Introduction to Nick Gilder
Apart from his work with the band Sweeney Todd, Nick Gilder also has had a considerable success as a solo artist. Gilder was the frontman of Sweeney Todd who scored a Canadian hit “Roxy Roller.” But despite their success Gilder and guitarist and songwriting partner Jim McCullouch left the band to pursue solo careers. Gilder scored his most successful single in his career, “Hot Child In The City,” which topped the Billboard charts in 1978. Subsequent singles didn’t fare as well as his first single tho. Gilder also made a successful career as a songwriter, having penned hits for Pat Benatar, Joe Cocker and Bette Midler. Gilder returned to his home country in the 1990s, finally settling in British Columbia with his family. He still makes songs and performs.
Gilder’s stint with the band Sweeney Todd
Rock singer Nick Gilder was born in London, England on December 21, 1951. He later grew up in Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada. Gilder started his musical journey as a front-man for the glam rock combo Sweeney Todd, formed in the Canadian city in 1975. The group achieved a chart-topping hit with “Roxy Roller,” in the Canadian singles rankings for three weeks in 1975. “Roxy Roller” went on to win the Juno Award for category of “best selling single” two years later.
Solo career
When they felt that they were ready for the big time, Gilder and his bandmate and songwriting partner James McColloch left Sweeney Todd to pursue their own solo careers. Each of them signed for a record deal in the United States.
Nick Gilder’s biggest hit with “Hot Child in the City”
Giler’s first album You Know Who You Are (1977) featured his old band’s previous hit “Roxy Roller.” His second solo album City Nights, released on Chrysalis label in the US, yielded a single that gave him his biggest hit, “Hot Child in the City,” which he wrote with McCulloch and featured his distinctive high male soprano. It went to #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and also on the Canadian national charts in 1978. “Hot Child in the City” also won Gilder more Juno Awards. City Nights climbed to its peak position at #13 on the Canadian album charts that same year.
Later career
Gilder released other following singles such as “Here Comes the Night” (also from City Nights) and “You Really Rock Me,” but none of them reached the level of success as “Hot Child in the City” did.
Aside from his singing carer, Gilder was also a successful songwriter, having penned hits for other artists such as Pat Benatar, Joe Cocker and Bette Midler. He also co-wrote (with Holly Knight) a number one hit for Scandal (featuring Patty Smyth) with “The Warrior” in 1984. His own material has also been featured on television shows and movies such as Youngblood, The Wraith, Barb Wire, Scenes from the Goldmine(which also includes a cameo appearance by Gilder), Sex and the City, Ed, That 70s Show, and Nip/Tuck.
In the early 1990s Gilder and his family returned from Los Angeles, California to his hometown in Vancouver. In 1997 he released a new album titled Stairways, which garnered critical acclaim. Two years later, Longtime Coming was released. In 2001, a best-of album The Best of Nick Gilder was issued on EMI-Capitol Music/Razor and Tie Entertainment. In 2007, a double-album re-release of City Nights/Frequency was released on Collectables Records. He has continued to record and tour.