Ben Blackwell
Encyclopedia
Ben Blackwell is the creator and director of Cass Records, one of two drummers in the Detroit-based rock band the Dirtbombs
, an accomplished writer and a nephew of Jack White
of the White Stripes
.
. He also appears in the White Stripes
' feature-length documentary Under Great White Northern Lights
laying behind Jack and Meg and conducting the interview that is interlaced throughout the film.
Through his label he has released records from such artists as The Mooney Suzuki
, Blanche
, The Waxwings
, The Trachtenburg Family Slide Show Players
, The Sights
, The Muldoons
, Kelley Stoltz
, Dan Sartain
, Turbo Fruits
, Cheap Time
, The Go
, the Black Lips and many others.
In 2007, Blackwell was selected by Crain's Detroit Business magazine as one of their "Twenty in Their 20s", a yearly designation given to twenty emerging entrepreneurs in southeastern Michigan
. Blackwell was selected for his work with his Cass Records label and was recognized for his commitment to the 7-inch vinyl format.
, Chunklet Magazine
, Ugly Things
, Arthur
, Plan B
and others.
magazine's 2004 college journalism award in the field of entertainment for two tour diaries he wrote for Wayne State University
's The South End
paper in March 2003.
In November 2006 Blackwell started his own blog titled Tremble Under Boom Lights named after an EP by the band Jonathan Fire*Eater.
Blackwell's poem The World's Most Important Swimmers was selected by members of the Guerilla Poetics Project to be printed as a letterpressed broadside for the November 2008 installment of their program.
In March 2011 Blackwell participated in Esquire
magazine's annual songwriting challenge along with Dierks Bentley
, Dhani Harrison
, Raphael Saadiq
and Brendan Benson
. Each performer was asked to write a song using the lyric "Last night in Detroit" and Blackwell's song "Bury My Body at Elmwood" is based around Elmwood Cemetery
on the east side of Detroit.
"magazine in a bag" that focuses on "assemblage, handwork and print making, photography, painting, chapbooks, graphic design, typography, letterpress, Visual Poetry and the unusual."
In March 2010 an anonymous guerilla stickering campaign was started in Detroit asking "Where is Ben Blackwell?" Bumper stickers with this message can still be found in the Midtown neighborhood.
Currently Blackwell oversees vinyl record production at Jack White
's Third Man Records
in Nashville, Tennessee
where his official job title is "Pinball Wizard."
Blackwell is a dropout of Wayne State University
.
The Dirtbombs
The Dirtbombs are an American garage rock band based in Detroit, Michigan, notable for blending diverse influences such as punk rock and soul while featuring a dual bass guitar, dual drum and guitar lineup...
, an accomplished writer and a nephew of Jack White
Jack White (musician)
Jack White , often credited as Jack White III, is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and occasional actor...
of the White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
.
The Dirtbombs
Blackwell debuted live with the Dirtbombs on December 18, 1999 when he was only 17-years-old. He has since become one of the longest-serving members of the band, having played on four studio albums and having toured extensively all over the world.Involvement with the White Stripes
From the beginning of the Stripes' existence Blackwell worked as the band's roadie and wrote much of the group's website content. Known as the White Stripes' official archivist he wrote the liner notes to Under Blackpool LightsUnder Blackpool Lights
Under Blackpool Lights is the first official DVD released by The White Stripes. It has since been out of print and hailed as a must for White Stripes fans....
. He also appears in the White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
' feature-length documentary Under Great White Northern Lights
Under Great White Northern Lights
Under Great White Northern Lights is the documentary film and first live album by The White Stripes. The film, directed by Emmett Malloy, documents the band's summer 2007 tour across Canada and contains live concert and off-stage footage. The album collects various recordings from throughout the...
laying behind Jack and Meg and conducting the interview that is interlaced throughout the film.
Cass Records
Started in 2003 with money given to him from his mother, Blackwell has put out over 50 releases on his Cass Records imprint.Through his label he has released records from such artists as The Mooney Suzuki
The Mooney Suzuki
The Mooney Suzuki is an American garage rock band that formed in New York City in 1996. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Sammy James, Jr., guitarist Graham Tyler, bassist John Paul Ribas and drummer Will Rockwell-Scott, the band has released four studio albums – People Get Ready ,...
