Musician

Musician

Musician

Richard Melville Hall, a.k.a. Moby, is one of the most important dance music figures of the early '90s, helping bring the music to a mainstream audience both in England and in America.

Born in Harlem, New York in 1965, and raised in Darien, CT, he played in a hardcore punk band called the Vatican Commandos as a teenager before moving to New York City, where he began DJing in dance clubs. During the late '80s, he released a number of singles and EPs before, in 1991, he set the theme from David Lynch's television series Twin Peaks to an insistent, house-derived rhythm and titled the result "Go." The single became a surprise British hit single, climbing into the Top Ten, and was named one of Rolling Stone's top 200 records of all time. Moby, his first full-length album, appeared in 1992.  Since then, Moby has recorded eleven studio albums, including his multi-platinum breakthrough Play (1999), 18 (2002), Hotel (2005), Go: The Very Best of Moby (2006) and Last Night (2008).

In addition to his musical endeavors, Moby is the proprietor of teany cafe and teas. He is also a well-known advocate for a variety of progressive causes, working with MoveOn.org and PETA, among others. He actively engages in nonpartisan activism.

2mins
Moby on the life and death of dance club culture.
3mins
Growing up broke, Moby never dreamed of making it in New York.
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Moby can play. Now he just needs the right vocalists.
1mins
Moby cites a piece he calls “God Moving Over the Face of the Waters” as his very best.
1mins
Musicians take the broad view, says Moby.
3mins
Moby regrets not licensing his music to the non-English world.
2mins
Keep it diverse, and learn how to cross disciplines.
3mins
The demise of the record industry originated with the record industry itself.
2mins
Electronic music and the Web.
1mins
Obama’s voice alone should get him votes.
2mins
A huge net worth is not that important in the long run.
Moby wants to ask George W. Bush about his Christianity.
Moby makes sure he’s ready when inspiration strikes.
Moby believes the mundane aspects of ritualized work increase the chance that something great might happen.
3mins
All Moby wants is a little honesty.
1mins
Things are good, but can always be improved.