Bryan Ferry built his reputation as the impossibly suave frontman of Roxy Music and one of British pop’s great style icons. His four sons, Otis, Isaac, Tara and Merlin, grew up in that spotlight, and between them they’ve covered fashion campaigns, recording studios, rock drum kits and some very public countryside politics. Here’s who each of them is.
Bryan Ferry’s Children at a Glance
| Son | Born | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Otis Ferry | November 1, 1982 | Huntsman and pro-hunting campaigner |
| Isaac Ferry | 1985 | Model, DJ and music producer |
| Tara Ferry | Around 1990 | Drummer and model |
| Merlin Ferry | Around 1990 (youngest) | Musician; survived a serious crash in 2014 |
Who Is Their Mother?
All four boys are the sons of Bryan Ferry and his first wife, Lucy Helmore, a model and socialite. The couple married in 1982 and divorced in 2003. Lucy later married nightclub owner Robin Birley in 2006. She died in 2018, aged 58.
Bryan Ferry married again in January 2012, to Amanda Sheppard, who had previously been linked to his son Isaac. In 2013, British papers reported that the couple had separated.
Otis Ferry
The eldest, born on November 1, 1982, Otis Ferry is the most publicly outspoken of the brothers, and the most politically divisive. He became master and huntsman of the South Shropshire Hunt and one of the best-known faces of the pro-hunting movement.
In 2004 he was among the protesters who broke into the House of Commons chamber to oppose the ban on hunting with dogs. He later spent four months in custody on remand on charges connected to a 2007 hunting incident; in May 2009 a judge cleared him of the two charges of perverting the course of justice, as Horse & Hound reported. Business Insider later reported that the case ended with a public order offence and a fine.
Isaac Ferry
Born in 1985, Isaac Ferry started modelling young. He made his runway debut at 16 at Christian Dior’s menswear show in Paris in 2002, went on to a Burberry campaign alongside Kate Moss, and later fronted work for MR PORTER. Like his father, he’s drawn to music: he has worked as a producer, including on Roxy Music material, and DJs at fashion events in London.
Tara Ferry (Bryan Ferry’s Son, Not Daughter)
A lot of people search for “Bryan Ferry’s daughter”, and the reason is usually Tara. Despite the name, Tara Ferry is the third of Bryan’s four sons. He was born around 1990 and studied at Chelsea College of Art and Design.
Tara is the most musical of the brothers on stage. He has drummed for the band Rubber Kiss Goodbye and has played drums with Roxy Music. He has also modelled for Burberry and Lanvin.
Merlin Ferry
The youngest of the four, Merlin Ferry is a musician too. He has played guitar in the band Voltrob and appeared on a track from his father’s 2010 album, Olympia.
Just before Christmas 2014, Merlin was seriously injured in a head-on car crash in Shropshire. Firefighters spent around 45 minutes freeing him from the wreckage, and he was treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Speaking in 2015, Bryan called it “the worst thing a parent could imagine” and said his son was making “an amazing recovery”, thanking the emergency services and hospital staff.
Our Take
It would be easy to treat the Ferry brothers as a set of glossy magazine profiles, and plenty of tabloids have. The more interesting story is how differently four brothers from the same family turned out: a hunting campaigner, a fashion-world regular, a drummer and a young musician who came back from a terrible crash. Whatever you think of their choices, none of them simply coasted on their dad’s name.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children does Bryan Ferry have?
Four sons: Otis, Isaac, Tara and Merlin, all with his first wife, Lucy Helmore.
Does Bryan Ferry have a daughter?
No. All four of his children are sons. Tara Ferry is often mistaken for a daughter because of his name.
Who is the mother of Bryan Ferry’s children?
Lucy Helmore, later Lucy Birley, a model who was married to Bryan Ferry from 1982 to 2003. She died in 2018.
What does Tara Ferry do?
Tara Ferry is a drummer and model. He has played with the band Rubber Kiss Goodbye and with Roxy Music, and modelled for Burberry and Lanvin.
Who is Otis Ferry?
Bryan Ferry’s eldest son, born in 1982. He is a huntsman with the South Shropshire Hunt and a well-known pro-hunting campaigner.
Sources
- Business Insider via Yahoo: Meet the offspring of a British rockstar (Aug 2013)
- HELLO!: Bryan Ferry opens up on son Merlin’s car crash (Mar 2015)
- Horse & Hound: Judge clears Otis Ferry of ‘witness nobbling’ (May 2009)
- Wikipedia: Lucy Birley
Sources and Editorial Notes
Elivestory aims to use relevant sources, separate confirmed information from speculation and update important details when reliable new information becomes available.
Jaylin Khan
Jaylin Khan is an entertainment writer at elivestory.com who covers celebrity biographies, entertainment news, digital media and the latest pop culture trends. Drawing information from credible and trusted sources, she combines verified facts with thoughtful opinions to create engaging and informative articles for readers.
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