History

Born in New York City in 1961 to academic parents, John Fell came into prominence in the early 1980s playing with rock/reggae/Latin band from Miami named Watchdog. The band had a large following in south Florida fronted by Alonso Brito

Alonso Brito

Alonso Brito is a Latin, alternative, salsa singer, songwriter born in Havana, Cuba. The Los Angeles Times has compared him to “part Mick Jagger, part Caetano Veloso, and part Desi Arnaz on acid” and as a face for Los Angeles salsa music...

, then known as Dennis Britt and opened and headlined large venues as well as weekly engagements at various local clubs. Watchdog was recorded and mixed by Ron and Howard Albert, known collectively as the Albert Brothers

The Albert Brothers

The Albert Brothers are two recording engineer brothers, Ron Albert and Howard Albert, who are best known for their work on various recordings at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, founded and owned by Mack Emerman...

 at Criteria Studios

Criteria Studios

Criteria Studios is a music-recording studio in Miami, Florida, started in 1958 by Mack Emerman.In 1999, The Hit Factory purchased Criteria Studios, revamping and reopening the studios under the new name The Hit Factory Criteria Miami.-Notable artists:...

 in Miami. He was one of the first drummers in that area who used an electronic drums along with samples and a drum machine, specifically the Linn 9000, E-mu SP-1200

E-mu SP-1200

E-mu SP-1200 is a classic drum machine and sampler released in August 1987 by E-mu Systems, Inc. as an update of the SP-12, which was originally created for dance music producers...

, Emulator II, and Simmons Drums SDS-7 and Simmons SDS-V . Due to the incredible demand of electronic drums at this point, he managed to find a great deal of session and tour work with bands and individuals including The Isolator, Miami Sound Machine, Perfect Strangers, Jimi Fiano, Gordon Hart, Henk Milne, Paris Maria, Ann Monaco, Randy Rush, as well as many calls for television and radio work.

China Shop, Gentleman Farmers, and the 80's

After two years in Florida, he moved back to his native New York City and found himself working with Naux, from Richard Hell and the Voidoids in a band called China Shop, recording two records. Prior to China Shop was a band with Naux, Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Smith may refer to:* Jennifer Smith , Portuguese soprano* Jennifer Smith , plays Lavender Brown in the Harry Potter films* Jennifer Smith , a character on the American soap opera, General Hospital...

, and Larry Heinemann

Larry Heinemann

Larry Heinemann is an American novelist born and raised in Chicago. His body of work—three novels and a memoir—is primarily concerned with the Vietnam War. Heinemann served a combat tour as a conscripted draftee in Viet Nam from 1967 to 1968 with the 25th Infantry Division, and has described...

 called Gentleman Farmers, who never released anything yet recorded with Mike McMackin. As well as a steady schedule of live and studio work, Fell recorded, toured, played with many bands and individuals, including Mercurial Line, Joan Jett

Joan Jett

Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...

, Rope

Rope

A rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength...

, The Loveless

The Loveless

The Loveless is a 1982 drama outlaw biker film written and directed by Kathryn Bigelow and Monty Montgomery. It is an independent film and stars Willem Dafoe and musician Robert Gordon, who also did the music for the film. It tells the story of a motorcycle gang that causes trouble in a small...

, Jorma Kaukonen

Jorma Kaukonen

Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...

, Bankie Banx

Bankie Banx

Bankie Banx is a reggae singer, known as the "Anguillan Bob Dylan".-Career:Banks's musical career dates back to 1963, when he built his first guitar...

, Polio Ponies, Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh

Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...

, and many others.

Kelly Township

In 1994 he joined a band called Kelly Township that was immediately signed to London Records after then Vice President Russ Rieger demanded their signing, and did a record produced by Ted Nicely who had recorded Fugazi, Shudder to Think, Girls Against Boys

Girls Against Boys

Girls Against Boys are an indie rock/post-hardcore band, originally forming in Washington, D.C. in 1988 and currently based in New York City.-Career:...

