Gordon Gano
Encyclopedia
Gordon James Gano is an American musician. He is best known for being the singer, guitarist and songwriter of American alternative rock
band Violent Femmes
.
s, and gospel
. The liner notes to the band's compilation album Permanent Record describe Gano as "a devout Baptist
".
Older siblings from his parents' previous marriages living in the NYC area exposed the young Gano to such influences as The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, Brian Eno, Patti Smith, Jonathan Richman, and the B-52's. Gordon's garage band days began with covers of Bob Dylan, The Beatles and moved through Grateful Dead (Hunter/Garcia) songs to Lou Reed and Velvet Underground songs by 1979. Gordon began writing his own songs in the mid 70's, influenced by the vocal stylings of Lou Reed, the story-telling of Hank Williams, Sr. and the poetics of Patti Smith's "Babelogue". Given his acting background, Gordon wrote many of his songs for characters, whom he would portray while performing the associated song.
In 1979 the Gano family moved to Hales Corners, where his father took over an existing American Baptist congregation. At this time Gordon began attending Milwaukee public school—Rufus King High School, from which he graduated in 1981. After graduating from high school, he worked briefly as an encyclopedia salesman.
in Milwaukee in 1980 with bassist Brian Ritchie
and drummer Victor DeLorenzo
, in which he was a guitar
ist, lead singer, and songwriter
. They soon developed a cult following
thanks to songs such as "Blister in the Sun
", "Kiss Off" and "Add It Up
" (all from their self-titled debut album
). The band experimented with a variety of sounds over the course of their career, such as country and western (Hallowed Ground
) and pop-rock (The Blind Leading the Naked
). The group briefly disbanded in 1987, but reformed, and performed together through 2007. After recording a cover of Gnarls Barkley
song Crazy, the band broke up due to artistic differences, specifically commercial use of Violent Femmes songs.
. The album was re-released digitally in 2009 on Wounded Bird Records
.
He released his first solo album in 2002, titled Hitting the Ground
. He shared vocal duties (singing in Portuguese
) with Manuel Cruz, the lead singer of the Portuguese rock band Ornatos Violeta
in the song "Capitão Romance" for the last album released before their break-up, O Monstro Precisa de Amigos
in 1999. Gano also played violin
on Ben Vaughn
's 1990 album Dressed in Black.
As of 2011 Gano is writing, recording and performing with ex-members of The Bogmen
, Billy and Brendan Ryan, under the name Gordon Gano & The Ryans. Their first album, entitled Under the Sun, was released in September 2009 on Yep Roc Records
.
He is also working with The Lost Bayou Ramblers on their upcoming 2011 release.
, entitled "X=Why?"
by Audrey Niffenegger
.
Gano appears as a fictional version of himself, under a love spell, in the 1997 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
episode "Hilda and Zelda: the Teenage Years"'.
The song "Good Feeling" is featured in the "Best Prom Ever" episode of How I Met Your Mother
. The song is played at a high school prom by a band called The 88.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
.
Early life
Gano was born in Connecticut to actor parents Norman and Faye Gano. The family moved to Oak Creek, a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1963. His father, an American Baptist minister, opened a church in Oak Creek. Rev. Gano, an accomplished actor, formed a community theater group in Oak Creek, and Gordon appeared in many of its productions, notably "Sing Out Sweet Land" in 1974. His father played guitar, and exposed his son to a wide array of musical genres, including country and western, show tuneShow tune
A show tune is a popular song originally written as part of the score of a "show" , especially if the piece in question has become a "standard", more or less detached in most people's minds from the original context...
s, and gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
. The liner notes to the band's compilation album Permanent Record describe Gano as "a devout Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
".
