Robbie Merrill | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S. | June 13, 1963
Genres | |
Instrument(s) | Bass |
Years active | 1986–present |
Member of | Godsmack |
Formerly of | Another Animal |
Website | godsmack |
Robbie Merrill (born June 13, 1963) [1] is an American bassist, best known as a founding member of the rock bands Godsmack [2] [3] and Another Animal. [4] He was featured in the Behind the Player interactive music video. [5]
Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Merrill started playing bass at age fourteen, having traded in his train set for the instrument. [6] Before joining Godsmack, Merrill worked as a self-employed carpenter, a trade likewise pursued by Tony Rombola. [7]
Merrill lives in St. Augustine, Florida, with his wife Heather and three daughters. Although he is righthanded, Merrill plays lefthanded due to a birth defect that renders him unable to move the middle finger of his left hand. [8]
Merrill uses Dunlop Clear "D" plastic fingerpicks on his plucking-hand index and ring fingers, which contributes to his distinctive style of play. [9]
According to Merrill, when he is in the studio, he runs a Line 6 guitar POD direct for growly, midrangy distortion, and he blends that with miked cabinets." [9]
The double bass, also known simply as the bass, amongst other names, is the largest and, therefore, lowest-pitched chordophone in the modern symphony orchestra. Similar in structure to the cello, it has four, although occasionally five, strings.
Godsmack is an American rock band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band is composed of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Sully Erna, bassist Robbie Merrill, lead guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin. Since its formation, Godsmack has released eight studio albums, one EP, four DVDs, one compilation album, and one live album.
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Jazz bass is the use of the double bass or electric bass guitar to improvise accompaniment ("comping") basslines and solos in a jazz or jazz fusion style. Players began using the double bass in jazz in the 1890s to supply the low-pitched walking basslines that outlined the chord progressions of the songs. From the 1920s and 1930s Swing and big band era, through 1940s Bebop and 1950s Hard Bop, to the 1960s-era "free jazz" movement, the resonant, woody sound of the double bass anchored everything from small jazz combos to large jazz big bands.
Fingerstyle guitar is the technique of playing the guitar or bass guitar by plucking the strings directly with the fingertips, fingernails, or picks attached to fingers, as opposed to flatpicking. The term "fingerstyle" is something of a misnomer, since it is present in several different genres and styles of music—but mostly, because it involves a completely different technique, not just a "style" of playing, especially for the guitarist's picking/plucking hand. The term is often used synonymously with fingerpicking except in classical guitar circles, although fingerpicking can also refer to a specific tradition of folk, blues and country guitar playing in the US. The terms "fingerstyle" and "fingerpicking" are also applied to similar string instruments such as the banjo.
Michael Robert Todd or Mic Todd is the former bassist for the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. Upon the time of his initial departure, he had been with the band for ten years. He officially parted ways with the band in 2011.
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Another Animal is the self-titled debut album by the rock band Another Animal. It was released on October 2, 2007. The song "Amends" appeared in the closing credits for the 2008 zombie horror film Insanitarium.
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Behind The Player: Robbie Merrill is an interactive music video featuring Godsmack bassist Robbie Merrill. Released on November 1, 2008 by IMV, the DVD features Robbie giving in-depth bass lessons for how to play "Speak" and "Voodoo" by Godsmack and an intimate behind-the scenes look at his life as a professional musician, including rare photos and video. The DVD also includes Robbie jamming the two tracks with Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin, VideoTab that shows exactly how Robbie plays his parts in the two songs, as well as other bonus material.
"Love-Hate-Sex-Pain" is a song by American rock band Godsmack. It is the second single from the band's fifth studio album, The Oracle.
Live & Inspired is the first live album by American rock band Godsmack. Released on May 15, 2012, the album features live renditions of songs from each of the band's first four studio albums and includes a bonus disc of four cover version recordings.