Vincent Gerard "Vini" Reilly (born 4 August 1953) is an English musician and leader of the

post-punk Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of punk music that emerged in the late 1970s as musicians departed from punk's traditional elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a variety of avant-garde sensibilities and non-r ...

group the Durutti Column. He is known for his distinctively clean, fluid guitar style, which stood out from his punk-era contemporaries in its incorporation of

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

, folk, and classical elements. In addition to his work under that group, Reilly has also collaborated with artists such as

Morrissey Steven Patrick Morrissey (; born 22 May 1959), known professionally as Morrissey, is an English singer and songwriter. He came to prominence as the frontman and lyricist of rock band the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. Since th ...

, John Cooper Clarke, Pauline Murray, Anne Clark, and others.

Biography

Reilly was born on 4 August 1953 in Higher Blackley,

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...

, and raised in Withington,

Wythenshawe Wythenshawe () is a district of the city of Manchester, England. Historically in Cheshire, Wythenshawe was transferred in 1931 to the City of Manchester, which had begun building a massive housing estate there in the 1920s. With an area of approx ...

and

Didsbury Didsbury is a suburban area of Manchester, England, on the north bank of the River Mersey, south of Manchester city centre. The population at the 2011 census was 26,788. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, there are ...

, Manchester. His father was an engineer who did not allow his five children to watch television. At age 16, Reilly's father died. He later lamented that he did not admire or know him enough. As a youngster, Reilly was a talented footballer. He was offered a trial for Manchester City F.C., but he declined, opting to concentrate on music. His first recorded work was Ed Banger & The Nosebleeds' "Ain't Bin To No Music School". Reilly was Tony Wilson's first signing to

Factory Records Factory Records was a Manchester-based British independent record label founded in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus. The label featured several important acts on its roster, including Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, the Duru ...

in Manchester.

Brian Eno Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno (; born Brian Peter George Eno, 15 May 1948) is a British musician, composer, record producer and visual artist best known for his contributions to ambient music and work in rock, pop a ...

cited Reilly's album '' LC'' as his all-time favourite album and

Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983, comprising vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante. Their music incorporates elements of alternative rock, funk ...

' John Frusciante has stated that Reilly is "the best guitarist in the world". Reilly arranged music and played guitar on fellow Manchester artist

's first post-Smiths album '' Viva Hate'' (1988). Morrissey and Reilly have both been members of The Nosebleeds, but in different incarnations of the group. Reilly has also recorded with artists including John Cooper Clarke, Pauline Murray, Anne Clark, The Wake, Richard Jobson,

Quando Quango Quando Quango were a British electronic music group, formed by The Haçienda DJ and Factory Records A&R man Mike Pickering, Hillegonda Rietveld and Reinier Rietveld. Their unique sound influenced the underground dance music scenes in New Yor ...

, Craig Davies,

Swing Out Sister Swing Out Sister are a British pop group best known worldwide for the 1986 song " Breakout". Other hits include " Surrender", " Twilight World", " Waiting Game", and a remake of the Eugene Record soul composition "Am I the Same Girl?" Histo ...

and Holly Johnson (on his 2014 album ''

Europa Europa may refer to: Places * Europe * Europa (Roman province), a province within the Diocese of Thrace * Europa (Seville Metro), Seville, Spain; a station on the Seville Metro * Europa City, Paris, France; a planned development * Europa Clif ...

''). In September 2010, Reilly had a "minor" stroke which made him lose "some feeling in his left hand". Despite this, in February 2011 it was reported that he was working on a new album. The new tracks are slower because, since the stroke, he cannot play as fast as he used to. In January 2013, Reilly's nephew made an Internet appeal on his behalf for donations because the guitarist had debts for unpaid rent from the time between his strokes and his assessment for disability benefit. Fans sent £3,000 within a day and Reilly was reported to feel that their generosity had "lifted the weight of the world off his shoulders".

Discography

References

External links

* Vini Reilly page at Allmusic.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Reilly, Vini 1953 births Living people English rock musicians People from Didsbury Musicians from Manchester British post-punk musicians English rock guitarists The Durutti Column members The Invisible Girls members