Biography

Damien Rice was born on the outskirts of Dublin in the early 70's and grew up in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. He spent much of his childhood down by the River Liffey fishing...hours of catching little left plenty of time for thinking...

In March 1999 he moved to Tuscany, then travelled around Europe, busking the streets. He arrived back to Dublin a year later, with a clear head, loaded with idea's, he approached his music with a new found freshness and decided to put some songs down. Borrowing money from those that would lend it, he recorded his demo and sent it off to renowned producer and film composer, David Arnold (Bjork, James Bond). Arnold liked what he heard and provided enough money for Damien to buy his own mobile studio.

September 2001 Damien released 'The Blowers Daughter', in Ireland, the first single to be taken from the, as yet unfinished, album. The single went Top 20 and his ensuing tour was a resounding success.

"O" was released on February 1st 2002 and immediately lauded by the critics as mesmerising, absorbing, adventurous and emotional. A major six-week tour of Ireland followed along with dates in the UK, Germany, France and Spain.

Damien was nominated for Meteor Irish Music Awards and a BBC Hot Press Rock Award. "O" since gone platinum status in Ireland. In the UK, constant gigging, festival appearances at Glastonbury, V2002, Edinburgh Fringe, London Fleadh plus supports with McAlmont and Butler, Counting Crows and Kathryn Williams, have all helped established Damien as a must see live act. "O" appears this year in many critic's end of year polls.

First outing to America was a trip to play "Tonic" as part of CMJ festival and a live radio session for KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. The trip was a resounding success and a longer trip is being planned for next year to coincide with the U.S release of "O".

Damien has recently appeared as guest on "Later With Jools Holland"! alongside Moby, Badly Drawn Boy and The Sugababes.

Damien wanted to release this album without the backing of a major record company, fearing that if he signed to them before he had proven himself they would begin dictating to him and forcing him in a direction he didn’t want to go. He hoped that with the release of 'o' he would be in a position where the only thing dictating direction would be the songs. And he already is...
 

** If you're for more information about Lisa Hannigan who sings with Damien, click here. **

Damien's birthday is December 7th.

More information about the origin of the surname Rice:


Taken from; The Book of Irish Families Great & Small - IGF O'LOCHLAININ

RICE RHYS (WELSH) ROICE
Families of the name of RICE may stem from an ancient Welsh origins when found in Ireland. In the province of Munster it is said the name comes from the Welsh name of RHYS, The family name is found in Limerick, Kerry, Cork and Waterford for several centuries. The census of 1659 finds RICE as a priciple name of Limerick City. And at the beginning of that century O'Hart finds RICE in Kildare and Kerry. The brief pedigrees of the two RICE families presentd by O'Hart include "Rice of Carrignifyly, Co.Kerry and Rice of Dingleicoush, Co.Kerry. Neither is said to be of an original Irish family. Pierce Rice was a sheriff of Kerry, and Lord Chief Baron Rice was among the Lords of the treasury in 1689 per that source.

In Keatings History the Rice family is cited in Co.Kerry, and it was noted that they were centered in one time around the town of Dingle there. There are also given as a family name of foreign stock settling in Waterford and Tipperary.

By the time of the 1890 birth index of Ireland we find 99 births of the name concentrated in Ulster, in the counties of Antrim, Armagh, Louth and Dublin. Why the family name is concentrated only here in modern times is unsure. In O'Donovans works we find the family of Mulcreevy of Co.Down went by the name of Rice as well. This of course would represent an entirely distinct family of the name of ancient Irish, not Welsh extraction.

Taken from; The Book of Ulster Surnames  - Robert Bell

RICE
This name is common in Leinster and Munster but most numerous in Ulster, where its main centres are in counties Antrim and Armagh. The name is Welsh in origin and was previously RHYS which means 'ardour', and many in Ulster will be of Welsh stock. However, the ORIEL name, O'Maolchraoibhe (from craohh-meaning `branch') was also for some unknown reason anglicised as RICE, as well as, more understandably, Mulcreevy, Mulgrew, and Grew. Most Rices of Co. Armagh will be of this origin.

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