{{short description|English musician}} {{for|the organist|David Patrick Gedge}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Use British English|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = David Gedge | image = The Wedding Present in Valencia 02.jpg | caption = David Gedge performing at Loco Club in Valencia, November 2016. | birth_name = David Lewis Gedge | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1960|4|23}} | birth_place = Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} | occupation = {{Plainlist| * Musician * songwriter}} | instrument = | years_active = 1985–present | label = | current_member_of = {{Plainlist| * The Wedding Present * Cinerama}} }} '''David Lewis Gedge''' (born 23 April 1960) is an English musician and songwriter, most notable as a founder, vocalist, and only remaining original member of The Wedding Present and the main songwriter and vocalist in Cinerama.
==Biography== ===Early life=== Gedge was born in Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, but grew up in Middleton, Greater Manchester after his family moved there when he was a toddler.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/the-wedding-present-frontman-on-the-bands-changing-sound-3594095 | title=David Gedge interview: The Wedding Present frontman on the band's changing sound and 24 songs for 2022 | first=Abbey | last=Maclure | work=Yorkshire Evening Post | date=6 March 2022}}</ref><ref name=nosebleed>{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/aug/18/wedding-present-indie-banger-classics-musical-david-gedge | title='I got a nosebleed in minutes!' How the Wedding Present's indie banger classics inspired a musical | first=Dave | last=Simpson | work=The Guardian | date=18 August 2025}}</ref> He attended Hollin High School, which became the Queen Elizabeth School and was eventually rebuilt as St Anne's Academy. He studied at the University of Leeds, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1981.<ref name=captivate>{{cite web |url=https://leedsvoices.captivate.fm/episode/david-gedge-the-wedding-present |title=David Gedge: The Wedding Present | website=captivate.fm }}</ref> He was the first of his extended working-class family to go into higher education.<ref name=nosebleed/>
===Career=== Gedge formed the Wedding Present with classmates in 1985.<ref name=captivate/>
Gedge met Keith Gregory, an English student, by placing an advert for a bass player in the Leeds University Union.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://discover.ticketmaster.co.uk/feature/stage-times-the-wedding-present-57495/ | title=Stage Times: The Wedding Present | first=Mark | last=Grassick | work=Ticketmaster | date=16 May 2023}}</ref>
Gedge sang a duet with Marine Research on their Peel Session in 1999.
==Artistry== Gedge's lyrics explore themes such as romance and heartbreak. According to Michael Sutton of ''AllMusic'', his lyrics are "often written from a seemingly autobiographical perspective and sung in a dejected, conversational manner."<ref>{{Cite web |title=David Gedge Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-gedge-mn0000210785 |work=AllMusic}}</ref>
==Personal life== Gedge married Jessica McMillan, a photographer, in 2014, but they separated in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/david-gedge-id-never-thought-about-the-possibility-of-a-wedding-present-musical-3012479 | title=David Gedge: 'I'd never thought about the possibility of a Wedding Present musical' | first=Duncan | last=Seaman | work=Yorkshire Evening Post | date=22 October 2020}}</ref> He lives in Brighton and Hove.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/whats-on/cult-band-frontman-loves-his-life-in-sussex-1292401 | title=Cult band frontman loves his life in Sussex | work=National World | date=27 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/leisure/music/10631385.the-wedding-presents-david-gedge-tells-us-why-hes-keeping-busy/ | title=The Wedding Present's David Gedge tells us why he's keeping busy | work=The Argus | date=23 August 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{The Wedding Present}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Gedge, David}} Category:1960 births Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds Category:English male guitarists Category:English male singers Category:English male songwriters Category:English rock guitarists Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Leeds Category:People educated at St Anne's Academy Category:People from Middleton, Greater Manchester Category:The Wedding Present members