Reeves Gabrels

Reeves Gabrels, a member of The Cure and previously a longtime collaborator of the late David Bowie, is an innovative guitarist who also sings, writes songs, and composes film, television and video-game soundtracks. Gabrels makes music that combines the visceral energy of rock, the harmonic sophistication of jazz, and the emotional honesty of blues. He's been called "one of the most daring rock-guitar improvisers since Jimi Hendrix" (Ted Drozdowski for Guitar.com).

DOOM DOGS -- touring in 2024-25 -- is a genre-free improvising trio featuring Reeves Gabrels on guitars with Jonathan Kane (Swans, February, LaMonte Young) on drums and Jair-Rohm Parker Wells (Embryo, Machine Gun) on basses. They create mesmerizing music drawing on art-rock, avant-garde, jazz, rock and ambient backgrounds. Follow Reeves Gabrels here at Bandsintown and on his social media for DOOM DOGS gig announcements.

Reeves Gabrels joined The Cure, a distinctive and successful post-punk rock band, as guitarist in 2012, touring the world since. Gabrels is heard on The Cure's album Songs Of A Lost World, released Nov 1, 2024 and also on live releases 2019-2024. His partnership with David Bowie from 1988 through 1999 included co-founding the rock band Tin Machine (1988-1992) then carrying on as guitarist and a co-writer for Outside (1995) and as guitarist, co-writer and co-producer for Earthling (1997) and Hours (1999). Gabrels was musical director in several tour settings as well as for Bowie’s 50th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden.

Reeves Gabrels & His Imaginary Friends, currently on hiatus, are a Nashville-based power trio formed in 2007 featuring Reeves Gabrels on vocals and guitar, Kevin Hornback on bass and Marc Pisapia on drums and harmony vocals. Performances include smartly-crafted original songs, covers that surprise and delight, and fearless improvisation. Each song is its own adventure: a Gabrels lyric says it all: "Let me bend your ear, and your mind a little too." Studio and live albums by Reeves Gabrels and His Imaginary Friends are available on Bandcamp exclusively.

In 2017, Gabrels released Imaginary Friends Live, his sixth album as featured guitarist and vocalist supported by superb musical colleagues. He has also made two improvisatory guitar-duo albums, one with Bill Nelson of Be-Bop Deluxe fame and the other with slide guitarist David Tronzo. A sought-after collaborator, Gabrels has written, performed and recorded with musicians in genres from heavy metal to hip-hop to electronica to jazz.