Brian Eno, the renowned musician and innovator of ambient music, has made a significant impact on the world of music. From his early days as a member of the band Roxy, Eno has explored various styles and genres, pushing the boundaries of music production. His experimental approach and endorsement of innovative techniques have earned him acclaim and recognition. With a string of solo albums and collaborations with other musicians, Eno continues to create soulful and captivating music. Learn more about his life and works in the following lines.
Quick Facts
- Name: Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno
- Age: 75 Years, 75 Year Old Males
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Anthea Norman-Taylor (m. 1988), Sarah Grenville (m. 1967), father: William Arnold Eno, mother: Maria Alphonsine Eno, children: Darla Eno, Hannah Eno, Irial Eno
- Born Country: England
- Quotes By Brian Eno
- Atheists
- Height: 5’7″ (170 cm), 5’7″ Males
- City: Suffolk, England
Childhood & Early Life
Brian Eno was born in Woodbridge, England. He was raised in Suffolk and received his formal education from St Joseph’s College in Ipswich. He later attended Ipswich Art School and Winchester School of Art, graduating in 1969. Inspired by a lecture by Pete Townshead, where he learned about the use of tape machines by non-musicians, Eno decided to pursue music as his chosen profession. He started by using a tape recorder as his first musical instrument. One of his first recorded performances was as one of the voices in the recital of The Great Learning by Cardew.
Career
Eno launched his career professionally as a member of the glam rock band, Roxy Music, in 1971. He initially operated the mixing desk and processed the sound of the band, as well as singing backing vocals. He eventually became a performing member of the group but left in 1973 following an argument with the lead singer. From 1973 to 1977, he released four solo albums: “Here Come the Warm Jets,” “Taking Tiger Mountain,” “Another Green World,” and “Before and After Science.” These albums showcased his diverse musical style, with “Taking Tiger Mountain” featuring his best-known song, “Third Uncle.”
In 1972, Eno collaborated with Robert Fripp to create the album “No Pussyfooting,” using the Frippertronics tape delay system. They followed this with their second album, “Evening Star.” Eno was also a prominent member of the art classical orchestra, the Portsmouth Sinfonia. He released their first album, “The Portsmouth Sinfonia Plays the Popular Classics,” in 1973, and the first live album, “Hallelujah! The Portsmouth Sinfonia Live,” in 1974.
Eno’s album “Discreet Music,” released in 1975, marked the beginning of his exploration of ambient music. He went on to release a series of ambient albums, including “Music for Airports,” “The Plateaux of Mirror,” “Day of Radiance,” and “On Land.” These albums featured low-volume music that modified the perception of the surrounding environment.
Throughout his career, Eno continued to experiment with different musical styles and collaborations. He worked on film scores, such as “Egon Schiele – Excess and Punishment” in 1980, and collaborated with David Byrne of Talking Heads on the album “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.” He also explored generative music, releasing albums such as “I Dormienti (The Sleepers)” and “Music for Prague.”
In addition to his music career, Eno has served as a producer for various artists, including Talking Heads, U2, Devo, Ultravox, and James. He is also an Evangelical Atheist and supports the Long Now Foundation, which focuses on educating people about the long-term future of society. Eno is a columnist for the British newspaper The Observer.
Personal Life & Legacy
In his personal life, Eno has been involved in various projects and collaborations. He composed the six-second startup music sound for the Windows 95 operating system, known as “The Microsoft Sound.” He has also made contributions to other artists’ albums, such as Dido’s “Safe Trip Home” and Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of “The Lovely Bones.” In 2010, he released a solo album titled “Small Craft on a Milk Sea,” which included compositions adapted from his work on “The Lovely Bones.” Eno continues to be a prolific musician and influential figure in the music industry.