Al Doyle

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Al Doyle
Doyle performing with LCD Soundsystem in 2016
Doyle performing with LCD Soundsystem in 2016
Background information
Birth nameAlexander John Joseph Doyle
Born (1980-08-28) 28 August 1980 (age 43)
Leeds, England
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • keyboards
  • vocals
Years active2003–present
Labels
Member of

Alexander John Joseph Doyle (born 28 August 1980) is a British musician. He is best known as the guitarist and synthesiser player for British indie electronic band Hot Chip and American rock band LCD Soundsystem. He is also a founding member of British electronic band New Build.

Early life[edit]

Doyle took piano and cello lessons from as young as 5 or 6 years old. He lost interest in these instruments as he began studying at university, when he began teaching himself other instruments, such as the guitar, drums, and bass guitar, and learned how to create music with computers.[1] Doyle later won a place at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge to read English alongside future Hot Chip bandmate Felix Martin.[2] He was, for a time, university flatmates with comedian Alex Horne.

Career[edit]

Hot Chip[edit]

Doyle joined British indie electronic band Hot Chip in 2003 before the recording session for their debut studio album, Coming on Strong (2004).[3] Band co-founder Alexis Taylor called him to invite him to join the band while Doyle was unemployed and living in London, and he accepted.[1] He remains a member of Hot Chip as of the release of A Bath Full of Ecstasy (2019), their seventh studio album.[4]

LCD Soundsystem[edit]

Soon after the release of their self-titled debut studio album, Doyle joined American rock band LCD Soundsystem as a live member, as noted in the liner notes of their second studio album, Sound of Silver (2007).[5] He would go on to play the Yamaha CS-60 and guitar on their 2010 song "You Wanted a Hit", the sixth track from their third studio album, This Is Happening (2010).[6] In 2011, band frontman James Murphy announced that they were disbanding and would perform a farewell show at Madison Square Garden, where Doyle also played.[7] The band would reunite, however, in 2015, to release a new album.[8] Doyle became a much more prominent studio member of the band during the recording sessions, receiving writing credits on seven tracks out of the album's ten, and performing several instruments, including piano, cello, bowed mandolin, and electronic drums.[9] The album, titled American Dream, was released on 1 September 2017.[10]

New Build[edit]

Following LCD Soundsystem's disbandment in 2011,[7] Doyle created the band New Build along with Hot Chip member Felix Martin and audio engineer Tom Hopkins.[11] On 5 March 2012, they released their debut studio album, Yesterday Was Lived and Lost.[12] They released a second studio album, Pour It On, on 20 October 2014.[13]

Discography[edit]

Doyle (far left) performing with Hot Chip in 2006
Doyle with James Murphy (right), performing with LCD Soundsystem in 2011

With Hot Chip

With LCD Soundsystem

With New Build

  • Yesterday Was Lived and Lost (2012)
  • Pour It On (2014)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Al Doyle - Hot Chip // LCD Sound System // New Build". MusicPsych. June 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  2. ^ Smith, Paul (15 January 2010). "Chip off the old block". Varsity (Cambridge). Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  3. ^ Warner, Andrea (13 September 2012). "Hot Chip's Al Doyle Talks the Perils of a Rock'n'Roll Lifestyle". Exclaim!. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  4. ^ A Bath Full of Ecstasy (album liner notes). Hot Chip. Domino Recording Company. 2019.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Sound of Silver (album liner notes). LCD Soundsystem. DFA Records. 2007.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ This Is Happening (album liner notes). LCD Soundsystem. DFA Records. 2010.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ a b Fassler, Joe (18 July 2012). "Why, Exactly, Did LCD Soundsystem Quit?". The Atlantic. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  8. ^ Hendicott, James (5 January 2016). "LCD Soundsystem release comeback statement: 'We're not just touring. We're releasing a record'". NME. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  9. ^ American Dream (album liner notes). LCD Soundsystem. DFA Records; Columbia Records. 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Young, Alex (19 June 2017). "LCD Soundsystem announce new album American Dream, plus lengthy tour". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  11. ^ Coplan, Chris (11 November 2011). "Members of Hot Chip, LCD Soundystem form New Build". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Yesterday Was Lived and Lost | New Build". Bandcamp. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  13. ^ Renshaw, David (20 October 2014). "Today's new album releases: Slipknot, Thurston Moore, Ben Howard, The Coral and more". NME. Retrieved 23 August 2018.