David Balfe (born 2 October 1958, Carlisle, Cumberland) is most notable for playing keyboards with The Teardrop Explodes, founding the Zoo and Food record labels, signing Blur and for being the subject of their number one hit - "Country House".

Biography

He grew up in Thingwall, Wirral , Merseyside, being a member of several Liverpool bands in the late 1970s, including Radio Blank, Big in Japan, Dalek I Love You and The Teardrop Explodes. He also played on and co-produced the first Echo & the Bunnymen and Teardrop Explodes albums, as well as managing both bands, with Bill Drummond, for their early years.

Balfe and Drummond founded the Zoo record label in 1978 in order to release Big in Japan's EP From Y to Z and Never Again. The label went on to release early work from The Teardrop Explodes and Echo & the Bunnymen. Balfe and Drummond also did production work under the name of The Chameleons, and released the singles "Touch" and "The Lonely Spy" - credited to Lori and The Chameleons - on the Zoo label, later licensed to Sire/Korova.

Balfe began as The Teardrop Explodes' label head, manager and producer, but on the departure of their original keyboard player, Paul Simpson, Balfe stepped in for what turned into four years in and out of the band, having a tempestuous relationship with their singer, Julian Cope.

After The Teardrop Explodes disbanded in 1983, Balfe moved to London where, after managing Strawberry Switchblade and Brilliant, he founded the Food record label. They signed Voice of the Beehive, Zodiac Mindwarp (both of whom Balfe went on to manage for many years), Crazyhead, and Diesel Park West, before signing a deal with EMI to fund and distribute their releases. They then signed Jesus Jones and later Blur. It was Balfe and his later label co-owner Andy Ross that convinced the band to change their name from Seymour to Blur in 1989. Balfe also directed two of their early music videos, She's So High and There's No Other Way.

Balfe and Drummond's publishing company, Zoo Music, signed The Proclaimers in 1987, and also had The KLF's publishing, through the Drummond connection. Balfe decided to sell the Food label to EMI in 1994, and retire to the country - inspiring Damon Albarn to pen "Country House".

After leaving the music industry for two years, Balfe returned to work at Sony Music from 1996 to 1999 as general ganager and head of A&R of the Columbia label. His most notable success of that period was Kula Shaker.

Since then Balfe has received a BA in creative writing from the University of Bedfordshire in 2003. In 2006 he completed an MA in screenwriting at the University of Westminster.

References

External links

• Interview