London and Los Angeles are a paradox: they've got completely different cultures, climates, and creative aesthetics. One is shiny, sunny and eccentric; the other is steeped in history, manners and gravitas. Still, they complement each other, as if their individual traits together built the perfect city. With his band Bush and now as a solo artist Gavin Rossdale's musical affinity — a slippery mix of grungy American guitars and polite English hairline harmonies with effects-driven accents — inhabits both places, emotionally and atmospherically.

After successful Brit-rockers Bush hung it up, lead singer Rossdale formed Institute, whose one crunchy album was released in 2005. Distort Yourself was produced by Helmet's Page Hamilton, and the band included Chris Traynor, also of Helmet and a member of Bush's touring band in its final days. The disc's hard-edged approach was similar to Bush's Steve Albini-produced Razorblade Suitcase but missed connections with fans and critics.

Rossdale regrouped and contributed "Adrenaline" (co-penned with Glen Ballard) to the film XXX, the track "Mind Games" to the digital version of Instant Karma Amnesty International benefit album, and was commissioned to write the brooding theme song "Can't Stop The World/Some Days" for the now-cancelled Fox TV show "Drive." Coming into his own as an actor (Little Black Book, Constantine, How To Rob A Bank), Rossdale also composed original music for the 2004 film Luminal.

Having written all of the lyrics for Bush (and almost all of the lyrics for Institute), Rossdale changed tack and sought out partners for his first solo effort, Wanderlust. The disc, with producer Bob Rock at the helm, features collaborations with writers Linda Perry and Dave Stewart, and singers Shirley Manson and his wife Gwen Stefani, among others.

Provenance: London, England

Latest Release: Wanderlust (2008)

© 2008 Nigel Music Media LLC. Used by permission.

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