, Blanche
Blanche (band)
Blanche is an American alternative country band from Detroit, Michigan. Their music is based in Americana, early country, and folk blues, with a touch of haunting Southern Gothic stylings and garage rock mentality. Blanche is known for wearing vintage fashion of the early to mid-20th century.The...
, The Waxwings
The Waxwings
The Waxwings are a rock band from Detroit, Michigan, United States, formed in 1997.The band's lineup consists of Dean Fertita on vocals and guitar, James Edmunds on drums and percussion, and Kevin Peyok on bass guitar...
, The Trachtenburg Family Slide Show Players
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players describe themselves as an "indie-vaudeville conceptual art-rock pop band", from the United States. Originally from Seattle, Washington, they are now based in New York, New York.-Overview:...
, The Sights
The Sights
The Sights are a rock and roll band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1998. Members include Eddie Baranek , Dave Tick Talkin Lawson , Gordon Smith and Skip Denomme . Former members include Mike Trombley, Mark Leahey, Nate Cavalieri, Matt Hatch, Bobby Emmett and Dave Knepp...
, The Muldoons
The Muldoons
The Muldoons is a family rock band from Detroit, Michigan. Shane Muldoon and his elder brother Hunter Muldoon both write, sing and play guitar...
, Kelley Stoltz
Kelley Stoltz
Kelley Stoltz is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He currently resides in San Francisco, Calif.. His music has been compared to that of Brian Wilson, The Velvet Underground, Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen.-Musical career:...
, Dan Sartain
Dan Sartain
Dan Sartain is an American rock and roll musician from Birmingham, Alabama. His music encompasses a variety of genres including rockabilly and blues. After releasing two self-produced albums through independent record labels, his first commercially-available studio album Dan Sartain vs. the...
, Turbo Fruits
Turbo Fruits
Turbo Fruits is a garage rock band from Nashville, Tennessee founded by Be Your Own Pet guitarist Jonas Stein.-Biography:The band was formed by guitarist/vocalist Jonas Stein. Turbo Fruits formed while Stein was still in Be Your Own Pet...
, Cheap Time
Cheap Time
Cheap Time is a Tennessee based garage-rock band fronted by Jeffrey Novak and has featured members of Be Your Own Pet. The band, which formed in 2006, has toured with Jay Reatard, released two 7" singles in 2007, a full length LP in 2008 and a 7" single in 2009 on In The Red Records.-Sound:Cheap...
, The Go
The Go
The Go is an American rock & roll band from Detroit, Michigan. Their sound has evolved from garage punk to a blend of 1960s and 1970s influences, most notably The Beatles....
, the Black Lips and many others.
In 2007, Blackwell was selected by Crain's Detroit Business magazine as one of their "Twenty in Their 20s", a yearly designation given to twenty emerging entrepreneurs in southeastern Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Blackwell was selected for his work with his Cass Records label and was recognized for his commitment to the 7-inch vinyl format.
Magazines
Blackwell has written content for many magazines including Creem Magazine Online, Careless Talk Costs Lives, the Metro TimesMetro Times
The Metro Times is the largest circulating weekly newspaper in the metro Detroit area. Supported entirely by advertising, it is distributed free of charge every Wednesday in newsstands in businesses and libraries around the city and suburbs...
, Chunklet Magazine
Chunklet (magazine)
Chunklet is a Georgia-based humor and music magazine founded by Henry H. Owings in 1993.-History:Henry Owings began publishing Chunklet in Athens, GA while freelancing for alternative newsweekly Flagpole Magazine...
, Ugly Things
Ugly Things
Ugly Things is a music magazine established in 1983, based in La Mesa, CA. Editor is Mike Stax, born 1962, England. It covers mainly 1960s Beat, Garage rock, and Psychedelic music...
, Arthur
Arthur (magazine)
Arthur magazine, a free bi-monthly 50,000-copy periodical, was founded in October, 2002 by publisher Laris Kreslins and editor Jay Babcock. It has received favorable attention from other periodicals such as L.A. Weekly, Print, Punk Planet and Rolling Stone...
