Eric Drew Feldman
Encyclopedia
Eric Drew Feldman is an American
keyboard
and bass guitar
player. Feldman has worked with Captain Beefheart
, Fear
, Snakefinger
, The Residents
, Pere Ubu
, Pixies, dEUS, Katell Keineg
, Frank Black
, The Polyphonic Spree
, Tripping Daisy
, Reid Paley
, Charlotte Hatherley
, Custard
, and PJ Harvey
.
He was already an experienced keyboard player when he joined Captain Beefheart's Magic Band in 1976, in which he also played bass. Like other members of the band, Feldman was expected to capture (on tape or notepad) Beefheart's musical ideas. Once instrumental parts had been created, the band members had to play them exactly as composed: "I never had a problem with that. I felt like I was getting parts dictated to me from one of the best, especially when they were designed for me. You just feel like a model in a fashion show wearing a really nice dress, I guess." Feldman worked on the acclaimed trio of Beefheart albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s that turned out to be the last of the Captain's musical career, Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)
(1978), Doc at the Radar Station
(1980), and Ice Cream for Crow
(1982).
After working with The Residents
' Snakefinger
, in 1988 Feldman was drafted in to replace departing Pere Ubu
keyboard player Allen Ravenstine. He worked on their album Worlds in Collision
(1991).
Feldman met the Pixies' Frank Black
in 1991, when Pere Ubu were touring as the Pixies' opening act, and later played keyboards on the Pixies' Trompe le Monde
(1991) and toured with them. He can also be seen in the video for Alec Eiffel
. After the Pixies split, Feldman worked with Frank Black on his solo albums Frank Black
(1993) and Teenager of the Year
(1994).
In 1994, after two Frank Black albums, Feldman applied for a job with PJ Harvey, who was putting together a band. He played on To Bring You My Love
(1995) and Is This Desire?
(1998), "White Chalk
" (2007), the PJ Harvey/John Parish
album A Woman A Man Walked By
(2009), and has regularly toured with her. His band kNIFE & fORK has opened for her.
While in Australia touring with Frank Black he met the Australian band Custard
. He recorded two albums with them in the USA; Wisenheimer (1995) and We Have the Technology (1997).
In 1998, he produced Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb
(1998) by Dallas group Tripping Daisy
. He later produced Together We're Heavy
(2004) by The Polyphonic Spree
, a 24-member troupe containing three ex-members of Tripping Daisy. He also produced the album Revival (2000) by Brooklyn
singer-songwriter (and sometime Frank Black
songwriting collaborator) Reid Paley
.
Through the 1990s Feldman continued to tour on and off with Frank Black and the Catholics and joined the band in the studio to make Dog in the Sand
(2000), Black Letter Days
, Devil's Workshop
, and Show Me Your Tears
, as well producing the unreleased album Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day
.
On April 25, 2008, Eric performed live with Black Francis at the San Francisco International Film Festival
at the Castro Theatre
. Black Francis and his band performed an original score, which Eric produced, for the 1920 silent movie
The Golem. In 2009 he co-produced and played on a new collaboration entitled NonStopErotik, released March 2010. They toured together briefly as a three-piece to support the album.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player. Feldman has worked with Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
, Fear
Fear (band)
Fear is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1977. The band is credited for helping to shape the sound and style of American hardcore punk, the group started out as part of the early California punk rock scene, and gained national prominence after an infamous 1981...
, Snakefinger
Snakefinger
Philip Charles Lithman , who performed under the stage name Snakefinger, was an English musician, singer and songwriter. A multi-instrumentalist, he was best known for his guitar and violin work and his collaborations with The Residents.-History:Lithman was born in Tooting, South London, and came...
, The Residents
The Residents
The Residents is an American art collective best known for avant-garde music and multimedia works. The first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and the group has since released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects and ten DVDs....
, Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu (band)
Pere Ubu is an experimental rock music group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite many long-term band members, singer David Thomas is the only constant...
, Pixies, dEUS, Katell Keineg
Katell Keineg
Katell Keineg , is a Breton-Welsh singer-songwriter, based in Dublin and New York.-Early life:Born in Brittany and raised in Cardiff, Katell Keineg is the second child and only daughter of Breton poet and playwright Paol Keineg and his then wife, Judith, a Welsh political activist and...
, Frank Black
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
, The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree is a choral symphonic pop rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by Tim DeLaughter. The band's sound relies on a variety of vocal and instrumental color by featuring a choir, flute, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums,...
, Tripping Daisy
Tripping Daisy
Tripping Daisy was a neo psychedelic pop rock band that was formed in Dallas, Texas, USA by lead singer/guitarist Tim DeLaughter in 1990 along with Jeff Bouck , Wes Berggren and Mark Pirro .-History:...
