Ian Walter Nelson (23 April 1956, Wakefield, Yorkshire, England – 23 April 2006) was an English new wave musician, and younger brother of Be-Bop Deluxe singer and guitarist Bill Nelson, whom he accompanied in different musical projects. He played mainly the saxophone.
Biography He was more than seven years younger than his brother , who was present at the time of his birth, on 23 April 1956. Walter, who was a saxophonist, taught him to play saxophone, which would later be Ian's principal instrument.
His first participation was on the Be-Bop Deluxe song from the album (1976). When this band split up, Bill, alongside keyboardist , reunited with Ian on saxophone, and formed , a synthpop band which lasted briefly and was a continuation of .
After split up, spent some time collaborating in his brother Bill's solo career. In 1982, he joined Fiat Lux; during his three years with the band they released a number of singles, and had two minor UK hits, "Secrets" and "Blue Emotion". Fiat Lux gigged England and Europe until they broke up in 1985.
He reappeared in the early 1990s as member of and from 2002 to 2006 was in Nelson, Bill diary of a hyperdreamer (2004) pp. 425–31 collected diaries from between 1999 and 2003, previously published on his official website Pomona and . He was also a member of the line-up of a failed reformation of in 1990.billnelson.com
He also worked with Richard Jobson, Level 42, The Sound, Nik Kershaw and Howard Jones among others.
Nelson died in his sleep, and was later found on his 50th birthday, on 23 April 2006, by his wife Diane.
References
External links Bill Nelson's homepage Bill Nelson announcing the death of Ian Nelson Bill Nelson's homepage Bill Nelson writing about Ian Nelson HiredHistory Web dedicated to Fiat Lux MySpace: Red Noise MySpace site dedicated to Red Noise