Roland Gift
(1961-), Singer; member of Fine Young CannibalsSitter in 1 portrait
Singer-songwriter and vocalist of Fine Young Cannibals, one of the most popular bands of the 1980s. Gift was selected as lead singer by Andy Cox and David Steele after they listened to over 500 audition tapes. The band produced two successful studio albums Fine Young Cannibals (1986) enjoyed top 40 hits with 'Johnny Come Home' and a cover of Elvis's 'Suspicious Minds' (written by Mark James). The band's second album The Raw and the Cooked (1988) which included the hits 'She Drives Me Crazy' and 'Good Thing' topped both the US and UK charts. Their 1980s cover of the Buzzcock's 'Ever Fallen in Love?' for the film Something Wild led them to be approached by director Barry Levinson to compose the soundtrack for his film >i>Tin Men (1987). The band made an appearance in one of the film's scenes as a resident band in a night club. Gift's acting career has seen him appear in Absolute Beginners (1986) with David Bowie and in Hanif Kureishi's Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987). He released his debut solo album, Long Day's Journey into the Night in 2001.
Roland Gift with two other band members of 'Fine Young Cannibals'
by Andrew Catlin
bromide print, 1986
NPG x35984
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Jan Brooker
15 May 2022, 21:58
The other 2 FYC band members had prior knowledge of Roland, as his previous ska band, Akrylyk Vyktymz, had supported The Beat on tour.
[not for publication: Roland's family lived opposite me; I used to babysit his younger twin sisters. I'm still in touch with Roland]
(extra info) The Akrylykz [as they were also known,] were a Hull RAR* band. I have copies of the posters from that time.
*RAR=Rock Against Racism