Older siblings from his parents' previous marriages living in the NYC area exposed the young Gano to such influences as The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, Brian Eno, Patti Smith, Jonathan Richman, and the B-52's. Gordon's garage band days began with covers of Bob Dylan, The Beatles and moved through Grateful Dead (Hunter/Garcia) songs to Lou Reed and Velvet Underground songs by 1979. Gordon began writing his own songs in the mid 70's, influenced by the vocal stylings of Lou Reed, the story-telling of Hank Williams, Sr. and the poetics of Patti Smith's "Babelogue". Given his acting background, Gordon wrote many of his songs for characters, whom he would portray while performing the associated song.
In 1979 the Gano family moved to Hales Corners, where his father took over an existing American Baptist congregation. At this time Gordon began attending Milwaukee public school—Rufus King High School, from which he graduated in 1981. After graduating from high school, he worked briefly as an encyclopedia salesman.
Violent Femmes
Gano formed Violent FemmesViolent Femmes
Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
in Milwaukee in 1980 with bassist Brian Ritchie
Brian Ritchie
Brian Ritchie was the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band Violent Femmes.In addition to his bass playing, Ritchie is proficient at the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute...
and drummer Victor DeLorenzo
Victor DeLorenzo
Victor DeLorenzo was born on October 25, 1954, and is best known as the drummer for the folk-punk band the Violent Femmes.He grew up in Racine, Wisconsin and has lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, since. He has been a drummer since the age of sixteen, but an actor since the age of five...
, in which he was a guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist, lead singer, and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. They soon developed a cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
thanks to songs such as "Blister in the Sun
Blister in the Sun
"Blister in the Sun" is a song by the American alternative rock band Violent Femmes, originally released on their 1983 self-titled debut album. It has also been covered by Nouvelle Vague, on their 2009 album 3. This version was used in an episode Gossip Girl.In August 2007, Gordon Gano was the...
", "Kiss Off" and "Add It Up
Add It Up
"Add It Up" is a song by American rock band Violent Femmes, released on their 1983 debut album Violent Femmes.It contains the lyrics:Some radio stations substitute a guitar note for the swear word for airplay.-Use in film:...
" (all from their self-titled debut album
Violent Femmes (album)
Violent Femmes is the debut album by Violent Femmes. Mostly recorded in July 1982, the album was released by Slash Records on vinyl and on cassette in April 1983, and on CD in 1987 with two extra tracks "Ugly" and "Gimme the Car"....
). The band experimented with a variety of sounds over the course of their career, such as country and western (Hallowed Ground
Hallowed Ground (Violent Femmes album)
Hallowed Ground is the second album by the Violent Femmes, released in June 1984. Like the band's first album, the songs on Hallowed Ground were mostly written by singer/guitarist/lyricist Gordon Gano when he was in high school...
) and pop-rock (The Blind Leading the Naked
The Blind Leading the Naked
The Blind Leading the Naked is the third album by Violent Femmes. It was produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and released in 1986. The title is a play on the title of the famous Bruegel painting "The Blind Leading the Blind".-Track listing:All songs written by Gordon Gano except as...
). The group briefly disbanded in 1987, but reformed, and performed together through 2007. After recording a cover of Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley is an American soul duo comprising Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green. Their first studio album St. Elsewhere was released in 2006; along with its first single "Crazy". Both single and album were a major commercial success and have been noted for their large sales by download...
song Crazy, the band broke up due to artistic differences, specifically commercial use of Violent Femmes songs.
Other projects
During a Violent Femmes hiatus in the late 1980s, Gano formed a gospel-punk group called The Mercy Seat with vocalist Zena Von Heppinstall, bassist Patrice Moran, and drummer Fernando Menendez. They toured internationally for two years and released one album in 1987 on Warner Music Group's Slash RecordsSlash Records
Slash Records is a record label in Los Angeles, originally specializing in local and punk rock bands.The label was formed in 1978 by Bob Biggs as an outgrowth of the Los Angeles-based fanzine, Slash. Biggs, a painter, initiated the label with a seven-inch single from The Germs in 1978. A full album...
