John Wicks (drummer)

Last updated

John Wicks is an American pop/avant-garde/experimental musician, songwriter, film composer and adjunct college professor based in Missoula, Montana.

Contents

Wicks is a co-founder of the band Fitz and the Tantrums and has co-written many of their songs. More Than Just a Dream, the group's 2013 album, included the hit songs "The Walker" and "Out of My League", which each climbed to No. 1 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart. Fitz and the Tantrums , the band's self-titled studio album, features the hit song "HandClap".

Wicks has also written for and appeared on Bruno Mars' album Doo-Wops & Hooligans and CeeLo Green's The Lady Killer and Heart Blanche albums. In addition, he has recorded and/or played live with such artists as B.o.B, George Clinton, David Byrne, Meshell Ndegeocello, Chocolate Genius, Money Mark, Teddybears (band), RZA, and Mose Allison, among others.

As of Fall semester 2024, Wicks is an instructor at the University of Montana. [1] He also composed the soundtrack to the TV show Under the Banner of Heaven with Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament and multi-instrumentalist Josh Klinghoffer. Up until Oct 16, 2022 Wicks continued to tour, compose and record with Fitz and the Tantrums, but left the band after 13+ years to focus on his family, his job at the University of Montana and to "get away from the constant influence of the music business so I can reinvent and upgrade my drumming." Before exiting the band he wrote songs and recorded drums for Let Yourself Free (2022). As of 10 June 2023, he is consistently working with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam, as a duo group called Deaf Charlie. In addition, Wicks is exploring new artistic territories with musical endeavors: Flüffy Bünny blends punk, metal, and humor with bassist Jesse Phillips of St. Paul and The Broken Bones; Punisher is an avant-garde trio featuring saxophonist Loren Stillman and trombonist Sean Stineford; and Chill Monkey Chill showcases his improvisational skills with a minimalist drum kit and sampler, putting his own spin on Deantoni Parks' Technoself concept. . [2]

Recordings

Related Research Articles

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

Teddybears is a Swedish music group formed in Stockholm in 1991. The group consists of members Patrik Arve, Joakim Åhlund, and Klas Åhlund. Initially starting as a hardcore punk band, Teddybears began to incorporate a variety of sounds from hip hop, pop, rock, dancehall, and electronica after a few years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donavon Frankenreiter</span> American musician and surfer

Donavon Frankenreiter is an American musician and surfer. His debut self-titled album was released in 2004 on Brushfire Records through Universal Music.

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

Skerik, is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, he is a pioneer in a playing style that has been called saxophonics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet</span> US musical group

Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet is a jazz ensemble formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2002 and led by saxophonist Eric "Skerik" Walton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ropeadope Records</span> American record label

Ropeadope Records is an American record label known for recordings in a variety of genres including jazz, hip hop, gospel, and electronic music. The label, now led by Louis Marks, was founded in 1999 by Andy Hurwitz in New York City and later moved to Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Seefried</span> American singer-songwriter

Chris Seefried is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of the bands Gods Child, Joe 90, and Low Stars, and as producer and co-writer for the neo-soul band Fitz and the Tantrums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noelle Scaggs</span> Musical artist

Noelle Scaggs is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, known as the co-lead singer of the pop group Fitz and the Tantrums. Scaggs has also had numerous collaborations with the Black Eyed Peas, Dilated Peoples, Quantic, Mayer Hawthorne, and Damian Marley.

<i>Skeriks Syncopated Taint Septet</i> (album) 2003 live album by Skeriks Syncopated Taint Septet

Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet is a self-titled first album recorded live in September 2002 in Seattle, Washington. It was recorded at the venue Owl & Thistle. The album received favorable reviews and while self described as "punk jazz" it also includes New Orleans influenced funk, bebop/hip-hop and rock crossing "time and musical culture without affectation, or worry."

<i>Husky</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Skeriks Syncopated Taint Septet

Husky is a studio album by Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet released 2006. It was recorded at the Sound Factory in Los Angeles, California March 2004. Much of the recording is first takes. Skerik talks about recording the album:

"For me, Husky is that rare combination of everything lining up perfectly at the right time. You're lucky if you get one of these in a lifetime. The band had been on the road touring, so we knew the music inside out. We had a day off in Los Angeles, so we went into The Sound Factory, which is a one-of-a-kind studio out there and cut the entire record that day."

