Jeff Tweedy
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Jeffrey Scot Tweedy (born August 25, 1967) is an American musician, songwriter, author, and record producer best known as the singer and guitarist of the band Wilco. Tweedy, originally from Belleville, Illinois, began his music career in high school with his band The Plebes along with Jay Farrar, also in the band. It became the alternative country band Uncle Tupelo.
After Uncle Tupelo broke up Tweedy formed Wilco which found critical and commercial success, most notably with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born. The latter received a Grammy for Best Alternative Album in 2005.
During his career Tweedy has released 20 studio albums including four with Uncle Tupelo, twelve with Wilco, one with his son Spencer, a solo acoustic album, three solo studio albums, along with numerous collaborations with other musicians, most notably Mermaid Avenue with Billy Bragg.[1][2]
Early life
Tweedy was born in
Tweedy's mother bought him his first guitar when he was six years old, although he did not begin to play it seriously until he was twelve. Apparently Tweedy told people that he knew how to play the guitar once he got his first guitar, even though he did not know how to play.
When he was twelve, Tweedy was injured in a bicycle accident and was laid up for the summer. He decided to learn how to play a few chords before somebody "called him out" on the lie.[1] On an appearance of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he remembered attending an X concert as a youngster in St. Louis. Tweedy said The Replacements opened for the band. Paul Westerberg, the guitarist and vocalist for The Replacements, fell off the stage while performing. Tweedy said while he can't think of a song which inspired him to be in music he thought it looked like fun to be in a band after seeing The Replacements at that show.[citation needed]
In 1981, when Tweedy was fourteen years old, he befriended
Career
Early music
In the early 1980s, Tweedy joined The Plebes, a rockabilly band, with brothers Wade and Dade Farrar which Tweedy joined in order to qualify for a battle of the bands competition. They won.[1]: 10, 17 [7] Tweedy pushed The Plebes away from the rockabilly music that they had been playing, which caused Dade Farrar to leave the band. The band renamed themselves The Primitives in 1984, taking their name from a song by garage rock band The Groupies.[1]: 18 [8] Wade Farrar sang lead vocals and played harmonica, Jay Farrar played guitar, Tweedy played bass guitar, and Mike Heidorn played drums. In late 1986, the band decided to change their name to Uncle Tupelo, because a more popular British band was also using the name "The Primitives".[9] The Primitives went on hiatus in 1986 after Wade Farrar left the band to finish his engineering degree at Southern Illinois University.[1]: 22 While waiting for Wade to return from campus, Farrar, Tweedy, and Heidorn formed Uncle Tupelo.
Uncle Tupelo (1987–1994)
At his parents' request, Tweedy attended several universities, but dropped out of all of them to concentrate on Uncle Tupelo. While moonlighting as a record store clerk at Euclid Records in St. Louis,[10][11] Tweedy met Tony Margherita. After Margherita saw the band perform at an acoustic concert in 1988, he decided to become the band's manager. The band began playing regular shows at Cicero's basement bar in the Delmar Loop near Washington University in St. Louis with other bands playing in a similar style.[1]: 24–26 [9] Uncle Tupelo recorded a ten-track demo tape entitled Not Forever, Just For Now in 1989, attracting the attention of Giant/Rockville Records. The independent label signed the band, and Uncle Tupelo's first album, No Depression, was released the next year.[9] The title song, originally performed by the Carter Family, became strongly associated with the alternative country scene, and became the name of an influential alternative country periodical called No Depression.
During times when Uncle Tupelo was not touring, Tweedy and Farrar played as Coffee Creek, a short-lived cover band with
Breakup
In January 1994, Farrar called Tony Margherita to tell him that the band was breaking up, saying that he was not having any fun in the band anymore and was not getting along with Tweedy. Tweedy was enraged that Farrar decided to break up the band without notifying him, and this led to a series of harsh verbal exchanges. Farrar and Tweedy agreed to a final Uncle Tupelo tour, but the concerts were marred by the two not participating in each other's songs. The band decided to play Tweedy's "The Long Cut" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, which further distanced Farrar and Tweedy.[1]: 80–84 Farrar began to assemble a new band named Son Volt with Mike Heidorn, bassist Jim Boquist, and his brother Dave Boquist. At the same time, Jeff Tweedy formed Wilco with Stirratt, Johnston, and Coomer.[1]: 88, 90
Wilco (1995–present)
In 1994, Tweedy formed Wilco with John Stirratt, Max Johnston, and Ken Coomer. Wilco has released twelve albums and found commercial success with their albums Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost Is Born, Sky Blue Sky and Wilco. The band also released two collaboration albums with Billy Bragg and one with The Minus 5. Jeff Tweedy has been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Album for A Ghost Is Born. Tweedy has also participated in a number of side groups including Golden Smog and Loose Fur, published a book of poems, and released a DVD of solo performances. He was originally influenced by punk and country music, but has later reflected more experimental themes in his music.
