Brian Bell
| Brian Bell | |
|---|---|
Bell performing with Weezer in 2013
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brian Lane Bell |
| Born |
December 9, 1968 Iowa City, Iowa, United States |
| Origin | Knoxville, Tennessee, United Sates |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Guitarist |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels | Geffen |
| Associated acts |
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| Notable instruments | |
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Gibson Explorer Gibson Les Paul Gibson SG Fender Telecaster |
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Brian Lane Bell (born December 9, 1968) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is best known as the rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of the alternative rock band Weezer, with whom he has recorded ten studio albums. Bell also fronts the rock band The Relationship, and was previously the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band Space Twins.
Moving to Los Angeles at the age of eighteen, Bell played bass guitar in the band Carnival Art, releasing three studio albums with the band before departing in 1993. Bell subsequently joined Weezer as its rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist, at the request of band member Matt Sharp. Replacing founding member Jason Cropper, Bell joined the band during the recording of its debut album, Weezer (1994). Backed by the singles "Buddy Holly", "Undone – The Sweater Song" and "Say It Ain't So", the album was a critical and commercial success.
Bell was born in Iowa City, Iowa to parents Tom Bell, a geography professor at University of Tennessee, and Linda Menasco, an elementary school assistant principal. He was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. He first gravitated to music at the age of four when his parents took him to an Elvis Presley concert at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. Soon after Bell became obsessed with his father's record collection, playing it constantly. At a young age, Bell was forced by his mother to take piano lessons, refusing to let him take guitar lessons until high school because she "wouldn't believe that he would practice." Eventually, during his freshman year in high school, his parents allowed him to take guitar lessons from Knoxville musician Ben Bolt. Also, during his first year in high school Bell was forced to switch high schools, "I was zoned to go to County School and my mom taught in the city, which meant I could go to a more privileged school. In doing that I was surrounded by snobs. During this time, Brian delivered pizzas at Stefanos in Knoxville, with his friends Blair and Todd Mitchell. I was kind of finding myself at the time, so I decided to go to the school I was zoned for." He started playing in a band with school friends Trey Counce and Tim and Glenn Maloof called Blooshroom which Bell described as "Pink Floyd-meets-The Stooges."
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