Biography
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Contact me at db@derekbrink.com.
If you're wondering about my influences and whatnot, this is the place. So there.
Guitar Influences:
Pete Townshend/The Who
Neil Young
Rick Nielsen/Cheap Trick
The Edge/U2 (Especially in my effects)
Patterson Hood/DBT
Mike Cooley/DBT
Jason Isbell
Alex Lifeson/Rush
David Gilmour/Pink Floyd
Patrick Pentland/Sloan
Mike McCready/Pearl Jam
...and I want to say names like John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Brian May, and a million others. And where, yeah, I'd like to think I take a little something from every guitarist I listen to, there are limits. I've found my niche and I play in it.
Vocal Influences:
This is another one where I want to name a bunch of guys better than me, but I think the ones you can hear are folks like...
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend/The Who
Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam
Frank Black/Black Francis/Pixies
Craig Finn/The Hold Steady
Bowie a little bit, on a good day
Ed K from Live
Lou Reed
Dennis DeYoung/Styx
Bob Mould/Husker Du
Bass Influences:
Geddy Lee/Rush
John Entwistle/The Who
Steve Harris/Iron Maiden
John Deacon/Queen
Tom Peterson/Cheap Trick
Lemmy Kilmister/Motorhead
Pat Badger/Extreme
Billy Sheehan/Mr. Big
Chris Squire/Yes
I started my musical life as a bass player. This one's easier. I'm still leaving off a TON of names though!
Other Influences of Note:
I'm very influenced by literature and movies. If I read or watch something that challenges me, it will come out in my writing and sometimes that changes my musical approach. And even though I don't know that you hear it in what I do, I love Jazz and Classical, and even show tunes. In my car, you're as likely to find the Les Miserables soundtrack as you are the new Slipknot record. I think musicians NEED to have wide ears and an eclectic background. You take it all, boil it down into something relevant for YOU and how you do things, and add your own spin...and that's how you get a sound.
There are a TON of bands/performers who didn't make the above lists that it seems insane not to mention. So here's one big list, built from my phone's music app: Aimee Mann, All/Descendents, Beach Boys, Beatles, Big Star, Bob Dylan, The Chieftains, Coheed & Cambria, The Cranberries, The Damned, Devin Townsend, Dropkick Murphys, The Dubliners, Elvis Costello, Flogging Molly, Zappa, The Tragically Hip/Gord Downie, Guided By Voices, The Irish Aires, The Irish Rovers, Johnny Cash, The Kinks, Leonard Cohen, Mark Lanegan, Living Colour, Marvin Gaye, Michael Penn, Misfits, Mountain Goats, Muffs, Nick Lowe, Old 97s, Paramore, Paul Westerberg/Replacements, Peter Gabriel, The Pogues, Prince, RAMONES, Roxy Music, Rufus Wainwright, Squeeze, Vigilantes of Love...
...and a thousand others.
Current Bands:
I've been working as a solo artist since 1997.
Occasional appearances live and in studio with The Michael Feldman Group.
Former Bands:
The Social Gospel
Blue Tattoo
Two Hangmen
The Michael Feldman Group (as a regular performer)
Uncle Dick
Awake
union jack
R.M.I.
Additional Appearances and Other Musical Employment:
I've shown up with a bunch of folks over the years. I was a music minister for a few years at a church that would probably prefer to remain nameless, though it has since shut its doors. (Not because of me.) I played with a bunch of worship-bands in college and high school, including Jeff Moody for a little bit. I don't really play much with Christian bands anymore. Haven't hung out in many churches at all lately, actually. But the church bands and stuff like that were foundational to who I am as a musician. I owe that background a lot. Even if it's no longer in the foreground.
Regularly Used Equipment:
See the Guitar Gallery!
But I mostly play my Telecasters, Martins, and Rickenbackers. And I have done a TON of writing on my 1972 Alvarez.
Personal Statement:
Don't define yourself by the stuff you don't like. Find the stuff you love and lean in. Hard.
I'm a big fan of music, personally.