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Rich Good

Rich Good (born 17 June 1974) is an English-born musician, graphic designer, and entrepreneur, best known as the lead of the band , a role he has held since 2009, following the departure of founding member John Ashton. Originally from the , Good relocated to in 1998, where he established himself in the music scene as a and songwriter. His early influences included , which inspired him to begin playing guitar at age 11 with a basic acoustic instrument. Good's breakthrough came with the San Francisco-based band , which he co-founded in the early 2000s alongside and featuring keyboardist . The group, active from 2002 to 2006, released albums on the Big Wheel Recreation label and toured extensively, including as openers for in 2004—an experience that led to Good's eventual audition for the band by performing Roxy Music's "." Joining marked a pivotal shift, where Good contributed to their reunion efforts and co-wrote several tracks on the 2020 album Made of Rain, the band's first studio release in nearly three decades. His guitar style, characterized by tones achieved through effects like chorus, delay, and fuzz, draws from artists such as Peter Green, , and Ronald Jones of , emphasizing melodic parts over extended solos. Beyond music, Good maintains a multifaceted career in the , operating the studio No One and serving as creative director for the Nevada City Film Festival. Based in , since relocating from Nevada City, he co-owns the boutique Very Very, which sells local art and apparel inspired by the desert region, including "Other Desert Cities" T-shirts. Good balances annual tours with —often lasting up to four months—with his entrepreneurial pursuits and personal life in the , where he resides with his partner of over a decade, Dana Longuevan, and enjoys collecting American muscle cars and exploring . Additionally, he has designed music-related products, such as the Furs Face fuzz pedal in collaboration with Dowd Records.

Early life and education

Childhood and upbringing

Rich Good was born on June 17, 1974, in , , , a town approximately 28 miles south of . Growing up in this typical British suburban setting during the 1970s and 1980s, Good was exposed to a variety of music through his family's record collection, which included classical pieces, , , , and . This home environment fostered his early fascination with sound and rhythm, beginning with childhood play on his mother's 1950s record player using a 7-inch single of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'." At around age eight, he encountered and at a school , where ' 1982 single "Love My Way" left a lasting impression amid the era's burgeoning alternative scene. A pivotal moment in his creative development came at age 12 during a family holiday in , when Good purchased a cassette of 's Street Life: The Best of and . Drawn initially by the 's striking cover art, he became captivated by tracks like "," "Beauty Queen," and "," which ignited his interests in both guitar playing and visual aesthetics. This blend of auditory and visual appeal in suburban England's music culture shaped his self-taught hobbies, leading him toward guitar experimentation—influenced later by artists like and , whom he saw perform live in —and an emerging affinity for elements like artwork. These early pursuits laid the groundwork for his transition into formal art education.

Art and design training

Rich Good attended the School of Art & Design in , , during the early 1990s, following his secondary education. At the institution, now part of East Surrey College, Good's coursework emphasized foundational principles, including , layout, and visual composition, alongside practical skills in such as and creative conceptualization. These elements equipped him with a strong understanding of creative direction and , building on informal creative interests from his childhood. This formal training served as a pivotal bridge between Good's longstanding passions for music and design, fostering exploratory work in after graduation where he began integrating artistic visuals with musical expression through initial freelance experiments.

Musical career

Early bands and collaborations

In 1999, Rich Good relocated from to the , where he began gaining recognition for his songwriting amid the city's burgeoning . This move marked the start of his active involvement in American music circles, laying the groundwork for collaborative projects. In 2002, Good co-founded the indie rock band The Pleased in , serving as a primary songwriter, , and vocalist. The group, active until 2006, featured on guitar and vocals, on keyboards and vocals, Genaro Vergoglini on drums, Luckey Remington on bass, and Jason Clark on additional instrumentation. The Pleased's sound blended pop and rock elements with introspective lyrics, reflecting Good's emerging style, though they released limited recordings during their tenure. Following The Pleased's dissolution, Good focused on his own endeavor, the Kings & Queens project, which produced three albums between 2006 and 2010. The debut, The Dream Ends in Fury (2006), captured early sessions emphasizing atmospheric guitar work, while Like a Warning (2008) explored more experimental textures. The final release, Jet in Carina (2010), was recorded at Orderly Manor in , and House of the Rising Sun in Wonder Valley, , incorporating desert-inspired ambiences and contributions from various collaborators. These works highlighted Good's role as a and producer, often handling mixing and mastering himself. During this period, Good also contributed slide guitar to Scottish folk musician Bert Jansch's album The Black Swan (2006), adding subtle textures to the track "Bring Your Religion" on the Drag City release. This collaboration underscored his versatility in folk and indie contexts, bridging his band experiences toward broader integrations like joining The Psychedelic Furs in 2009.

