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Brian Gibson (musician)
Encyclopedia
Brian Gibson is a musician and artist based out of Providence, Rhode Island
, United States
. Gibson is best known as the bassist for the band Lightning Bolt, alongside drummer and vocalist Brian Chippendale
, and as the drummer of Wizardzz
, with Rich Porter of Bug Sized Mind, and Megasus
. Gibson was also previously in the band The Netmen, with John Dwyer
. He is a lead artist working at video game company Harmonix.
Brian Gibson is particularly known for his unique and complex set-up, tuning, and use of his bass guitar. Before its destruction, Gibson was a member of Fort Thunder
, part of an abandoned, pre-Civil War textile factory in Providence, Rhode Island known as a work-space for local, avant-garde artists.
. Gibson uses a high amount of distortion, feedback and effects. In juxtaposition to Chippendale's frenetic drums, Gibson's playing often acts as a rhythm section of sorts. With the use of his many effect pedals, Gibson often creates multiple layers of his own bass riffs. Due to the high level of distortion used, "lead" playing style, and high register tuning of his instrument, Gibson is often mistaken for a guitarist.
In the Peter Glantz
and Nick Noe film The Power of Salad
, revolving around Lightning Bolt's live performances across America, Gibson confesses "I feel like it's taken me years and years to develop this insane setup that I have ... if somebody got my guitar set ... they're just gonna be good: whatever you do sounds good through it. You know, just plucking the strings."
tuning, in intervals of fifths (C G D A) with a banjo
string for the high A (contrasted with the typical bass guitar tuning of E A D G). He used this four-string setup for several years, but has recently been using a five-string setup, tuned to C G D A E, with banjo strings for the A and E.
Gibson also uses several effects pedals, including a bass whammy pedal (pitch shifter), an octaver
, two overdrive pedals, and more recently a delay pedal
. A complete list of equipment Gibson typically uses, in order, is:
As of 2007, Gibson has added a Boss PW-10 Wah-wah pedal
to his touring gear.
In 2010, Gibson had a custom bass made by Holcomb guitars, based on the Rickenbacker 4001
as used by Cliff Burton
of Metallica
, consisting extensively of maple wood for an 'aggressive sound'. The bass uses a Seymour Duncan
SRB-1B pick-up and the five strings are fitted onto a four string neck, with 1/2" spacing to allow greater playing speed.
In The Power of Salad
DVD
, Brian says his rig is rated to 3000 watt
s.
. Gibson has provided animations for the films Pick a Winner and created Barkley's Barnyard Critters: Mystery Tail, released on Load Records. He works as a lead artist at video game developer Harmonix
providing art for the Guitar Hero and Rock Band series. He periodically updates a Barkley's Barnyard Critters YouTube page with short animations.
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Gibson is best known as the bassist for the band Lightning Bolt, alongside drummer and vocalist Brian Chippendale
Brian Chippendale
Brian Chippendale is a musician and artist based in Providence, Rhode Island. Chippendale is best known as the drummer/vocalist for the bands Lightning Bolt and Mindflayer . He also plays saxophone and drums in a solo project called Black Pus...
, and as the drummer of Wizardzz
Wizardzz
Wizardzz is an electropop/noise pop band consisting of Brian Gibson on drums and Rich Porter on synthesizer. Their debut album Hidden City of Taurmond was released on March 21, 2006 under the independent label Load Records.-External links:*...
, with Rich Porter of Bug Sized Mind, and Megasus
Megasus
Megasus is a heavy metal band formed in Providence, Rhode Island in 2006.-General info and history:Megasus is a heavy metal band, formed by members of Lightning Bolt and Loon, and ex-members of Amazing Royal Crowns and Laurels...
. Gibson was also previously in the band The Netmen, with John Dwyer
John Dwyer (musician)
John Dwyer is an American musician currently based in San Francisco, California, and originally from Providence, Rhode Island. He has been in and fronted several underground American bands since 1997. He currently fronts and plays guitar for Thee Oh Sees, which originally started as a way for him...