Wilco signed with
Tweedy and Wilco began to explore new styles and broke from the style of previous recordings on the seminal sprawling double album
Before the release of Summerteeth, the daughter of the late folk legend Woody Guthrie contacted folk rock singer Billy Bragg, who in turn contacted Tweedy about recording an album of unreleased Woody Guthrie songs. Tweedy was indifferent to the idea of working with Bragg, but Jay Bennett's enthusiasm about the idea convinced Tweedy to get the band involved in the project. As a result of Tweedy's feelings on the political nature of some of the lyrics, Bragg recorded mostly political songs while Wilco recorded more neutral songs. Almost all of the songs that appeared on Mermaid Avenue and Mermaid Avenue Vol. II were recorded over a six-day period in December 1997.[1]: 142–145 The first Mermaid Avenue album and a second Golden Smog album (Weird Tales) were released in 1998, Summerteeth was released in early 1999, and Mermaid Avenue Vol. II was released in 2000. Tweedy received his first Grammy nomination when Mermaid Avenue was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 1999.[18]
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Jeff Tweedy was invited to play at Chicago's Noise Pop festival, and was told that he could collaborate with a musician of his choosing. Tweedy chose
Reprise Records' parent company
It [dropping Wilco from the label] should never have happened. One of the most embarrassing moments in my career at Warner Brothers was the day they let Wilco go. It broke my heart, and it told me that I no longer have a home there.[1]: 208–209
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was originally scheduled to be released on Reprise on September 11, 2001, prior to the band's departure from Reprise. Seven days later, Tweedy decided that he would stream the entirety of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot on Wilco's official website.[1]: 225 Over thirty record labels offered to release Yankee Hotel Foxtrot after the departure from Reprise was official.[21] One of the thirty was Warner Brothers affiliate Nonesuch Records, who signed Wilco in November 2001. AOL Time Warner paid Wilco to make the album on Reprise, gave them the record for free, and then bought it back on the Nonesuch label.[1]: 209–210 The album was released on April 23, 2002 to significant critical acclaim, including being named the best album of the year by The Village Voice.[22][23] The album became the biggest hit of Jeff Tweedy's career and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling over 500,000 copies.[24]
A Ghost Is Born
In November 2003, Wilco began recording a fifth studio album. Unlike their previous albums, all of the songs were originally performed in the studio and then later adapted for playing at concerts. Wilco released
Later Wilco albums
Wilco recorded twelve tracks for a sixth studio album entitled Sky Blue Sky, which was released on May 15, 2007.[29] Sky Blue Sky debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, the band's highest debut yet. It sold over 87,000 copies in its first week of release.[30]
In early May 2009, former Wilco member Jay Bennett sued Tweedy for breach of contract.[31] Bennett died later that month of an apparent accidental overdose of the painkiller fentanyl.[32] In June 2009 Wilco released their seventh studio album Wilco (The Album), followed by The Whole Love in 2011, Star Wars in 2015, Schmilco in 2016, Ode to Joy in 2019, Cruel Country in May 2022, and "Cousin (album)" in 2023.
Other work
Jeff Tweedy has performed several solo tours, on which he typically plays acoustic music. He also recorded the song "Simple Twist of Fate" for the soundtrack to I'm Not There.[33] On October 24, 2006, Nonesuch Records released Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest, a live DVD by Tweedy. The disc includes performances and conversations gathered over five nights on Tweedy's February 2006 solo acoustic tour, with footage from concerts at Seattle's Moore Theater, Portland's Crystal Ballroom, Eugene's McDonald Theatre, Arcata's Humboldt State University, and The Fillmore in San Francisco. The DVD was directed by Christoph Green and Fugazi's Brendan Canty, the creators of the documentary series Burn to Shine.[34]
Tweedy has partnered with Mavis Staples on three acclaimed albums. In 2010 they released You Are Not Alone, in 2013, One True Vine, and in 2017 If All I Was Was Black. Tweedy played an array of instruments on these albums and wrote many of the songs.[35]
Tweedy worked with the psychedelic-influenced garage rock group White Denim on their record Corsicana Lemonade, recording some songs at Wilco's Chicago studio The Loft.[36] In 2015 the album Still by Richard Thompson was released. The album was produced by Tweedy in The Loft Studios and features Tweedy on guitar and backing vocals.[37]
Tweedy has appeared as a fictional singer-songwriter on 2014 episodes of
On June 4, 2014, it was announced that he had formed a new band called Tweedy with his son Spencer. The band's debut album Sukierae was released on September 16. The release was followed by a world tour in which half of the set consisted of new songs off Sukierae performed by a touring band including Spencer. The latter half of the set Tweedy plays solo, typically performing Wilco and Uncle Tupelo classics.[39][40]
In June 2017 Jeff Tweedy released a solo acoustic album of eleven songs spanning his career from
In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic Susan Tweedy and her family created a recurring video series on Instagram dubbed The Tweedy Show featuring Jeff and their sons performing original and cover songs.[44] During the shelter-in-place Jeff Tweedy also wrote and recorded his third solo album titled Love Is the King which was announced to release on October 23, 2020[45] and wrote his second book titled How to Write One Song which was announced to release on October 13, 2020, on the E. P. Dutton publishing label.[46] His third book, World Within a Song, will be released in November 2023.[47]
Musical style
Tweedy's musical style has varied over his music career. Tweedy's vocal style is considered nasal, emotional, and raspy, and has been compared to that of
Personal life
Tweedy has been prone to having
Tweedy is married to former
Tweedy also said that music is a healthy distraction in such difficult times.
