Hubbry Logo
Matthew SeligmanMatthew SeligmanMain
Open search
Matthew Seligman
Community hub
Matthew Seligman
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Matthew Seligman
Matthew Seligman
from Wikipedia

Key Information

Matthew Seligman (14 July 1955 – 17 April 2020) was an English bassist, best known for his association with the new wave music scene of the 1980s.[1] Seligman was a member of the Soft Boys and the Thompson Twins, and was a sideman for Thomas Dolby. Seligman was also a member of Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club and the Dolphin Brothers, and backed David Bowie during his performance at Live Aid in 1985.

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

Seligman was born in Cyprus, and his family moved to the UK eight months after his birth, settling in Wimbledon. Influenced by Paul McCartney, Free’s Andy Fraser, and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads, he learned bass.

Career

[edit]

Seligman was a founding member of Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club, which also included his friend Thomas Dolby. He played on the band's 1979 debut studio album English Garden, which featured a version of "Video Killed the Radio Star", which Woolley had co-written with the Buggles.[2] After leaving the Camera Club in 1979, Seligman joined the Soft Boys, replacing founding bassist Andy Metcalfe, and performed on their second studio album Underwater Moonlight.[3] The Soft Boys broke up in 1981, and Seligman next formed the short-lived band the Fallout Club, which also included Dolby. The Fallout Club disbanded after two singles and Seligman joined the Thompson Twins, appearing on their 1982 studio album Set and its American counterpart In the Name of Love.[3] Seligman was fired from the Thompson Twins later that year when the band decided to reduce itself to a trio.[4] Seligman then joined Dolby's solo group, and played bass on his studio albums The Golden Age of Wireless (1982) and The Flat Earth (1984) and the hit single "She Blinded Me With Science".[3]

In addition to his work with Dolby throughout the 1980s, Seligman was also a member of the bands Local Heroes SW9, the Dolphin Brothers, and most notably the Radio Science Orchestra (alongside Camera Club frontman Bruce Woolley). He also played bass on the first two solo studio albums by his former Soft Boys bandmate Robyn Hitchcock.[5]

As a session musician, Seligman performed on studio albums and singles by Stereo MC's, the Waterboys, Sinéad O'Connor, Transvision Vamp, Morrissey, Nan Vernon, Tori Amos, Kimberley Rew and Alex Chilton.[6] In 1985, Seligman and Dolby appeared as part of David Bowie's backup band at Live Aid.[7] In 1986, Seligman played bass guitar on Bowie's soundtrack album Labyrinth and his single "Absolute Beginners".[8]

In 2002, Seligman played at the Shanghai Festival with Snail, along with Chris Bell and Jonathan Klein, and in 2007 began working with the Fire Escapes. In 2011 to 2012 he contributed to Thomas Dolby's A Map of the Floating City also appearing with him on tours of the UK and northern Europe, at the Blue Note in Tokyo in February 2012 and at the Latitude Festival, Suffolk, England in July 2012. In 2014, with fellow Fire Escapers Mark Headley and Lucy Pullin, he completed the Magical Creatures' Wishing Machine collection, also appearing live with them at a summer 2016 William S. Burroughs-inspired launch party in Brighton, England.

In 2017, Seligman, along with Jon Klein and Australian musicians Paul Cartwright and Paul Smyth released the album Monoplane under the name Neon Sisters. The album features both Seligman and Cartwright on basses, Klein on guitar, Smyth on keyboards with guest appearances by Bruce Woolley and David Bridie.

Seligman played a black Fender Jazz Bass as his first choice instrument. In addition he used an Ibanez with a C-ducer contact mic built into the back of the neck, close to the neck/body junction, for his fretless work primarily with Thomas Dolby, but also Peter Murphy and in the ambient collection Sendai, recorded with Japan/Hong Kong–based musician Jan Linton for the March 2011 Tōhoku earthquake relief fund, and released by Entropy Records in 2012, and re-released in 2020 with extra material after Seligman's death.[9]

Personal life

[edit]

Seligman was a lifelong Fulham F.C. fan. After a lifetime in the UK, he moved to Sendai in Japan in early 2005 and subsequently, after a four-year spell back in the UK, returned there in July 2012. He then practiced as a human rights solicitor in London and continued to play music until his death. He left behind two children.

