Al Doyle

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Al Doyle

| image = LCD Soundsystem (221202).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Doyle performing with LCD Soundsystem in 2016

| birth_name = Alexander John Joseph Doyle

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|08|28|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Leeds, England

| origin = London, England

| genre = {{hlist|Indietronica|alternative dance|electropop|dance-punk}}

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 2003–present

| label = {{hlist|Domino|DFA|Sunday Best|Lanark}}

| current_member_of = {{hlist|Hot Chip|LCD Soundsystem|New Build}}

| instruments = {{hlist|Guitar|drums|keyboards|vocals}}

}}

Alexander John Joseph Doyle (born 28 August 1980) is a British musician. He is best known as the guitarist and synthesiser player for British indie electronic band Hot Chip and American rock band LCD Soundsystem. He is also a founding member of British electronic band New Build.

Early life

Doyle took piano and cello lessons from as young as 5 or 6 years old. He lost interest in these instruments as he began studying at university, when he began teaching himself other instruments, such as the guitar, drums, and bass guitar, and learned how to create music with computers.{{Cite web |url=http://www.musicpsych.com/docs/latest_news/EuFupVVVAETIKcZeOO.shtml |title=Al Doyle - Hot Chip // LCD Sound System // New Build |date=June 2015 |website=MusicPsych |access-date=23 August 2018}} Doyle later won a place at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge to read English alongside future Hot Chip bandmate Felix Martin.{{Cite web |title=Chip off the old block |url=https://www.varsity.co.uk/features/1754 |last=Smith |first=Paul |date=15 January 2010 |website=Varsity (Cambridge) |access-date=20 May 2020}} He was, for a time, university flatmates with comedian Alex Horne.

Career

=Hot Chip=

Doyle joined British indie electronic band Hot Chip in 2003 before the recording session for their debut studio album, Coming on Strong (2004).{{Cite web |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/hot_chips_al_doyle_talks_perils_of_rocknroll_lifestyle |title=Hot Chip's Al Doyle Talks the Perils of a Rock'n'Roll Lifestyle |last=Warner |first=Andrea |date=13 September 2012 |website=Exclaim! |access-date=23 August 2018}} Band co-founder Alexis Taylor called him to invite him to join the band while Doyle was unemployed and living in London, and he accepted. He remains a member of Hot Chip as of the release of Freakout/Release (2022), their eighth studio album.{{cite AV media notes|title=Freakout/Release|others=Hot Chip|year=2022|type=album liner notes|publisher=Domino Recording Company}}

=LCD Soundsystem=

Soon after the release of their self-titled debut studio album, Doyle joined American rock band LCD Soundsystem as a live member, as noted in the liner notes of their second studio album, Sound of Silver (2007).{{cite AV media notes|title=Sound of Silver|others=LCD Soundsystem|year=2007|type=album liner notes|publisher=DFA Records}} He would go on to play the Yamaha CS-60 and guitar on their 2010 song "You Wanted a Hit", the sixth track from their third studio album, This Is Happening (2010).{{cite AV media notes|title=This Is Happening|others=LCD Soundsystem|year=2010|type=album liner notes|publisher=DFA Records}} In 2011, band frontman James Murphy announced that they were disbanding and would perform a farewell show at Madison Square Garden, where Doyle also played.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/07/why-exactly-did-lcd-soundsystem-quit/260007/ |title=Why, Exactly, Did LCD Soundsystem Quit? |last=Fassler |first=Joe |date=18 July 2012 |website=The Atlantic |access-date=23 August 2018}} The band would reunite, however, in 2015, to release a new album.{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/lcd-soundsystem--2/90610 | title=LCD Soundsystem release comeback statement: 'We're not just touring. We're releasing a record' | work=NME | date=5 January 2016 | accessdate=23 August 2018 | author=Hendicott, James}} Doyle became a much more prominent studio member of the band during the recording sessions, receiving writing credits on seven tracks out of the album's ten, and performing several instruments, including piano, cello, bowed mandolin, and electronic drums.{{cite AV media notes|title=American Dream|others=LCD Soundsystem|year=2017|type=album liner notes|publisher=DFA Records; Columbia Records}} The album, titled American Dream, was released on 1 September 2017.{{cite magazine |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/06/lcd-soundsystem-announce-new-album-american-dream-plus-lengthy-tour/ |title=LCD Soundsystem announce new album American Dream, plus lengthy tour |last=Young |first=Alex |magazine=Consequence of Sound |publication-date=19 June 2017 |accessdate=23 August 2018}}

=New Build=

Following LCD Soundsystem's disbandment in 2011, Doyle created the band New Build along with Hot Chip member Felix Martin and audio engineer Tom Hopkins.{{Cite web |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2011/11/members-of-hot-chip-lcd-soundystem-form-new-build/ |title=Members of Hot Chip, LCD Soundystem form New Build |last=Coplan |first=Chris |date=11 November 2011 |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=23 August 2018}} On 5 March 2012, they released their debut studio album, Yesterday Was Lived and Lost.{{Cite web |url=https://newbuild.bandcamp.com/album/yesterday-was-lived-and-lost |title=Yesterday Was Lived and Lost {{!}} New Build |website=Bandcamp |access-date=23 August 2018}} They released a second studio album, Pour It On, on 20 October 2014.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/various-artists-2213-1237137 |title=Today's new album releases: Slipknot, Thurston Moore, Ben Howard, The Coral and more |last=Renshaw |first=David |date=20 October 2014 |website=NME |access-date=23 August 2018}}