Vincent Gallo

Vincent Gallo first gained widespread recognition for his performances in such cult films as Buffalo 66, a project in which he also took on writing and directing duties, yet he has maintained a parallel recording career that encompasses both solo releases and stints with little-known groups including Bohack. Born April 11, 1961, in Buffalo, NY, he picked up the guitar while participating in garage bands throughout the early 1970s, cultivating tastes that embraced both progressive rock and proto-punk acts. During this period he played in several little-documented Buffalo ensembles—the Blue Mood, Zephyr (unrelated to the late-1960s band sharing that name), and the Plastics—before moving to New York City at sixteen and co-founding the group Gray alongside the then-emerging visual artist Jean Michel Basquiat. Although Gray performed regularly at such Manhattan venues as Max’s Kansas City, CBGB’s, Hurrahs, and the Mudd Club, the band dissolved without producing any recordings. In the early 1980s Gallo joined or led additional projects, among them the one-man Nonsexuals, the rap duo Trouble Deuce, and Bohack, whose 1983 album It Took Several Wives marked his first appearance on record.

Soon after Bohack disbanded, he set music aside to concentrate on film work, securing consistent employment as an actor, director, and composer. The inclusion of several original pieces on the 1998 Buffalo 66 soundtrack prompted him to reconsider that decision; he subsequently formed the band Bunny alongside guitarist Lucas Haas. A well-received Japanese tour followed, and a debut album was recorded for Sony under the supervision of noted Yes producer Eddie Offord, yet the group split before the material could be issued. After settling in Los Angeles, Gallo began creating solo demos in his home studio, which drew the interest of Warp Records. The early years of the twenty-first century brought the release of two well-reviewed solo albums, 2001’s When and 2002’s Recordings of Music for Film.