, Plan B
Plan B (magazine)
Plan B was a monthly music magazine based in London, England. It catered mainly towards independent music but did not discriminate between the relative popularity of the bands it features. Plan B also documented alternative culture such as film, comics, video games, visual art and books. The...
and others.
Books
Blackwell has also contributed work to the following books:- The White Stripes and the Sound of Mutant Blues by Everett TrueEverett TrueFor the cartoon character, see The Outbursts of Everett True.Everett True is a British music journalist, who grew up in Chelmsford, Essex...
- The Art of the Band T-Shirt by Amber Easby
- The Stooges: The Authorized and Illustrated Story by Robert Matheu
Other Writing Accomplishments
Blackwell won Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's 2004 college journalism award in the field of entertainment for two tour diaries he wrote for Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
's The South End
The South End
----The South End is the official student newspaper of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, published in print and online. It was founded in 1967, and its publication is funded partly from university funds and partly from advertising revenues, and is distributed free of charge.The paper is...
paper in March 2003.
In November 2006 Blackwell started his own blog titled Tremble Under Boom Lights named after an EP by the band Jonathan Fire*Eater.
Blackwell's poem The World's Most Important Swimmers was selected by members of the Guerilla Poetics Project to be printed as a letterpressed broadside for the November 2008 installment of their program.
Solo Recording
In November 2010, Blackwell self-released his debut solo album "I Remember When All This Was Trees" on his Cass Records imprint. Blackwell wrote, recorded and performed all the music on the album.In March 2011 Blackwell participated in Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
magazine's annual songwriting challenge along with Dierks Bentley
Dierks Bentley
Dierks Bentley is an American country music artist who has been signed to Capitol Records Nashville since 2003. That year, he released his self-titled debut album. Both it and its follow-up, 2005's Modern Day Drifter, are certified platinum in the United States. A third album, 2006's Long Trip...
, Dhani Harrison
Dhani Harrison
Dhani Harrison is an English musician and the son of George Harrison of The Beatles and Olivia Harrison. Harrison debuted as a professional musician when completing his father's final album Brainwashed after George Harrison's death in November 2001...
, Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Saadiq has been a standard bearer for "old school" R&B since his early days as a member of the multiplatinum group Tony! Toni! Toné! He also produced songs of such artists as TLC, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, Mary J...
and Brendan Benson
Brendan Benson
Brendan Benson is an American musician and songwriter. He sings and plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drums. He has released four solo albums and is a member of the band The Raconteurs....
. Each performer was asked to write a song using the lyric "Last night in Detroit" and Blackwell's song "Bury My Body at Elmwood" is based around Elmwood Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery (Detroit, Michigan)
Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit is one of Michigan's most important historic cemeteries. Located at 1200 Elmwood Street in Detroit's Eastside Historic Cemetery District, Elmwood is the oldest continuously operating, non-denominational cemetery in Michigan...
on the east side of Detroit.
Miscellaneous
Since 2007 Blackwell has been a frequent contributor to Bagazine, a Mail ArtMail art
Mail art is a worldwide cultural movement that began in the early 1960s and involves sending visual art through the international postal system. Mail Art is also known as Postal Art or Correspondence Art...
"magazine in a bag" that focuses on "assemblage, handwork and print making, photography, painting, chapbooks, graphic design, typography, letterpress, Visual Poetry and the unusual."
In March 2010 an anonymous guerilla stickering campaign was started in Detroit asking "Where is Ben Blackwell?" Bumper stickers with this message can still be found in the Midtown neighborhood.
Currently Blackwell oversees vinyl record production at Jack White
Jack White
Jack White may refer to:* Jack White , with the rock bands The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and The Dead Weather* Jack White , UK soldier* Jack White , German producer of disco music...
's Third Man Records
Third Man Records
Third Man Records is an independent record label founded by Jack White in Detroit, Michigan, in 2001. Third Man established its first physical location — a combination record store, performance venue, and headquarters for the label — in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2009.-History:Jack White founded...
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
where his official job title is "Pinball Wizard."