. He is a lead artist working at video game company Harmonix.
Brian Gibson is particularly known for his unique and complex set-up, tuning, and use of his bass guitar. Before its destruction, Gibson was a member of Fort Thunder
Fort Thunder
Fort Thunder was a warehouse on the second floor of a pre-Civil War former textile factory in the Olneyville district of Providence, Rhode Island. From 1995 through 2001, the space was used as a venue for underground music and events, as well as a living and working space for the artists...
, part of an abandoned, pre-Civil War textile factory in Providence, Rhode Island known as a work-space for local, avant-garde artists.
Sound
The majority of Gibson's playing draws on fairly simple loops and major/minor chord structures, yet also employs more advanced guitar techniques, such as tappingTapping
Tapping is a guitar playing technique, where a string is fretted and set into vibration as part of a single motion of being pushed onto the fretboard, as opposed to the standard technique being fretted with one hand and picked with the other...
. Gibson uses a high amount of distortion, feedback and effects. In juxtaposition to Chippendale's frenetic drums, Gibson's playing often acts as a rhythm section of sorts. With the use of his many effect pedals, Gibson often creates multiple layers of his own bass riffs. Due to the high level of distortion used, "lead" playing style, and high register tuning of his instrument, Gibson is often mistaken for a guitarist.
In the Peter Glantz
Peter Glantz
Peter Glantz is an American director of theater and film, notably the films Lightning Bolt - Power Of Salad and the music video DVD Pick A Winner, both released through the record label Load Records...
and Nick Noe film The Power of Salad
The Power of Salad
The Power of Salad, also known as The Power of Salad & Milkshakes, is a film by Peter Glantz and Nick Noe, featuring and documenting the Providence, Rhode Island noise rock band Lightning Bolt...
, revolving around Lightning Bolt's live performances across America, Gibson confesses "I feel like it's taken me years and years to develop this insane setup that I have ... if somebody got my guitar set ... they're just gonna be good: whatever you do sounds good through it. You know, just plucking the strings."
Equipment
According to Gibson, his bass guitar is set to standard celloCello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
tuning, in intervals of fifths (C G D A) with a banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
string for the high A (contrasted with the typical bass guitar tuning of E A D G). He used this four-string setup for several years, but has recently been using a five-string setup, tuned to C G D A E, with banjo strings for the A and E.
Gibson also uses several effects pedals, including a bass whammy pedal (pitch shifter), an octaver
Octave effect
Octave-effect boxes are a type of special effects unit which mix the input signal with a synthesised signal whose musical tone is an octave lower or higher than the original. The synthesised octave signal is derived from the original input signal by halving or doubling the frequency...
, two overdrive pedals, and more recently a delay pedal
Delay (audio effect)
Delay is an audio effect which records an input signal to an audio storage medium, and then plays it back after a period of time. The delayed signal may either be played back multiple times, or played back into the recording again, to create the sound of a repeating, decaying echo.-Early delay...
. A complete list of equipment Gibson typically uses, in order, is:
- 5-String Music Man StingRayMusic Man StingRayMusic Man StingRay is an electric bass guitar by Music Man, introduced in 1976.- History :In 1971, Fender employees Forrest White and Tom Walker, unhappy with the way CBS was managing the company, left their positions with Fender to start their own venture. First known as Tri-Sonic and then later...
- DigiTech Bass Whammy pedal
- BOSSBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
OC-2 Octave pedal - BOSS ODB-3 Bass Overdrive pedal
- BOSS SD-1 Overdrive pedal
- Line 6 DL-4 Delay modeler
- AmpegAmpegAmpeg is primarily a musical instrument amplifier manufacturer headquartered in Woodinville, Washington, though they also manufacture guitars to a small extent...
SVT4 Pro with 4x10 cabinet - CrownCrown InternationalCrown International, or Crown Audio, is a manufacturer of audio electronics, and is a subsidiary of Harman International Industries. Today the company is known primarily for its power amplifiers, but has also manufactured microphones, a line of commercial audio products as well as digital audio...
