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| Ben Gibbard | |
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 Ben Gibbard performing at the Orpheum Theatre (Memphis, Tennessee) in 2009. Photo by Janie Walter.
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| Background information | |
| Born | August 11, 1976 Bremerton, Washington |
| Genres | Indie Rock |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, guitarist |
| Instruments | Guitar vocals Piano drums Bass |
| Years active | 1994 – present |
| Labels | Barsuk Atlantic Records Sub Pop Wawa Records |
| Associated acts | Death Cab for Cutie The Postal Service ¡All-Time Quarterback! Pinwheel |
| Website | Official website |
Benjamin Gibbard (born August 11, 1976 [1] in Bremerton, Washington) is an American musician known as a member of several successful indie rock bands. He is the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, also known for his project ¡All-Time Quarterback! and his first band, Pinwheel. He is married to actress and musician Zooey Deschanel.
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Personal life and career
Gibbard spent his formative years in Bremerton, Washington during the time of the grunge musical explosion during the early 1990s. He graduated from Olympic High School in 1994. Growing up he was influenced by Elliott Smith, Nirvana, the Stone Roses, Superchunk, Built to Spill, Teenage Fanclub, The Pixies and Ultra Vivid Scene. He also cites Jack Kerouac as a major influence.[2] He studied Engineering at Western Washington University.[3] He was raised Roman Catholic and referred to himself as "this indoctrinated Catholic even though I haven't been to church of my own volition in 10 or 15 years now."[4] He and his band Death Cab for Cutie are also known for their contributions to veganism and animal rights.[5] However, in a 2003 interview Gibbard stated that while he had previously been a vegan, he had recently become a pescetarian. [6]
It was recently announced that Gibbard will have a small role in a John Krasinski film entitled Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.[7] Gibbard completed a solo tour through the US in the spring of 2007 which featured David Bazan of Pedro the Lion, and singer-songwriter Johnathan Rice. He currently resides in Los Angeles.
On December 28, 2008, Gibbard became engaged to actress and musician Zooey Deschanel. They were married on Saturday, September 19, 2009 near Seattle.[8]
Collaborations
- Gibbard is the original bassist for the Revolutionary Hydra, a band that also included Death Cab for Cutie bandmate Chris Walla and original drummer Nathan Good, as well as Jay Chilcote, Joe Chilcote, and Barton Sharp.
- Sang backing vocals on the song "This Is the Thrilling Conversation You've Been Waiting For" from Harvey Danger's 2000 album King James Version.
- Appeared as a guest on Jimmy Tamborello's (his Postal Service collaborator) 2001 Dntel album entitled Life Is Full of Possibilities, contributing vocals to the song "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan."
- Played bass for Pedro the Lion on their 2001 tour.
- Contributed backing vocals on the 2001 release by The Prom, "Now and Then".
- Contributed backing vocals on the 2001 The American Analog Set album "Know By Heart", on the song "The Postman".
- Played drums on the song "Carparts" for The Long Winters' 2002 album, The Worst You Can Do Is Harm.
- Performed drums on label-mate's Kind of Like Spitting 2002 album, Bridges Worth Burning, further contributing vocals to the album's untitled last track.
- Collaborated with Andrew Kenny on Home Volume V, released March 30, 2004, as part of the Home EP series. [9]
- Contributed vocals for Styrofoam's 2004 album Nothing's Lost on the track "Couches in Alleys." [10]
- Provided backup vocals on the song "Midnight Again" for Certainly, Sir's 2005 album TAN!
- Contributed vocals to a song ("Handle with Care") on Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis's side project Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins's 2006 album, Rabbit Fur Coat.
- Contributed vocals on The Postal Service's 2006 remix of "Mushaboom" by Feist.
- Co-wrote the film score for the 2007 film Kurt Cobain About a Son, about the Nirvana lead singer, with producer Steve Fisk.
- Contributed backing vocals on the 2008 release by Sun Kil Moon, "April".
- Appeared on the 2008 Nada Surf album Lucky, on the song "See These Bones"..
- Appeared on the 2009 charity CD compilation Dark Was the Night, along with Feist, on the track "Train Song".
- Collaborated with Jay Farrar on all tracks to the soundtrack of the 2009 documentary film One Fast Move or I'm Gone, about Jack Kerouac's time spent at Big Sur.[11]
Discography
Death Cab for Cutie
- 1997 You Can Play These Songs with Chords
- 1998 Something About Airplanes
- 2000 We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes
- 2000 Forbidden Love EP
- 2001 The Photo Album
- 2002 The Stability EP
- 2002 You Can Play These Songs with Chords [expanded]
- 2003 Transatlanticism
- 2005 Plans
- 2008 Narrow Stairs
- 2009 The Open Door EP
Ben Gibbard
- 2004 Home Volume V (A split LP with Andrew Kenny)
The Postal Service
- 2003 Give Up
¡All-Time Quarterback!
- 1999 ¡All-Time Quarterback!
- 1999 The Envelope Sessions
- 2002 ¡All-Time Quarterback!
With Jay Farrar
See also
Gear
Ben plays:
- G & L Bluesboy Sunburst,
- G & L Bluesboy TL Honey Sunburst,
- G & L Bluesboy TL Black,
- Gibson J-45 Black, and a
- Gibson J-45 Brown.
On the song "Title and Registration" Ben plays on a Roland PD-7 Dual Trigger and uses Vic Firth 5A wood tip sticks.
References
- ^ http://www.nme.com/artists/death-cab-for-cutie
- ^ "The Meaning of Life". http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/7074/feature/music/the_meaning_of_life.
- ^ "Death Cab, Full Speed Ahead". http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102000645.html.
- ^ http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?c=2&lid=66
- ^ "Death Cab Brakes for Animals". http://www.spin.com/features/news/2006/01/060109_dcfc_peta/.
- ^ IGN: Death Cab For Cutie, 4 September 2003, accessed 21 March 2009
- ^ "Benjamin Gibbard IMDB Profile". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1989219/.
- ^ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20305870,00.html
- ^ HipsterWave.com Entry on Home Volume V
- ^ HipsterWave.com entry on Gibbard's collaboration with Styrofoam.
- ^ "Death Cab's Ben Gibbard, Jay Farrar Team Up For Kerouac Soundtrack" Billboard.com, Michael D. Ayers, 13 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
External links
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Ben Gibbard |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ben Gibbard |
- Unofficial Discography
- Death Cab for Cutie's official website
- 20 Questions with Ben Gibbard from 2000
- Death Cab for Cutie 2006 Tour Mapped on Platial
- Pinwheel music from Gibbard's former band
- Death Cab for Cutie Fan Flipbook
- The Postal Service Fan Flipbook
- Death Cab's Ben Gibbard:Reveals plans for the follow-up to 'Narrow Stairs'
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