- Chris Pitman
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Chris Pitman Born November 16, 1961
Kansas City, Missouri, USAOrigin Los Angeles, California, USA Genres Hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, electronica, progressive rock, experimental rock Occupations Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, audio programmer Instruments Keyboard, synthesizer, analog synthesizers, digital synthesizers, moog bass, bass, guitar, piano, organ, drums, percussions Years active 1981–present Labels ToneRiot, Geffen Associated acts SexTapes, Guns N' Roses, Lusk, Replicants, ZAUM, Tool, Blinker the Star Chris Pitman (born November 16, 1961) is an American musician best known for his involvement with hard rock band Guns N' Roses. A multi-instrumentalist, Pitman is known to play keyboards, guitar and drums, in addition to his role as a lead or backing vocalist. Pitman currently fronts alternative rock band SexTapes and performs with Guns N' Roses, and previously worked with such bands as Lusk, Replicants and Tool.
Pitman studied at the Art Institute of Kansas City and the University of Missouri. In 1993, Pitman worked with the controversial artist Les Levine. The following year, Pitman worked with Dr. Dre in Dre's home studio. He also joined Tool on tour and played synth on Tool's album Ænima. In 1995, he appeared on the album Bourgeois Kitten by Blinker the Star.
Pitman was co-founder of Los Angeles-based art coalition 'Priory of the North,' which focuses on conceptual/public art and works primarily with oil painting, lithography, oils, and metal. His Land/Environment projects have been onsite in various Midwest regional farmland sites in Lafayette County and Johnson County, Missouri. His Rio de Janeiro site-specific work titled "Mind/Land" has been delayed until permits and visas for such materials can be imported. This work has been in progress since 2003.
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Guns N' Roses
In early 1998, Pitman joined Guns N' Roses as the band's second keyboardist and second bass player as well as performing backing vocals; he helped the band make a complete finalized new lineup. He has been a member of Guns N' Roses ever since and was featured on keyboards on the non-album single "Oh My God" in 1999 and on every song on the long-delayed sixth studio album Chinese Democracy. On the record Pitman plays mostly keyboards and sub-bass as well as programming and background vocals, he plays a 12-string guitar on "If The World" and a Mellotron on "There Was A Time". He also co-wrote the songs "If The World" and "Madagascar" alongside frontman Axl Rose; it has also been confirmed[by whom?] that he and the band's other keyboardist Dizzy Reed are the songwriters and composers of the unreleased performed live track "Silkworms" which Pitman confirmed is just a demo that didn't make the cut on the album. Pitman has performed live with Guns N' Roses since their comeback concert in January 2001 and alongside Tommy Stinson, he has been one of the longest members to remain, longer than former members Steven Adler, Izzy Stradlin, Gilby Clarke and Slash.
Musical collaborations
Chris Pitman has collaborated with a number of well-known acts, as well as founding a number of experimental projects.
- XR4 - Vocals, electronics in 1982.
- Replicants (BMG/Zoo) - Record of cover material by Pitman, Ken Andrews, Greg Edwards, and Paul D'amour.
- ZAUM - guitar, electronics, and lead vocals with Danny Carey of Tool, and Marko Fox of SexTapesTM.
- Tool (BMG/Zoo) - In 1994/95, Pitman toured with them and, in 1996, played synths on the song "Third Eye".
- Failure - Contributed sound effects and sound mixing.
- Lusk (BMG/Zoo) - Recording, production, mixing, mastering, lead vocals, multi-instrumentation in this Grammy-nominated band in 1996-97.
- Sony Panic (DogFight) - Guitar and live software management with this L.A. experimental/improvisational band in 1997.
- Blinker the Star (A&M & Dreamworks) - Contributed keyboards to the song "Kween Kat" of the album Bourgeois Kitten in 1996. Co-wrote the single "Below the Sliding Doors" in 1998.
- Savvy Soviets - Production/collaboration in Rio de Janeiro in 2003.
- Electric Company (Tigerbeat6) - Synthesizer on the album Creative Playthings. Played live with this Brad Laner electronic music project in 2004.
- The Source of Uncertainty - Recording with Danny Carey and others in 2008.
- SexTapesTM - Working with Kelly Wheeler, Marko Fox, and Ryan Brown starting in 2006.
- Guns N' Roses - In 1998, Pitman joined this hard rock band as songwriter, co-producer, and instrumentalist.
Workshop projects
Pitman has also done sound design and electronic work for Arturia software synthesizers, A Designs Audio [Peter Montessi], Waves Plugins, Waldorf Synthesizers, Apple's Logic Audio, Digidesign Plugins, Moog Synthesizers, Celemony's Melodyne, Ableton Live, Roland USA, Korg Music, Serge Synthesis [SMS], PlanB Synthesis [Peter Grenader], [Axel Hartmann] Neuron Synthesis, and Symbolic Sounds Kyma, Mandala Drums, Steven Slate Drums, Native Instruments.
Current status
- SexTapesTM: On ToneRiot Records 2008. Lead Vocals, multi-instrumentalist, Producer, with Kelly Wheeler (Guitars), Marko Fox (Bass), Ryan Brown (Drums) recorded at The Pass Studios (Hollywood).
- Source of Uncertainty: Recording in 2007 - with Danny Carey (multi-instrumental). An Experimental project involving only pre-1960s devices.
- Nowhere Man (Single) feat. Chris Pitman: On Rick Devin's Old School - 2" CD, Red Cloud Records Records 2011. Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, with Rick Devin (Lead Vocals, Back-Vocals, Guitars, Bass), Chet McCracken (Drums), recorded at Stray Horse Studios (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).[1][2]
References
External links
Preceded by
OriginalGuns N' Roses Keyboards and Sub-Bass
1998–presentIncumbent Categories:- 1961 births
- American electronic musicians
- American heavy metal keyboardists
- American rock keyboardists
- Guns N' Roses members
- Living people
- Musicians from Missouri
- Replicants (band) members
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