David Virgin

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = David Virgin

| image = David Virgin in Dublin.jpg

| image_upright =

| image_size =

| landscape =

| alt = A 52-year-old man is shown in upper body shot, from below and to his right. He wears a brown corduroy cap, dark sunglasses and a black leather coat. His face is weathered and bristly. Behind him is a multi-storey building with a high walkway connected to an overhead footbridge.

| caption = Virgin in 2014

| birth_name = David Anthony Healy

| alias = David Verjin

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1962|1|14}}

| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland

| origin = Sydney, Australia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| genre = {{hlist|Industrial|classic rock|alt-country|psychedelic|punk}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|writer|record producer}}

| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|bass guitar}}

| years_active = 1978–present

| label = {{hlist|Mute|Basilisk|Waterfront|Industrial|Side Effects|The Grey Area|Universal|Beardfire|EMI}}

| associated_acts = * SPK

Sekret Sekret
Broken Toys
Blurter
Black Train
Jimmy Willing & the Real Gone Hickups
PIN
David Virgin & the Stanley Knife Brothers
Virgin & Rumour

| website = {{URL|beardfire.com/pages/artists/david_virgin.html}}

}}

David Anthony Healy (born 14 January 1962), who performs as David Virgin, is an Irish-born Australian musician, songwriter and record producer. In the 1980s he was a member of punk industrial noise group SPK, and later formed a post-punk band, Sekret Sekret. He was active in the 1990s and 2000s touring Australia and Europe. He performed and recorded both as a solo artist and as a member of numerous bands. Virgin is the owner of Beardfire Recording Studios in Dublin,{{cite web |title=Beardfire Studios Website |url=https://www.beardfire.com/ |website=Beardfire.com |access-date=9 July 2023}}{{failed verification|reason=Where is subject listed as owner?|date=July 2023}} Ireland where he has produced music for artists including Ailsha,{{cite web |title=Ailsha - Enemy song & credits |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/7365MKrMnMyBWVfWhsZr0p?si=52e821387c1e4525 |website=Spotify |access-date=9 July 2023}} All The Queen's Horses,{{cite web |title=Double A Side from All The Queen’s Horses |url=https://www.imro.ie/news/double-a-side-from-all-the-queen-horses/ |website=IMRO}} RUNAH,{{cite web |title=Track of the Day: 'Beings' by RUNAH |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/track-day-beings-runah-22782799 |website=Hot Press Magazine}} Patricia Lalor,{{cite web |title=Patricia Lalor to Release ‘Anymore’ This Friday |url=https://www.imro.ie/news/patricia-lalor-to-release-anymore-this-friday/ |website=IMRO}} and SPK.{{cite web |title=Industrial & Neo {{sic|Psycha|delic|hide=y}} Veteran David Virgin Releases Duet Focused "The Beautiful Album" |url=https://www.imro.ie/news/industrial-neo-psychadelic-veteran-david-virgin-releases-duet-focused-beautiful-album/ |website=IMRO}}

History

=Early career - Broken Toys=

David Virgin was born in North Dublin on 14 January 1962. As a child he emigrated to Australia with his family. He grew up in Sydney and attended Christian Brothers College, Burwood. In 1978, at the age of 16, Virgin formed his first band The Broken Toys as bass player and main songwriter. He was joined by Peter Mullany (of Johnny Dole & The Scabs) on lead guitar, Andrew Campbell on rhythm guitar and vocals and Virgin's brother John on drums, who was later replaced by Paul Cosgrove. The Broken Toys played 60's pop inspired melodic punk in the style of the Buzzcocks and performed regularly at the Grand Hotel, Broadway, Sydney.{{cite web|last=Virgin |first=David |title=David Virgin: Sekret Sekret, Broken Toys, SPK & the Sydney Underground 1978–85 |url=http://www.i94bar.com/ints/davidvirgin.html |website=I94bar.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807101420/http://www.i94bar.com/ints/davidvirgin.html |archive-date=7 August 2011 |df=dmy }}

