Thomas Dolby's Back. Why?

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Yes, he's back with a festival appearance and a one-off gig at the Scala in London. But why?

For the love of music? Surely not, he's made it quite clear on his website that music was in the past.

For the fans? See answer above.

For the money? Nope. Successful business man hanging out in LA married to Hollywood actress.

So why?

Search : Weightless, Flying North, Screen Kiss
Destroy : Hyperactive

― matt.lockett@gmail.com (banksy), Sunday, 21 May 2006 07:38 (nineteen years ago)

He's a smart guy. I interviewed him about a month ago. But his live solo show was sort of a snooze. Sixes.

― Mr _Deeds (Mr_Deeds), Sunday, 21 May 2006 07:58 (nineteen years ago)

what are you talking about? Hyperactive was classic!

― Jack Battery-Pack (Jack Battery-Pack), Sunday, 21 May 2006 08:41 (nineteen years ago)

Europa and the Pirate Twins - that is a very alienated, eccentric and moving little pop song.

― registered ratty (registered ratty), Sunday, 21 May 2006 08:44 (nineteen years ago)

So why?

I would guess that the true answer is "why the hell not?" somebody offered, it sounded like a decent idea, and standing on principle ("I said I was done with all that!") is very dull

― Thomas Tallis (Tommy), Sunday, 21 May 2006 08:45 (nineteen years ago)

Everybody else is reforming so why not. You never have enough money; one of the first rules of being a good businessman.

― tolstoy (tolstoy), Sunday, 21 May 2006 10:16 (nineteen years ago)

everyone I know who has seen him lately said he was great.

― kyle (akmonday), Sunday, 21 May 2006 13:34 (nineteen years ago)

One awesome part of the live show is a live video feed from his head-mounted camera so you can see his own view of his keyboarding.

And he gives the impression that he's having a great time, little passion as he may have left for these particular 25-year-old songs.

― Paul Eater (eater), Sunday, 21 May 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

well well. on a recent trip to chicago i actually managed to check out his live show.
fuck the hate. it was a great gig. the sound was amazing (though a little quiet - is that a USA/Chicago/Martyrs thing ?) with thomas kicking off samples riffs etc, , and completetly unexpectedly thomas was very natural with the crowd, telling stories and such, and yes he does genuinely look to be loving every minute.
oh, and its not for $$$ - the man has app. made a fortune out of ringtones - or something like that.
i enjoyed it so much more than i would have ever imagined.

― mark e (mark e), Sunday, 21 May 2006 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

He came to my town and I missed him because I didn't know he was playing. I'll never live it down.

― Twitchety Twitch Manic Toy System (Bimble...), Sunday, 21 May 2006 19:10 (nineteen years ago)

Performing tonight in St. Paul...

http://blogs.citypages.com/ctg/2006/05/adoring_fan_mom.asp

― Pete Scholtes (Pete Scholtes), Sunday, 21 May 2006 21:23 (nineteen years ago)

It's his way of stepping to K-Fed.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Sunday, 21 May 2006 23:24 (nineteen years ago)

I saw his show and I loved it. Plus: his fanbase = frrrrreeeeaky

― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), Monday, 22 May 2006 01:11 (nineteen years ago)

I'll second that, Drew. They're a variety of computer/music geek that's very very odd and somewhat kinked.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Monday, 22 May 2006 02:40 (nineteen years ago)

I am that fanbase, here's a jpg my friend took

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a6/Sprad/dolby.jpg

I liked the show. Opening with "Leipzig" = classic.

― milton parker (Jon L), Monday, 22 May 2006 02:48 (nineteen years ago)

headphones still looks like drag accessories on him. its so weird.

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Monday, 22 May 2006 02:57 (nineteen years ago)

Thomas Dolby is back eh?

Odd, because for the last few years I've been under the impression that he killed himself.

― Thomas Mehlt (Tokyo Ghost Stories), Monday, 22 May 2006 03:23 (nineteen years ago)

Don't get me wrong, I love you weirdos; my girl went to the show too.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Monday, 22 May 2006 04:29 (nineteen years ago)

The show I was at had a smattering of Israeli teens dotted among the middle-aged men singing along in vocoder voices.

― Paul Eater (eater), Monday, 22 May 2006 12:55 (nineteen years ago)

Crazy thing is, he's only playing a one song and a snippet from his very best album---and one of the 80's most overlooked gems --- 'The Flat Earth'. Check out that's collection's 'Screen Kiss' for a stunning, dense and magical meditation on Hollywood and twisted love.

― Mr. Patty, Monday, 22 May 2006 13:24 (nineteen years ago)

four years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SuZMwe-XRc

i loved the naffness that was part of the Aliens .. era, but being honest, i'm struggling with this.

― mark e, Monday, 22 November 2010 14:54 (fifteen years ago)

I even liked two or three songs from 'Astronauts and Heretics' but I definitely can't do this 'Amerikana' ep

― Milton Parker, Monday, 22 November 2010 18:51 (fifteen years ago)

"Thomas Dolby's back. What happened? I am confused."

― the coffee of coffees (corey), Monday, 22 November 2010 18:53 (fifteen years ago)

I wrote a review page for him here:
http://listology.com/jamool/story/thomas-dolby

I always liked the guy and thought it was kind of sad how he's pegged as a novelty artist or one-hit wonder. His first album is amazing, and the 2009 remaster is incredible. Great to hear the album as it was intended with "Science" and some of his great B-sides/early singles as bonus tracks. Golden Age of Wireless is one of the very best synthpop albums. The Flat Earth is very good as well. His 2006 shows were very cool...he would do them as the only performer on the stage, playing one line and looping it and gradually building up the song from there. It looks very hard to do but Dolby really seemed comfortable with what he was doing. Can't wait for his new album after nearly a two-decade absence...he's not the type who would put out something he didn't think was excellent, not since he's practically a no-name now anyway and he has like a zillion dollars from his ringtone company. I guarantee it's going to be good.

― frogbs, Monday, 22 November 2010 19:13 (fifteen years ago)

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