Eric Drew Feldman

Last updated
Eric Drew Feldman
Birth nameEric Drew Feldman [1]
Also known asBlack Jew Kitabu
Born (1955-04-16) April 16, 1955 (age 69) [1]
Los Angeles, California
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards, bass, optigan, mellotron, minimoog, backing vocals, drums
Years active1976 - present

Eric Drew Feldman (born April 16, 1955) is an American musician. Feldman has worked with Captain Beefheart, Fear, Snakefinger, The Residents, Pere Ubu, Pixies, dEUS, Katell Keineg, Frank Black, The Polyphonic Spree, Tripping Daisy, Reid Paley, Charlotte Hatherley, Custard and PJ Harvey.

Contents

Biography

In the 1970s, Feldman studied at UCLA under Philip Springer, a pop songwriter and early pioneer of electronic music and synthesizers. [2]

The Magic Band (1976 - 1982)

When Feldman joined Captain Beefheart's Magic Band in 1976 as keyboardist and bassist, he was already an experienced musician. Like other members of the band, Feldman was expected to capture (on tape or notepad) Beefheart's musical ideas. Once instrumental parts had been created, the band members had to play them exactly as composed: "I never had a problem with that. I felt like I was getting parts dictated to me from one of the best, especially when they were designed for me. You just feel like a model in a fashion show wearing a really nice dress, I guess." During his time in the Magic Band, he was also given a nickname by Don, Black Jew Kitabu. Feldman worked on the acclaimed trio of Beefheart albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s - Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (1978), Doc at the Radar Station (1980), and Ice Cream for Crow (1982).

Snakefinger's Vestal Virgins (1982 - 1987)

Feldman first became aware of Snakefinger and The Residents in 1979 while living in Los Angeles. He was given a mixtape (likely the compilation album Nibbles) which featured The Spot by Snakefinger and Ship's A Going Down by The Residents, which he became interested in. Shortly afterwards he moved to San Francisco, just four blocks away from the Ralph Records headquarters. Aware of the address' significance, Feldman visited out of curiosity. The Residents were familiar with Feldman's work with Captain Beefheart and, although he came to work with The Residents, introduced him to Snakefinger. Having produced Snakefinger's first two albums, The Residents wanted Snakefinger to branch out, and saw Feldman as the perfect collaborator. [3] Feldman worked with Snakefinger on two studio albums before his death in 1987.

In May 1984, Feldman collaborated with Steve LeGrand of the band Times Beach to compose and perform the score to Sam Shepard's The Tooth of Crime in an acclaimed production at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

Pere Ubu (1988 - 1991)

After working with The Residents' Snakefinger, in 1988 Feldman was drafted in to replace departing Pere Ubu keyboard player Allen Ravenstine. He worked on their album Worlds in Collision (1991).

Black Francis (1991 - 1994)

Feldman met the Pixies' Frank Black in 1991, when Pere Ubu were touring as the Pixies' opening act, and later played keyboards on the Pixies' Trompe le Monde (1991) and toured with them. He can also be seen in the video for "Alec Eiffel". Feldman's brother Jef also played on the song "Space (I Believe In)" from the same record and was the inspiration behind its lyrics. [4] After the Pixies split, Feldman worked with Frank Black on his solo albums Frank Black (1993) and Teenager of the Year (1994), producing, arranging and also playing bass and keyboards.

In 1994, after two Frank Black albums, Feldman applied for a job with PJ Harvey, who was putting together a band. He played on Is This Desire? (1998), White Chalk (2007), the PJ Harvey/John Parish album A Woman A Man Walked By (2009), and has regularly toured with her. His band kNIFE & fORK has opened for her.

While in Australia touring with Frank Black, he met the Australian band Custard. He recorded two albums with them in the U.S.: Wisenheimer (1995) and We Have the Technology (1996).

In 1996, he produced In a Bar, Under the Sea by Belgian band dEUS. Two years later, he produced Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb by Dallas group Tripping Daisy. He later produced Together We're Heavy (2004) by The Polyphonic Spree, a 24-member troupe containing three ex-members of Tripping Daisy. He also produced the album Revival (2000) by Brooklyn singer-songwriter (and sometime Frank Black songwriting collaborator) Reid Paley.

Through the 1990s Feldman continued to tour on and off with Frank Black and the Catholics and joined the band in the studio to make Dog in the Sand , Black Letter Days , Devil's Workshop , and Show Me Your Tears , as well producing the unreleased album Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day . In the song "85 Weeks" from 1999's Pistolero , Frank Black retells a story about Captain Beefheart as told to Black and other band members by Feldman (the opening lines of "Once Eric said, 'Come gather 'round. I'll tell a tale that is sure to astound'" make a clear reference to Feldman). Since Feldman did not participate in the production of Pistolero the incident may date back to an earlier recording session.