=Early career - SPK=

In 1979 Virgin joined Graeme Revell, Neil Hill and guitarist Dan Rumour as bassist for the industrial noise group SPK,{{cite web|last=McFarlane |first=Ian |title=Encyclopedia entry for 'SPK' |url=//www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=399 |access-date=27 November 2015 |date=1999 |website=Whammo.com.au |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040806231415/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=399 |archive-date=6 August 2004 |url-status=unfit }}{{cite web|last=Pittman |first=Tim |title=Sekret Sekret – Happy Town Sounds (Singles, Live & Rare) |url=http://www.feelpresents.com/mail-order/sekret-sekret-happy-town-sounds-singles-live-rare/ |publisher=Feel Presents |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819100439/http://www.feelpresents.com/mail-order/sekret-sekret-happy-town-sounds-singles-live-rare/ |archive-date=19 August 2014 |df=dmy }} where he co-wrote and produced the early 7" records "No More", "Kontakt", "Factory", "Germanik", "Retard", "Slogun" and "Mekano".{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/SPK-No-More/release/76542|title=PRS Release 2617 – No More|website=Discogs.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/SPK-Mekano/release/76558|title=PRS Release 2655 – Mekano|website=Discogs.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://filtrmagazine.weebly.com/1/post/2017/03/david-virgin-the-man-behind-the-sound.html|title=David Virgin - The man behind the sound|website=Filtrmagazine.weebly.com|access-date=17 September 2020}} In a 2018 interview with Pantograph Punch magazine Graeme Revell acknowledged the original SPK lineup, and their contribution "'Over all these years, I would never correct any rumour that developed. But now I know there are some people who were in the band early on that wanted a bit of credit for what they did, so I’ll give it to them.' Revell took the name Operator, and Steven Hill the name Ne/H/il. In Sydney, they met a couple of younger guys who completed the live setup (Danny Rumour and David Virgin, each who went on to be successful musicians in their own right)."{{Cite web|url=https://pantograph-punch.com//posts/unsettling-the-score-graeme-revell-from-spk-to-hollywood,%20https://pantograph-punch.com//posts/unsettling-the-score-graeme-revell-from-spk-to-hollywood|title=Pantograph Punch - Unsettling The Score: Graeme Revell, from SPK to Hollywood|website=Pantograph-punch.com|access-date=17 September 2020}} In 1984 a compilation album was released called The Industrial Records Story and featured SPK (band)'s 1979 recording "Mekano" alongside Throbbing Gristle, William S. Burroughs, Cabaret Voltaire (band), Leather Nun and Elisabeth Welch.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Industrial-Records-Story/release/375385|title=Various - The Industrial Records Story|website=Discogs.com|access-date=17 September 2020}} The early SPK recordings that featured Virgin were also referenced in the landmark publication RE/Search #6/7: Industrial Culture Handbook {{Cite web|url=https://www.researchpubs.com/shop/hardback-research-67-industrial-culture-handbook-2/|title=RE/SEARCH #6/7: Industrial Culture Handbook HARDBACK|website=Researchpubs.com|date=22 September 2009|access-date=17 September 2020}}

In 2006, the SPK song Slogun was sampled in the song Hakai (Deathtroy) by Kyono, and DJ Starscream (real name Sidney George Wilson of the band Slipknot (band)).{{cite web |title=Hakai (Deathtroy) - SPK Sample |url=https://www.whosampled.com/Wagdug-Futuristic-Unity/Hakai-(Deathtroy)-(Jyakumetsu-Mix-by-Cycheouts-Ghost)/ |website=Who Sampled Who}} The song appeared on the official tribute album 'The Songs for Death Note the movie～the Last name Tribute～' which was released alongside the film Death Note 2: The Last Name and published by Sony Music Distribution (Japan) {{cite web |title=The Songs For Death Note The Movie - The Last Name Tribute |url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Songs-For-Death-Note-The-Movie-The-Last-Name-Tribute/release/9266885 |website=Discogs}}

