Vivien Goldman

Who is Vivien Goldman?

Vivien Goldman is a British journalist, writer and musician. She was born in London, the child of two German-Jewish refugees from National-Socialist Germany. She studied English and American literature at the University of Warwick. She began her career as a PR officer for Island Records.

Goldman lived in Paris for a year and a half, where she was a member of new wave duo Chantage, which gained modest fame in France. She released the "Dirty Washing EP" in 1981, with tracks produced by John Lydon and Adrian Sherwood. The EP appeared first on Ed Bahlman's iconic 99 Records imprint on June 3, 1981. In August if 1981 two of the tracks from the EP, "Launderette" and "Private Armies," were issued as a 7" single in the UK. Later the song "Launderette" was included on Gomma Records' "Anti NY" compilation and the Chicks On Speed-produced Girl Monster collection. In that year she also contributed vocals to the New Age Steppers' self-titled debut.

Goldman wrote for the music magazines NME, Sounds and Melody Maker about reggae, punk and post-punk. She was a member of The Flying Lizards, shared a flat with fellow NME journalist and The Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde.