Daniel Wylie

I was born in Glasgow on January 2nd 1959.
Upon leaving school (at 16), my first job was a Carpenter/Joiner apprenticeship, followed by a number of years working as a tradesman, mostly in maintenance work around my home city.
As an avid music lover since the age of about 4, and having worked with some guys who played in covers bands, I followed their advice and aged 24, joined a band. I knew immediately that I didn't want to play other people's songs. I wanted to write my own, so I borrowed a friend's guitar, learned five basic chords in a week and wrote my first song. I now know a lot more chords.
I had a few near misses along the way in various bands. I almost got signed to EMI by the guy who signed Radiohead but despite having a good local following and selling thousands of self released vinyl singles, I always seemed to miss out on the big deal.
Finally, after many years in bands and having to deal with the egos and the cynics, I decided to strike out on my own and go solo...under a band name. I chose the name Cosmic Rough Riders, because of a quote I'd read from Gram Parsons, where he stated he wanted to record cosmic American music. I took the word cosmic and added it to Rough Riders after seeing a poster in a shop window advertising Lee Rough Rider Jeans.
I released a couple of indie label albums both of which gained high critical acclaim. The legendary Alan McGee of Creation Records fame, heard the albums and decided he wanted to sign me. I put a band together for a showcase and Alan offered us a deal on the spot. I was 41 by this time. With the PR machine that goes with being on a bigger label, coupled with some good music, we had some real success. A couple of UK top 40 hit singles and an album, "Enjoy The Melodic Sunshine", which sold over 100,000 copies. Numerous tours of the UK, Japan, Europe, and a visit to the USA followed.
In March 2002, friction between band members meant that I had to leave my own band. However, I continued on my merry way and am still releasing albums under my own name. I have a catalogue of over 100 songs I've written, commercially available. I also own the rights to all my own music including my Cosmic Rough Riders songs, which I occasionally license out to TV shows.
Along the way, I've also had record deals with Sony/Epic, Measured Records and have co-owned (along with my graphic designer friend, David Wells) and been a director of Neon Tetra Records. At Neon Tetra, we released music by many other artists (Google NT) and having studied music law in some detail, I also became the label's contract writer/negotiator.
Currently, I have my own record label called DPW, which is dedicated to releasing only my own music.
I should also mention I am a happily married man with three young adult children, all at university and that I'm prouder of that than I am of any of my achievements in the music biz.
If you are curious enough to know anything else, then feel free to contact me. I'm a friendly guy.