Adrian Belew | |
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Adrian Belew in 2006
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Background information | |
Birth name | Robert Steven Belew |
Born |
Covington, Kentucky, United States |
December 23, 1949
Genres | Progressive rock, industrial rock, experimental rock, new wave |
Instruments | Guitar, guitar synthesizer, vocals, drums, keyboards, cello, upright bass, percussion, laptop |
Years active | 1977–present |
Labels | Island, Atlantic, Caroline/Virgin |
Associated acts | King Crimson, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Caifanes, Tom Tom Club, David Byrne, Laurie Anderson, The Bears, Tori Amos, Nine Inch Nails, Kevin Max, Porcupine Tree, Jean Michel Jarre. |
Website | www |
Notable instruments | |
Fender Mustang Parker Adrian Belew Signature Fly |
Adrian Belew (born Robert Steven Belew, December 23, 1949) is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. A multi-instrumentalist primarily known as a guitarist and singer, Belew is noted for his unusual, impressionistic approach to guitar playing (which, rather than relying on standard instrumental tones, often resembles sound effects or noises made by animals and machines).
Perhaps best known for his long stint as frontman and second guitarist for the progressive rock group King Crimson (between 1981 and 2009), Belew is widely recognized as an "incredibly versatile player" who has released nearly twenty solo albums for Island Records and Atlantic Records blending or alternating Beatles-inspired pop-rock with more experimental fare. Belew is a member of the intermittently-active pop band The Bears, and fronted his own band GaGa in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He has worked extensively as a session and touring musician - most famously with Talking Heads, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Laurie Anderson and Nine Inch Nails - as well as contributing to hit singles by Paul Simon, Tom Tom Club and others. Belew himself scored a Top 10 hit single in 1989 with "Oh Daddy", and his 2005 single "Beat Box Guitar" was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rock Instrumental Performance category.
Belew has also worked in instrument design and multimedia, collaborating with Parker Guitars (to help design his own Parker Fly signature guitar) and designing his own iOS mobile apps FLUX by belew™ and FLUX:FX - the multi-effect audio processor app.