Macro-Tech MA-3600VZ power amp - More cabinets ranging from 18" to 4x10
As of 2007, Gibson has added a Boss PW-10 Wah-wah pedal
Wah-wah pedal
A wah-wah pedal is a type of guitar effects pedal that alters the tone of the signal to create a distinctive effect, mimicking the human voice...
to his touring gear.
In 2010, Gibson had a custom bass made by Holcomb guitars, based on the Rickenbacker 4001
Rickenbacker 4001
The Rickenbacker 4001 is a bass guitar that was manufactured by Rickenbacker as a "deluxe model" of the 4000 between 1961 and 1981 before being replaced by an updated version, the Rickenbacker 4003...
as used by Cliff Burton
Cliff Burton
Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica....
of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, consisting extensively of maple wood for an 'aggressive sound'. The bass uses a Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
SRB-1B pick-up and the five strings are fitted onto a four string neck, with 1/2" spacing to allow greater playing speed.
In The Power of Salad
The Power of Salad
The Power of Salad, also known as The Power of Salad & Milkshakes, is a film by Peter Glantz and Nick Noe, featuring and documenting the Providence, Rhode Island noise rock band Lightning Bolt...
DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, Brian says his rig is rated to 3000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s.
Other projects
Gibson, like band mate Chippendale, is also involved in visual artVisual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
. Gibson has provided animations for the films Pick a Winner and created Barkley's Barnyard Critters: Mystery Tail, released on Load Records. He works as a lead artist at video game developer Harmonix
Harmonix Music Systems
Harmonix Music Systems is an American video game development company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States...
providing art for the Guitar Hero and Rock Band series. He periodically updates a Barkley's Barnyard Critters YouTube page with short animations.
Albums
- Lightning BoltLightning Bolt (album)Lightning Bolt is the eponymous debut album by noise rock band Lightning Bolt. Originally, five of the tracks on the album were recorded in the studio, however, with the exception of one track, the band discarded these and instead put lo-fi live versions of the songs on the record...
(1999) - Zone 50-minute companion cassetteCompact CassetteThe Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
(1999) - Ride the SkiesRide the SkiesRide the Skies is the second album by noise rock band Lightning Bolt. This album is considered their breakthrough in the noise rock world.Track #2, "Saint Jacques," is named after bassist Dan St...
(2001) - Wonderful RainbowWonderful RainbowWonderful Rainbow is the third album by noise rock band Lightning Bolt. It is considered to be their most accessible album, featuring heavy but catchy bass guitar riffs and frenetic drums....
(2003) - Hypermagic MountainHypermagic MountainHypermagic Mountain is the fourth album by the noise rock band Lightning Bolt. It has a very dense sound composed entirely of distorted bass guitar and loud, pounding drums...
(2005) - Earthly DelightsEarthly Delights (album)Earthly Delights is the fifth album by the noise rock band Lightning Bolt. It was released on October 13, 2009 by Load Records. The album was leaked to the internet on August 27, 2009.-Track listing:#"Sound Guardians" – 4:52...
(2009)
Megasus
- Seven Inches of Sorcery (2009)
- MegasusMegasus (album)-Track listing:Side A#"Ten Kingdoms" – 2:58#"Megasus" – 3:44#"Swords" – 7:27#"Hexes/Szaadek" – 6:01Side B#"Paladin vs Berserker" – 3:46#"Red Lottery" – 6:00#"Iron Mountain" – 7:26...
(2009) - Menace Of The Universe (2011)
Appearances on compilations
- You're Soaking in it: The Sounds and Smells of Load Records (Load Records) (1997)
External links
- Wizardzz homepage on Load Records
- Load Records
- Fort Thunder website, retrieved March 2, 2007. Archived: http://web.archive.org/web/20060423080826/http://www.fortthunder.org (may contain dead links and broken images)