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[[Image:Brianbell.png‎ |right|thumb|200px|Brian Bell]]
[[Image:Brianbell.png‎ |right|thumb|200px|Brian Bell]]


'''Brian Bell''' (born [[December 9]], 1968, Iowa City, Iowa) is the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist of [[Weezer]].  Currently, Brian Bell's side project is [[The Relationship]]. He is lovingly referred to by fans as the [[Sass|"Sassmaster]]."
'''Brian Bell''' (born [[December 9]], 1968, Iowa City, Iowa) is the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist of [[Weezer]].  Currently, Brian Bell's side project is [[The Relationship]].  
 
==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."  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."
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.   


===Carnival Art===
===Carnival Art===
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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.
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]]''.
In 2005 during live appearances with the band Brian sung lead vocals on "[[Why Bother?]]", "[[Getchoo]]" and "[[Keep Fishin']]". In 2008 during the band's Hootenanny Tour he began taking lead vocals on "[[El Scorcho]]."
Beyond his musicianship Weezer fans often note Bell's strong sense of fashion, dubbing it "sassy". Fans lovingly call him the "[[Sass]] Master".  Said Karl of Brian's fashion, "Brian bought the rights to sassy."
===The Space Twins===
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 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>
Bell is currently recording for a side project called [[The Relationship]].  
The Relationship toured with Weezer for part of the [[Troublemaker Tour]], playing at the San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego shows.


===Other projects===
===Other projects===
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In November 2006, Lyon introduced a limited edition guitar series called "the Brian Bell Limited Edition guitar package," each of which had been hand-signed by Bell, and were in the same "strat" body style that Brian prefers to play.
In November 2006, Lyon introduced a limited edition guitar series called "the Brian Bell Limited Edition guitar package," each of which had been hand-signed by Bell, and were in the same "strat" body style that Brian prefers to play.


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.
It was recently announced that Bell will make his producing debut on the Ultra Sonic Edukators' next album.


==Movie career==
=Movie career==
In 2006, Bell made his on-screen debut, playing Lou Reed in the Edie Sedgwick, ''Factory Girl.''  Fellow bandmate Patrick Wilson also appeared as John Cale, another member of the Velvet Underground.
In 2006, Bell made his on-screen debut, playing Lou Reed in the Edie Sedgwick, ''Factory Girl.''  Fellow bandmate Patrick Wilson also appeared as John Cale, another member of the Velvet Underground.


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