Born on August 4: Vini Reilly, the arpeggio master of Durutti Column

The discreet English singer-songwriter was born in Manchester in 1953. He celebrates his 72nd birthday today.

Delicate and poignant, the young genius' arpeggios in no way evoke the English musical fever of the time, given over to (post) punk. Entirely instrumental and centered on his ethereal guitar playing, Vini Reilly's music seems unalterable and timeless...

During his teenage years, his very strict father died when he was only 15. On his first album in 1979, he dedicated "Requiem For A Father" to him. Quite gifted at football, he was approached by Manchester City to join the club's young talent. But between football and the six-string, the young Vini didn't hesitate for long. Music won the day...

Strangely, The Durutti Column's first steps on the Manchester label Factory Records are often described as post-punk. Delicate and poignant, the young genius' arpeggios in no way evoke the English musical fever of the time. With Toni Wilson's first signing, Vini didn't release "The Return of the Durutti Column," a completely instrumental album centered on his ethereal guitar playing, until January 1980.

A true master of the guitar, Vini Reilly most often plays a Fender Stratocaster but also a Gibson Les Paul Custom. While he never managed to capture the hearts of the general public, he counts some of his peers among his greatest aficionados. Brian Eno has long considered "LC" (1981) his favorite album of all time. Red Hot Chili Peppers John Frusciante considered him the most gifted guitarist of his generation. A prolific artist, he also finds time to respond to invitations extended to him by his friend Morrissey (for the album "Viva Hate!" in 1985) as well as Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes To Hollywood), Pauline Murray (Penetration), Richard Jobson (The Skids), Swing Out Sister, and a few others.

Vini Reilly suffered a mild stroke in September 2010, and lost some of his dexterity. His life also experienced some financial upheavals following this stroke. He nevertheless released (or should we say so) the moving "Short Stories For Pauline" in 2012 on Factory Benelux, thanks to the kind attention of James Nice. His last recorded work to date, however, dates from a recording session with Belgian musicians that took place in Brussels in 1983 and had been gathering dust for three decades. If you're not familiar with Vini and The Durutti Column, it's never too late to discover them.

(MH with Stéphane Soupart - photo : © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Vini Reilly of The Durutti Column on the set of the TV show "Génération 80" in Brussels (Belgium) on February 16, 1982