Fad Gadget

Band: Fad Gadget
Genre: avant-garde, electro, new wave

Fad Gadget was Irish born Frank Tovey. His music was an example for new wave and early industrial music. The music of Fad Gadget was characterized by a distinctive use of synthesizers in conjunction with sounds of found objects, including drills and electric razors. The lyrics were sarcastic and darkly humorous. His performances were extravagant, explicit and remarkable (he was known for plucking his pubic hair on stage!).

Fad Gadget was the first act to sign to Mute Records, releasing a debut single in 1979: Back to nature and debut album Firesite favourites in 1980.
Tovey recorded two more albums for Mute Records. After that he decided to go to Berlin to produce Gag (1984). would be the first time he used a band of musicians to record an album.
Gag was Tovey's last album as Fad Gadget. He began recording several LPs of more experimental work under his own name.
In 2001, Tovey made a comeback as Fad Gadget and supported his former colleagues and Mute label-mates, Depeche Mode, on their Exciter tour.

Tovey, who suffered from heart problems since his childhood, died of a heart attack on 3 April 2002 at the age of only 45.

More about Fad Gagdet, and here.

Back to nature (1979)


For whom the bell tolls (1982)



Collapsing new people (1984)