Bryan Ferry

English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

Bryan Ferry, an English singer and songwriter, was the frontman of the band Roxy Music and also a successful solo artist. Known for his distinctive voice and style, Ferry has had a prolific career, releasing numerous solo albums and establishing himself as a leading cultural icon over the decades.

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About the Bryan Ferry

Bryan Ferry is an English singer and songwriter who was the frontman of the band Roxy Music and also a solo artist. His voice has been described as an “elegant, seductive croon”. He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to The Independent, Ferry and his contemporary David Bowie influenced a generation with both their music and their appearances. Peter York described Ferry as “an art object” who “should hang in the Tate”.

Born to a working-class family, Ferry studied fine art and taught at a secondary school before pursuing a career in music. In 1970 he began to assemble Roxy Music with a group of friends and acquaintances in London, and took the role of lead singer and main songwriter. The band achieved immediate international success with the release of their self-titled debut album in 1972, containing a rich multitude of sounds, which reflected Ferry’s interest in exploring different genres of music. Their second album, For Your Pleasureand Sirenand As Time Goes By (1999), as well as Dylanesque (2007), an album of Bob Dylan covers. Including his work with Roxy Music, Ferry has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. In 2019, Ferry was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Roxy Music.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bryan Ferry was born on September 26, 1945.

Bryan Ferry was the frontman and main songwriter for the band Roxy Music.

Bryan Ferry’s voice has been described as an ‘elegant, seductive croon’.

Before pursuing a career in music, Bryan Ferry studied fine art and taught at a secondary school.

Bryan Ferry has released several solo albums featuring cover versions of songs, including ‘These Foolish Things’ (1973), ‘Another Time, Another Place’ (1974), ‘Let’s Stick Together’ (1976), ‘Taxi’ (1993), and ‘As Time Goes By’ (1999).

Including his work with Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.

In 2019, Bryan Ferry was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Roxy Music.

33 Quotes by Bryan Ferry

  1. 1.

    I had beautiful bikes and I was really into it. I just thought it was really glamorous.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  2. 2.

    Secretly, I wanted to look like Jimi Hendrix, but I could never quite pull it off.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  3. 3.

    I like the name Atomic Kitten. It’s so great.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  4. 4.

    It’s not a very high failure rate if you choose people that you really like the sound of.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  5. 5.

    You can never get silence anywhere nowadays, have you noticed?

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  6. 6.

    I don’t think I’ve ever played the Olympia before, but I’m not totally sure.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  7. 7.

    The quality of the writing, really. Simple as that. Beautiful words. It’s very nice as a singer to do great songs, which have wonderful lyrics and strong feelings underneath the song.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  8. 8.

    It’s fabulous when you do that, when you discover somebody who you like, when you kind of feel those feelings, even though he articulates them better.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  9. 9.

    I like L.A., but I shouldn’t live there.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  10. 10.

    But I was feeling quite down at the time. I was living in L.A., which was kind of weird for me.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  11. 11.

    All those rappers, they’re the only glamorous people working in music now. They dress up in these chains of gold, cars, girls and this and that, high-heeled shoes.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  12. 12.

    I suppose young people think football is glamorous – soccer – it’s big money and the stars of it, they look good and have a great big house and a huge Ferrari.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  13. 13.

    I mean, there are so many of his songs that I like that I could easily do that one day.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  14. 14.

    I met John Lennon and he was with his wife in Tokyo. I met him there.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  15. 15.

    Women! I have no idea. I don’t know anything about women at all. They’re a complete mystery to me.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  16. 16.

    Oh yes, much, because music is just something that comes to you. You don’t question it.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  17. 17.

    Performing was terrifying.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  18. 18.

    But I don’t write so much now, because they’re too painful.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  19. 19.

    I’ve had quite a few moments I’ve liked, so it’s good enough.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  20. 20.

    I can never predict what’s going to happen.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  21. 21.

    I don’t do interviews at all when I’m on tour, so this time, on a day off, I’ll do that kind of thing a little bit. I don’t do big promotion schedules, not when I’m touring.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  22. 22.

    I’d love to follow the Tour de France one day. It’s a really exciting spectacle. I’ve only seen it once as it was coming into Paris and that was very exciting for me. I have memories of that.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  23. 23.

    When I stopped touring in the early ’80s for a few years, it was a mistake looking back. I lost touch with my audience in a way and I think that was a bad career move.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  24. 24.

    I like the fact that music is more abstract.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  25. 25.

    But I do like to have peace and quiet for a good hour.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  26. 26.

    I didn’t really want to give up music.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  27. 27.

    It’s nice to know that there are several different avenues I could pursue.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  28. 28.

    Words can be very powerful. I find them very difficult.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  29. 29.

    And Mary J. Blige, she’s got all these fur coats and hats and stuff. She’s good; I like her.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  30. 30.

    But when you get music and words together, that can be a very powerful thing.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  31. 31.

    But when I started writing songs, I stopped painting completely, and the only art things I do are connected to the career, like album sleeves and, to some extent, posters and things like that.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  32. 32.

    In New York, you couldn’t wish for a nicer audience, or in L.A., Chicago, Boston. But when you get into secondary markets, they don’t have a clue.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

  33. 33.

    I’m not really sure what it was, the best moment. You always hope it’s to come.

    Bryan Ferry

    English singer and songwriter (born 1945)