. The album was re-released digitally in 2009 on Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records is a CD only, re-issue record label, that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from both popular and lesser known artists, including Deborah Harry, Chic, David Blue, Marilyn Martin, Gordon Haskell, Jon Anderson, Adrian Belew, Ellen...
.
He released his first solo album in 2002, titled Hitting the Ground
Hitting the Ground
Hitting the Ground is Violent Femmes member Gordon Gano's first solo album. It was produced by Warren Bruleigh and released in 2002. Gano wrote the songs for a film of the same name....
. He shared vocal duties (singing in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
) with Manuel Cruz, the lead singer of the Portuguese rock band Ornatos Violeta
Ornatos Violeta
Ornatos Violeta were a Portuguese alternative rock group whose music included some other influences, such as funk, jazz and ska. The band was formed in the city of Porto....
in the song "Capitão Romance" for the last album released before their break-up, O Monstro Precisa de Amigos
O Monstro Precisa de Amigos
O Monstro Precisa de Amigos was the second and final album by Portuguese band Ornatos Violeta. The album was released in 1999.Two music videos were filmed, for the songs "Ouvi Dizer" and "Capitão Romance".- Track listing :#"Tanque" – 4:05...
in 1999. Gano also played violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
on Ben Vaughn
Ben Vaughn
Ben Vaughn is an American musician, music producer and a longtime Rambler enthusiast.Vaughn grew up in Collingswood, New Jersey, and his interest in music began at age 6 when his uncle gave him a Duane Eddy record. The "Ben Vaughn Combo" released two albums and toured the U.S. from 1983 to 1988...
's 1990 album Dressed in Black.
As of 2011 Gano is writing, recording and performing with ex-members of The Bogmen
The Bogmen
The Bogmen are an indie rock band from Huntington, Long Island, New York. The band was formed in 1993 by Billy Campion, Bill Ryan, Brendan Ryan, Mark Wike, P.J. O'Connor and Clive Tucker. Though they were signed by major label Arista Records in 1995, they fell just short of mainstream success...
, Billy and Brendan Ryan, under the name Gordon Gano & The Ryans. Their first album, entitled Under the Sun, was released in September 2009 on Yep Roc Records
Yep Roc Records
Yep Roc Records is an independent International record label based in Haw River, North Carolina and owned by Redeye Distribution . The label has put out albums by artists like The Go-Betweens, The Fleshtones, Gang of Four, The Reverend Horton Heat, and The Minus 5, as well as the work of important...
.
He is also working with The Lost Bayou Ramblers on their upcoming 2011 release.
Television
Gano played Mr. Zank, the first of many substitute mathematics teachers, in an episode of The Adventures of Pete & PeteThe Adventures of Pete & Pete
The Adventures of Pete & Pete is an American children's television series produced by Wellsville Pictures and broadcast by Nickelodeon. The show featured humorous and surreal elements in its narrative, and many recurring themes centered on two brothers both named Pete Wrigley, and their various...
, entitled "X=Why?"
In popular culture
Gano is mentioned in the novel The Time Traveler's WifeThe Time Traveler's Wife
Once their timelines converge "naturally" at the library—their first meeting in his chronology—Henry starts to travel to Clare's childhood and adolescence in South Haven, Michigan, beginning in 1977 when she is six years old...
by Audrey Niffenegger
Audrey Niffenegger
Audrey Niffenegger is an American writer, artist and academic.-Writing:A film version of Niffenegger's debut novel, The Time Traveler's Wife , starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams, was released in August 2009.She has also written a graphic novel, or "novel in pictures" as Niffenegger calls it,...
.
Gano appears as a fictional version of himself, under a love spell, in the 1997 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the same name.The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, a teenager with magical powers, who lives with her aunts Hilda and Zelda , and their magical talking cat Salem...
episode "Hilda and Zelda: the Teenage Years"'.
The song "Good Feeling" is featured in the "Best Prom Ever" episode of How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
. The song is played at a high school prom by a band called The 88.