Death

[edit]

In early April 2020, Dolby reported that Seligman had been placed in an induced coma in St George's Hospital, London, after being diagnosed with COVID-19.[10] On 17 April, Dolby posted on his Facebook page that he had suffered a "catastrophic haemorrhagic stroke" from which he was not expected to recover; Seligman died later that day, aged 64.[3][11] Shortly after his death, the Radio Science Orchestra released a track titled 'The Brightest Star', a jazz-fusion piece that Seligman recorded a few years ago with the group before his death. It was then given a full release on an album titled 'Memories of The Future'.[12]

Discography

[edit]

Seligman performed on the following albums, either as an official band member or a sideman:[6]

Local Heroes S.W.9 – Drip Dry Zone

with Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club

with the Soft Boys

with Robyn Hitchcock

with Thompson Twins

with Thomas Dolby

with the Dolphin Brothers

  • Catch the Fall (1987)

with Jan Linton

  • Sendai 仙台 (2012) [13]
  • Sendai 仙台 Special Extended edition (2020) [14]
  • King Hong (2020)

with Snail

  • Psychodelicate (2001)
  • Last Dog in Space (2002)

with Ajantamusic

  • Above the Cloudline (2009)
  • The Secret Door (2013)

with the Fallout Club

  • "Dream Soldiers" (single) (1981)
  • Dangerous Friends (2017)

with Magical Creatures

  • Wishing Machine (2016)

with Neon Sisters

  • Monoplane (2017)

As a sideman

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Matthew Seligman (14 July 1955 – 17 April 2020) was an English and , renowned for his influential bass playing in the new wave and music scenes of the before retraining in law and advocating for and cases. Born in Pentageia, Cyprus, and raised in Wimbledon, London, Seligman began his musical career in the late 1970s, joining the psychedelic post-punk band the Soft Boys as bassist in 1979, where he contributed to their seminal album Underwater Moonlight (released 1980), whose melodic bass lines helped influence acts like R.E.M. and the Replacements. He later became a sought-after session musician and touring bassist, collaborating with Thomas Dolby on the 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science" and subsequent tours, as well as with the Thompson Twins during their 1980s pop phase. In the mid-1980s, Seligman joined David Bowie's backing band for the Serious Moonlight Tour (1983) and performed with him at Live Aid in 1985, also contributing to the Labyrinth soundtrack (1986); his work extended to artists like Morrissey, Sinéad O'Connor, and Robyn Hitchcock, with whom he reunited for performances into the 2010s. Influenced by bassists such as Paul McCartney and Andy Fraser of Free, Seligman's style was noted for its melodic exuberance and technical skill, reinventing the instrument's role beyond rhythm in new wave contexts. Transitioning from music in the , Seligman qualified as a around 1995, joining 39 Essex Chambers as a pupil and specializing in litigation, , and Court of Protection cases. He represented clients in high-profile matters, including the captain of the Marchioness during its 1989 sinking , and later worked at firms like Steel & and Campbell-Taylor, focusing on capacity, law while establishing a mentoring scheme for young practitioners. Seligman balanced sporadic musical returns—such as a 2010 reunion with —with his legal advocacy until his death from complications and a hemorrhagic at St , , survived by his son Deji, daughter Lily, and partner Mami Kanai.

Early Life

Birth and Upbringing

Matthew Seligman was born on 14 July 1955 in Pentageia, a village near in . When Seligman was eight months old, his family relocated to the , settling in the suburban area of Wimbledon in southwest , . This move brought the family back to British soil, where Seligman spent his formative years in a middle-class environment amid the post-war recovery and cultural shifts of the . Details on his parents' professions remain limited in public records, but the family's British heritage provided a stable foundation during his early childhood. Growing up in Wimbledon during the , Seligman was immersed in the vibrant local music scene that was exploding with the and emerging rock influences. This period shaped his foundational interests, with figures like serving as a key early inspiration.

Education and Musical Influences

He attended the , earning a double first in . During his time there, Seligman developed his skills on the and began early playing experiences, including meeting future collaborators such as in 1976. Seligman's approach to the bass was shaped by several key influences. He drew inspiration from Paul McCartney's melodic bass style, of Free for his rhythmic precision and groove-oriented playing, and of for her innovative, funk-infused techniques that expanded the instrument's role in ensemble dynamics. These artists guided his entry into music, emphasizing the bass's potential beyond mere accompaniment to become a central creative force.