In November 2019 Tweedy's home in Irving Park was shot at least seven times in an attack described by his son as "not targeted".[58] No injuries were reported.
Selected discography
Solo
- Together at Last (2017)
- Warm (2018)
- Warmer (2019)
- Love Is the King (2020)[65]
With Uncle Tupelo
- No Depression (1990)
- Still Feel Gone (1991)
- March 16–20, 1992 (1992)
- Anodyne (1993)
With Wilco
- A.M. (1995)
- Being There (1996)
- Summerteeth (1999)
- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001)
- A Ghost Is Born (2004)
- Sky Blue Sky (2007)
- Wilco (The Album) (2009)
- The Whole Love (2011)
- Star Wars (2015)
- Schmilco (2016)
- Ode to Joy (2019)
- Cruel Country (2022)
- Cousin (2023)
With Tweedy
- Sukierae (2014)
Works or publications
- Tweedy, Jeff. Adult Head: Poems. Lincoln, Neb: Zoo Press, 2004. ISBN 978-1-932-02316-9
- Tweedy, Jeff (Narrator). Lincoln in the Bardo, Audiobook. Random House Audio, 2017 ASIN: B01N1NU4K2
- Tweedy, Jeff. ISBN 9781101985267
- Tweedy, Jeff. How to Write One Song, Dutton Books, 2020. ISBN 0593183525
- Tweedy, Jeff. World Within a Song, Penguin Random House, 2023. ISBN 9780593472521
See also
- I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco
- Wilco: Learning How to Die
- Uncle Tupelo
- Wilco
- New Multitudes
Notes and references
- ^ ISBN 978-0-767-91558-8.
- ^ Carr, David (July 1, 2009). "Torture-Free but Still a Rock Star". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ "Jeff S Tweedy: United States Public Records, 1970–2009". FamilySearch. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ a b O'Donnell, Maureen (September 2, 2013). "Greg Tweedy, 55, railroad man, brother of Wilco founder, dies". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ "Robert L. Tweedy's Obituary on Belleville News-Democrat". Belleville News-Democrat. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ a b Klein, Joe (June 13, 2004). "Alt-Country Roads: Wilco, Learning How to Die". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ Fine, Jason (November–December 1993). "Heart of the Country". Option. The Gumbo Pages. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ The band was also known as The Primatives due to a misprint on their business cards
- ^ a b c Heidorn, Mike (January 2003). "Liner notes for No Depression (2003 reissue)". Factory Belt. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ Zaleski, Annie (January 19, 2011). "Euclid Records Having a "Pop-Up Store" at Wilco's Solid Sound Festival". Riverfront Times. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ "Wilco's Jeff Tweedy Finds Redemption in Music". St. Louis Magazine. September 2011. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ Durchholz, Daniel (November 1993). "Are You Ready for the Country?". Request Magazine. The Gumbo Pages. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ "Heatseekers". Billboard. October 23, 1993.
- ^ "Heatseekers". Billboard. April 15, 1995.
- ^ "Artist Chart History – Son Volt". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2006.
- ^ "Artist Chart History – Wilco (albums)". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2006.
- ^ "Artist Chart History – Wilco (singles)". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2006.
- ^ Associated Press (January 6, 1999). "Fugees phenom Lauryn Hill gets 10 Grammy nominations". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ OCLC 68940599.
- Pitchfork. Archivedfrom the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ Kot, Greg (August 15, 2001). "Wilco's shot in the arm". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 26, 2001.
- Pitchfork. Archived from the originalon October 31, 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2006.
