Guggi
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Guggi
| image = Guggi-bySoeur2Rundvald.jpg
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| caption = Guggi
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Derek Rowen
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|05|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
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| genre = Post-punk
| occupation = Vocals
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}}
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,{{cite web |url=http://www.village.ie/arts/visual_art/bowling_for_recognition/ |title=Bowling for recognition |accessdate=15 March 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119071017/http://www.village.ie/arts/visual_art/bowling_for_recognition/ |archivedate=19 January 2008}} who gave him his nickname.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/we-promised-each-other-we-would-never-grow-up-bono-and-guggi-on-their-lifelong-friendship/38859124.html|title='We promised each other we would never grow up' - Bono and Guggi on their lifelong friendship|work=Irish Independent|last=Egan|first=Barry |date=January 13, 2020}}
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).{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=1220/1}} Known for their outrageous and controversial stage performances, the band began playing small shows in Dublin and gained a cult audience. The band released a single, "Moments and Mine (Despite Straight Lines)", on 27 June 1981.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Virgin-Prunes-Moments-And-Mine-Despite-Straight-Lines/release/359448|title=Virgin Prunes - Moments And Mine (Despite Straight Lines)|date=29 November 1981 |publisher=Discogs|access-date=15 July 2018}}{{cite book |first=George |last=Gimarc |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-I0g4VDwtzgC&pg=PA320 |title=Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982 |publisher=Macmillan |date=15 October 1997 |page=174 |isbn=9780312169688 |access-date=21 September 2014}} 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. In 1984, Guggi left the band.
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.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Guggi on surviving a brush with death: ‘I didn’t feel an ounce of fear. There were far greater forces at work’ |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/guggi-on-surviving-a-brush-with-death-i-didnt-feel-an-ounce-of-fear-there-were-far-greater-forces-at-work-40552619.html |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=independent |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.guggi.com|Guggi's official website}}
- [http://www.gavinfriday.com Virgin Prunes]
{{Virgin Prunes}}
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Category:20th-century Irish painters
Category:21st-century Irish painters
Category:21st-century Irish male artists
Category:Musicians from Dublin (city)