Dave Baksh

Last updated

Dave Baksh
2023 Rock im Park - Sum 41 - Dave Baksh - by 2eight - ZSC3177 (cropped).jpg
Baksh performing at Rock im Park in 2023
Background information
Also known as
  • Dave Brownsound
  • Hot Chocolate
  • Pleasure
  • Sweet Gravy Brown
Born (1980-07-26) July 26, 1980 (age 44)
Origin Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active1996–present
Member of Sum 41
Formerly of

Dave Baksh (born July 26, 1980) [1] also known by his stage name Dave Brownsound, is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist of rock band Sum 41. Baksh quit Sum 41 in 2006 (not counting a guest appearance on stage in 2008) to pursue his own career in his heavy metal/reggae project Brown Brigade. He rejoined Sum 41 in 2015 and has released three subsequent studio albums with the band. He also plays guitar for Organ Thieves, with two of his fellow Brown Brigade members [2] and the Canadian deathpunk four-piece Black Cat Attack. In 2019, Baksh co-founded the merchandise company Loud & Immortal.

Contents

Early and personal life

Baksh grew up in Ajax, Ontario to an Indo-Guyanese family. Baksh learned to play guitar alongside his cousin. [3] [4] [5] He went to school with fellow Sum 41 bandmate Jason McCaslin and their former drummer Steve Jocz. Baksh attended Exeter High School and was in the graduating class of 1998. [6] He is a fan of English Premier League club Newcastle United. [7]

Career

Sum 41 (1998–2006; 2015–present)

Baksh in 2003 Davebaksh.jpg
Baksh in 2003

Baksh joined Sum 41 as the third member in 1997, after Deryck Whibley and Steve Jocz formed the band in the summer of 1996. In addition to being the lead guitarist, Baksh also provided backing vocals. Baksh went by the name Pleasure in Sum 41's alter-ego band, Pain for Pleasure. Baksh also goes by the names "Dave Brownsound" and "Hot Chocolate", playing off of his Indian heritage and brown sound, the name Eddie Van Halen coined for his own guitar tone. He has stated his favorite Sum 41 songs are "Mr. Amsterdam," "Machine Gun," "Pain for Pleasure," and "The Bitter End", and his least favorite to play with the band is "Pieces".

On July 23, 2015, Sum 41 played their comeback show at the Alternative Press Music Awards, which featured DMC and Baksh himself as guests. [8] On August 14, 2015, after rumors and speculation, it was announced that Baksh had officially returned to Sum 41, and would appear on the band's sixth studio album. The resulting album 13 Voices was released on October 7, 2016.

During an interview with Loudwire in 2019, Baksh confirmed that he regretted leaving the band after hearing their fifth album, Screaming Bloody Murder (2011). [9]

Brown Brigade (2006–2008)

On May 11, 2006, Baksh announced in a statement through his management company that he was leaving Sum 41 for personal reasons. He explained that he could not keep trying to express himself through guitar skills without being a pain to the band. During the post-Chuck hiatus, he decided it was time to move on from Sum 41 and to focus on his side project Brown Brigade, his new band that he founded with his cousin Vaughn Lal and with which he currently plays lead guitar.

Brown Brigade's debut album Into the Mouth of Badd(d)ness was released September 18, 2007, in Canada and Japan only and became critically successful, even though it was not released widely in the US and have not brought the band any outside attention, the band still continues to tour Canada in support of the album.

Baksh stated that the band is currently working on new and experimental songs to be released for free on the band's website. The new songs, unlike the band's traditional music, would feature varied music such as punk rock, funk and reggae and not metal like the debut album.

In a show that took place on March 27, 2008, in Toronto, Ontario, Baksh joined Sum 41 to play "Pain for Pleasure" at the end of the show. Some thought this was a hint of him returning to the band, however, Deryck Whibley said that Baksh's appearance was a one-off cameo and that he would continue with Brown Brigade.

On September 12, 2008, Baksh announced on the Brown Brigade's Myspace page that he would quit singing for the band, but would remain as the lead guitarist. The band was looking for a new lead singer to work on new material. On November 27, 2009, Baksh announced that due to his cousin Vaughn Lal's involvement in his business, they intended to keep Brown Brigade strictly a studio act, releasing single songs and collaborating in the studio with many different artists, with a small chance of playing live. Baksh's main focus will be Organ Thieves and Vaughn's main focus will be his new business.

