Keith Forsey

Career

Forsey began his career as a percussionist in the early 1970s and become well known in Germany for being the drummer in Udo Lindenberg's Panik Orchester until 1976, during which he also played percussion for Amon Düül II. By late 1970s, he was a pioneer of disco, working with artists such as Lipstique, Claudja Barry, La Bionda, the Italo Disco Inventors and Boney M. He became Giorgio Moroder's drummer and played on Donna Summer's club records, including Bad Girls. However Forsey's own band, Trax, a collaboration with Pete Bellotte, was not as popular. Forsey was influenced by Moroder and began experimenting with electronics and European dance rhythms. Like Moroder, Forsey started producing albums himself, and in 1982 produced Billy Idol's solo debut album, Billy Idol and Icehouse's global breakthrough album Primitive Man. Idol's 1983 follow-up, Rebel Yell, went even further, combining Forsey's affection for synthesized pop, Idol's punk grit and guitarist Steve Stevens' heavy metal sound. 1983 was the year that established Forsey as a producer. He co-wrote "Flashdance... What a Feeling" with Moroder and Irene Cara, who also performed the track, for the movie Flashdance. In 1984, the song earned an Academy Award. The popularity of Flashdance led to his (co-)writing songs featured on the soundtracks of Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, The NeverEnding Story and The Breakfast Club. The song "Don't You (Forget About Me)", from The Breakfast Club, was originally intended for Billy Idol, who declined. It was instead recorded by Simple Minds in 1985 and topped charts in several countries.

In 2003, Forsey produced the American guitar pop band Rooney. 2005 saw his return to Billy Idol, producing Devil's Playground.