Frans Joakim "Jocke" Åhlund is a Swedish musician, producer and music video director. He is the lead guitarist and lead singer of the band Caesars, and a member of the bands Teddybears, Smile and Les Big Byrd.

<i>Live at The Triple Door</i> (Skeriks Syncopated Taint Septet) 2010 live album by Skeriks Syncopated Taint Septet

Live at The Triple Door is the third album by Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet released 2010. It was recorded live at the venue The Triple Door in Seattle September 2003. Two tracks feature vocalist Om Johari. Several tracks include string arrangements.

<i>Live at The Triple Door</i> (The Courage album) 2008 live album by The Courage

Live at The Triple Door is a live album recorded and released by The Courage in 2008 when they were still known as "Noah Gundersen & the Courage." The set was performed at the venue and lounge The Triple Door in Seattle, Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fitz and the Tantrums</span> American band

Fitz and the Tantrums are an American indie pop and neo soul band from Los Angeles, California, that formed in 2008. The band consists of Michael Fitzpatrick, Noelle Scaggs, James King, Joseph Karnes, and Jeremy Ruzumna (keyboards). Their debut studio album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, was released in August 2010 on indie label Dangerbird Records and received critical acclaim; it also reached no. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. In early 2013 the band signed to their current label, Elektra Records, which released their second LP, More Than Just a Dream, the same year. Their self-titled third album was released in 2016, which contains their most notable song, "HandClap". Their fourth studio album, All the Feels, was released in 2019, and their fifth, Let Yourself Free, in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Fitzpatrick (musician)</span> Musical artist

Michael Sean "Fitz" Fitzpatrick, also known by his solo stage name FITZ, is a French-American musician, singer and songwriter, who is the lead vocalist of the indie pop/neo-soul band Fitz and the Tantrums.

<i>More Than Just a Dream</i> 2013 studio album by Fitz and the Tantrums

More Than Just a Dream is the second and major-label debut studio album by American band Fitz and the Tantrums, released on May 7, 2013, by Elektra Records. The album was produced by Tony Hoffer at The Sound Factory in Los Angeles. The title comes from a line of the chorus from the group's lead single "Out of My League". Their song "Spark" also featured in the soundtrack to EA Sports game, FIFA 13.

Graham N. Marsh is an American record producer, recording engineer and multi-instrumentalist from Georgia. He has helped produce four Grammy Award-winning albums from sixteen nominations. He is also half of the Brooklyn indie pop duo CLAVVS with singer-songwriter Amber Renee. Marsh began releasing songs from his instrumental project Draigh in early 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HandClap</span> 2016 single by Fitz and the Tantrums

"HandClap" is a song recorded by American indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums. The song was released as the lead single from their self-titled album Fitz and the Tantrums on March 25, 2016, through Elektra Records. It is their highest-charting song on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 53. The song was also included in Playground Games's Forza Horizon 3 soundtrack and Just Dance Unlimited for Just Dance 2017. A rendition of the song was also performed on the South Korean-Japanese survival show Produce 48 in 2018. Since its release, the song has gained popularity from its usage during sporting events.

<i>All the Feels</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Fitz and the Tantrums

All the Feels is the fourth studio album by the American neo-soul/pop band Fitz and the Tantrums, their first release since their self-titled album in 2016. It was released on September 20, 2019, through Elektra Records. The digital release of the album has 17 songs, and is the band's longest album to date following Fitz and the Tantrums (2016).

"I Just Wanna Shine" is a song by American indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums. It was released on July 14, 2019, as the fourth single from the band's fourth studio album All the Feels. Band's members Michael Fitzpatrick, Noelle Scaggs, Joe Karnes, James King, Jeremy Ruzumna and John Wicks wrote the song with Nick Long, and it was produced by Jake Sinclair.

<i>Let Yourself Free</i> 2022 album by Fitz and the Tantrums

Let Yourself Free is the fifth studio album by American band Fitz and the Tantrums. It was released on November 11, 2022, by Elektra Records. A deluxe edition of the album with six extra songs was released on June 23, 2023.

References

  1. Lauten-Scrivner, Abigail (June 27, 2023). "Rock Star Drummer Finds New Passion and Purpose at UM". University of Montana.
  2. Fragassi, Selena (June 10, 2023). "Jeff Ament/John Wicks Project Deaf Charlie Readies Debut Album". Spin .