Effectively a moniker for UK-born vocalist and synthesizer player Frank Tovey (b. 8 September 1956, London, England, d. 3 April 2002, London, England), Fad Gadget enjoyed cult success with a series of bizarre releases on the Mute Records label during the early 80s. Tovey's background lay in his study of performance art at Leeds Art College. After moving to London, he transferred this interest into an unpredictable, often self-mutilating stage show. The first artist to sign with Daniel Miller's Mute label, Fad Gadget's "Back To Nature" was released in 1979. "Ricky's Hand" further combined Tovey's lyrical skill (observing the darker aspects of life) with an innovative use of electronics. Both these traits were evident on "Fireside Favourites", a single and also the title of Fad Gadget's debut album. For the latter, Tovey was joined by Eric Radcliffe (guitar, bass), Nick Cash (drums), John Fryer (percussion, noises), Daniel Miller (drum machine, synthesizer) and Phil Wauquaire (bass synthesizer, guitar). After "Make Room" in 1981 came Incontinent, which was more violent, unnerving and disturbing than before. Tovey had also recruited new staff, working with Peter Balmer (bass, rhythm guitar), David Simmons (piano, synthesizer), singers B.J. Frost and Anne Clift, plus drummer Robert Gotobed of Wire. In 1982, "Saturday Night Special" and "King Of The Flies" preceded a third album, Under The Flag. Dealing with the twin themes of the Falklands conflict and Tovey's new born child, the album featured Alison Moyet on saxophone and backing vocals. The following year saw new extremes as Tovey returned from a European tour with his legs in plaster, having broken them during a show. On the recording front, the year was fairly quiet, apart from "For Whom The Bell Tolls" and "I Discover Love", and in October the band supported Siouxsie And The Banshees at London's Royal Albert Hall. "Collapsing New People" continued an impressive run of singles at the start of 1984, and was followed by Fad Gadget's final album, Gag. However, Tovey opted to use his real identity from this point on. In November, he teamed up with American conceptualist Boyd Rice for Easy Listening For The Hard Of Hearing, and went on to release several solo works, each of them as highly distinct and uncompromising as Fad Gadget's material.

Listen to Fad Gadget at Finetune.

• (2001)  The Best Of Fad Gadget

• Collapsing New People
• Back To Nature
• Ricky's Hand
• Lady Shave
• For Whom The Bells Toll

• Human League
• Ultravox
• Gary Numan
• Einsturzende Neubauten
• Art Of Noise
• The Cure
• Depeche Mode
• New Order
• Joy Division
• Bauhaus
• Siouxsie And The Banshees
• Soft Cell
• David Bowie
• Kraftwerk
• A Flock of Seagulls
• Front 242
• The Smiths
• Visage
• Tears for Fears
• Yaz

• HappyKat
• YoshihiroHayashi
• stillwaters
• hoogax
• dancingmad