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Brian Ritchie

 
Artist: Brian Ritchie
Brian Ritchie

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Influenced By:

Performed Songs By:

Peter Balestrieri

Worked With:

David Vartanian, Abdulhameed Alwan, Warren A. Bruleigh

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  • Born: November 21, 1960
  • Active: '80s, '90s
  • Genres: Rock
  • Instrument: Vocals, Bass
  • Representative Albums: "Shakuhachi Club NYC

Biography

Ritchie is best known as the bassist of the Violent Femmes. He has recorded several solo albums exploring a much wider range of music than his regular band, concentrating especially on folk, jazz, and world music styles. His voice is nothing to marvel at, but it is adequate and gets the job done. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Brian Ritchie
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Brian Ritchie

Ritchie performing at A Very Big Gig (benefit for Wayne Goodwin) The Basement, Sydney, August 2008 Australia
Courtesy Mandy Hall August 2008
Background information
Born November 21, 1960 (1960-11-21) (age 49)
Genres Rock, Punk Rock, Folk music
Occupations Musician, Songwriter
Instruments Bass guitar, guitar, shakuhachi, Jew's harp
Labels Thylacine Records, Unhip Records, Slash, Warners, Reprise, Electra, Rough Trade, London, and more.
Associated acts Violent Femmes, The Zen Circus

Brian Ritchie (born 21 November 1960) is the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band Violent Femmes. His distinct sound comes from using Ernie Ball acoustic bass guitars, which is very uncommon in rock music. He is also one of the more high-profile users of the relatively new Barker Bass.

In addition to his bass playing, Ritchie is proficient at the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute. He acquired a Jun Shihan (shakuhachi teaching license) in March 2003 and his professional name is "Tairaku" ("big music" in Japanese).[1]

Since 1998, he has collaborated with American shakuhachi maker Ken LaCosse developing a wide bore style of shakuhachi called Taimu.


At Day on the Meadow on July 2nd, 2006 in San Jose, CA

In 2007 Ritchie produced and toured with the Italian punk/folk band The Zen Circus, which changed its name to The Zen Circus And Brian Ritchie. The first international album of the band, Villa Inferno was released in 2008 for the Italian record label Unhip Records. In 2008 he and his wife Dr Varuni Kulasekera moved to Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, where he has guested in a band called The Green Mist.[2]

Discography

  • 1987 - The Blend
  • 1989 - Sonic Temple & Court of Babylon
  • 1989 - Sun Ra - Man from Outer Space
  • 1990 - I See a Noise
  • 2004 - Shakuhachi Club NYC
  • 2006 - "Ryoanji"
  • 2007 - "Taimu"
  • 2008 - "Villa Inferno"

References

Violent Femmes
Gordon Gano  · Brian Ritchie  · Victor DeLorenzo  · Guy Hoffman
Discography
Studio albums: Violent Femmes  · Hallowed Ground  · The Blind Leading the Naked  · 3  · Why Do Birds Sing?  · New Times  · Rock!!!!!  · Freak Magnet
Compilations: Debacle: The First Decade  · Add It Up (1981-1993)  · Something's Wrong  · Permanent Record: The Very Best of Violent Femmes
Live Albums: Viva Wisconsin  · BBC Live  · Archive Series No. 1: Live in Iceland  · Archive Series No. 2: Live in Chicago Q101
DVDs: Permanent Record - Live & Otherwise  · No, Let's Start Over  · Live at the Hacienda

 
 
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Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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