- ^ "Pazz & Jop 2002". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on February 20, 2003. Retrieved December 26, 2006.
- ^ "Gold and Platinum Database Search". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on December 21, 2006. Retrieved December 26, 2006.
- ^ D'Angelo, Joe (July 7, 2004). "Lloyd Banks' Hunger Debuts At #1; Brandy Settles For #3". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ "2005 Grammy Award Winners: Complete List Of 47th Annual Grammy Awards Winners". CBS News. Associated Press. February 13, 2005. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2006.
- ^ DeRogatis, Jim (May 9, 2004). "Poetic license or verbal abuse?". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ Kicking Television: Live in Chicago liner notes
- ^ Cohen, Jonathan (January 18, 2007). "Wilco Soars Into 'Blue Sky' In May". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ Hasty, Katie (May 23, 2007). "Linkin Park Scores Year's Best Debut With 'Midnight'". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 1, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ Lisle, Andria (May 14, 2009). "Is Wilco's Jeff Tweedy Living the Life He Sings About?". Memphis Flyer. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
- ^ Kot, Greg; Associated Press (June 23, 2009). "Coroner: Painkiller killed ex-Wilco member". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on June 25, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 29, 2012.[dead link]
- ^ Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest liner notes.
- Rolling Stone. Archived from the originalon December 28, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- Relix Magazine. Archived from the originalon April 5, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ Wilcox, Tyler (April 28, 2015). "Richard Thompson :: Beatnik Walking". Aquarium Drunkard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ "Wilco's Jeff Tweedy Reunites His (Fictional) Band on "Parks and Recreation" | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. April 11, 2014. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
- Pitchfork. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ Hyden, Steven (August 19, 2014). "How to Fight Loneliness: Why Jeff Tweedy set aside his Wilco responsibilities for his first solo project, which features his drumming son, Spencer". Grantland. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ "Jeff Tweedy: Together at Last Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (September 24, 2018). "Wilco's Jeff Tweedy Previews New Solo LP 'Warm' With First Single 'Some Birds'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ "Jeff Tweedy: WARMER". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Baker, Peter C. (June 25, 2020). "The Talented Tweedy Family". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (September 15, 2020). "Wilco's Jeff Tweedy Announces New Album Love Is the King, Shares New Songs". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (August 11, 2020). "Jeff Tweedy Details New Book 'How to Write One Song'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ "World Within a Song by Jeff Tweedy: 9780593472521 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ Jones, Chris (November 20, 2002). "Wilco – A Ghost Is Born". BBC. Archived from the original on May 30, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- Gibson. Archived from the originalon September 7, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ Beaujour, Tom (June 2002). "Radio Head". Guitar World.
- ^ "Breedlove's Jeff Tweedy Guitar". Premier Guitar. November 20, 2007.
- ^ Tweedy, Jeff (March 5, 2008). "Shaking It Off". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ^ LaGambina, Gregg (August 30, 2004). "The Wilco Interview". Filter. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- Rolling Stone. Archived from the originalon November 9, 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ Kot, Greg (May 13, 2007). "Wilco pares down for simpler, more intimate work". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ "Wilco: Our 2004 Interview with Jeff Tweedy". November 18, 2019. Archived from the original on November 27, 2019.
- ^ from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ Doyle, Patrick (August 19, 2015). "Jeff Tweedy on 'Star Wars,' Bob Dylan and Wilco's Next LP". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- ^ Zorn, Eric (May 2, 2005). "Eric Zorn's Notebook: Blisstered". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- Rolling Stone. Smoking Section. Archived from the originalon April 4, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ "Not My Job: We Quiz Wilco's Jeff Tweedy On 'A Yankee, A Hotel, And A Foxtrot'". Radio.wpsu.org. August 11, 2018. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
- ^ "An Audience With… Wilco's Jeff Tweedy". Uncut. February 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
- ^ Solomon, Deborah (July 1, 2009). "Questions for Jeff Tweedy: Rock of Ages". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
- ^ Gilbertson, Jon M. (October 29, 2020). "'Love Is the King' By Jeff Tweedy (dBpm Records)". Shepherd Express. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
Further reading
- Buchanan-Smith, Peter, and Daniel Nadel. The Wilco Book. New York: Kaput, 2004. ISBN 978-0-971-36703-6
- Grierson, Tim. Wilco: Sunken Treasure. 2013. ISBN 978-1-780-38548-8
- Kot, Greg. Wilco: Learning How to Die. New York: Broadway Books, 2004. ISBN 978-0-767-91558-8
External links
- Who Owns Culture? – Jeff Tweedy and Lawrence Lessig in conversation with Steven Johnson, New York Public Library on April 7, 2005. Internet Archive, Community Audio.
- Wilco (official website)