Phideaux Xavier

Phideaux Xavier (born Scott Riggs; January 14, 1963) is an American television director, and composer of modern technological music that he describes as 'psychedelic progressive gothic rock', who grew up near New York City but now lives in Los Angeles.

Early life Phideaux was born Scott Riggs on January 14, 1963 in Hastings-on-Hudson, one of three children.

Career

Previous bands Phideaux first played with Mark Sherkus (piano), Dean Deluke (drums), and Bucky Deluke (trumpet) in ESP. He was later part of a band called the Delukes from Southern California. Next, Xavier played with Molly Ruttan (drums), Linda Ruttan-Moldawsky (bass) and Amanda Ettlinger (flute) in a progressive rock band called Mirkwood, which later morphed into a punk/pop band called Sally Dick & Jane, after the departure of Amanda Ettlinger, and the addition of vocalist/keyboardist Valerie Gracius. They played at various legendary NYC clubs, including Max's Kansas City and CBGB, during the early to mid 1980s, but failed to record anything of substance and were marginal to the scene. This album was released in 2003, despite the copyright of 2004 on the artwork.

Ghost Story After completing Fiendish, Xavier was convinced that he was now prepared to record his songs from the aborted album Ghost Story. He and Hutchins quickly reconvened to redo that album with Gabriel Moffat producing and mixing. Ghost Story was released in 2004. The track "Beyond The Shadow of Doubt" features a keyboard solo from Mark Sherkus, who joined the project at that time. Sam Fenster, who had played bass in The SunMachine, played bass in the album.

Chupacabras While recording Fiendish in 2002, they had begun work on a 21-minute suite called "Chupacabras". This song was not completed in time for inclusion on Fiendish, so instead formed the basis for the 2005 release Chupacabras. This album includes a song from Phideaux and Hutchins' previous band, Satyricon, called "Titan".

313 Phideaux decided to make an "album in a day". On March 13, 2004, Phideaux musicians converged in Los Angeles for an unrehearsed recording session. During that day, they composed and recorded 13 songs, but the sessions were shelved until after Chupacabras was released. In 2005, Phideaux and Gabriel Moffat polished up the recordings, and on March 13, 2006, released the album 313 (named for the date upon which it was recorded). The cover artwork for this album was by Margie Schnibbe, another childhood friend of Phideaux's.

The Great Leap and Doomsday Afternoon In August 2005, while putting the finishing touches on 313, Phideaux and mates returned to the studio to record the first two parts of a projected "Trilogy" of albums telling of a near-future dystopia. In 2007, Phideaux's band played in the US and at the Festival Crescendo in St Palais-sur-Mer, France.

Number Seven After almost a two-year wait, Phideaux released Number Seven. Although Number Seven is technically the follow-up to Doomsday Afternoon, it is not part three of the "Trilogy." It's a three-part concept album telling the story of a struggle between a dormouse and a crayfish.

Phideaux planned to release Seven and ½ later in 2010, which the band states is an appendix to Number Seven. Phideaux has announced that he would like to release Seven and ½, remaster Doomsday Afternoon and create a live performance DVD before working on Infernal, the finale of his trilogy.

Current live band The performers who work with Phideaux Xavier are people that he grew up with. They have played with him in many albums although the first one in which they, and only they, played all the instruments was Number Seven. It is formed by: Ariel Farber: Vocals, Violin Valerie Gracius: Vocals, Piano Rich Hutchins: Drums Mathew Kennedy: Bass guitar Gabriel Moffat: Electric guitar Molly Ruttan: Vocals, Percussion Linda Ruttan-Moldawsky: Vocals Mark Sherkus: Keyboards Johnny Unicorn: Vocals, Keyboards Phideaux Xavier: Vocals, Piano, Various Guitars

Discography Friction (1993) (Not considered as such by them. ) Fiendish (2003) Ghost Story (2004) Chupacabras (2005) 313 (2006) The Great Leap (2006) Doomsday Afternoon (2007) Number Seven (2009) Snowtorch (2011) Infernal (2018) Lysogenic Burnt Offerings (2020) Automoto Animus (2026)

Guest appearances 01011001 by Ayreon (2008) - guest vocals Margaret's Children by Guy Manning (2011) - guest announcer on " A night at the Savoy" 01011001 – Live Beneath the Waves (2024) - guest vocals

Directing credits Sunset Beach (1999) Passions (2002–2008) The Young and the Restless (July 2007 – May 2008) General Hospital (July 2007 – June 2024) Beyond the Gates (since February 2025)

Daytime Emmys

Won 2015 Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team for: "General Hospital" 2012 Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team for: "General Hospital" 2010 Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team for: "General Hospital"

Nominated 2015 Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team for: "General Hospital" 2011 Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team for: "General Hospital" 2004 Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team for: "Passions" 2003 Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team for: "Passions" 2002 Outstanding Special Class Directing for: "Spyder Games"