Rex Brown
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Rex Brown | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Rex Robert Brown |
Also known as | "Rex Rocker" (pre-1990) |
Born | Graham, Texas, U.S. | July 27, 1964
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Bassist |
Years active | 1981–present |
Member of | |
Formerly of |
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Website | rexbrown |
Rex Robert Brown (born July 27, 1964) is an American musician. He is the longtime bassist for heavy metal band Pantera, having joined the band in 1982. Following the band's reunion in 2022, Brown is the longest-serving member of the band. He is also a former member of the supergroup Down (2001–2011) and a former bassist for Kill Devil Hill.[1] He released his debut solo album Smoke on This… in 2017. For the first time in Brown's career, the work features him not only as a bassist but also as lead vocalist and guitarist.[2]
Brown authored a book called Official Truth 101 Proof, which was released in April 2013. The book documents Pantera's formation, career, and disbandment.
Early life
Rex Robert Brown was born in
Career
Pantera
Pantera was formed in 1981. Brown joined Pantera on bass in 1982 replacing Tommy D. Bradford and adopting the alias "Rex Rocker". Brown was a classmate of, and played in the high school jazz band with, drummer Vinnie Paul, and guitarist Dimebag Darrell (then known as Diamond Darrell). Brown was credited as "Rex Rocker" on Pantera's first four albums: Metal Magic (1983), Projects in the Jungle (1984), I Am the Night (1985), and Power Metal (1988),[6] he would be credited by his birth name starting with the band's fifth album Cowboys from Hell and onwards.
Pantera recruited vocalist
In 2001, Pantera went on what at the time was believed to be a temporary hiatus, mainly due to Anselmo's focus on side projects. Pantera would officially disband in 2003.
In July 2022, it was announced that Brown would be joining Anselmo, along with Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante (as the respective fill-ins of Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul), for Pantera's first world tour in 22 years in 2023.[7][8]
Down
In 1998, during his stay in Louisiana, he was invited by Phil Anselmo for a jam session that included all the members of Down except their bass player
In 2006, the band reunited and started writing the material for their third studio album.
Wanting to explore different music, Brown left Down in 2011.
Other work
In 1999, Brown, Dimebag Darrell, and Vinnie Paul teamed up with country artist David Allan Coe in a project called Rebel Meets Rebel. This group released an album on May 2, 2006, on Vinnie Paul's Big Vin Records label.
Brown has worked previously with
In March 2011, it was announced that Brown had formed a new band, Kill Devil Hill with Vinny Appice (Heaven & Hell, Black Sabbath, Dio) on drums, Mark Zavon (Ratt, W.A.S.P., 40 Cycle Hum) on guitar and Dewey Bragg (Pissing Razors) on vocals. The group has demoed around 10 songs, which, according to Appice, sound "like a cross between Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains and a little bit of Led Zeppelin thrown in. It's heavy, but with a lot of cool hooks and melodic overtones, too."[9] Kill Devil Hill released their debut album in May 2012 to critical acclaim, and continue to tour in support of their music.
In 2013, Brown released an autobiography, titled Official Truth: 101 Proof, which chronicles his personal life and journey through Pantera, including the events leading to the band's disbandment.[10]
In 2015, Brown penned the foreword to the book Survival of the Fittest: Heavy Metal in the 1990s, by author Greg Prato. Rex was also interviewed for the book (as well as his former bandmate in Pantera, Anselmo, among many others).[11]
Brown's first solo album, Smoke on This…, was released on July 28, 2017, via Entertainment One.[2][12]
In 2023, he played bass on the debut album of metal supergroup Elegant Weapons.[13]
Personal life
Brown does not "subscribe to any particular organized religion", though he says he believes in God and the Ten Commandments.[14][15][16][17]
In August 2009, Brown was excluded from the Down tour due to acute pancreatitis.[18] He then had his gallbladder and polyps on his pancreas removed.[18] "Rex has been through hell, man", said bandmate Pepper Keenan. "He was cut from rib to rib and they cleaned him out, but he's in top shape again. After twenty-five years on the road – drinking every day and whatnot … well, the old days are over, my friend."[19]
Brown married his longtime girlfriend Elena Henrard in June 2023.[20]
Playing style
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Brown was a jazz bassist and was offered a scholarship by the University of North Texas, but declined.[21] He often plays with a pick.
