Bari Goddard

Who is Bari Goddard?

Bari Goddard is an avant garde and controversial Welsh singer-songwriter, artist and photographer. He was born in Pontypridd, South Wales.

Goddard was lead singer with Welsh Art Rock band Blaue Reiter, who released a single in 1981 called "Where He Stands" on Orifice Records to critical acclaim from John Peel, marketed by Rough Trade Records in London. The band split in 1982 and Goddard moved to London. He formed a band with Steve Maguire called The Design Team, then became lead vocalist with The Knives from 1983 to 1987. The Knives released one song, "The Lonely One", on the compilation album "Freedon To Rock" on Red Bus Records in 1986, amid often sellout performances at the Marquee Club, and the Batcave in London. Renowned for his performing skills and vocal range he was approached by bands as diverse as Marillion and Frankie Goes To Hollywood for their vacant lead vocals, dismissing both as "dinosaurs unaware of the comet".

In 1989 Goddard became backing vocalist with Then Jerico touring their Big Area album internationally. A double CD compilation of Radio Sessions and a live performance at Hammersmith Odeon in 1989 was released in 1997, called "Radio Jerico" on Eagle Rock Communications Records. When Then Jerico split in 1990 he became backing vocalist with The Communards and Jimmy Somerville. Performed with Jimmy Somerville at the London premier of the 1992 film Orlando and at the London premier of the 1991 Pedro Almodóvar film High Heels. After the exhaustive and hectic touring schedule of the Jimmy Somerville Greatest Hits world tour in 1991 – 3, he opted out of the music world and returned to his love of painting. Today he is a reclusive artist and photographer, living in London, exhibiting throughout Europe. He featured on the Saatchi online Web site where his work was likened to Graham Sutherland and Ceri Richards.