The Psychedelic Furs

Rich Good joined as lead guitarist in 2009, following the band's reunion and after he had toured with them earlier in the decade. His integration came after the departure of longtime guitarist John Ashton in 2007, bringing a fresh, self-taught punk-influenced style that aligned with the band's origins. Good's addition helped stabilize the lineup during a period of renewed activity, allowing the group to evolve beyond their classic sound while maintaining its atmospheric edge. Good's songwriting contributions became prominent with the band's eighth studio album, Made of Rain, released in 2020—their first collection of original material in nearly 30 years. He co-wrote several tracks, including "Come All Ye Faithful" with vocalist Richard Butler, "Don't Believe," "The Boy Who Invented Rock & Roll," "This'll Never Be Like Love," and "No-One," contributing five tracks that infused the record with modern textures, blending moody introspection and driving rhythms. These efforts, developed through remote collaboration and studio refinement with bandmates like bassist and drummer Paul Garisto, marked a significant expansion of Good's creative role, helping the album achieve critical acclaim for revitalizing the Furs' signature style. In live performances, Good's style emphasizes dynamic guitar work, often featuring his 2018 custom with a reverse and Kurtis pickups, which delivers a distinctive, resonant tone suited to the band's layered soundscapes. He favors intricate pieces like "Sister Europe" and "" for their complexity, stepping into the spotlight during solos while supporting hits such as "Love My Way" to foster audience connection. His contributions were evident in the band's 2024 tour, including a headline show at The Show venue in Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage on May 17, where the setlist balanced classics with Made of Rain material amid a four-month North American and international run. Good's sustained involvement has played a key role in ' evolution within the genre, bridging their 1980s legacy with contemporary relevance through innovative arrangements and consistent touring. As of 2025, the band remains active, with Good participating in a world tour that includes North American dates alongside , such as performances at Chicago's on October 4 and the Greek Theatre in on September 22, underscoring their enduring appeal and Good's integral presence.

Solo and side projects

Rich Good has channeled his independent creative energies into the solo project Mirrors, where he handles all aspects of writing, , , and artistic direction. This endeavor serves as a repository for musical ideas and sketches that diverge from his band collaborations, often composed during periods of travel. The project's sole release to date is the album * .2 *, issued on August 29, 2015, via . Described as a "second notebook of fragments collected in hotel rooms," it comprises experimental instrumental pieces intended for gradual expansion with more tracks. The initial offering includes the four-minute track "309," showcasing Good's introspective guitar work in a minimalist, ambient style. In addition to Mirrors, Good has engaged in select side contributions, such as providing guitar on tracks 6 and 12 of Los Days' album Dusty Dreams, released May 31, 2024. This collaboration highlights his ongoing involvement in experimental and instrumental music outside group settings, with no further solo releases documented as of 2025.

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Professional design work

Following his formal training at School of Art & Design, Rich Good launched his professional career as a freelance in during the late . In , he relocated to , where he continued freelancing, with professional listings associating his early U.S. work with the San Francisco area. Good founded the design studio The Indiana Experiment (later rebranded as No One) in the mid-2000s, serving as its owner and from a base in the . The firm focuses on visual branding, photography, and creative direction for clients across music, arts, and consumer sectors, including long-term partnerships with trailers, Amy’s Kitchen (spanning over 15 years), The Humane Society of the United States, , and Virgin. No One collaborates with specialized programmers, photographers, and illustrators to deliver integrated visual identities that emphasize artistic and cultural resonance. His design practice frequently intersects with his music background, particularly through and artwork for musical projects. For instance, Good created the album design for the 2015 compilation Grass Roots Record Co. Family Album, which included tracks from his own band Kings & Queens. The studio's portfolio highlights work for "approximately one zillion bands," blending his expertise in visual aesthetics with the promotional needs of the industry. Through the 2010s, Good maintained this dual career by leveraging the flexibility of his studio's remote operations, allowing him to handle client projects amid extensive touring as lead guitarist for . This balance proved advantageous during periods of musical downtime, such as the , when design work sustained his creative output.