, Reid Paley
Reid Paley
Reid Paley is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been performing and recording both solo and with his trio since the mid 1990s.-Early career:...
, Charlotte Hatherley
Charlotte Hatherley
Charlotte Franklin Hatherley is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. She initially came to prominence as guitarist and backing vocalist for alternative rock band Ash. Since departing Ash in 2006, she has found success as a solo artist...
, Custard
Custard (band)
-Overview:The band were originally known as Custard Gun and featured David McCormack on vocals and guitar, Paul Medew on bass, James Straker on guitar and Shane Brunn on drums. After a few shows and line up changes Custard Gun morphed into Custard...
, and PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
.
He was already an experienced keyboard player when he joined Captain Beefheart's Magic Band in 1976, in which he also played bass. Like other members of the band, Feldman was expected to capture (on tape or notepad) Beefheart's musical ideas. Once instrumental parts had been created, the band members had to play them exactly as composed: "I never had a problem with that. I felt like I was getting parts dictated to me from one of the best, especially when they were designed for me. You just feel like a model in a fashion show wearing a really nice dress, I guess." Feldman worked on the acclaimed trio of Beefheart albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s that turned out to be the last of the Captain's musical career, Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)
Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)
Shiny Beast is the tenth studio album by Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band. Originally released in 1978, it is considered to be Beefheart's comeback album following 1974's poorly received efforts, Unconditionally Guaranteed and Bluejeans & Moonbeams, and is the first of his three critically...
(1978), Doc at the Radar Station
Doc at the Radar Station
Doc at the Radar Station is the eleventh studio album by Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, released in August 1980 to favorable reviews. The painting on the album cover is by Don Van Vliet himself...
(1980), and Ice Cream for Crow
Ice Cream for Crow
Ice Cream for Crow is the twelfth and final studio album by Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, released in September 1982. It is the last Don Van Vliet recorded before abruptly retiring from music as Captain Beefheart to devote himself to a career as a painter...
(1982).
After working with The Residents
The Residents
The Residents is an American art collective best known for avant-garde music and multimedia works. The first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and the group has since released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects and ten DVDs....
' Snakefinger
Snakefinger
Philip Charles Lithman , who performed under the stage name Snakefinger, was an English musician, singer and songwriter. A multi-instrumentalist, he was best known for his guitar and violin work and his collaborations with The Residents.-History:Lithman was born in Tooting, South London, and came...
, in 1988 Feldman was drafted in to replace departing Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu (band)
Pere Ubu is an experimental rock music group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite many long-term band members, singer David Thomas is the only constant...
keyboard player Allen Ravenstine. He worked on their album Worlds in Collision
Worlds in Collision (album)
Worlds in Collision is Pere Ubu's eighth studio album. The album continues in the glossy pop mold found on their previous studio album, Cloudland...
(1991).
Feldman met the Pixies' Frank Black
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
in 1991, when Pere Ubu were touring as the Pixies' opening act, and later played keyboards on the Pixies' Trompe le Monde
Trompe le Monde
Trompe le Monde is the fourth and final album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in 1991 on the English independent record label 4AD in the United Kingdom and by Elektra Records in the United States...
(1991) and toured with them. He can also be seen in the video for Alec Eiffel
Alec Eiffel
"Alec Eiffel" is a song by the American alternative rock band Pixies, and is the third track on their 1991 album Trompe le Monde. The song was written and sung by frontman Black Francis, produced by Gil Norton and recorded during the album's recording sessions...
. After the Pixies split, Feldman worked with Frank Black on his solo albums Frank Black
Frank Black (album)
Frank Black is the first solo album from the American alternative rock musician Frank Black. The album was recorded in 1992 and released on 9 March 1993 via 4AD, after the breakup of the Pixies....
(1993) and Teenager of the Year
Teenager of the Year
Released in 1994, Teenager of the Year was Frank Black’s second solo album, produced by Eric Drew Feldman. Long considered a testament to Frank Black's songwriting skills as well as his virtue as a performer, Teenager also features work by several backing musicians, including Pixies...
(1994).
In 1994, after two Frank Black albums, Feldman applied for a job with PJ Harvey, who was putting together a band. He played on To Bring You My Love
To Bring You My Love
To Bring You My Love is the third studio album by British musician and singer-songwriter PJ Harvey. It was released by Island Records in February 1995. Recorded after the break-up of the PJ Harvey trio it stands as her first proper solo album...
(1995) and Is This Desire?
Is This Desire?
Is This Desire? is a 1998 album by British singer-songwriter PJ Harvey.Recorded on and off in Dorset and London between April 1997 and April 1998, it was co-produced by Flood, Head and Harvey herself, and featured instrumental contributions from Rob Ellis, John Parish, Mick Harvey, Eric Drew...
