Gary Myrick & The Figures

Born and raised in Dallas Texas, Gary Myrick started playing music at the age of 10. Encouraged by his parents based on his artwork from the age of 6. By age 14, Gary was writing songs. By 18, he had his first all original band called Smiley. A three piece Glam/Pop band. By age 20, Myrick started a band called Gary Myrick & Slip of the Wrist which also played all original songs. They made a swift reputation at the legendary Cellar Club in Dallas Fortworth. The club was run by the 1950s Rockabilly legand, Johnny Carol. After 2 years and 5 nights a week Myrick was asked to come to Austin to replace Stevie Ray Vaughn in a band called Kracker Jack. Kracker Jack included Uncle John Turner on drums and Tommy Shannon on bass (the original rhythm sectionof the Johnny Winter Trio.)Shannon went on to be the bass player for Double Trouble. After 2 years in Austin Myrick moved to California. In 1980 his first album "GaryMyrick & The Figures" was released on Epic Records. Which garnered the Hit Single "She Talks In Stereo" which made the Top 100 of the Decade on KROQ Radio and was also featured in the cult classic movie "Valley Girl" which starred Nicholas Cage in his first leading role. Myrick's next album "Living In A Movie" was released in 1982. After extensive touring of America and Canada, Myrick needed a change for his third album. The Figures went their separate ways and Gary did completely solo album called "Language." That album produced 2 videos: "The Message Is You" filmed in England and "Guitar Talk Love and Drums" which was nominated for best special effects on MTV. After an American tour, Myrick hooked up with John Waite to jam and possibly start a band. They hit it off and wrote the album "No Brakes" which garnered the Number 1 Billboard single "Missing You" and was nominated for a Grammy. The "No Brakes" album was originally going to be recorded by a band with a "band name." Gary, having been offered a fourth solo album deal by Geffen, left John Waite and told John that he could call it a solo album. "Stand ForLove," Gary's fourth album was recorded in Los Angeles and New York in Jimi Hendrix's Electric Lady Studios. One video was made from the single "When Angels Kiss." After playing a benefit for the homeless of Los Angeles, Jackson Browne asked Gary to play on his "Lives In The Balance" album on the single "For America." Myrick continued to play guitar and do session work for different artists such as StevieWonder, Queen Ida, Wilson Pickett and others. After meeting up with Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Myrick played guitar in Steve's band supporting Steve's solo album "Mercy" and did a tour opening for the Kinks. Back in Los Angeles Gary met up with the bass player from the Clash, Paul Simonon and Nigel Dixon from the English Rockabilly band Whirlwind. They decided to write songs together and started the band Havana 3 AM. Based upon styles of Texas, El Paso, Latin overtones and English Punk. After a year in Los Angeles Havana 3 AM moved to London to tour in Italy, England and Western Europe. Soon they traveled to Tokyo Japan to make their self titled album "Havana 3 AM." The album was finished for the Japanese Label then licensed to IRS Records. Havana 3 AM made number 4 on Rolling Stone's Alternative chart and appeared on "Late Night With David Letterman." One video was made for the song "Reach The Rock." After tours of America, Canada, Europe and England, Havana3 AM started to change. Paul Simonon left the band to persue an art career, Gary moved back to Austin Texas for a sabatical of six months. Wanting to continue the band, Nigel Dixon came to Austin to work on the project. Nigel Dixon was diagnosed with cancer and after a Texas tour passed away two months later. After losing his friend, Gary went back to Los Angeles to finish what they had started and wrote the album "Texas Glitter and Tombstone Tales." Gary Myrick and Havana 3 AM/ Burnside Records, 1996. Gary started composing for films and commercials while working on new music. Between 1998 and 1999, four of Gary's songs were used in three films, "Route 9,""Stranger Than Fiction," and "Partners In Crime." Three songs from"Texas Glitter and Tombstone Tales" were used as well as one new song. Myrick wanted to escape and create a new world, organic in nature and tap his continuing reference to his roots of Texas. After writing with Victor Bicetti, drummer and percussionist with Los Lobos, Gary rekindled an old friendship with engineer/producer TChad Blake, who had just finished LosLobos' new album. TChad Blake is known for his work with Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waites, Elvis Costello and others. Winning two Grammys in 1999 for the Sheryl Crow Album. Myrick, after writing for one year and trying his all acoustic, story telling songs in the local clubs, started recording in a 100 year old Southern style house in the Hollywood Hills with friend Michelle White engineering. For the first time each song was recorded in full with guitar and vocal (no punch-ins) A string quarted was added, then TChad Blake mixed and put on the finishing touches with Gary. Finished in December, the album is called "Waltz Of The Scarecrow King." The Los Angeles Times recently reviewed Gary's latest work saying: "This finger Pickin' Texan serves up unexpected treats of Tumbleweed Vampirology to the Ghost Of Elvis." In addition to the impressive list of accomplishments in Gary's solo career, he has also worked with the likes of Jackson Browne, Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, Todd Rundgren, The Eagles, John Waite, Paul Simonon (Clash), Steve Jones(Sex Pistols), Brian Wilson, Big Audio Dynamite and many others. Film Credits: 1. (1983)Valley Girl (2 songs)"She Talks In Stereo & Time To Win. 2. (1999)Stranger Than Fiction (2 songs) Tex Pawnshop AndThe Tremolos & Teenage Mafia 3. (2000)Partners In Crime - (song) Imaginary Western 4. (1999) ROUTE 9 - (song) Cantinaland 5. (2001)(full score/soundtrack) HBO film/documentary Creature. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.