Brian Bell: Difference between revisions
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==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
===Early life=== | ===Early life=== | ||
Brian Bell was born in Iowa City, Iowa to parents Tom Bell, a geography professor at the University of Tennessee, and Linda Menasco, an elementary school assistant principal. He was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. He first gravitated to music at the age of four when his parents took him to an Elvis Presley concert at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. Soon after, Bell became obsessed with his father's record collection, playing them constantly. At a young age, Bell asked his mother to let him take piano lessons, refusing to let him take guitar lessons until high school because she "wouldn't believe that he would practice." Eventually, during his freshman year in high school, his parents allowed him to take guitar lessons from Knoxville musician Ben Bolt. Also, during his first year in high school Bell was forced to switch high schools, "I was zoned to go to County School and my mom taught in the city, which meant I could go to a more privileged school. In doing that I was surrounded by snobs. I was kind of finding myself at the time, so I decided to go to the school I was zoned for." He started playing in a band with school friends Tim and Glenn Maloof called Blooshroom which Bell described as "Pink Floyd-meets-The Stooges." | Brian Bell was born in Iowa City, Iowa to parents Tom Bell, a geography professor at the University of Tennessee, and Linda Menasco, an elementary school assistant principal. He was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. He first gravitated to music at the age of four when his parents took him to an Elvis Presley concert at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. Soon after, Bell became obsessed with his father's record collection, playing them constantly. At a young age, Bell asked his mother to let him take piano lessons, refusing to let him take guitar lessons until high school because she "wouldn't believe that he would practice." Eventually, during his freshman year in high school, his parents allowed him to take guitar lessons from Knoxville musician Ben Bolt. Also, during his first year in high school Bell was forced to switch high schools, "I was zoned to go to County School and my mom taught in the city, which meant I could go to a more privileged school. In doing that I was surrounded by snobs. I was kind of finding myself at the time, so I decided to go to the school I was zoned for." He started playing in a band with school friends Tim and Glenn Maloof called Blooshroom which Bell described as "Pink Floyd-meets-The Stooges." After completing high school at Bearden High School in 1986, Bell decided not to pursue higher education feeling it would be a "waste of money." | ||
===Carnival Art=== | ===Carnival Art=== | ||
At the age of eighteen, Bell moved to Los Angeles, California, and enrolled at the Guitar Institute of Technology. | At the age of eighteen, Bell moved to Los Angeles, California, and enrolled at the Guitar Institute of Technology. Soon he became a founding member of [[Carnival Art]], which released three albums and two EPs with Bell playing bass. Unfortunately, the band had extremely small record sales and were eventually dropped by label Beggars Banquet. It was around the time Carnival Art was disintegrating Bell became acquainted with the members of [[Weezer]], "They started playing on the scene, and I instantly saw something unique in them. I didn't necessarily want to be in their band. They were for some reason, were in with the wrong crowd and playing at the wrong venues. I wanted to help them out any way I could and I wanted to play a show with them." Bell particularly found himself amazed at "[[Say It Ain't So]]", expressing surprise that songs like that were still being written. One night in the late summer of 1993, while driving home Bell decided once-and-for-all to quit [[Carnival Art]]. When he got home he found on his answering machine a message from Weezer bassist [[Matt Sharp]]. Sharp called again the next day, "Matt was just beating around the bush, and [[Rivers Cuomo|Rivers]] took the phone from him and said, 'Do you wanna join our band?'" | ||
===Weezer=== | ===Weezer=== | ||
Bell then joined [[Weezer]] in 1993 during the recording of ''[[Weezer (The Blue Album)|The Blue Album]]'', replacing [[Jason Cropper]]. Since then he has remained a member of Weezer. Besides doing backup vocals and playing rhythm guitar, Bell takes on many of the multi-instrumental duties during | Bell then joined [[Weezer]] in 1993 during the recording of ''[[Weezer (The Blue Album)|The Blue Album]]'', replacing [[Jason Cropper]]. Since then he has remained a member of Weezer. Besides doing backup vocals and playing rhythm guitar (as well as lead guitar on the ''[[Pinkerton]]'' classics "[[El Scorcho]]" and "[[Why Bother?]]"), Bell takes on many of the multi-instrumental duties during live shows. When songs call for the use of a keyboard or harmonica, Bell often plays them. | ||
