| Zaine Griff | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Date: | 4 October 1957 |
| Origin: | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Instrument: | Vocals, guitar, bass |
| Genre: | Synthpop, new wave, ambient, electronic |
| Alias: | Glenn Mikkelson |
| Associated Acts: | The Human Instinct, Screemer, Hans Zimmer, Yukihiro Takahashi, Ultravox, Gary Numan, Kate Bush, Lindsay Kemp |
| Website: | https://www.zainegriff.com/ |
Zaine Griff (born 4 October 1957 in Auckland, New Zealand)[1] is a singer-songwriter who was part of the English new wave and new romantics scene of the early 1980s. Raised in New Zealand, he moved to England in the 1970s, where he continued with his artistic and musical career, becoming a solo artist. He worked with The Human Instinct, The Kinks, Tony Visconti, Hans Zimmer, Kate Bush, Warren Cann and Yukihiro Takahashi, among others.
Born in New Zealand, he joined rock band The Human Instinct aged 16 as their bassist, taking the stage name of Glenn Mikkelson.[2] Griff moved to England in the 1970s. He played bass guitar with Kevin Ayers and The Kinks on their album, Misfits.
In 1979 Griff started his solo career. He released two albums, Ashes and Diamonds (recorded in 1979, released in 1980), produced by Tony Visconti, and Figvres (1982), on which he collaborated with future successful film composer Hans Zimmer, and many colleagues from the new wave and new romantic era including Kate Bush, Warren Cann of Ultravox and Yukihiro Takahashi, of Japanese electronic band YMO.
The single "Tonight" peaked at No. 54 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1980, whilst "Ashes and Diamonds" reached No. 68 in the same listing in June that year.[3]
Griff's first two albums Ashes and Diamonds and Figvres were re-released both on CD and on iTunes in June 2012. In November 2012 they were released in a special Japanese release with bonus songs.[4] [5]
In 2011 Griff returned to live music. After a series of live concerts in his homeland New Zealand, he returned to the London stage in October 2012, when he was a guest in Toyah's live show "Resurrection" in O2 Islington. In September 2014, Griff did two live concerts in Tokyo, Japan.[6]
A new and special rerelease of Zaine Griff's early albums Ashes and Diamonds and Figvres was released in August 2017 on a 2CD pack in MIG Records Collectors Premium Series. It's a very special release as beside the remastered albums it consists 21 mostly unknown and unreleased demo's, rare songs and outtakes.[7]
With The Human Instinct:
With Screemer:
As solo artist:
With The Helden Project, Hans Zimmer, Warren Cann and others (1983, lead vocals):
With Yukihiro Takahashi:
With Gary Numan: