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Rob Dean is a British musician, who played guitar on early albums by the British band Japan.

Dean joined Japan in 1975 at the age of 22 and saw them develop from post-punk band to new romantics. He left the band in 1981 due to frustration with the lack of room for his guitar work. Rob Dean's instruments of choice were a Gibson RD artist, and a Gibson SG.

Post-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 as well as Sinead O'Conner's first record. 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 has been relatively extensive:

Vivabeat

Vivabeat (supported by Peter Gabriel) combined the influences of '70s British art-rock to the kind of lush, technopop characterized by Bowie, Roxy Music and Sparks. They had a hit with ‘Man From China’ and their work featured Dean on guitar.

Gary Numan - Dance

Gary Numan (vocals), Rob Dean (guitar), Roger Mason (keyboards), Mick Karn (saxophone, bass), Paul Gardner (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums), Cedric Sharpley (drums), Tim Steggles (percussion), Sean Lynch (programming). Dance was an ironic title for one of Gary Numan's latter-period recordings.

Illustrated Man - Illustrated Man

Excitement met Illustrated Man (1984) but they were never huge. Hugo Burnham (ex-Gang of Four), Roger Mason (Numan and others), Rob Dean (ex-Japan) and Australian singer/bassist Philip Foxman combined to produce some good funk-rock music and some brilliant live performances. Songs such as ‘Head over Heels’ and ‘Just Enough’ helped show the way for bands such as Inxs.

The Slow Club - World of Wonders

Rob Dean contributing to this Australian band (1990)

Jansen, Barbieri, Karn - Beginning to Melt

This 1993 album features Rob Dean and ex-members of Japan.

Little has been heard of Rob Dean as a musician since. The occasional demo tapes for new projects have surfaced (known as 'The Lost Tapes') but Dean's principal activities now are as a professional guide, 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. He has been reported as occasionally playing guitar with local bands. It would seem that he has achieved some serenity after years in the music biz.

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