On April 25, 2008, Feldman performed live with Black Francis at the San Francisco International Film Festival at the Castro Theatre. Black Francis and his band performed the original score The Golem , which Feldman produced, for the 1920 silent movie The Golem: How He Came into the World. In 2009 he co-produced and played on a new collaboration entitled NonStopErotik , released March 2010. They toured together briefly as a three-piece to support the album.'

In 2013, Feldman mixed and played keyboards on Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates album The Fates and single Minotaur. He also played keyboards on their album Folklore (2017). [5]

The Residents (2002 - 2003, 2015 - Present)

In 2002, Feldman was invited to replace founding member and keyboardist Hardy Fox on The Residents' Demons Dance Alone tour, to which he accepted. They had asked to work with him on one previous occasion, but had to pass due to scheduling conflicts. [3] The Demons Dance Alone tour lasted from October 2002 to September 2003. [6] Following the tour, Feldman was not invited back to play with the group, due to it being more cost-efficient to keep Fox as the on stage keyboardist. [3]

Twelve years later, in 2015, Hardy had decided to retire from The Residents for good. In reaction to this, the group invited Feldman to replace him. [3] Feldman has performed on The Residents' Shadowland (2015 - 2016), In Between Dreams (2017 - 2019), and God In Three Persons (2019 - 2020) live shows, and has produced three albums by the group, The Ghost of Hope (2017), Intruders (2018) and Metal Meat & Bone (2020)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pixies (band)</span> American alternative rock band

The Pixies are an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts formed in 1986 by Black Francis, Joey Santiago, Kim Deal and David Lovering (drums). They disbanded acrimoniously in 1993 but reunited in 2004. After Deal left in 2013, the Pixies hired Kim Shattuck as a touring bassist. She was replaced that year by Paz Lenchantin, who became a full member in 2016, and recorded three studio albums with the band before departing in 2024. Lenchantin's replacement was bassist Emma Richardson, formerly of Band of Skulls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Residents</span> American art rock band

The Residents are an American art collective and art rock band best known for their avant-garde music and multimedia works. Since their first official release, Meet the Residents (1974), they have released over 60 albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects, and ten DVDs over the course of over half a century. They have undertaken seven major world tours and scored multiple films. Pioneers in exploring the potential of CD-ROM and similar technologies, the Residents have won several awards for their multimedia projects. They founded Ralph Records, a record label focusing on avant-garde music, in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captain Beefheart</span> American musician (1941–2010)

Don Van Vliet was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as the Magic Band, he recorded 13 studio albums between 1967 and 1982. His music blended elements of blues, free jazz, rock, and avant-garde composition with idiosyncratic rhythms, absurdist wordplay, a gravelly voice, and a wide vocal range. Known for his enigmatic persona, Beefheart frequently constructed myths about his life and was known to exercise an almost dictatorial control over his supporting musicians. Although he achieved little commercial success, he sustained a cult following as an influence on an array of experimental rock and punk-era artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Francis</span> American musician

Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is the frontman of the alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black. After releasing two albums with record label 4AD and one with American Recordings, he left the label and formed a new band, Frank Black and the Catholics. He re-adopted the name Black Francis in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snakefinger</span> English musician, singer and songwriter

Philip Charles Lithman, who performed under the stage name Snakefinger, was an English musician, singer and songwriter. A multi-instrumentalist, he was best known for his guitar and violin work and his collaborations with The Residents.

Frightwig is an all-female punk rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1982 by Deanna Mitchell and Mia d'Bruzzi.

Allen Ravenstine is an American keyboard player, most recognized for his work in the experimental rock group Pere Ubu. In 1991, he quit music to become a commercial airline pilot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pere Ubu</span> American rock band

Pere Ubu is an American rock group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. The band had a variety of long-term and recurring band members, with singer David Thomas being the only member staying throughout the band's lifetime. They released their debut album The Modern Dance in 1978 and followed with several more LPs before disbanding in 1982. Thomas reformed the group in 1987, continuing to record and tour.

Edgar Broughton Band were a British rock band founded in Warwick in 1968, and in their initial form were operative through to 1976. They were a trio consisting of brothers Edgar and Steve Broughton (drums) with Arthur Grant (bass), which was augmented at various times by a second guitarist and/or keyboardist, significantly Victor Unitt. They released five studio albums, including Sing Brother Sing, and six singles, including "Out Demons Out", on the EMI Harvest label and one further studio album for NEMS. The group reformed from 1978 to 1982, initially renamed as The Broughtons, issuing two more studio albums, and again from 2006 to 2010 with Edgar's son Luke for live appearances only.

Tony Maimone is a bass guitarist, producer, and recording engineer, who lives in Brooklyn, New York.

<i>Frank Black</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Frank Black

Frank Black is the debut solo album by American alternative rock musician Frank Black. The album was recorded in 1992 and released on March 8, 1993, via 4AD and Elektra Records, after the breakup of Black's band Pixies.

