About Guggi
Born 1959. Guggi is an Irish painter, musician, sculptor, artist and singing.
Derek Rowen, better known as Guggi, is an Irish artist and musician who was once a member of the post-punk band Virgin Prunes.
Early life Derek Rowen grew up with and remains best friends with U2's Bono, who gave him his nickname.
Career The Virgin Prunes were founded in 1977 by vocalists Guggi, Gavin Friday (né Fionan Hanvey), and Dave-iD Busaras; guitarist Dik Evans (brother of U2's The Edge); bassist Strongman (Trevor Rowen, brother of Guggi); and drummer Pod (Anthony Murphy). Known for their outrageous and controversial stage performances, the band began playing small shows in Dublin and gained a cult audience. In November 1982, the Virgin Prunes released their debut studio album...If I Die, I Die (produced by Colin Newman of Wire), as well as the double 10" EP Hérésie, a French box set.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Guggi's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Guggi's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Guggi?
Irish post-punk singer, musician and artist
When was Guggi born?
Guggi was born on 13 May 1959 in Dublin.
What is Guggi's occupation?
Guggi is a painter, musician, sculptor, artist and singing.
What nationality is Guggi?
Guggi is Irish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Guggi. https://biography.guide/guggi/
MLA: "Guggi." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/guggi/.
Chicago: "Guggi." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/guggi/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:23 UTC