Brown was notable for often contributing walking basslines underneath Dimebag Darrell's guitar solos. Standout tracks include "Floods", "Walk", "5 Minutes Alone", "Throes of Rejection", "Cowboys from Hell", "Living Through Me (Hells' Wrath)", "I Can't Hide", "Use My Third Arm", "Where You Come From", "This Love", "I'm Broken", among others.
Endorsements
Brown endorsed Spector basses, and in 2011, a custom RXT prototype was made by Stuart Spector directly for Brown. In 2019, Brown offered this bass for sale on Reverb.com along with 70 other pieces of studio and stage gear he had used.[22]
Gibson introduced a Rex Brown Signature bass model in July 2022, based on the Gibson Thunderbird, but with a more slender neck, and an extender for drop D tuning.[23]
Discography
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Collaborations
- 1998 – Jerry Cantrell – Boggy Depot ("Dickeye", "My Song", "Keep the Light On", "Satisfy", and "Hurt a Long Time")
- 2008 – Cavalera Conspiracy – Inflikted ("Ultra-Violent")
References
- ^ "Bassist REX BROWN Will Not Return To DOWN, Says Drummer JIMMY BOWER". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on June 26, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
- ^ a b "Former PANTERA Bassist REX BROWN Signs With ENTERTAINMENT ONE". Blabbermouth.net. February 28, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- ^ Texas Births, 1926–1995, Rex Robert Brown
- ^ a b hornsuprocks (March 28, 2013). "Rex Brown (Part 2): The Excesses Of The Road With Pantera, Quitting Down & NEW Kill Devil Hill!". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- ^ "Rex Brown: Rex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll | Bassplayer". Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
- ^ "Credits". Panterarocks.weebly.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022.
- ^ "Pantera To Tour in 2023, North America Shows To Be Booked by AG". Billboard.com. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ "It's Official: ZAKK WYLDE And CHARLIE BENANTE To Tour With PANTERA's Surviving Members". Blabbermouth.net. July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ "VINNY APPICE And REX BROWN Join Forces in KILL DEVIL HILL; First Photo Available". Roadrunner Records. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013.
- ^ "Official Truth: 101 Proof". Amzn.com. March 12, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- ^ "Survival of the Fittest: Heavy Metal in the 1990s". Amzn.com. July 9, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- ^ ""Smoke on This..." by Rex Brown on iTunes". iTunes. July 28, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
- ^ Dana (March 1, 2023). "ELEGANT WEAPONS, FEATURING JUDAS PRIEST MEMBERS RICHIE FAULKNER AND SCOTT TRAVIS, ALONG WITH PANTERA BASSIST REX BROWN WITH SINGER RONNIE ROMERO, RELEASE THEIR FIRST SINGLE VIDEO, BLIND LEADING THE BLIND, DEBUT ALBUM HORNS FOR A HALO DUE MAY 26TH". Eddietrunk.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ^ Official Truth, 101 Proof; p. 7
- ^ Official Truth, 101 Proof; p. 252, In his acknowledgements, he says that two women have affected him deeply: his ex-wife Belinda and his first love Elena who he is now reunited with.
- ^ Official Truth, 101 Proof; p. 8
- ^ Official Truth, 101 Proof; p. 252
- ^ a b "DOWN/Ex-PANTERA Bassist REX BROWN Diagnosed With Acute Pancreatitis". BlabberMouth. Archived from the original on September 7, 2009.
- ^ Ling, Dave, "Live! Down"; Classic Rock #148, August 2010, p. 106
- ^ "PANTERA's REX BROWN Marries Longtime Girlfriend". Blabbermouth.net. July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ "Electric & Acoustic Bass Gear, Lessons, News, Video, Tabs and Chords - BassPlayer.com > Home". Bassplayer.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- ^ Richard Bienstock (July 26, 2019). "Former Pantera Bassist Rex Brown to Sell Guitars, Amps and Other Gear on Reverb.com". Guitarworld.com.
- ^ "Gibson Unveils the Rex Brown Signature Thunderbird Bass". Notreble.com. July 14, 2022.
External links
- Media related to Rex Brown at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Pantera's Rex Brown – Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? on Loudwire.com