Music Career

Early Bands and The Soft Boys

Seligman's entry into professional music began in 1979 when he became a founding member of and the Camera Club, serving as the band's bassist alongside Woolley on vocals, Dave Birch on guitar, on keyboards, and Rod Johnson on drums. The group released their debut album, English Garden, that same year on , where Seligman's bass work provided a solid foundation for Woolley's new wave-inflected pop songs, including tracks like "English Garden" and "Dancing with the Ghost." His contributions helped shape the band's energetic, synth-driven sound during its short tenure before disbanding later in 1979. Later in 1979, after briefly reconnecting with acquaintances from his time at Cambridge University, Seligman joined as their bassist, replacing Andy Metcalfe amid the band's evolving lineup of on vocals and guitar, on guitar, and Morris Windsor on drums. He remained in this role through the group's active period until their disbandment in 1981, contributing to their signature blend of and new wave. Seligman's fluid, melodic bass lines anchored the band's sound on their seminal album (released 1980), where his playing added propulsive energy to tracks such as "I Want to Be a Lig" and "Queen of Eyes," enhancing the psychedelic textures and angular rhythms that defined their neo-psychedelic style. Within The Soft Boys, internal dynamics were strained by creative differences and the frustrations of limited commercial success in the post-punk era, culminating in the band's dissolution in early 1981 as members pursued individual paths amid a shifting music landscape. Seligman participated in the group's reunion starting in 2001, rejoining Hitchcock, Rew, and Windsor for live performances and the recording of their comeback album Nextdoorland (2002), where his bass work once again supported the band's revived psychedelic energy during tours and sessions like their WFMU radio appearance.

1980s Collaborations

Following the breakup of in 1980, Matthew Seligman established himself as a sought-after session in the new wave scene, contributing to several high-profile projects throughout the decade. In 1981, Seligman joined The Fallout Club, a short-lived electronic group featuring vocalist Trevor Herion, drummer , and keyboardist , with whom he would later collaborate extensively; the band released the single "Wonderlust" that year. Seligman briefly played bass for the in 1982, appearing on their album Set (released internationally as in 1983), which marked the group's transition to and included hits like "Lies" and "Love on Your Side." His partnership with proved particularly enduring, beginning with bass contributions—often on —to Dolby's debut album (1982), including the track "," and extending to live tours supporting the record's 1983 reissue. Seligman provided session bass for The Waterboys' 1985 album This Is the Sea, notably on the epic single "The Whole of the Moon," which helped define the band's expansive "big music" sound. He also contributed bass to Sinéad O'Connor's album Universal Mother (1994). Later in the decade, Seligman played bass on Stereo MC's' 1990 album Supernatural, bridging into their breakthrough era with hip-hop-infused tracks like "Elevate My Mind," though his involvement began with late-1980s sessions for the group. One of Seligman's most visible 1980s performances came as part of David Bowie's backing band at the 1985 concert in , where he played bass during Bowie's set featuring "TVC 15," "," and "Heroes," alongside on keyboards. The following year, Seligman recorded bass for Bowie's soundtrack (1986), including the track "Chilly Down," adding rhythmic drive to the film's fantastical pop elements, though his parts were not on the lead single "Underground."

Japan Period and Later Projects

In the early 2000s, Seligman relocated to in northern , where he resided until returning to the in 2012. This period marked a significant shift from his intensive recording schedule of the previous decades, with Seligman's musical output becoming more localized and sporadic as he immersed himself in the Japanese scene. While based in , he engaged in select collaborations, including the formation of the band Escapes around 2007, which featured local Japanese musicians and reflected his adaptation to new creative environments. Prior to his full relocation, Seligman participated in the ' reunion in 2002, rejoining original members , , and Morris Windsor for live performances and the album Nextdoorland, their first studio release in over two decades. This brief return to his foundational band highlighted his enduring ties to the group's psychedelic new wave sound, though subsequent work with Hitchcock remained occasional, limited to guest appearances amid Seligman's overseas commitments. During his Japanese years, he also contributed bass to the ambient EP Sendai (2012) alongside art-rock guitarist Jan Linton, an evocative project inspired by the city's landscapes and released on Entropy Records. Following his death in 2020, two posthumous EPs featuring collaborations with Linton were released in 2021: an extended edition of Sendai and King Hong. Upon resettling in in 2012, Seligman revitalized his musical pursuits, notably through collaborations with Neon Sisters, a project co-led with bassist Eve Jane Cartwright. Their double-bass-focused ensemble, featuring guitarist Jon Klein and keyboardist Paul Smyth, culminated in the album (2017), a genre-blending work that showcased Seligman's innovative lines alongside electronic and rock elements. This late-career endeavor underscored his continued influence in circles, blending his 1980s session expertise with fresh international partnerships.

