Vaganza


Vaganza was a theatrical art-rock-pop duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists David Longworth Wallingford and Quigley.

Astronaut, Skunk, and Vaganza's origins

Wallingford and Quigley began formally working on the Vaganza project in late 1991. The duo's launch followed the dissolution of their respective indie groups, Astronaut and Skunk.
The pair went into seclusion for roughly two years, completely reinventing themselves visually, and developing their sound—a significant departure, both in style and complexity, from their previous ventures—in a New Jersey–based home studio.
Speaking with Yahoo Music Editor-in-Chief Lyndsey Parker in a 1998 interview, Quigley said of the project's inception:

''Are You Willing to Die for Rock 'n' Roll?'' demo (1993) and signing with Elektra Records

Their first unofficial release was a 1993 demo entitled Are You Willing to Die for Rock 'n' Roll?
The elaborately produced recording was completed in October of '93. During the previous spring and summer, Wallingford and Quigley had fully realized their desired individual and combined visual presentation. In the months following Are You Willings recording, the two repeatedly made the rounds, through Manhattan's nightclubs, and various music- and/or nightlife-oriented events. These social activities were undertaken with the goal of being seen and circulating the demo to as many people as possible. Among those who ultimately received copies were many of the pair's friends in the music business.
In Rolling Stone magazine's year-end survey of popular musicians, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins named Are You Willing to Die for Rock 'n' Roll? as one of his 10 favorite releases of 1993.
The impact of these combined efforts proved to be sufficient substitute for Vaganza's then-lacking live band to generate an industry buzz and eventually land the pair a contract with Elektra Records.
In April 1994, Terry Tolkin, then an A&R VP for Elektra, offered them a deal.

Recording and release of self-titled debut album (1995–1998)

In January 1996, the pair embarked upon the recording of what was intended to be their debut for Elektra.
The album was co-produced by Vaganza and the recording's engineer, Greg Frey. Numerous musicians, including dozens of string and horn players, and two separate choirs, were hired for the sessions. The most notable of these contributors was the album's drummer, Joey Waronker.
The initial sessions wrapped in September 1996, just as Tolkin and Elektra were parting ways. Tolkin was the rather costly album's only real champion at the label, so the pair began to quietly investigate their options.
Former artist manager Andy Gershon had that same year—along with record producer Scott Litt and A&R vet Mark Williams—launched an imprint through Geffen Records, called Outpost Recordings. Gershon, being a friend of the pair and vocal admirer of the project, offered them a deal without hesitation.
Outpost purchased the album from Elektra, finally releasing it in April 1998.
While a mix of the album had been completed by Frey, in 1996, the final mix was done by engineer and producer Jim Rondinelli, during August and September 1997.

Live performances and break-up (1998)

The album went largely unnoticed upon release, with the small reception that greeted it being mixed to favorable.
During the summer of 1998 the pair assembled a 10-piece live band featuring such well-regarded players as saxophonist Baron Raymonde, drummer Zach Danziger, and John Kimbrough of the rock band Walt Mink.
The ensemble performed a number of shows in the New York City area, to strong attendance and generally favorable, regular write-ups in the city's various arts weeklies.
Regarding their live performances, Lyndsey Parker wrote :
During the autumn of '98, the group was dropped by Outpost.
For reasons never publicly disclosed, Quigley and Wallingford dissolved their partnership in December of '98.