• 1978-

  Vini Reilly Vocals, guitar1978-

  Bruce MitchellDrums1981-

  Keir StewartBass, keyboards and harmonica1998-
• The Durutti Column is an English post-punk band formed in 1978 in Manchester, England. The group is primarily the vehicle for guitarist Vini Reilly, the only consistent member throughout the band's history.
• "Durutti Column" is a play on the Durruti Column, a militia during the Spanish Civil War. They were named after the Spanish anarchist leader Buenaventura Durruti.
• Vini Reilly is known for his distinctive guitar playing, characterized by a clean, minimalist style, often featuring delicate, reverb-heavy melodies. His style blends elements of classical, jazz, and ambient music.
  
  Reilly often plays with a unique fingerpicking technique and frequently uses delay effects, creating a sound that is both atmospheric and emotive.
• The Durutti Column were one of the first acts to be signed to the Factory label, known for its association with bands like Joy Division and New Order.
• The original 3,600 sleeves of The Durutti Column's first LP, The Return of the Durutti Column (1980), were made of coarse sandpaper. The idea was to reflect the abrasive nature of the music scene at the time and was inspired by a book by the Situationists, a radical group of French artists and intellectuals.
• While not a commercial success, the band developed a dedicated cult following. Bands like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Ride are often cited as examples of groups heavily influenced by the Durutti Column's ethereal guitar sounds and emphasis on atmosphere.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Should I Stay or Should I Go?The Clash

"Should I Stay or Should I Go?" by The Clash features some Spanish lines by the Texas singer Joe Ely.

Killing In The NameRage Against the Machine

Tired of X-Factor winners getting the UK Christmas #1, British Facebook users staged a successful campaign to download "Killing In The Name" by Rage Against The Machine enough times to boost the song to the top in 2009, blocking the X-Factor single by Joe McElderry.

YellowColdplay

"Yellow" by Coldplay is a deep, meaningful song, but the title has a rather prosaic origin: it came from the phone directory, known as "the yellow pages."

OutsideStaind

Staind's big moment came in 1999 when lead singer Aaron Lewis played "Outside" on Limp Bizkit's Family Values tour. The live, acoustic version earned lots of radio play.

Take My Breath AwayBerlin

"Take My Breath Away" from Top Gun was a huge hit for Berlin, but lead singer Terri Nunn was the only band member to perform on it. This caused friction that broke up the group a year later.

Ride The LightningMetallica

The title of the Metallica song "Ride The Lightning" came from a line in the Stephen King book The Stand where a guy is about to be executed.

Editor's Picks

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

90s MetalFact or Fiction

Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one.

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.