Frank Tovey

After four critically acclaimed albums under the moniker Fad Gadget, Frank Tovey dropped the name and recorded a further five albums throughout the '80s and early '90s. Forever moving away from his heavily synthesized style as Fad Gadget, he continued to experiment with many different styles, mixing electronics with rock, folk and dance music. After 1986's poppy Snakes & Ladders and 1988's percussion led Civilian he essentially became a fully-fledged folk artist with the release of 1989's Tyranny & the Hired Hand. Tovey went into semi-retirement from 1993 onwards but he returned in 2001 as Fad Gadget to play successful live shows in London, Belgium and France as well as setting off on a European Tour as special guests of label mates Depeche Mode. Following the announcement that he was working on a new Fad Gadget album, Frank died on Wednesday 3rd April 2002 at his home in London of a heart attack, aged only 45.