Chris Pitman

Last updated
Chris Pitman
Chris Pitman performing live 2015.jpg
Chris Pitman performing in 2015
Background information
Born (1961-11-16) November 16, 1961 (age 62) [1]
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. [1]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • record producer
  • audio programmer
Instrument(s)
  • Keyboards
  • guitar
  • vocals
  • drums
Years active1979–present
Labels
Member ofSexTapes
Formerly of

Chris Pitman (born November 16, 1961) [1] is an American musician best known for his involvement with the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. A multi-instrumentalist, Pitman is known to play keyboards, guitar and drums, in addition to his role as a lead or backing vocalist. Pitman currently fronts alternative rock band SexTapes and previously worked with such bands as Guns N' Roses, Lusk, Replicants and Tool.

Contents

Early career

Pitman studied at the Art Institute of Kansas City and the University of Missouri. In 1993, Pitman worked with the controversial artist Les Levine. The following year, Pitman worked with Dr. Dre in Dre's home studio. He also joined Tool on tour, doing things such as a spoken word part on a live performance of the song "Bottom" and playing synthesizers on Tool's album Ænima . In 1995, he appeared on the album Bourgeois Kitten by Blinker the Star.

Guns N' Roses (1998-2016)

Pitman in 2006 with Guns N' Roses Guns N' Roses (48) (cropped).JPG
Pitman in 2006 with Guns N' Roses

In early 1998, Pitman joined Guns N' Roses as the band's second keyboardist and second bass player as well as performing backing vocals and percussion. Pitman was recommended to the band by Billy Howerdel, who was working with the band as an engineer at the time. [2] Pitman spent time writing with vocalist Axl Rose at Rose's house frequently. [2]

Pitman was featured on the non-album single "Oh My God" in 1999, and on every song on the long-delayed sixth studio album Chinese Democracy . On the album, Pitman plays mostly keyboards and sub-bass as well as programming and background vocals, he plays a 12-string guitar on "If the World" and a Mellotron on "There Was a Time". He also co-wrote the songs "If the World" and "Madagascar" alongside Rose. He was also responsible for the synth orchestra (along with Dizzy Reed and Rose) on the songs "Street of Dreams", "There Was a Time", "Madagascar", "This I Love" and "Prostitute". Pitman co-wrote (alongside Reed) an unreleased song which was performed live at Rock in Rio III entitled "Silkworms". [3] The song was later re-worked as "ABSUЯD" and released as a single in 2021.

Pitman started performing live with Guns N' Roses in January 2001. He was one of the longest serving members of the band. Pitman filled in for Tommy Stinson on bass in a 2007 show that Stinson was unable to attend. [4] In February 2016, Pitman made headlines for criticizing the upcoming Not In This Lifetime... Tour, calling it a "Nostalgia tour" and stating “please don’t mention those who are there the last 20 fucking years … oh god no!! … (a money grab) FU.” [5] Pitman later apologized for his comments, stating "Remember kids, dont drink n text!". [6] Pitman left the group soon afterwards, saying in an April 2016 interview "I quit the Oldies band, they just wanna repeat that 30 year old music over and over... boring. [7]

Pitman was replaced by Melissa Reese as the second keyboardist In March 2016, two weeks before the tour began. [8]

In August 2016, Pitman sued Axl Rose for $125,000 in unpaid wages. [9] The two parties settled in November 2016. [10]

Pitman appears as keyboardist on the 2023 single "The General", written and partially recorded when he was in the band. [11]

Musical collaborations

Pitman has collaborated with a number of acts, as well as founding a number of experimental projects.

Workshop projects

Pitman has also done sound design and electronic work for Arturia software synthesizers, A Designs Audio [Peter Montessi], Waves Plugins, Waldorf Synthesizers, Apple's Logic Audio, Digidesign Plugins, Moog Synthesizers, Celemony's Melodyne, Ableton Live, Roland USA, Korg Music, Serge Synthesis (SMS), PlanB Synthesis (Peter Grenader, Axel Hartmann) Neuron Synthesis, Symbolic Sounds Kyma, Mandala Drums, Steven Slate Drums and Native Instruments.

Pitman was co-founder of Los Angeles–based art coalition 'Priory of the North,' which focuses on conceptual/public art and works primarily with oil painting, lithography, oils, and metal. His Land/Environment projects have been onsite in various Midwest regional farmland sites in Lafayette County and Johnson County, Missouri. His Rio de Janeiro site-specific work titled "Mind/Land" has been delayed until permits and visas for such materials can be imported. This work has been in progress since 2003.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Biography - Chris Pitman". www.mygnr.com.
  2. 1 2 Talking Metal Podcast: Chris Pitman hosted by Mark Strigl. November 16, 2008 Transcription link
  3. ↑ "Classic Interview with Chris Pitman (Guns N' Roses)". Archived from the original on February 7, 2016.
  4. ↑ "GNRontour.com - GN'R Setlist Almanac 2007". www.gnrontour.com.
  5. ↑ "Guns N' Roses member Chris Pitman blasts "money grab" reunion tour". February 26, 2016.
  6. ↑ "GUNS N' ROSES Keyboardist CHRIS PITMAN Apologizes For Calling Reunion 'Nostalgia Tour'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. March 3, 2016.
  7. ↑ Hartmann, Graham. "Ex-GN'R Member Chris Pitman Apparently Calls Reunion 'Boring'". Loudwire.
  8. ↑ "Fil-Am brings girl power to Guns N' Roses". www.philstar.com.
  9. ↑ Axl Rose Sued, TMZ.com
  10. ↑ "Axl Rose Settles Lawsuit With Chris Pitman". Loudwire.
  11. ↑ The General on Youtube
  12. ↑ "Replicants - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  13. ↑ "GUNS N' ROSES Keyboardist CHRIS PITMAN Releases SEXTAPES". 10 December 2008.
  14. ↑ "HTGTH.com: Guns N' Roses News: Beatrazr new project with Chris Pitman & Frank Ferrer". www.heretodaygonetohell.com.
  15. ↑ [ permanent dead link ]
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