Although all songwriting credits on Weezer's 2005 album ''[[Make Believe]]'' are credited to [[Rivers Cuomo]], Bell wrote the intro to "[[We Are All on Drugs]]" and the dueling guitars in the solo of "[[This is Such a Pity]]." Bell also contributed the song "[[Thought I Knew]]" to the band's 2008 self-titled album as well as "[[It's Easy]]," an iTunes exclusive demo that serves as a bonus track to that album. This marks the first time Weezer has officially released a song written and sung by Brian Bell although the band demoed and played Brian's "[[Yellow Camaro]]" live in 2002. The song eventually made it onto the [[Space Twins]] debut LP ''[[The End of Imagining]]''. | Although all songwriting credits on Weezer's 2005 album ''[[Make Believe]]'' are credited to [[Rivers Cuomo]], Bell wrote the intro to "[[We Are All on Drugs]]" and the dueling guitars in the solo of "[[This is Such a Pity]]." Bell also contributed the song "[[Thought I Knew]]" to the band's 2008 self-titled album as well as "[[It's Easy]]," an iTunes exclusive demo that serves as a bonus track to that album. This marks the first time Weezer has officially released a song written and sung by Brian Bell although the band demoed and played Brian's "[[Yellow Camaro]]" live in 2002. The song eventually made it onto the [[Space Twins]] debut LP ''[[The End of Imagining]]''. | ||
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===The Space Twins=== | ===The Space Twins=== | ||
Throughout the years Bell fronted his own band, [[Space Twins]], who have had various incarnations since 1993. They have released three | Throughout the years Bell fronted his own band, [[Space Twins]], who have had various incarnations since 1993. They have released three vinyl singles and an album, ''[[The End Of Imagining]]'', in 2003. Yet in 2006, Bell stated that he was "not presently pursuing" projects with The Space Twins. | ||
===The Relationship=== | ===The Relationship=== | ||
Bell is currently recording for a side project called [[The Relationship]]. The recording is taking place at Henson Recording and Padre Terrace in Los Angeles and is being produced by Weezer engineer [[Eric J]]. Sean Lennon | Bell is currently recording for a side project called [[The Relationship]]. The recording is taking place at Henson Recording and Padre Terrace in Los Angeles and is being produced by Weezer engineer [[Eric J]]. Sean Lennon mentioned in a recent interview that he will appear with Bell on The Relationship's debut record. [[Rivers Cuomo]] and Bell co-wrote a song together for the project titled "Hand to Hold," but Bell has stated that he does not think it will be on their debut album. In May [[2007]], he uploaded "Hand to Hold" on the band's myspace page. It is a reworking of the [[Weezer]] song "[[Private Message]]," which was originally in the running for inclusion on ''[[Make Believe]]'' and is considered to be an [[Album 5 Demos|Album 5 Demo]].<br> | ||
The Relationship toured with Weezer for part of the [[Troublemaker Tour]], playing at the San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego shows. | The Relationship toured with Weezer for part of the [[Troublemaker Tour]], playing at the San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego shows. | ||
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Bell has also expressed an interest in the works of William Shakespeare. During the band's downtime in 2003 and 2004, Bell and his ex-girlfriend Peggy Nunez studied Shakespeare and poetry theory at collegiate level. They also appeared in a production of ''Twelfth Night'', in which Bell wrote four songs, all using Shakespeare's words. | Bell has also expressed an interest in the works of William Shakespeare. During the band's downtime in 2003 and 2004, Bell and his ex-girlfriend Peggy Nunez studied Shakespeare and poetry theory at collegiate level. They also appeared in a production of ''Twelfth Night'', in which Bell wrote four songs, all using Shakespeare's words. | ||
Recently, Bell has appeared in one-off performances on guitar with other bands. Playing on March 17 2006 at The Troubador in L.A. with Weezer tour-mates Ringside, and performing "Our Lips Are Sealed", with the original Go-Gos, Jane Wiedlin, on June 1, 2006 at the Viper Room. He sat in on guitars and back up vocals for Ringside's winter '06 tour in Russia | Recently, Bell has appeared in one-off performances on guitar with other bands. Playing on March 17 2006 at The Troubador in L.A. with Weezer tour-mates Ringside, and performing "Our Lips Are Sealed", with the original Go-Gos, Jane Wiedlin, on June 1, 2006 at the Viper Room. He sat in on guitars and back up vocals for Ringside's winter '06 tour in Russia. | ||
It was recently announced that Bell will make his producing debut on the Ultra Sonic Edukators next album. | It was recently announced that Bell will make his producing debut on the Ultra Sonic Edukators' next album. | ||
==Movie career== | ==Movie career== | ||