Very Very store and ventures

In October 2023, Rich Good and his partner, Dana Longuevan, founded Very Very, a boutique retail store located at 73552 29 Palms Highway in downtown Twentynine Palms, California, within the Corner 62 complex. The shop specializes in a curated selection of local art, design objects, home goods, jewelry, apothecary items, apparel, musical wares, and desert-themed oddities, many of which are produced or designed by the owners themselves or by regional Mojave Desert makers. As long-time residents of Twentynine Palms, Good and Longuevan emphasize items that celebrate the area's wild, artistic spirit, including screen prints, photography, ceramic sculptures, and custom "Other Desert Cities" T-shirts. Good's curatorial role draws directly from his background in , where he applies expertise in , , and to highlight emerging desert artists and create immersive displays that blend art with everyday functionality. This approach not only promotes local talent but also integrates elements of music and oddity-inspired aesthetics, fostering a space that feels like an extension of the surrounding landscape. The venture has expanded beyond physical through an online sales platform at thisisveryvery.com, allowing broader access to its inventory, and community events such as evenings hosted in the store's courtyard. These initiatives support Good's desert-based lifestyle as a Twentynine Palms resident, providing a creative anchor during the up to four months annually he spends away on tour with , while the store's flexible operations enable him to balance entrepreneurial duties with his musical commitments.

Personal life

Moves and residences

Rich Good, originally from , , , relocated to the in 1999 to pursue opportunities in the vibrant music scene. He settled specifically in , a small town in the Sierra Foothills, where he immersed himself in the local community shortly after arriving. This move facilitated his formation of the indie band , based in , with whom he recorded and performed through the mid-2000s. In the mid-2000s, Good continued to base himself in Nevada City, where the surrounding Sierra Nevada environment influenced his solo project Kings & Queens; recordings for the album were made in 2009, including at Orderly Manor studio in Nevada City and House of the Rising Sun in Wonder Valley. The area's creative isolation contributed to the project's introspective sound, blending influences from his British roots with American indie aesthetics. In the late 2000s, Good acquired five acres in Wonder Valley, transforming the property—known as House of the Rising Sun—into a personal creative sanctuary that supported his work as a musician and graphic designer. By the early 2010s, Good shifted his primary residence to Twentynine Palms, California, in the Mojave Desert, after developing a strong affinity for the Joshua Tree region through repeated visits. Good's desert lifestyle in Twentynine Palms emphasizes a balanced routine amid the vast, arid landscape, allowing remote collaboration on projects while maintaining his from a home studio. The Mojave's stark beauty and solitude have fostered a sustainable dual career, with minimal to urban centers for performances.

Relationships and recent events

Rich Good has been in a long-term partnership with artist Dana Longuevan for over 13 years, with whom he shares a residence in Twentynine Palms, California. The couple collaborates closely on creative projects, including the curation of local art and designs featured in their boutique, Very Very. In October 2025, Good's off-grid desert sanctuary in Wonder Valley, known as the "House of the Rising Sun," was destroyed by a house fire, though no injuries occurred and the cause remains unknown. This property, situated on five acres of land, served as a cherished retreat rather than his primary home, but Good expressed profound emotional loss over the irreplaceable space and its role in his desert life. The incident drew support from the local community, highlighting the interconnected networks in Twentynine Palms. Good remains actively involved in Twentynine Palms community efforts, particularly through Very Very, which supports local artists by hosting events in its courtyard and showcasing regional creations. He has participated in discussions and organizing committees, such as the Indian Cove Neighbors, to advocate for and preserve the area's character against large-scale projects like a proposed 120-cabin . Additionally, Good has publicly endorsed community initiatives, including a campaign to bring the Levitt Music Series to Twentynine Palms to foster cultural vibrancy. On , Good shares reflections on his personal life, often blending his experiences with gratitude for ties and amid challenges like the recent .

References

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    Rating 5.0 (2) 3 DAYS LEFT TO ORDER Preorder Our Desert Cities Tees now thru Monday Nov 10 for Pickup/Delivery first week of December $2/tee donated to @find-food-bank ✂️ ...Missing: Rich | Show results with:Rich
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