<i>Teenager of the Year</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Frank Black

Teenager of the Year is the second solo studio album by American musician Frank Black. The album was released in 1994 by 4AD in the United Kingdom and Elektra Records in the United States. It was co-produced by Eric Drew Feldman, who also played keyboards and bass guitar on the album. Teenager also features work by several backing musicians, including Lyle Workman, Moris Tepper and Black's Pixies bandmate Joey Santiago.

<i>Dog in the Sand</i> 2001 studio album by Frank Black and the Catholics

Dog in the Sand is Frank Black's third album with backing group the Catholics. It was released in 2001 by Cooking Vinyl in Europe and What Are Records? in the United States, and was produced by Nick Vincent. The album was generally met with favorable reviews. Though retaining the live-to-two-track method of recording of the previous two albums, this album found the band branching away from purely electric rock to incorporate acoustic guitar, pedal steel, and Rhodes Piano and Wurlitzer organ into the sonic template.

<i>Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb</i> 1998 studio album by Tripping Daisy

Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb is the third studio album by American rock band Tripping Daisy, released on July 7, 1998, through Island Records. It was the band's first album to be recorded with guitarist Phil Karnats and drummer Benjamin Curtis, and was the band's last album to be released during guitarist Wes Berggren's lifetime. Produced by Eric Drew Feldman, the album is a stylistic departure from the band's previous work, showcasing a more artistic sound that is underpinned by pop sensibilities. The album also features a significant amount of experimentation with its guitars, vocals and instrumentation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Magic Band</span> Captain Beefhearts backing band

The Magic Band was the backing band of American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Captain Beefheart between 1967 and 1982. Originally Beefheart had simply been the lead singer of the group, formed by guitarist Alex St. Clair, but eventually they morphed into a backing band for him. The rotating lineup featured dozens of performers, many of whom became known by nicknames given to them by Beefheart. Longtime members during the band's heyday included drummer/arranger John French, guitarist Bill Harkleroad, bassist/guitarist Mark Boston, percussionist/keyboardist Art Tripp, guitarist Jeff Cotton, and guitarist Elliot Ingber. Ex-members of the Magic Band formed the short-lived group Mallard in 1974. The Magic Band reformed in 2003, without Beefheart.

<i>Worlds in Collision</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Pere Ubu

Worlds in Collision is the eighth album by American rock group Pere Ubu. The album continues in the shift away from their more experimental early work to emphasize the relatively conventional pop found on their previous studio album, Cloudland. For this album, Eric Drew Feldman takes over from departing original member Allen Ravenstine on synthesizer, though Ravenstine makes some guest appearances.

<i>Story of My Life</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Pere Ubu

Story of My Life is Pere Ubu's ninth studio album. Eric Drew Feldman left the band prior to recording, reducing Ubu to a quartet. Prior to touring on this album longtime bassist Tony Maimone left as well. This is the final release to feature both Maimome and founding drummer Scott Krauss. According to a conversation between David Thomas and Frank Black included on the b-side of the "Kathleen" single, the album's working title was Johnny Rivers Live At The Whiskey A Go Go.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Curtis</span> Musical artist

Brandon Curtis is the vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist in the space rock band The Secret Machines. Originally from Norman, Oklahoma, he was friends with members of The Flaming Lips, The Chainsaw Kittens and Tripping Daisy. Brandon and his brother Benjamin moved to Dallas and formed The Secret Machines in the early 2000s with drummer Josh Garza. The trio later moved to New York City, where Benjamin eventually left the band to pursue a career in his previous side project, School of Seven Bells.

<i>Fool the World</i> 2005 book about American rock band Pixies

Fool the World: The Oral History of a Band Called Pixies is a 2005 book by Josh Frank and Caryn Ganz about the American alternative rock band Pixies. The book, written as an oral history, covers the career of the band from their inception in 1985, to their breakup in 1993 and eventual reunion in 2004. Fool the World features interviews and recollections from a range of characters involved with the band, including Surfer Rosa producer Steve Albini, Kim Deal's twin sister Kelley Deal and 4AD co-founder Ivo Watts-Russell, as well as each member of the band.

Reid Paley is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been performing and recording both solo and with his trio since the mid-1990s.

References

Mike Barnes, "The Sideman's Saga", The Wire , December 1996

  1. 1 2 California Births, 1905 - 1995, Eric Drew Feldman
  2. ↑ "The Goose Tatums band". www.heidiclare.com. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Interview with Feldman, 2019
  4. ↑ "Pixies - Space (I Believe In) Lyrics | SongMeanings". SongMeanings. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  5. ↑ "Eric Drew Feldman aka Black Jew Kitabu". beefheart.com. 2012-09-27. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  6. ↑ "Demons Dance Alone - Historical - The Residents". residents.com. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.