick Kent, Charles Shaar Murray.

Crowley's knowledge of music attracted the attention of broadcasters and in 1980 he was hired by London's independent commercial station Capital Radio, and aged 19 became the youngest radio DJ in the UK.^[4]

Throughout the 1980s Gary Crowley became a prolific broadcaster / promoter, hosting regular club night at the Wag Club London (1981-1986) ^[5] and at Bogarts Harrow,^[6] where he showcased many prominent chart acts at early points in their career, including The Style Council,^[7] Bananarama,^[8] Wham! ^[9] and others. TV presenting followed, as Crowley was hired to front Fun Factory ITV on Saturday mornings and game shows including Runaround spin-off Poparound which ran through the late 1980s. At this point Crowley was presenting his an acclaimed weekly radio show The Magic Box on Capital Radio.

In 1983 Gary Crowley compered the first national UK tour by Wham! ^[2]

In 1991 Crowley signed a contract to host the music show The Beat on the ITV station Carlton TV. where he introduced the emerging Brit Pop movement to UK TV audiences. In 1994 he conducted the first TV interview with Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis (just prior to the release of Definitely Maybe) and later bought other Britpop bands to the show including Blur and Pulp. For the next five years ^[10] he interviewed acts including Björk, Manic Street Preachers, Henry Rollins, Massive Attack, David Sylvian,^[11]^[12] and other TV presenting jobs followed most recently with Rockworld TV. His radio show on the BBC station Greater London Radio continued to unearth new talent; Crowley was the first British dj to champion new rock acts Suede and Bush.^[2]

In 1996 Crowley was invited to introduce Oasis on stage for their historic Knebworth concert.^[2]

In 1997 Crowley left the BBC to join the London's first indie station, Chris Parry's XFM, where Steve Lamacq, Mary Anne Hobbs and Alan Freeman had broadcast in test transmissions. Crowley was given the mid-morning show but on ^[1] the day before launch, Diana, Princess of Wales died, and so on 1 September 1997 Crowley had to open the new radio station with the words "Welcome to XFM, broadcasting on 104.9. We find ourselves starting a radio station today in circumstances we wouldn’t have wished, following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. As a mark of respect to someone we saw as someone going her own way… we wish to dedicate the activities of our launch day to her memory."

Crowley eventually left XFM along with Ricky Gervais and others when the station was sold to Capital, choosing to return to the renamed BBC London 94.9,^[1] where he fronts a three-hour weekly show on Saturday evenings, including BBC Introducing in London. More recently Crowley makes occasional 'supersub' appearances on BBC6 Music ^[1] as well as hosting regular shows for Amazing Radio,^[13] a digital station dedicated to new and emerging music. Gary Crowley has interviewed some of the UK's most influential rock names including Paul McCartney, Blur, The Small Faces, Robert Plant and others.^[3] Currently presents the Punk & New Wave show on Soho Radio

References

External links

http://www.myspace.com/garycrowley

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