Brian Howe (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brian Howe
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Howe in concert, March 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brian Anthony Howe |
| Born | 22 July 1953 Portsmouth, Hampshire, England |
| Died | 6 May 2020 (aged 66) Lake Placid, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Hard rock, pop rock, heavy metal |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1983–2020 |
| Labels | Touchwood, Frontiers |
| Associated acts | White Spirit, Ted Nugent, Bad Company |
Brian Anthony Howe (born 22 July 1953 – died 6 May 2020) was an English rock singer. He became famous for taking over as the lead singer of the band Bad Company, replacing Paul Rodgers. Brian's music career really took off in 1983 when rock guitarist Ted Nugent asked him to sing on his album Penetrator and join him for the world tour that followed.
Contents
Early Music Career
Brian Howe was born in Portsmouth, England, in 1953. He first sang with a local band called Shy, which had a small hit song in the UK. However, he soon left them to find a band that played harder rock music.
He briefly joined a heavy metal group called White Spirit. He replaced their singer, Bruce Ruff. But the band quickly broke up, and Brian never recorded a full album with them. One song he sang, "Watch Out," was released on a cassette tape in 1982 and later on vinyl and CD.
Years later, in 2022, an album called Right or Wrong was released. It featured Brian Howe's original vocals from studio recordings made in 1981 for what was supposed to be White Spirit's second album.
Singing with Ted Nugent
Brian Howe's first big opportunity in the U.S. came in 1984 with Ted Nugent. Brian had been sending his songs to Atlantic Records in London, hoping to get a record deal. The record company liked his voice, even if they didn't hear a hit song right away.
A producer named Ashley Howe (no relation to Brian) heard Brian's voice and thought he would be a great singer for Ted Nugent's next album. Soon, Brian was in New York City and signed a contract to become the lead singer for Ted Nugent. He sang on the Penetrator album. Brian later left to start his own solo career because he didn't get credit for writing some of the songs.
After leaving Ted Nugent, Brian was introduced to Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke, who were members of the band Bad Company.
Joining Bad Company
In 1986, Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke decided to start a new music project. Their record label, Atlantic Records, wanted them to continue using the name Bad Company. However, their original singer, Paul Rodgers, was busy with another band. So, the remaining members teamed up with Brian Howe as their new lead singer.
They also brought in Steve Price as the new bass player and Gregg Dechert on keyboards. Brian's singing style added a more pop-rock sound to the band. This was something Atlantic Records wanted to help Bad Company become popular again.
The band released their first album with Brian, Fame and Fortune, in 1986. It had a lot of keyboards, which was popular in the mid-1980s. The album did fairly well, and the song "This Love" reached number 85 on the UK charts.
In 1987, Gregg Dechert left the band as they decided to focus less on keyboards. They toured that year, opening for the band Deep Purple.
More Success with Bad Company
For their next album, Dangerous Age (1988), the band worked with producer Terry Thomas. He reduced the keyboard sound and brought back a guitar-focused style. This album was more successful than the last. It produced several popular songs like "No Smoke Without A Fire," "One Night," and "Shake It Up." The album sold well and became a Gold record.
The band's next album, Holy Water, released in 1990, was a huge success. Brian Howe and Terry Thomas wrote most of the songs. The album sold over a million copies, reaching Platinum status. It featured hit singles such as "If You Needed Somebody" and the title track "Holy Water." Many songs from this album were played often on the radio and had popular music videos.
During this time, Mick Ralphs took a break from touring, and guitarist Geoffrey Whitehorn filled in for him. Dave "Bucket" Colwell also joined as a second guitarist.
Brian Howe stayed with Bad Company because Atlantic Records wanted him to. They believed in his singing and songwriting.
The final studio album with Brian Howe, Here Comes Trouble, was released in 1992. It included the popular songs "How About That" and "This Could Be The One." This album also went Gold. Before touring for this album, Rick Wills joined as the bassist, and Dave Colwell became a full-time member.
The band also recorded a live album called What You Hear Is What You Get: The Best of Bad Company in 1993. It featured live versions of songs from both the Paul Rodgers and Brian Howe eras of the band. Brian Howe left Bad Company in 1994.
Solo Career
After leaving Bad Company, Brian Howe released his first solo album, Tangled in Blue, in 1997. It was re-released in 2003 with an extra song, under the name Touch.
In March 2010, Brian performed for troops in Iraq and Kuwait. One of his shows was at a special ceremony in Baghdad. This tour was supported by the US Forces Iraq.
In early 2010, Brian's second solo album, Circus Bar, was released. It received many good reviews. The album is available on iTunes.
In November 2011, Brian released an EP (a shorter album) called Emotions. It included a song called "Christmas," which he wrote about feeling alone during the holidays.
In October 2016, Brian started recording acoustic versions of Bad Company songs, his own solo material, and other songs for a future album called Porch Sessions.
On June 30, 2017, Brian released a new song called "Hot Tin Roof" on his own record label. It was well-received and played on classic rock radio stations. To celebrate, Brian announced his first European tour since 1993, with shows in Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, and Italy.
His solo band included:
- Brian Howe – Lead vocals
- Paul Warren – Guitar / Backing vocals
- Christopher Turnbow – Guitar / Backing vocals
- Abe White – Bass / Backing vocals
- Rick Brothers – Drums / Backing vocals
A song that had not been released before, "Going Home," came out on June 29, 2020. Brian's manager, Paul Easton, said it was one of the last songs Brian wrote and recorded.
Death
Brian Howe passed away on May 6, 2020, at the age of 66. He died of a cardiac arrest (a sudden stop of the heart) while on his way to a hospital in Florida. He had a history of heart problems, including a heart attack in 2017. Brian is remembered by his sister, his three children, and his three grandchildren.
Discography
Solo
- Tangled in Blue (1997)
- Touch (2003)
- Circus Bar (2010)
Singles
- "Hot Tin Roof" (2017)
- "Going Home" (2020)
EPs
- Emotions (2011)
with Ted Nugent
- Penetrator (1984)
with Bad Company
- Fame and Fortune (1986)
- Dangerous Age (1988)
- Holy Water (1990)
- Here Comes Trouble (1992)
- What You Hear Is What You Get: The Best of Bad Company (1993)
with White Spirit
- Right or Wrong (2022, released after his death)
See also
In Spanish: Brian Howe (cantante) para niños