Blackwell is a dropout of Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
.
Albums
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 2001 in music See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band.... |
Ultraglide in Black Ultraglide in Black -External links:* [ Ultraglide in Black] at Allmusic... |
In The Red Records In the Red Records In the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label.... |
|
| 2003 2003 in music -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested... |
Dangerous Magical Noise Dangerous Magical Noise Dangerous Magical Noise is an album by the American rock music group The Dirtbombs.As every Dirtbombs album sounds different, this one was chosen to have a more pop-rock sound.- Track listing :# "Start the Party" – 1:41# "Get It While You Can" – 2:25... |
In The Red Records In the Red Records In the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label.... |
|
| 2008 2008 in music 2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such... |
We Have You Surrounded We Have You Surrounded -Personnel:* Ben Blackwell — Performer* Mick Collins — Producer, Performer* Troy Gregory — Performer* Jim Kissling — Engineer, Mixing* Chris Koltay — Engineer* Erik Maluchnik — Engineer* Patrick Pantano — Performer... |
In The Red Records In the Red Records In the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label.... |
|
| 2011 | Party Store Party Store (album) Party Store is the fifth studio album by American garage rock band The Dirtbombs, released on February 1, 2011. The album was released on the In The Red Records label.-Background:... |
In The Red Records In the Red Records In the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label.... |
|
Compilations
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 2005 in music -Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:... |
If You Don’t Already Have a Look | In The Red Records In the Red Records In the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label.... |
|
7" singles
- Headlights On 7" (Solid Sex Lovie Doll Records, 2000)
- Brucia I Cavi 7" (Hate Records, 2000)
- Ode To A Black Man 7" (Sweet Nothing, 2001)
- Australian Sing A Long With The Dirtbomb Singers 7" (Zerox Records, 2002)
- Pray For Pills 7" (Corduroy Records, 2002)
- Motor City Baby 7" (Sweet Nothing, 2003)
- Earthquake Heart 7" (Velvet Tiger, 2004)
- Merit 7" (Kapow RecordsKapow RecordsKapow Records is a record label that was founded in 2000 in Orange County, California. It later relocated to Los Angeles in early 2005.-Discography:* Kapow #1 The Starvations Church Of The Double Cross 7"* Kapow #2 Throw Rag Bag Of Glue 7"...
, 2004) - Crashdown Day 7" (Corduroy Records, 2004)
- Tanzen Gehn' 7" (Soundflat Records, 2005)
- Brand New Game 7" (Munster Records, 2005)
- Oh Katrina 7" (Noiseless/Live From Detroit, 2007)
- Rocket USA 7" (Infirmary Phonographic, 2008)
- Need You Tonight 7" (Stained Circles, 2008)
- The Dirtbombs... Play Sparks 7" (In The Red RecordsIn the Red RecordsIn the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label....
, 2008) - Race to the Bottom 12" (Cass Records, 2009)
- Kick Me 7" (Cass Records, 2010)
Dirtbombs Split Recordings with Other Artists
- "King's Led Hat", with The Gories (Fortune Teller Records, 2004)
- "Lost Love", with ADULT.ADULT.ADULT. is an American band from Detroit, Michigan that integrates vocals with drum machines, analog synths and electronic/punk elements. While popular in their home city of Detroit, they are also very popular in Germany and the United Kingdom.-History:ADULT...
(Cass Records/Ersatz AudioErsatz AudioErsatz Audio is an independent record label based in Detroit, Michigan, specializing in electro punk.The label was started, and continues to be run by, Adam Lee Miller and Nicola Kuperus, who founded the label in part to release records for their own band, Adult. Also on Ersatz Audio are the...
, 2004) - "Billiards At Nine-Thirty", with King Khan and the ShrinesKing Khan and the ShrinesKing Khan and the Shrines, sometimes referred to as King Khan and Sensational Shrines or The Supreme Genius of King Khan and His Sensational Shrines, are a Berlin-based garage rock and psychedelic soul band.-History:...