Organ Thieves (2008–2015)

In mid-2008, Baksh started recording and producing his fellow Brown Brigade member Chuck Coles' new project Organ Thieves. By November 2008, Coles had asked Baksh to join the band for a few live shows, resulting in Baksh joining as a full-time member. He recorded the band's first EP God's Favorite Sons in January 2009. The EP was released for free on the band's Myspace page and was later released into physical copies in March 2009. On the same month, Baksh also joined Canadian hardcore punk outfit Blackjacket for a short UK tour.

In October 2009, Organ Thieves began pre-production for their first full-length studio album, with former longtime Sum 41 producer/manager Greig Nori. Organ Thieves has since become Baksh's main focus as he intends to keep Brown Brigade strictly a studio act.

On April 24, 2012, their first full-length studio album, Somewhere Between Free Men and Slaves , was released through MapleMusic Recordings.

Equipment

He recently only plays a Duesenberg Dave Baksh Alliance guitar live on stage, which he co-designed with Duesenberg. He uses Dean Markley and Ernie Ball strings. For his pedals, he uses MXR Effects, a Digitech Whammy, and Dunlop wah Pedals. He uses Marshall Amplification. [10]

Discography

With Sum 41

With Brown Brigade

With Organ Thieves

With Black Cat Attack

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sum 41</span> Canadian rock band

Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of Deryck Whibley, Dave Baksh, Jason McCaslin, Tom Thacker, and Frank Zummo.

<i>Half Hour of Power</i> 2000 EP by Sum 41

Half Hour of Power is the debut extended play by Canadian rock band Sum 41. It was released on June 27, 2000 on Big Rig Records, a subsidiary of Island Records, and Aquarius Records (Canada). The cover features the band's then-drummer Steve Jocz aiming a Nerf gun up in the air and standing in front of an explosion in the background. Though officially an EP, Half Hour of Power may also be considered the band's debut studio album. Most of the songs featured on the EP were included as bonus tracks on Sum 41's actual debut studio album All Killer No Filler (2001), which featured a re-recorded version of Half Hour of Power's sixth track "Summer". This is the second of three times that this song was featured on a Sum 41 album. It first appeared on their 1998 demo tape. The group originally planned to include different versions of the song on each of their albums as a joke, but scrapped the idea after All Killer No Filler, as they felt that it would annoy their fanbase.

<i>Does This Look Infected?</i> 2002 studio album by Sum 41

Does This Look Infected? is the second studio album by Canadian rock band Sum 41. It was released on November 26, 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deryck Whibley</span> Canadian musician (born 1980)

Deryck Jason Whibley, nicknamed Bizzy D, is a Canadian musician, best known for his work as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, main songwriter, producer, founder and only constant member of the rock band Sum 41.

<i>Chuck</i> (Sum 41 album) 2004 studio album by Sum 41

Chuck is the third studio album by Canadian rock band Sum 41. The album was released on October 12, 2004. It was the last album to feature guitarist Dave Baksh before his departure from Sum 41 on May 11, 2006. Baksh later rejoined the band in 2015. Chuck peaked at No. 2 on the Canadian Albums Chart and No. 10 on the US Billboard 200, making it the band's highest-charting album until it would be surpassed by Underclass Hero in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason McCaslin</span> Canadian musician (born 1980)

Jason "Cone" McCaslin is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, serving as the bassist and backing vocalist of the band Sum 41. He and frontman Deryck Whibley are the only two members of the band to appear on every studio album.

<i>Skull Ring</i> 2003 studio album by Iggy Pop

Skull Ring is the fourteenth studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop, released in November 2003. Every track on the album features guest performers. The performers are The Stooges, The Trolls, Green Day, Sum 41, and Peaches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Too Deep (Sum 41 song)</span> 2001 single by Sum 41

"In Too Deep" is a song by Canadian rock band Sum 41. It is the seventh track on their debut studio album All Killer No Filler (2001), and was released as the second single in September 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown Brigade</span> Canadian metal band

Brown Brigade was a reggae-influenced heavy metal band created by Sum 41 guitarist Dave "Brownsound" Baksh. The band's final lineup was Baksh, Vaughn Lal, Johnny Owens (drums), Chuck Coles (guitar), and Cess Rock (percussion).

