Andy Mackay

b. 23 July 1946, London, England. Originally a classical musician, Mackay switched to rock, and while at Reading University, played saxophone in R&B group, the Nova Express. After answering an advertisement placed by Bryan Ferry, Mackay was offered a place in Roxy Music. Within a year and a half, the group were acclaimed as one of the most exciting new prospects on the UK rock scene. Much of their power came from the breathtaking saxophone work of Mackay. Such was his credibility that, in 1974, he was given leave to release a solo album, IN SEARCH OF EDDIE RIFF. With a wealth of backing musicians, including Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, Eddie Jobson, Paul Thompson and John Porter, Mackay recorded an instrumental album on which he demonstrated his musical talent. It was an idiosyncratic work containing a selection of rock numbers and updated classics such as Jimmy Ruffin's What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted? and the Beatles’ The Long And Winding Road. The classical pieces featured an arrangement of Schubert's An Die Musik and a startling adaptation of Wagner's Ride Of The Valkyries. The musical concoction was completed by some self-penned compositions, most notably, Pyramid Of The Night (Past, Present And Future). When Roxy Music temporarily retired during 1976-78, Mackay composed the music for the television series ROCK FOLLIES. He also worked with Mott The Hoople, John Cale and Pavlov's Dog and produced and played on Eddie And The Hot Rods’ reworking of Wooly Bully. In 1978, a second album of saxophone instrumentals emerged with RESOLVING CONTRADICTIONS. In the wake of Roxy's final split, Mackay formed the Explorers with Phil Manzanera and released an album of the same title, which sold moderately.