Gadget

Real Name:
Frank Tovey
Profile:
Fad Gadget was the first signing on Mute Records with the release of his debut single, the ground breaking 'Back To Nature' in October 1979. His liveshows in the early 80´s were quite wild and unique, often ending with the man injuring himself... He died April 3rd 2002 at his home in London of a heart attack at the age of 45.
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Artist

Shortcut Code: [a2705]
Data Quality Rating: Correct

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Discography

Releases:
Ricky's Hand (7", Single)   Mute Records Ltd. 1980
Incontinent (LP, Album)   Mute Records Ltd. 1981
Saturday Night Special (7", Single)   Disques Vogue 1981
Sometimes I Wish I Was Dead / King Of The Flies (Flexi, 7", S/Sided, EP, Red)   Flexipop 1981
For Whom The Bells Toll (7", Single)   Mute Records Ltd. 1982
Life On The Line (Single) (3 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1982
Fad Gadget By Frank Tovey (DVD, Promo, Smplr + CD, Promo, Smplr)   Mute Records Ltd., Mute Records Ltd. 2006
Appears On:
La Era Del Tecno - 2ª Fase (LP, Album, Comp) Swallow It RCA Victor 1982
The Fad Gadget Singles (Comp) (3 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1986
About New Beat - Past & Present (Comp) (2 versions) Ladyshave MG Records 1989
Love Parasite (12")   Beat Box International 1990
Take 7 - Skizzo (LP, Comp) Love Parasite Dance Opera 1991
The Rocket Sardine (3 versions) Ricky's Hand International Deejay Gigolo Records 1998
A Bugged Out Mix By Klaxons (2xCD, Comp, Mixed) King Of The Flies, Kin... New State Recordings 2007
Tracks Appear On:
La Era Del Tecno - 2ª Fase (LP, Album, Comp) Swallow It RCA Victor 1982
About New Beat - Past & Present (Comp) (2 versions) Ladyshave MG Records 1989
A Bugged Out Mix By Klaxons (2xCD, Comp, Mixed) King Of The Flies New State Recordings 2007
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Reviews & Discussion

Review by qlasse Feb 28, 2003
Fad Gadget, or Frank Tovey - which was his real name (born 1956 in London’s East End), was one of the groundbreaking artists in the electronic genre in the late 70’s/early 80’s.
He was the first signing on Mute Records, where he worked together with e.g. Daniel Miller and John Fryer.
Fad Gadget was known as an eccentric wild man live on stage, as he performed in weird outfits and often ending the shows by injuring himself (he once broke both his legs in a concert in Amsterdam).

Musical highlights were his two first singles "Back To Nature" (released in 1979) and "Ricky’s Hand" (1980), his debut album "Fireside Favourites" (1980) which is truly groundbreaking, and "Under The Flag" (1982), by many considered as his best album and has the great tunes "For Whom The Bells Toll" and "Love Parasite" on it.
Worth mentioning is also his collaboration with the German industrial band Einstürzende Neubauten that resulted in the brilliant song "Collapsing New People" in 1984.

In 1985 Tovey dropped the Fad Gadget name, and started to release records under his real name. Unfortunately he passed away in 2001, because of a heart failure.
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YouTube Videos

Fad Gadget - Ricky's Hand