Nick Lowe

English Singer-Songwriter

Nicholas Drain Lowe (born 24 March 1949, Walton-on-Thames), better known as Nick Lowe, is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.
A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica. He is best known for his songs "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" (a hit for Elvis Costello), "Cruel to Be Kind" (a U.S. Top 40 single), and "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass", as well as his production work with Costello.
He currently lives in Brentford, London, England.
A New York Daily News article quoted Lowe as saying his greatest fear in recent years was "sticking with what you did when you were famous". "I didn't want to become one of those thinning-haired, jowly old geezers who still does the same shtick they did when they were young, slim and beautiful," he said. "That's revolting and rather tragic." Rock critic Jim Farber observed: "Lowe's recent albums, epitomized by the new At My Age, moved him out of the realms of ironic pop and animated rock and into the role of a worldly balladeer, specializing in grave vocals and graceful tunes. Lowe's four most recent solo albums mine the wealth of American roots music, drawing on vintage country, soul and R&B to create an elegant mix of his own."
In 2008, Yep Roc and Proper Records released a 30th Anniversary edition of Lowe's first solo album Jesus of Cool (entitled Pure Pop for Now People in the U.S. with a slightly different track listing). The re-issue includes tracks from the British and American releases in addition to several bonus tracks. In March 2009, he released a 49-track CD/DVD compilation of songs which spans his entire career. Proper Records released it in the UK and Europe. It is titled "Quiet Please... The New Best of Nick Lowe"
To coincide with the release of this album, Nick Lowe performed a handful of selected dates in May 2009, beginning at the Daphne du Maurier Festival of Arts & Literature, Fowey, Cornwall, and continuing with dates in Southampton, Birmingham, Bristol, Aberdare, The Royal Albert Hall, Cambridge, Holmfirth, The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Liverpool and Gateshead.
In late 2009, Lowe toured Japan, New Zealand and Australia with Ry Cooder, performing a selection of songs from the back catalogue of each performer.

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