=Early career - Sekret Sekret=

The Broken Toys disbanded in 1979 and shortly after that Virgin formed The Ugly Mirrors with Dan Rumour, Des Devlin and Peter McGregor. The Ugly Mirrors quickly became Sekret Sekret with the final line up including Colin Ellis on drums and Peter Mullany on second guitar who came over from Johnny Dole & The Scabs.{{cite web|url=http://www.australianmusicdatabase.com/bands/sekret-sekret|title=Australian Music Database entry: Sekret Sekret|website=Australianmusicdatabase.com|access-date=25 November 2015}} Sekret Sekret performed and recorded for six years earning 5 number one singles on the Australian independent charts including the "noted underground classic New King Jack". Sekret Sekret gained national exposure performing live on the likes of Seven Network's Sounds and interviewed by host Donnie Sutherland,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNIjx6JAHWc|title=Sekret Sekret - New King Jack|publisher=YouTube|access-date=17 September 2020}} and were played on high rotation on Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Double J and performed a live to air concert on Triple J, some of which appears on 2008 record Sekret Sekret – Happy Town Sounds (Singles, Live & Rare).{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Sekret-Sekret-Happy-Town-Sounds-Singles-Live-Rare/release/3598315|title=Sekret Sekret - Happy Town Sounds (Singles, Live & Rare)|website=Discogs.com|access-date=17 September 2020}} Sekret Sekret's final line up included Ken Gormley (The Cruel Sea) on bass and James Elliot (The Cruel Sea) on Drums with Des Devlin moving to share the lead guitar duties with Dan Rumour. In 1985 Sekret Sekret released their last single "Just to Love You", disbanding shortly after. Three of the members of Sekret Sekret went on to form Australian rock band The Cruel Sea with singer Tex Perkins.{{cite web|last=McFarlane |first=Ian |title=Encyclopedia entry for 'The Cruel Sea' |url=//www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=240 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803183018/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=240 |archive-date=3 August 2004 }}

=Solo career to present=

In 1984, Virgin recorded and released a split single with Leonard Samperi titled "Possession/Give It Up" through Waterfront Records.{{cite web|title=Possession/Give It Up|url=http://www.discogs.com/Leonard-Samperi-David-Virgin-The-Double-Artist-Recording/release/2437728|website=Discogs.com}} The single was co-produced and engineered by Clive Shakespeare of Australian pop, rock group Sherbet who also engineered a number of Sekret Sekret singles including "Girl With a White Stick/Chimes" and "Just To Love You/Waterbirds".

In 1991, Virgin reunited with SPK and Sekret Sekret band-mate Dan Rumour to record the David Virgin solo album "Landlord Green"{{cite web|last=Walker|first=Clinton|title=Recorded Works of Sekret Sekret|url=http://www.innercitysound.com.au/SekretSekret.html|publisher=Inner City Sound}} before touring Europe in 1992. Since then Virgin has maintained a presence on the underground music scenes of Europe and Australia recording seven more solo albums; "No Fun Sessions", "Dublin 7", "Rock N Roll Meditations", "Posing As A Sodomite", "International Treasure", "Boots 'N' Tooths" and "The Beautiful Album". He also recorded a second album with Dan Rumour in 2004 titled "Virgin & Rumour". Over his live career Virgin has shared the stage with musicians and acts such as Nick Cave, John Cooper Clarke, Jonathan Richman, Mary Black, INXS, The Church, The Triffids, The Go Betweens, Cat Power, Lloyd Cole, Billy Bragg and Tim Freedman.{{cite web|title=David Virgin Official History|url=http://davidvirginmusic.wordpress.com/historybiography/|website=Davidvirginmusic.wordpress.com}}