Craig "The Craigulator" Pattison is a Canadian guitarist, best known as former lead/rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band Brown Brigade, and former guitar tech for Dave Baksh while the latter was a member of pop punk band Sum 41.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Underclass Hero (song)</span> 2007 single by Sum 41

"Underclass Hero" is the first single from Sum 41's fourth studio album Underclass Hero. The song impacted radio on May 15, 2007. The song in its entirety was leaked on April 23 from a 91X podcast interview with Deryck Whibley. It was confirmed on Sum 41's official site that this would be the opening track for the album. The song was used in the EA Sports video game Madden 08 and Sony's NBA 08. It is the band's first single since the departure of guitarist Dave Baksh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Thacker (musician)</span> Canadian singer and guitarist (born 1974)

Thomas William Arnold Thacker, nicknamed Brown Tom, is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and producer. He is the lead guitarist, lead singer and co-founder of the punk rock group Gob, and guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist for Sum 41. Thacker formed Gob with Theo Goutzinakis in 1993. Following Dave Baksh's departure from Sum 41 on May 11, 2006, Thacker was recruited as their touring guitarist, and then became an official member in 2009. He has remained with Sum 41 ever since, even after Baksh rejoined the band in 2015, contributing to four studio releases.

Cross the T's and Gouge Your I's is Sum 41's second DVD. It was released in 2002, as the bonus DVD for the US and UK editions of their hit album Does This Look Infected?, and as a separate DVD worldwide.

<i>All the Good Shit</i> 2008 greatest hits album by Sum 41

All the Good Shit: 14 Solid Gold Hits 2000–2008 is a greatest hits album by Canadian rock band Sum 41. The Japanese version was released on November 26, 2008, and the worldwide version was released on March 17, 2009. This is the band's first greatest hits album. It includes singles from each of the band's studio albums, as well as a previously unreleased song, "Always". The release also includes a bonus DVD with all of the band's music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organ Thieves</span>

Organ Thieves is a southern and soul-influenced experimental hard rock side project by Brown Brigade guitarists Chuck Coles and Dave Baksh, formed by Coles in mid-2008. It has since become their main project.

"Rock You" is a hard rock song written by Bob Halligan, Jr., and the first track from Helix's 1984 album Walkin' the Razor's Edge. It is best known for its call and response refrain of "Gimme an R, O, C, K." It peaked at number 27 on the RPM Pop Chart in Canada, although it received much higher levels of play on Canadian rock radio stations, but no national rock track chart exists for Canada for this time period.

<i>13 Voices</i> 2016 studio album by Sum 41

13 Voices is the sixth studio album by Canadian rock band Sum 41, released on October 7, 2016. It is the first of two albums by the band to be released through independent label Hopeless Records. It is also Sum 41's first album to feature drummer Frank Zummo, who replaced original drummer Steve Jocz, and their first album to feature guitarist Tom Thacker. The album also features the return of longtime lead guitarist Dave "Brownsound" Baksh. The album is also their first as a five-piece band. On May 11, 2016, the band announced that they had signed to Hopeless Records to release the crowd-funded project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never There (Sum 41 song)</span> 2019 single by Sum 41

"Never There" is a song by Canadian rock band Sum 41, written by Deryck Whibley. It was released as the third single from the album Order in Decline on June 18, 2019, a week after the release of the album's second single, "A Death in the Family".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What We're All About</span> 2002 single by Sum 41

"What We're All About" is a song by Canadian rock band Sum 41. It was released in April 2002 as a single for the soundtrack to the film Spider-Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landmines (song)</span> 2023 single by Sum 41

"Landmines" is a song by Canadian rock band Sum 41, written by Deryck Whibley. It was released as the lead single from the band's eighth and final studio album Heaven :x: Hell on September 27, 2023.

References

  1. Gormley, Ian (July 12, 2019). "Sum 41 Survive Teen Stardom, Substance Abuse and Changing Tastes to Rise Again on 'Out for Blood'". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  2. "The Organ Thieves ***STUDIO PICS***". MySpace. Archived from the original on August 7, 2009.
  3. "Backstage with Dave Baksh of Sum 41 | Studio Classic | Marshall". YouTube . July 19, 2023.
  4. "In Conversation with Sum 41's Dave Baksh". October 12, 2022.
  5. "Sum 41 to split up after farewell world tour: 'Thank you'". May 8, 2023.
  6. Ronald H. Bayor, ed. (2011). Multicultural America: An Encyclopedia of the Newest Americans. Vol. 2. ABC-CLIO. p. 881. ISBN   978-0-313-35786-2.
  7. Mitchinson, Rory (August 9, 2019). "A 25-year love affair - Sum 41's Dave Baksh on his Magpies support". Newcastle United Football Club.
  8. Baillie, Katie (July 23, 2015). "People were super excited about Sum 41's return to the stage at the APMAs". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  9. "Sum 41 Talk '13 Voices,' Dave's Return + Deryck's Recovery". October 25, 2016 via www.youtube.com.
  10. "Dave Baksh – Sum 41 – 2003". Guitar.com. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
Guitarist for Sum 41
1998–2006; 2015–present
Guitarist for Brown Brigade
2006–present