(1998), "White Chalk
White Chalk
White Chalk is the eighth studio album by PJ Harvey, released on 24 September 2007 in the UK, and on 2 October 2007 in the US.Work on the album started in 2006, with producer Flood and John Parish, who also worked on her To Bring You My Love and Is This Desire? albums...
" (2007), the PJ Harvey/John Parish
John Parish
John Parish is a British musician and producer best known for his work with singer and songwriter PJ Harvey,. His sister is the actress Sarah Parish.-Partial discography:Solo*Rosie *How Animals Move...
album A Woman A Man Walked By
A Woman a Man Walked By
A Woman A Man Walked By is an album by PJ Harvey and John Parish, released on 30 March 2009 on Island Records.-Background:It is the second collaboration between Harvey and Parish, following 1996's Dance Hall at Louse Point. The album was recorded in Bristol and Dorset, and mixed by Flood. This...
(2009), and has regularly toured with her. His band kNIFE & fORK has opened for her.
While in Australia touring with Frank Black he met the Australian band Custard
Custard (band)
-Overview:The band were originally known as Custard Gun and featured David McCormack on vocals and guitar, Paul Medew on bass, James Straker on guitar and Shane Brunn on drums. After a few shows and line up changes Custard Gun morphed into Custard...
. He recorded two albums with them in the USA; Wisenheimer (1995) and We Have the Technology (1997).
In 1998, he produced Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb
Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb
Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb is the third studio album released by Tripping Daisy in 1998. The album was produced by Eric Drew Feldman and Tripping Daisy. Songs on this album included radio hit "Sonic Bloom". Artwork was created by Tim DeLaughter...
(1998) by Dallas group Tripping Daisy
Tripping Daisy
Tripping Daisy was a neo psychedelic pop rock band that was formed in Dallas, Texas, USA by lead singer/guitarist Tim DeLaughter in 1990 along with Jeff Bouck , Wes Berggren and Mark Pirro .-History:...
. He later produced Together We're Heavy
Together We're Heavy
Together We're Heavy is the second release from Dallas symphonic rock group The Polyphonic Spree. Produced by Eric Drew Feldman and released in Japan on June 30, 2004, Europe on July 12 and North America on July 13. It includes the hit singles "Hold Me Now" and "Two Thousand Places"...
(2004) by The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree is a choral symphonic pop rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by Tim DeLaughter. The band's sound relies on a variety of vocal and instrumental color by featuring a choir, flute, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums,...
, a 24-member troupe containing three ex-members of Tripping Daisy. He also produced the album Revival (2000) by Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
singer-songwriter (and sometime Frank Black
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
songwriting collaborator) Reid Paley
Reid Paley
Reid Paley is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been performing and recording both solo and with his trio since the mid 1990s.-Early career:...
.
Through the 1990s Feldman continued to tour on and off with Frank Black and the Catholics and joined the band in the studio to make Dog in the Sand
Dog in the Sand
Dog in the Sand, Frank Black's third album with backing group the Catholics was released by the Cooking Vinyl record label in 2001, and was produced by Nick Vincent. The album was generally met with favorable reviews...
(2000), Black Letter Days
Black Letter Days
Black Letter Days is the first of two albums by Frank Black and the Catholics simultaneously released in 2002...
, Devil's Workshop
Devil's Workshop
Devil's Workshop is the second of a pair of albums by Frank Black and the Catholics to be simultaneously released on August 20, 2002 . 'His Kingly Cave' was originally recorded for an aborted album project in mid-2000 entitled Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day...
, and Show Me Your Tears
Show Me Your Tears
Show Me Your Tears is the final album to be released to date by Frank Black and the Catholics. The album employs a wide range of guests, including piano and an arrangement by maverick composer Van Dyke Parks on the final track...
, as well producing the unreleased album Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day
Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day
Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day is an album by Frank Black & the Catholics, recorded in 2000. Because Black was not completely happy with the recording sessions, he decided against a commercial release...
.
On April 25, 2008, Eric performed live with Black Francis at the San Francisco International Film Festival
San Francisco International Film Festival
San Francisco International Film Festival is the oldest continuously running film festival in the Americas. Organized by the San Francisco Film Society, the International is held each spring for two weeks, presenting an average of 150 films from over 50 countries...
at the Castro Theatre
Castro Theatre
The Castro Theatre is a popular San Francisco movie palace which became San Francisco Historic Landmark #100 in September 1976. Located at 429 Castro Street, in the Castro district, it was built in 1922 with a Spanish Colonial Baroque façade that pays homage—in its great arched central window...
. Black Francis and his band performed an original score, which Eric produced, for the 1920 silent movie
Silent Movie
Silent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
The Golem. In 2009 he co-produced and played on a new collaboration entitled NonStopErotik, released March 2010. They toured together briefly as a three-piece to support the album.