In 2009, Virgin was featured on the front cover of alternative LA publication Punk Globe, the issue contained an interview with Virgin conducted by Joe Dallesandro, actor, model and star of Andy Warhol films including Flesh, Trash and Heat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.punkglobe.com/davidvirgininterview609.html|title=DAVID VIRGIN|website=Punkglobe.com|access-date=17 September 2020}}

In 2012, Virgin released a book titled Potato Mashi: The Underground Non-Dualist Sensation.{{cite book|last=David|first=Virgin|title=Potato Mashi: The Underground Non-Dualist Sensation|year=2012|publisher=Beardfire Publishing|pages=63|url=https://www.amazon.com/Potato-Mashi-Underground-Non-Dualist-Sensation-ebook/dp/B00B9FK9CE/}}

David Virgin now lives in Dublin, Ireland and continues to write, record and perform music solo and with his two sons Rohan Healy and Alex "Al Quiff" Healy, of The Dublin City Rounders,{{cite web|last=Healy|first=Rohan|title=The Dublin City Rounders|url=http://beardfire.com/pages/artists/dublin_city_rounders.html|website=Beardfire.com|access-date=31 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202191420/http://beardfire.com/pages/artists/dublin_city_rounders.html|archive-date=2 February 2014|url-status=dead}} in the vintage, western swing and blues act David Virgin & The Stanley Knife Brothers. In November 2013, Virgin released a 23-song best-of album titled "Three Decades of David Virgin" through Beardfire Music and in January 2014 Virgin released solo album "Boots 'N' Tooths".{{cite web|title=Beardfire Artist: David Virgin|url=http://beardfire.com/pages/artists/david_virgin.html|website=Beardfire.com}}

Virgin released an album titled The Beautiful Album in September 2017. The Beautiful Album is a selection of mainly duets by Virgin featuring Leslie Dowdall (of In Tua Nua), Leila Jane, Kate Dineen, Klara McDonnell and Elga Fox. The songs on the album were backed instrumentally by the Dublin City Rounders, Rohan Healy on guitar, Al Quiff on double bass, Adam Byrne on drums and Caoimhe O’Farrell on Irish harp.{{cite web|title=SPK founder David Virgin launches new album with duets|url=http://www.side-line.com/spk-founder-david-virgin-launches-new-album-with-duets-check-the-first-videos/|publisher=Side Line Magazine}} Virgin is also involved with the Dublin City Rounders as co-songwriter, producer and additional performer on their recordings.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

As of 2024, Virgin continues to produce records at the Beardfire Production Studio in Dublin.{{Cite web|url=http://www.beardfire.com/|title=Home|website=Beardfire.com|access-date=17 September 2020}} Releases from the studio have included Leila Jane's 2017 EP "Decision Maker", Ailsha singles "Enemy", "Sucker", "Red Flags" and "Sleep", C.C. Cooper's single "He Wants Me Back",{{Cite web|url=https://www.imro.ie/member-news/29802/|title=CC Cooper Releases New Single|date=5 October 2018|website=Imro.ie|access-date=17 September 2020}} RUNAH's "Ghosts" EP and album "Strange", Patricia Lalor's debut single "Anymore",{{cite web |title=Patricia Lalor debut single Anymore |url=https://www.imro.ie/news/patricia-lalor-to-release-anymore-this-friday/ |website=IMRO.ie}} Martin McDonnell's single "Hold Me Tight",{{cite web |title=Martin McDonnell Hot Press Track of the Day |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/track-day-martin-mcdonnells-debut-hold-tight-22774007 |website=Hotpress.com}} and All The Queen's Horses debut album The Dark Below and The Isle of Dogs, winner of the 2021 International Songwriting Competition with the song 'Jocelyn'.{{cite web |title=ISC 2021 Winners |url=https://songwritingcompetition.com/winners |website=International Songwriting Competition}} Virgin wrote and produced the soundtrack for Canadian/Irish documentary Portrait of the Milliner as Yer Man Himself which won Best International Short Documentary at the 17th annual Garden State Film Festival in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imro.ie/featured-article/music-film-the-james-joyce-documentary-project/|title=Music & Film | The James Joyce Documentary Project|date=22 May 2018|website=Imro.ie|access-date=17 September 2020}}{{cite web |title=Garden State Film Festival 2019 Winners List |url=https://www.gsff.org/winners/ |website=Garden State Film Festival}} Beardfire Studios co-produced 2024 Irish Eurosong finalist Go Tobann by Ailsha;{{cite web |title=Ailsha Go Tobann Eurosong |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2024/0109/1425504-ailsha-revealed-as-irelands-second-eurosong-hopeful/ |publisher=RTE}} The song came joint second in the selection process.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Discography

