Dave Formula (born David Tomlinson[1] 11 August 1946, Whalley Range, Manchester in England),[2] is an English keyboardist and film-soundtrack composer from Manchester, who played with the post-punk bands Magazine and Visage during the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s and in the "world music" band The Angel Brothers.

[3] He worked under the name of David Tomlinson and achieved some success back in the mid-sixties with the R&B blues/soul band St. Louis Union, including appearances on Top of the Pops Thank Your Lucky Stars and in the film The Ghost Goes Gear (also featuring The Spencer Davis Group).

At the time he formed the group, he was working as an apprentice television engineer with John Nichols, the band’s bass player.

[2] Later he was a cabaret musician and before moving to London, whilst with Magazine, he shared a flat with record producer Martin Hannett.

Formula was a member of Magazine, joining in 1978 after the departure of Bob Dickinson and the release of their debut single "Shot By Both Sides", until the band's breakup in 1981.