Reeves Gabrels (b.1956) is an American guitarist, best known for his long partnership with British singer David Bowie, working together regularly from 1987 to 2000. Gabrels was born in Staten Island, New York in June 1956. His mother was a typist and his father worked on tugboats in New York Harbor. Gabrels started playing guitar at age 13, and the following year (1971) his father arranged for lessons with the father's friend and contemporary Turk Van Lake, who lived in the neighborhood. Van Lake (1918-2002) was a professional musician who had played with Benny Goodman and others.
After high school, Gabrels attended the Parsons School of Design and the School of Visual Arts in New York City but continued to play guitar. Through some session musician work he met noted jazz guitarist John Scofield, from whom he took a lesson or two. Gabrels moved to Boston to attend the Berklee School of Music, which he left several credits short of a degree in 1981.
Gabrels had an active performing career in Boston before and after his professional association with David Bowie began in the late 1980s. During the 1980s and early 1990s Gabrels was a member of such Boston bands as The Dark, Life on Earth, Rubber Rodeo, The Bentmen and Modern Farmer. Modern Farmer (Gabrels, Jamie Rubin, Dave Hull, and Billy Beard) issued a self-titled record on Victory/Universal in 1993.
Gabrels was introduced to David Bowie during a Bowie tour in 1987 for which Gabrels' journalist wife, Sara Terry, worked as publicist. Gabrels later (1989-1993) joined forces with Bowie and the Sales brothers (drummer Hunt Sales and bass player Tony Sales) in the rock band Tin Machine. Later, Gabrels became an essential part of Bowie's nineties sound, most notably on Outside (1995), Earthling (1997), and 'hours...' (1999), the latter two of which he co-produced. Gabrels and Bowie also created the soundtrack to the computer game Omikron: The Nomad Soul in 1999 for the game's French publisher. Gabrels ended his professional association with Bowie in late 1999.
Independent of his work with Bowie, Gabrels maintained a wide-ranging career as composer/songwriter, musical collaborator, and solo performer/producer. He worked with Robert Smith of The Cure during the 1990s, collaborating on The Cure's track "Wrong Number" and "A Sign From God" (as COGASM) as well as co-writing the song "Yesterday's Gone" which Smith sings on Gabrels' 1995 solo album Ulysses.
Gabrels has written soundtracks for films including David Sutherland's "The Farmer's Wife" (Frontline, 1995) and for PBS productions, and collaborated with Public Enemy on the song "Go Cat Go" for the Spike Lee film "He Got Game" (soundtrack, Def Jam, 1998). He wrote the "club music" portions of the soundtrack for the video game Deus Ex. Gabrels and slide guitarist David Tronzo joined forces on a virtuoso instrumental album, "Night in Amnesia," issued by Rounder in 1995.
Solo records by Gabrels include The Sacred Squall of Now (Rounder/Upstart, 1995); Ulysses (Emagine, 2000); Live, Late, Loud (Myth Music, 2003); and Rockonica (Myth Music/Favored Nations/Sony, 2005). Gabrels joined Heavy metal supergroup X-World/5 with drummer Big Swede, bass player Magnus Rosén, vocalist Nils K. Rue, and guitarist Andy LaRocque. Their album "New Universal Order" was released by German label AFM in June 2008.
Since 2006 Gabrels has been based in Nashville, Tennessee where he often performs in a trio with drummer Jeff Brown and bass player Kevin Hornback ("Reeves Gabrels and His Imaginary Friends").
Merry Christmas. Voice/ lyrics/ guitar playing so grandly grand u inspire me as this is a fan-site and I am trying to play a guitar. I listened while washing some dishes and preparing my dinner also opening the wine. Alone but not lost. I have a new quote so will send it from my own personal site....d.b. 4 D.B.
Hey Nashville! Did you notice the construction going on downtown at Hard Rock? Well they did some remodeling and added a concert stage upstairs, exciting right! And with the opening of this new stage, they decided to run a concert series called The Hard Rock Rehearsal Sessions with all the proceeds benefiting World Hunger Year (WHY). This organization makes a massive impact for many in need, which is particularly invaluable during times like these. Labeling Deloris has chosen to showcase this Friday night for the opening weekend of the benefit series and they invite you to please come out and support this great cause. $5 can go a long way to a starving World.
My new record just came out this week on I-Tunes and CD Baby. I have included a video talking about the record, hope you enjoy it! Please leave us some feedback to let us know what you think! Thanks for your support.
-Ray Stephenson
PS: This album would make a great stocking stuffer ;)
Hi Reeves Gabrels i bought shingles, nails and hot tare getting young jackleg to patch my roof. Ceiling is only leaking a tiny bit now yet a piece of my heart is missing. I kinda liked this guy the roofer, cook, exCon Man. XXhugs to u. Debra
I wrote a new song from an old poem of mine it is on the url 490604111 XXhugs oh wrote and sang in a myspace video it is laughableoh debbie sue and just did this picture which is one of my twenty favorites of Mister David Bowie whom has so much of me in so many ways and I hope I don't embarress him also notice in Ashes to Ashes he says my Mother says and he disobeys her much the way I do my Mother. XXooXXoo Silly Sue fluttering over stuff I can't have or touch. Goodness just to get a hand shake from him would be grandly grand.
We thank you for the add! We’re just a small band, but we’d be delighted if you listened to our Garage Rock songs and you sent us any kind of comment!! ☠
Hi Reeves, Rico called me from your gig Sat. Hope you had a great time, wish I heard the phone ring to talk to you guys, gotta get down there to see you and Rico soon.
I must have drinked too much wine or stayed up too late. I thought I sent u my new cube all is covered and I think one is never viewable by clicking. Marilyn was heavier than me until age 25 and then they made her diet and etc.
Much famous, not feeling up to par and many responsibilies, yet if he breezes past say I understand and take crumbs. My Life is almost Hell yet sure not yet as bad as it could get and others have it worst b/c I am still very healthy in my opinion. I have the fear of going insane yet none on my maternial or Father's side have had much more than depression or bi-polar and me maybe the MpD which could be healed yet Mother thinks the disability is God sent. I never have particularly felt that way. And my step Daddy refers me as on welfare or lazy. I am just stuck. I was much happier working and had more energy keeping house and most things better. My Poetry, sexual stories and pets are my joy. Oh my true idol Mister David Bowie. I love the Song about the Saviour Machine which I think he means our monthly checks which when Anarchy hits it will be a huge dangerous World. I patched a spot in extra bedroom but need to pray for only light rain or a cheap patch about my chim chim alea. My Roof is in poor shape. When x quit his job Nov.2003 the upkeep of house got worst and I just mostly stayed away. LOL - I hope if it falls in it will be only there b/c I do have tin roof on back part. Never smelling mold only in the problem room. I was a hoot & holla on the step ladder dilly dattering into it. We will see tomorrow if I made it better or omg worse. XXhugs.
3 great bands = 1 awesome night of music. Saturday, Oct. 17th, 12th & Porter will be hosting Labeling Deloris, Caprice and Sixty to Zero. Come out and support real Nashville Rock N’ Roll! SEE YOU THERE!!!
oh debbie sue and just did this picture which is one of my twenty favorites of Mister David Bowie whom has so much of me in so many ways and I hope I don't embarress him also notice in Ashes to Ashes he says my Mother says and he disobeys her much the way I do my Mother. XXooXXoo Silly Sue fluttering over stuff I can't have or touch. Goodness just to get a hand shake from him would be grandly grand.
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