, and Jawbox

Jawbox

Jawbox was an alternative rock band from Washington, D.C., U.S.. Its original members were J. Robbins , Kim Coletta and Adam Wade...

. When things went badly at London due to internal problems they moved to Reprise Records under Sue Drew and were dropped. Kelly Township explored a mix of drugs and sexuality in their lyrics and were part of a huge frenzy when they first began playing in 1994. Originally the vocals were handled by Ali Smith, later of Speedball Baby, and then were taken over by Ike Machamer, the band's main writer and founder. There were high expectations for Kelly Township, but the band broke up.

Heroine Sheiks

Shortly after Fell joined ex Cows singer Shannon Selberg

Shannon Selberg

Shannon Selberg is a noise/punk rock musician known for his unusual antics on stage. Formerly the frontman for the Minneapolis-based group The Cows, Selberg provided lead vocals, trumpet, bugle and hardcore guitar...

 and ex Swans

Swans (band)

Swans are an influential American post-punk band initially active from 1982 to 1997, led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. The band was one of the few groups to emerge from the early 1980s New York No Wave scene and stay intact into the next decade. Formed by Gira in...

 guitarist Norman Westberg

Norman Westberg

Norman Westberg is a New York City guitarist best known for his work with Swans. Present through almost the entirety of the band's existence, Westberg was brought on for Swans' debut album Filth and appeared on every album through 1991s White Light From the Mouth of Infinity...

 for a true downtown supergroup called Heroine Sheiks

Heroine Sheiks

The Heroine Sheiks were originally a New York-based Noise Rock band until early 2006, when the band called it quits. In 2008 the band was reformed in Minneapolis, and then only lasting another year. It began in 1999 as a collaboration of Shannon Selberg, George Porfiris, Norman Westberg and John Fell...

 joined by Ultra Bide bassist George Porfiris releasing material on the Amphetamine Reptile label, then Rape on the Installment Plan

Rape on the Installment Plan

Rape on the Installment Plan is the first studio album by the noise rock band The Heroine Sheiks.- Track listing :#Wandering Mongrel – 3:25#Nuclear Jeannie – 3:32#Okkk? – 2:58#Jew Jitsu – 3:23#Space Invader – 5:55...

 for Reptilian Records followed by Siamese Pipe

Siamese Pipe

Siamese Pipe is the second studio album by the noise rock band The Heroine Sheiks.- Track listing :#Army Brat – 2:58#Grab the Wheel – 2:49#3-Banger – 4:07#Let It Die – 3:44#Open You Up – 2:15#My Boss – 2:29...

 for Rubric Records

Rubric Records

Rubric Records is an independent record label based in New York, New York which began life in 1999. It was founded by David Gwiazdowski and Kenny Sehgal of New York, New York band Kreisor.-Catalogue:* Alchemysts* Analogue II* Barnyard Playboys...

. Critically acclaimed, the records sold well but Fell left the band after rupturing his eardrums on tour. This coincided with Westberg leaving and he was unable to play for many months. The band carried on as Heroine Sheiks with a new drummer and guitarist and continue to record and tour.

Current bands

Recently Fell has been performing with Kid Congo Powers

Kid Congo Powers

Kid Congo Powers is the stage name of Brian Tristan , an American rock guitarist and singer, best known as a member of The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.-Biography:...

 of the Cramps

The Cramps

The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...

, Gun Club, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...

 along with another downtown legend Jack Martin

Jack Martin

Jack Martin may refer to:* Jack Martin , former coach at Lamar University* Jack Martin , English Test cricketer* Jack Martin , Major League Baseball player in the 1910s...

, who was also in Cause For Applause along with David Lloyd of The Boggs

The Boggs

The Boggs is an independent rock band from New York City that formed in 2001 and quickly became a part of the then burgeoning "New New York" scene that included groups like The Rapture, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Calla, Interpol, and The Walkmen....

 along with Johnathan Toubin formerly of Grand Mal. Fell was not the original drummer for this band and recorded tracks for Say Hey Records

Say Hey Records

Say Hey Records is an independent record label based in New York City, and is the brainchild of founder Aaron Romanello. The label has put out notable records by White Rabbits, Shy Child, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson's eponymous debut LP, and Inouk, as well as releases by Cause For Applause, The...

 but they were never released. Cause For Applause was welcomed by New York and sold well but various problems hampered the groups' success.

