Alan Wilder
| Alan Wilder | |
|---|---|
Wilder in 1986
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alan Charles Wilder |
| Born |
1 June 1959 Hammersmith, London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, record producer |
| Instruments | Synthesizer, sampler, drums, vocals |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Labels |
Mute Records Reprise/Warner Bros. Records |
| Associated acts |
Depeche Mode (1982–1995) Recoil (1986–present) |
| Website | recoil |
| Notable instruments | |
| E-mu Emulator I, II, & III, Emax, Minimoog, Yamaha DX7, ARP 2600 | |
Alan Charles Wilder (born 1 June 1959) is an English musician, composer, arranger and record producer, known as a former member of the electronic band Depeche Mode from 1982 to 1995. Since his departure from the band, the musical project called Recoil became his primary musical enterprise, which initially started as a side project to Depeche Mode in 1986. Wilder has also provided production and remixing services to the bands Nitzer Ebb and Curve. He is a classically trained musician and renowned contemporary music producer.
Alan Charles Wilder was born into middle class family and was raised in Acton, west London. He began piano at the age of eight, through the encouragement of his parents. Later on, he learned the flute at St Clement Danes Grammar school and became a leading musician in his school bands. After school, Alan worked as a studio assistant at DJM Studios. This led to him ending up working for bands such as The Dragons, Dafne and the Tenderspots (as Alan Normal), Real to Real (featuring Adrian Chilvers on Bass, Pete Fresh on guitar, Wolfgang Marlander on Drums and Paul St. James Vocals), The Hitmen, and The Korgis, appearing on the UK No. 13 single "If I Had You" (1979).
Following the departure of Vince Clarke, Depeche Mode placed an advertisement in the music magazine Melody Maker: "Keyboard player needed for established band – no timewasters." Even though the ad was looking for someone under 21 (Wilder was 22) he lied about his age to get the job, and got away with it. He joined Depeche Mode in January 1982, initially as a tour keyboardist, and soon thereafter as a full member of the recording band.
Wilder wrote a handful of songs for Depeche Mode, including "Two Minute Warning" and "The Landscape Is Changing" (and a B-Side, "Fools") from the album Construction Time Again, and "If You Want" (and a B-Side, "In Your Memory") from the album Some Great Reward. However, Wilder's more notable contributions to Depeche Mode were as a musician, arranger, and producer.
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