=Albums=

SPK Auto-Da-Fé (1983)
Landlord Green (1992)
Virgin & Rumour (2004)
Dublin 7 (2006)
Sekret Sekret – Happy Town Sounds (Singles, Live & Rare) (2008)
Rock N Roll Meditations (2008)
Posing As A Sodomite (2009)
International Treasure (2012)
No Fun Sessions (2013)
Three Decades of David Virgin (2013)
David Virgin & The Stanley Knife Brothers – Party Like It's 1899 (2014)
Boots 'N' Tooths (2014)
The Beautiful Album (2017)

=Compilation albums=

The Industrial Records Story - Illuminated Record - 1984
Tales From The Australian Underground Vol. 1 - Feel Presents (2003)
Tales From The Australian Underground Vol. 2 - Feel Presents (2006)
The Beardfire Music Cafe Mix Tape (2013)

=Collaborations=

The Dublin City Rounders - On Track (2014) (writer/arranger/producer/performer)
The Dublin City Rounders - Dis Am The Dublin City Rounders (2014) (writer/arranger/producer/performer)
The Dublin City Rounders - Decent Folk (2014) (writer/arranger/producer/performer)
The Dublin City Rounders - The Work of Two Men (2014) (writer/arranger/producer/performer)
The Dublin City Rounders - It Used to Be About the Money (2016) (writer/arranger/producer)

=Singles=

"Charity" (1980)
"New King Jack" (1981)
"Girl with a White Stick" (1984)
"Give It Up" (1984)
"Just To Love You" (1985)
"Landlord Green" (1992)
"Rock N Roll Man" (2008)
"White Trash" (2009)
"International Treasure" (2012)
"At The Waning of the Moon" (2014)
"Notre Dame" (2014)
"The Weir" (feat. Leslie Dowdall) (2017)
"Everything I Ever Wanted" (feat. Leila Jane) (2017)

=Select production discography=

SPK - No More - 1979
SPK - Mekano - 1979
Thought Criminals - "La Mer" - from the album You Only Think Twice - 1981
Virgin & Rumour - Virgin & Rumour (album) - 2004
The Dublin City Rounders - It Used To Be About The Money (album) - 2016
Kate Dineen - Great Escape (ep) - 2017
Leila Jane - Decision Maker (ep) - 2017
Marie Conniffe - Love Madness (album) - 2018
Aaron Nestor - Good Enough (ep) - 2018
RUNAH - Ghosts EP - 2018
Weekend Special - In The Heart of The Castle (album) - 2018
Klara McDonnell - Trapped Within (ep) - 2018
Ciaran Moran - & I Haven't Even Started Yet (ep) - 2019
RUNAH - Strange (album) - 2019
KTG - Searching for Magpies (mini album) - 2019
Moylan - For the Birds (ep) - 2019
All The Queen's Horses - The Dark Below & The Isle of Dogs (album) - 2021

References

External links

[http://beardfire.com/pages/artists/david_virgin.html David Virgino official website]

Category:Irish punk rock singers

Category:Australian punk rock singers

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Dublin (city)

Category:Irish male songwriters

Category:1962 births