Equipment used

Always trying new sounds has been a big part of Fell's success. As one of the first to use Simmons

Simmons

-People:* Adelma Simmons , American author and herbalist* Al Simmons , American baseball player* Allan Simmons , British scrabble player and author* Andrew Simmons , British wrestler...

 Electronic drums along with drum machines live, he often had to resort to complicated fabrication in order to mix the sounds. When MIDI came out he applied it and used it to simplify his set though at this point he was starting to get back into acoustic drums and began a long relationship with Sonor

SONOR

Sonor is a German percussion manufacturer. Founded in 1875 as a percussion manufacturer, Sonor drum sets and hardware are historically known for being constructed in a very durable, and therefore, unusually heavy manner...

 drums. Fell used Sonors in a many different contexts, but using them with Heroine Sheiks

Heroine Sheiks

The Heroine Sheiks were originally a New York-based Noise Rock band until early 2006, when the band called it quits. In 2008 the band was reformed in Minneapolis, and then only lasting another year. It began in 1999 as a collaboration of Shannon Selberg, George Porfiris, Norman Westberg and John Fell...

 was very unusual in the world of Indie Rock which usually finds people using lo-fi gear. He then brought back a Ludwig

Ludwig

Ludwig may refer to:* Ludwig , a German name* Ludwig , a German surname* Ludwig , a 1972 film by Luchino Visconti about Ludwig II of Bavaria* Ludwig , a 1977 animated children's series...

 stainless steel kit identical to the one John Bonham

John Bonham

John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...

 used in the later days of Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...

 that he had owned for many years. It was huge and powerful and complimented the Heroine Sheiks

Heroine Sheiks

The Heroine Sheiks were originally a New York-based Noise Rock band until early 2006, when the band called it quits. In 2008 the band was reformed in Minneapolis, and then only lasting another year. It began in 1999 as a collaboration of Shannon Selberg, George Porfiris, Norman Westberg and John Fell...

 heavy sound perfectly. His cymbal selection varied but usually was Paiste

Paiste

Paiste, a Swiss manufacturer and designer, is the world's third largest manufacturer of cymbals, gongs, and metal percussion. Paiste is an Estonian/Finnish word which means "shine"...

 due to endorsement and often included a mix of 2002's and Signature Series.

Main Drag Music

Fell is co-owner of Main Drag Music located in Williamsburg Brooklyn, where he creates custom snares, and repairs and sells drums. At times he is known to do drum tech work for John Agnello

John Agnello

John Agnello is a producer, recording engineer and mixer who has been involved with many albums throughout the last 25 years. Most recently, John has been involved with Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth, Sweet Apple, Dinosaur Jr...

, Headgear Studio

Headgear Studio

Headgear Studio is an American recording studio based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It was founded in 1998 by Alex Lipsen and Dan Long. In 2000, engineer Scott F. Norton joined as a partner and the studio relocated to its current facility near the Brooklyn waterfront...

, Metrosonic Studios, and others. He records and plays in the New York area though seems to have stepped out of the world of touring.

Lists

Fell's drumming has found him on a few lists of great drummers, including Piero Scaruffi's 100 Greatest Rock Drummers of All Time and MajorGeeks Forums, as well as 200 Best Rock Drummers listed in Yugoslavia. "Known as a powerful and exciting player with a knack for rhythmic complexity and speed he has been a vital contribution to drumming."

Reviews and press

• http://www.playbackstl.com/content/view/140/162/
• http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18468-siamese-pipe?artist_title=18468-siamese-pipe
• http://www.markprindle.com/heroine.htm
• http://www.grunnenrocks.nl/bands/h/heroinesheiks.htm