Career
He is from the Clapton district of Hackney, northeast London, England. Japan
Dean joined Japan in 1975 at the age of 20. The band began as an alternative glam rock-style band and became a popular new wave sensation in the early 1980s.
Dean left the band in May 1981 following their "Art of Parties" tour, as his guitar work had become increasingly surplus to requirements as they developed a more electronic sound.
He had previously played on their albums Adolescent Sex (1978), Obscure Alternatives (1978) and Quiet Life (1979). Dean"s instruments of choice were a Gibson Rural Delivery artist and a Gibson SG. His last studio contributions were on the Gentlemen Take Polaroids album, released in November 1980.
Collaborations
After leaving Japan he worked on some initial ideas for a solo album with keyboardist and composer Roger Mason (keyboard player for Gary Numan amongst others). He also played on Gary Numan"s Dance album (1981) as well as Sinéad O"Connor"s first album The Lion and the Cobra in 1987 (on which he co-wrote one of the songs).
Dean continued to work on projects with Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri and Mick Karn such as a 1995 compilation album and a number of other works on their Medium Productions label.
His work with other artists includes the following:
(supported by Peter Gabriel) combined the influences of "70s British art-rock with the kind of lush technopop performed by David Bowie, Roxy Music and Sparks. The band had a worldwide hit with the track "Manitoba From China" from their debut album Party in the War Zone. Dean played on the follow-up single, "The House is Burning (but there"s no one home)".
The "House is Burning" song and video (also featuring Dean) appeared in Brian DePalma"s movie Body Double.
In 2001 a "best of" album The Good Life was released, with Dean"s work on several tracks. Dance Gary Numan (vocals), Rob Dean (guitar), Roger Mason (keyboards), Mick Karn (saxophone, bass), Paul Gardiner (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums), Cedric Sharpley (drums), Tim Steggles (percussion), Sean Lynch (programming).
Dean formed (1984) with Hugo Burnham (ex-Gang of Four), Roger Mason (Numan and others) and Australian singer/bassist Philip Foxman but their commercial success was limited. The Slow Club"s World of Wonders
Rob Dean contributed to this Australian band (1990)
Jansen, Barbieri, Karn
Little has been heard of Rob Dean as a musician since.
The occasional demo tapes from the eighties have surfaced for a range of projects (known as "The Lost Tapes") where Dean experimented with electronica (with Roger Mason), his trademark guitar sounds and even acoustic tracks with vocals.
Dean"s principal activity now is as a professional ornithology writer and artist on the birds of Central America. He lives in Monteverde, Costa Rica, and, now known as Robert Dean, has established a reputation as an expert on the region"s birdlife. In 2007 Dean collaborated as illustrator on a bird study book (along with Richard Garrigues), entitled The Birds Of Costa Rica: A Field Guide.
He has been reported as occasionally playing guitar with local bands including Monteverde"s rock band Chanchos de Monte, fronted by Alan Masters.