Richard Melville Hall
(born September 11, 1965), known by his stage name Moby, is an American
singer-songwriter, musician, DJ and photographer. He is well known for
his electronic music, vegan lifestyle, and support of animal rights.
Moby has sold over 20 million albums worldwide. AllMusic considers him
"one of the most important dance music figures of the early '90s,
helping bring the music to a mainstream audience both in the UK and in
America".
Moby gained attention in the early 1990s with his electronic dance music
work, which experimented in the techno and breakbeat hardcore genres.
With his fifth studio album, the electronica and house-influenced Play,
he gained international success. Originally released in mid-1999, the
album sold 6,000 copies in its first week, and it re-entered the charts
in early 2000 and became an unexpected hit, producing eight singles and
selling over 10 million copies worldwide. Moby followed the album in
2002 with 18, which was also successful, selling over 5 million copies
worldwide and receiving mostly positive reviews, though some criticized
it for being too similar to Play.
His next major release, 2005's mostly upbeat Hotel was a stylistic
departure, incorporating more alternative rock elements than previous
albums, and received mixed reviews. It sold around 2 million copies
worldwide. After 2008's dance-influenced Last Night (2008), he returned
to the downtempo electronica of Play and 18 with 2009's mostly-ambient
Wait for Me, finding higher critical acclaim and moderate sales, as well
as 2011's Destroyed. Moby's latest album, Innocents, was released on
October 1, 2013.
Moby has also co-written, produced, and remixed music for Michael
Jackson, David Bowie, Daft Punk, Mylène Farmer, Brian Eno, Pet Shop
Boys, Britney Spears, New Order, Public Enemy, Guns N' Roses, Metallica,
Soundgarden, and others.
Moby is a vegan and supports animal rights. In March 2008, after Gary
Gygax's death, Moby was one of several celebrities identifying
themselves as former Dungeons & Dragons players. In March 2010, Moby
made his debut as an author when Gristle: From Factory Farms to Food
Safety (Thinking Twice About the Meat We Eat), a collection of essays
from people in the food industry, was published. In June 2013, Moby and
numerous other celebrities appeared in a video showing support for
Chelsea Manning.