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Patrick FitzgeraldEnglish singer and songwriter
Date of Birth: 19.03.1956
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Patrick Fitzgerald
Patrick Joseph Fitzgerald, an English singer and songwriter, began recording his songs and performing during the emergence of punk rock in 1977, immediately after a short acting career. He was born on March 19, 1956, in London, to Irish immigrant working-class parents.
Early Career
Fitzgerald's early songs were usually short and satirical, with arrangements limited to acoustic guitar and some studio effects. Soon, his style evolved into something original; Fitzgerald became something between a punk poet and an urban folk singer. Some even called him the "new Bob Dylan." His early recordings caught the attention of the label Polydor, which signed him for the release of his first album, "Grubby Stories," in 1979. Punk musicians such as Robert Blamire from "Penetration" and John Maher from "Buzzcocks" participated in the recording of 7 out of 17 tracks. The same label released two singles. Fitzgerald embarked on tours with a new group of musicians - guitarist Colin Peacock, bassist Charlie Francis, and drummer Rab Fae Beith.
Solo Career and Evolution
After parting ways with Polydor, Patrick continued to give solo acoustic concerts, gradually moving away from his ironic and mocking style in favor of a deeper and heavier performance. Left without a manager, he released a single under the pseudonym Josef Garrett, and in 1982, his second album, "Gifts and Telegrams," was launched by the Red Flame label. By this time, Fitzgerald had formed a small group of solo performers called "Ghosts of Individuals," which included David Harrow, Anne Clark, Kevin Hewick, and others. In 1981, as part of the trio "Patrik Fitzgerald Group," he released the five-track EP "Tonight," where he was responsible for songwriting and guitar, Colin Peacock played guitar and synthesizer, and Lester Broad played the saxophone.
Later Career and Personal Life
In 1983, Fitzgerald recorded his next album, "Drifting Towards Violence," which featured acoustic sound accompanied by a dark brass section and candid lyrics. The release was handled by the Belgian label Himalaya, but due to a lack of promotion, the album quickly faded into obscurity. Following the album's release, Fitzgerald went on a solo tour of Europe, where he was greeted by loyal fans. His album "Tunisian Twist," released in 1986, introduced radical changes towards a more commercial sound, with lyrics touching on topics such as terrorism, surrogate motherhood, and the labor movement. Some songs retained the spirit of his early material. In the same year, he collaborated with Anne Clark on the album "Abuse - Artists For Animals," dedicated to bullfighting.
Due to a lack of commercial success in his career, Fitzgerald had to work as a waiter in the British House of Commons before moving to Normandy in 1988. Disillusioned and unemployed, Patrick returned to England three years later. In the early 1990s, he resumed performing concerts and also rediscovered his passion for acting, with one of his notable successes being his role in Molière's comedy "The Miser" in Stratford. In 1993, Fitzgerald released the album "Treasures from the Wax Museum," a compilation of material from the 1980s along with four new tracks.
In 2006, with the release of the album "Floating Population," Patrick embarked on a tour with John Baine, also known as Attila the Stockbroker. His split CD "Dark side of the room," recorded with the group "POG," was released in the same year. Another split, "Spirit of Revolution," a collaborative work with Baine, was released in 2007.
Fitzgerald gained his fame in the late 1970s with his EP "Safety Pin Stuck in My Heart," released on the "Small Wonder" label.
