Britt Daniel

Infobox musical artist
Name = Britt Daniel

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Img_capt = Britt performing at ArthurFest 2005
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Background = solo_singer
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Born = 1971
Galveston, Texas, United States
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Origin = Austin, Texas, United States
Instrument = guitar, vocals
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Occupation =
Years_active = 1991–present
Label = Merge Records
Peek-A-Boo Records
Matador Records
Elektra Records
Syncretic Records

Associated_acts = Spoon
Drake Tungsten
Skellington
The Alien Beats
Golden Millennium
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Britt Daniel (born 1971) is the co-founder, lead singer and guitarist of the Austin, Texas, rock band Spoon.

Overview

Britt Daniel was born in Galveston, Texas, and grew up in Temple, Texas, in a household of five children. His father, a neurologist, was an aficionado of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and a collector of classic guitars; Daniel has stated he had “a well-rounded musical upbringing.”’Sup Magazine, [http://www.supmag.com/checkit/archives/2005/12/the_biography_o.html “The Biography of Britt Daniel of Spoon As Told Through Music”] , December 2005. Retrieved 11 October 2007.] Daniel himself reportedly picked up the guitar in high school after his college-bound girlfriend ended their relationship.Laura Hightower, [http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608003077/Spoon.html “Spoon Biography”] , retrieved 11 October 2007.]

Britt Daniel’s musical career began in 1990, when he formed his first band Skellington while a student at the University of Texas.Raoul Hernandez, [http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol18/issue21/music.spoon.html “Drake Tungsten and his Boy Skellington”] , "Austin Chronicle", January 25, 1999.] After self releasing two cassette EPs and a cassette LP, the band dissolved in 1992. The following year, Daniel joined a three-piece rockabilly band named The Alien Beats. During a 1993 Alien Beats recording session, computer-chip designer and percussionist Jim Eno was brought in as a fill-in drummer, but he was later added as the permanent drummer. From these recording sessions came "Cavin’ In"; however, The Alien Beats disbanded soon after its release.

In the years that followed, Daniel wrote and recorded solo material under the pseudonym Drake Tungsten [Peek-A-Boo Records [http://www.peekaboorecords.com/artist.aspx?id=5 Drake Tungsten Bio Page] , PeekABooRecords.com, retrieved October 11, 2007.] (Daniel has since abandoned this name and plays solo shows under his own name). In 1993 Daniel teamed back up with ex-Alien Beats drummer Eno as well as guitarist Greg Wilson and bassist Andy McGuire to form Spoon. Spoon has served as Daniel’s primary musical focus, though his resume also includes the following side projects:

* In 1999, Daniel played bass in the glam rock supergroup Golden Millennium, comprised of fellow Peek-A-Boo Records labelmates. [Peek-A-Boo Records [http://www.peekaboorecords.com/album.aspx?id=21 Golden Millennium Bio Page] , PeekABooRecords.com, retrieved October 11, 2007.]
* In 2002, Daniel worked with Bright Eyes on the fourth volume of Post-Parlo’s Home Series.
* Daniel has produced songs for the bands I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness and Interpol
* In 2004, Daniel remixed Interpol’s “Slow Hands” which is found as Track 3 on the “Slow Hands” single.
* He previously worked as a composer for the computer game company Origin Systems. [ Origin Systems Inc. [http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,23772/ Developer Bio] , MobyGames.com, retrieved October 11, 2007.]
* In 2006, Daniel teamed up with Brian Reitzell and helped create some of the original music for the film "Stranger Than Fiction". [ Columbia Records, [http://www.columbiarecords.com/strangerthanfiction/ Stranger Than Fiction Soundtrack] , ColumbiaRecords.com, retrieved October 11, 2007.]
* He also appeared in the Veronica Mars episode “Rashard and Wallace Go to White Castle,” air date February 1, 2006, in which he sang a Karaoke version of Elvis Costello’s “Veronica.”

Daniel has not recorded a solo album since self-releasing 1994’s "Clocking Out is for Suckers" under the name Drake Tungsten. However, he has begun setting aside songs for a possible solo album, including “New York Kiss” and “Telephone My Heart,”Sean O’Neal, [http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/britt_daniel_of_spoon “Britt Daniel of Spoon,”] July 19, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2007.] which he has been performing at solo shows since at least early 2006 (see [http://www.archive.org/details/brittdaniel.2006-03-29.matrix.flac16] ).

Discography

Skellington

* "This Town’s Gone Dry" (1991) Self-Released
* "Skellington EP" (1992) Self-Released
* "Skellington Rex" (1992) Self-Released

The Alien Beats

* "Cavin’ In" (1993) Syncretic Records

Drake Tungsten

* "Clocking Out is for Suckers" (1994) Self-Released
* "Six Pence for the Sauces" (1996) Peek-A-Boo Records
* "Dozy Vs. Drake" (1998) Revival Records

Golden Millennium

* "Golden Millennium" (1999) Peek-A-Boo Records

=Spoon=

* "Telephono" (1996) Matador Records
* "Soft Effects" (1997) Matador Records
* "A Series of Sneaks" (1998) Elektra Records
* "The Agony of Laffitte" (1998) Saddle Creek
* "Love Ways" (2000) Merge Records
* "Girls Can Tell" (2001) Merge Records
* "Kill the Moonlight" (2002) Merge Records
* "Gimme Fiction" (2005) Merge Records
* "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" (2007) Merge Records

olo Recordings

* "" (2002) Post-Parlo

External links

* [http://www.archive.org/details/BrittDaniel Britt Daniel collection] at Internet Archive live music archive
* [http://onetrickpony.ws/britt_daniel Interview from December 13th, 2006]

References