John Linnell
| John Linnell | |
|---|---|
Linnell of They Might Be Giants performing in Portland, Oregon in 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Sidney Linnell |
| Born |
June 12, 1959 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, accordion, keyboard, Kaoss pad, saxophone, clarinet, bass |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Labels | Bar/None Records, Elektra Records, Restless Records, Idlewild Records |
| Associated acts | They Might Be Giants, John Flansburgh, The Mundanes |
| Notable instruments | |
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Roland Fantom-X Korg KP-2 Main Squeeze 911 |
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John Sidney Linnell (born June 12, 1959, in New York City) is an American musician, known primarily as one half of Brooklyn, New York alternative rock duo They Might Be Giants. In addition to singing and songwriting, he plays accordion, baritone and bass saxophone, clarinet, and keyboards for the group.
Linnell's lyrics are perhaps best known for their inclusion of strange subject matter and word play. Persistent themes include aging, delusional behavior, bad relationships, death, and the personification of inanimate objects. Conversely, the accompanying melodies are usually cascading and upbeat.
John Linnell was born in New York City to father Zenos Linnell, a psychiatrist, and mother Kathleen. When Linnell was a child, Walt Kelly's Songs of the Pogo album made a strong impression on his musical sensibilities. The album contained lyrics that relied heavily on puns and word play, which Linnell appreciated. In particular, he recalls "Lines Upon a Tranquil Brow", which later became part of They Might Be Giants's live repertoire. At an early age, Linnell and his family relocated to Lincoln, Massachusetts, where he attended Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Here, he worked on the school newspaper, the Promethean, and met John Flansburgh. The two occasionally collaborated on home-recording projects.
Linnell studied English for a semester at the University of Massachusetts Amherst before dropping out to pursue a career in music.
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