Transition to Law

In the early 1990s, following a prolific but unpredictable career, Matthew Seligman decided to pivot toward a , withdrawing from regular musical performances to pursue formal legal training. Having earned a double first in from Cambridge University, he undertook the necessary postgraduate qualifications for non-law graduates, including a conversion course and the , before completing and being called to the bar in 1994. His early legal work focused on general practice areas such as litigation, where he represented clients in high-profile cases, including the into the . After establishing his practice in the UK and joining 39 Essex Chambers as a pupil, Seligman left chambers and later worked with the solicitors' firm Steel & Shamash. He relocated to , , in 2005, where he continued legal work alongside occasional music activities; his residency there provided a period of reflection that reinforced his commitment to law upon his full-time return to around 2017. This phase marked the solidification of his shift from to a stable professional path in advocacy.

Human Rights Practice

Following his transition from music in the early , Matthew Seligman established a legal practice in specializing in , with a primary focus on advocacy and litigation under the Mental Health Act 1983. From around 2010, he worked as a solicitor at Campbell-Taylor Solicitors, where he represented vulnerable clients in cases involving unlawful detention and deprivation of liberty, often drawing on his commitment to . His affiliation with 39 Essex Chambers, where he had earlier trained as a , continued informally as a colleague, supporting his work through Court of Protection proceedings and general litigation. A notable example of his contributions was as instructing solicitor in the case R (Sessay) v South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust EWHC 2617 (QB), where he acted for a young woman detained without lawful justification under provisions, securing damages for breaches of Article 5 of the . Seligman also provided expert summaries for cases like PB v Ltd MHLO 74, addressing systemic failures in care for claimants subjected to restrictive practices. His advocacy extended to supporting severely disabled individuals, often managing complex cases from his hospital bed during his final illness, emphasizing access to justice for those unable to navigate the system alone. In addition to client representation, Seligman contributed to legal reforms by instituting a mentoring scheme at 39 Essex Chambers in the 1990s, which remains active and aids junior lawyers in and practice. This initiative reflected his broader dedication to building capacity in litigation, particularly for and vulnerable populations, while his music career hiatus enabled sustained focus on these efforts.

Personal Life and Death

Family

Seligman had a long-term partnership with Mami Kanai, who is the mother of his daughter Lily. He was also the father of a son, Deji, from a previous relationship. Details about his children's personal lives remain private. He was survived by his son Deji and daughter Lily, with whom he resided in the UK in his later years after returning full-time from . Around 2003, Seligman relocated to , , with his family, later dividing his time between there and the ; this period included his efforts to support his loved ones following the 2011 earthquake. He returned to the full-time a few years before his death. He maintained close family ties throughout his dual careers in music and law. Seligman had a brother named Simon Seligman.

Illness and Death

In early April 2020, Matthew Seligman was hospitalized at St George's Hospital in London after developing symptoms of COVID-19, amid the escalating global pandemic. He was placed on a ventilator and remained in intensive care for approximately two weeks as his condition deteriorated. On the morning of 17 April 2020, Seligman suffered a catastrophic haemorrhagic , a complication attributed to his infection, from which he did not recover. He died later that day at the age of 64. Friends and colleagues later indicated that Seligman may have contracted the virus in early March during a visit to his brother Simon, who was terminally ill and passed away about a month earlier. News of Seligman's death was first shared publicly by musician via a post on 17 , detailing the stroke and expressing grief over the loss during the height of the crisis. Tributes from fellow artists, including former bandmate , highlighted the profound impact on the music community, already reeling from multiple pandemic-related losses among musicians.