(Sounds of Subterrania, 2004) - "No Expectations", with The Love Supremes (Norton RecordsNorton RecordsFor the Canadian independent record label of the same name, see Matt Minglewood.Norton Records, a New York City based independent record label founded by musicians Miriam Linna and Billy Miller, maintains a focus on primitive, retro rock'n'roll, rockabilly, garage punk, garage rock, lounge music...
, 2005) - "Missionary ManMissionary Man (Eurythmics song)"Missionary Man" is a song by the British pop music duo Eurythmics. It was taken from their sixth album, Revenge, and continued the band's rock/R&B musical style of the time and featured Jimmy Zavala on harmonica....
", with The Black LipsBlack LipsBlack Lips are a "Flower Punk" band from Atlanta, Georgia.-History:The band formed in 1999 in Dunwoody, Georgia after guitarist Cole Alexander and bassist Jared Swilley left the Renegades, and guitarist Ben Eberbaugh left the Reruns. Alexander and Swilley were known for their crude antics both...
(Cass Records, 2006) - "Kung Fu", with the Voltaire Brothers and Pitch Black City (Mahogani Music, 2007)
- "Politicians in My Eyes", with Kelley StoltzKelley StoltzKelley Stoltz is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He currently resides in San Francisco, Calif.. His music has been compared to that of Brian Wilson, The Velvet Underground, Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen.-Musical career:...
(Cass Records, 2008) - "Politicians in My Eyes", with The Terrible TwosThe Terrible TwosThe Terrible Twos are an alternative Children's band from Lawrence, Kansas. They have the same line-up as The New Amsterdams.-History:In 2005 after The Get Up Kids split up, lead singer Matt Pryor turned his focus on his other band The New Amsterdams and, primarily, his children...
and Dan SartainDan SartainDan Sartain is an American rock and roll musician from Birmingham, Alabama. His music encompasses a variety of genres including rockabilly and blues. After releasing two self-produced albums through independent record labels, his first commercially-available studio album Dan Sartain vs. the...
(Cass Records, 2008) - "Secret Code", with Davila 666 (Scion Audio Visual, 2010)
Additional Discography
| Artist | Year | Title | Label | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Quatro Mike Quatro Mike Quatro is a singer and songwriter who released several albums in the 1970s. These albums became especially popular in Detroit, Michigan, where Quatro was popular on the club scene. He also received some airplay on FM radio... |
1995 | "The Ocean Song" | Quatrophonic Music USA | uncredited group vocal | |
| Clone Defects | 1999 | "Bottled Woman" | Tom Perkins Records | uncredited reverb crash | |
| Lost Kids | 2001 | "Explode" and "Whirling Dervish" | Gold Standard Laboratories Gold Standard Laboratories Gold Standard Laboratories or GSL was an independent record label which was founded in 1993 in Boulder, Colorado by Sonny Kay. In 2000, it was relocated to San Diego, California, USA, and two years later, to Los Angeles. It was headquartered in L.A... |
drums | |
| Detroit City Council | 2003 | "Mary's Lil Lamb" | Acid Jazz Acid jazz Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are... |
drums | |
| The Come-Ons | 2005 | "Promise Me" | Unrecording Records | guitar solo | |
| Dan Sartain Dan Sartain Dan Sartain is an American rock and roll musician from Birmingham, Alabama. His music encompasses a variety of genres including rockabilly and blues. After releasing two self-produced albums through independent record labels, his first commercially-available studio album Dan Sartain vs. the... |
2008 | "Voodoo" | Cass Records | drums | |
| Ben Blackwell | 2010 | I Remember When All This Was Trees (album) | Cass Records | all vocals and instrumentation | |
| Ben Blackwell | 2011 | "Bury My Body at Elmwood" | Cass Records | all vocals and instrumentation | |
| Jack White Jack White (musician) Jack White , often credited as Jack White III, is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and occasional actor... |
2011 | "Love is Blindness Love Is Blindness "Love Is Blindness" is a song by rock band U2. It is the twelfth and final track on their 1991 album Achtung Baby. The song was written on a piano by lead singer Bono during the recording sessions for U2's 1988 album Rattle and Hum. Intended for singer Nina Simone, the band elected to keep it for... " |
Q Magazine | drums |