Discography

With The Soft Boys

Seligman joined The Soft Boys in 1979, replacing founding bassist Andy Metcalfe, and contributed bass to the band's second studio album, Underwater Moonlight, recorded between late 1979 and early 1980 at Spaceward Studios and released in 1980 on Armageddon Records. His contributions emphasized a shift toward a brighter new wave style, blending jangly guitars with pop-inflected rhythms, as heard in standout tracks like "I Got the Hots for You," where his prominent, upbeat bass lines propel the song's infectious energy and witty narrative. Other notable examples include "Kingdom of Love" and "Positive Vibration," in which Seligman's groovy, melodic bass work—often played on a Rickenbacker—helped define the album's influential post-punk and power pop aesthetic, later cited as a touchstone for alternative rock acts like R.E.M. and The Replacements. The album was engineered by Mike Kemp with production assistance from Pat Collier, highlighting Seligman's tenure through its polished yet quirky arrangements. During the 1979–1981 period, Seligman appeared on live recordings and compilations capturing the band's performances, including the 1981 release Two Halves for the Price of One on Collision Records, which compiled studio outtakes, demos, and live tracks from shows in and , with his bass anchoring the energetic renditions of songs like "Where the Rainbows Hide" and "Goodbye to Morning." These recordings documented the band's transition to a more concise, guitar-driven sound during his involvement. Seligman reunited with the core Soft Boys lineup for their 2002 comeback album Nextdoorland, released on , where he again handled bass duties across all tracks. Recorded in and produced by the band with Tim Smith, the album revisited their psychedelic roots with mature songcraft, featuring Seligman's fluid bass on cuts like "Pulley to the Moon" and "Mr. Kennedy," blending nostalgia with experimental edges from their earlier era. This reunion effort marked his final major recording with the group before their indefinite hiatus.

Key Collaborations

Following his departure from the Soft Boys in 1980, Matthew Seligman established himself as a prominent session bassist, contributing to several high-profile albums and performances throughout the 1980s. Seligman played Moog bass on key tracks of Thomas Dolby's debut album The Golden Age of Wireless (1982, reissued 1983), including the international hit "She Blinded Me with Science" and "One of Our Submarines." His contributions added a distinctive synth-driven groove to the album's new wave sound. In 1983, Seligman provided bass for the ' breakthrough album , supporting the band's shift toward with performances on tracks like "Hold Me Now" and "Lies." The record, featuring his rhythmic foundation, reached number 2 on the and achieved platinum status. Seligman joined David Bowie's touring and recording circle in the mid-1980s, performing bass in Bowie's backing band at the 1985 concert in , where the set included "," "," and "Heroes." He also contributed bass to the soundtrack (1986), appearing on tracks such as "Chilly Down" alongside musicians like and Kevin Armstrong. He also played bass on The Waterboys' album This Is the Sea (1985). Seligman provided session work for Morrissey in the late 1980s. Into the 1990s, Seligman continued select collaborations, providing bass for Stereo MC's albums Supernatural (1990), on tracks like "Elevate My Mind," and Connected (1992), including the title track and "Step It Up." These efforts helped define the group's acid jazz and hip-hop fusion, with Connected earning a Mercury Prize nomination.

Later and Solo Work

In the later stages of his musical career, Matthew Seligman contributed to the 2012 ambient EP in collaboration with Swedish musician Jan Linton, released on Entropy Records as a limited edition of 100 copies. Seligman provided bass and on the track "Radio" and co-composed the opening piece "" with Linton, blending electronic sequences, guitars, and atmospheric soundscapes inspired by the in , , where Seligman had been residing. The EP, comprising four tracks totaling around 21 minutes, was reissued in a deluxe remastered edition in 2020 following Seligman's death, with additional material to honor his contributions. Seligman's involvement extended to the experimental rock project Neon Sisters, where he served as the primary bassist on their 2017 debut album Monoplane, a digital release featuring nine tracks. Alongside guitarist Jon Klein, vocalist Eve Jane Cartwright, and multi-instrumentalist Paul Smyth, Seligman also played Moog synthesizer, contributing to the album's alternative rock style infused with psychedelic and electronic elements, such as on the track "99% Pure." The project marked one of his final major recordings, emphasizing his enduring role in innovative, bass-driven soundscapes.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.