Beck

Beck / Beck Hansen (born Bek David Campbell, 8.7.1970)

Beck is an acclaimed American musician, singer and song writer of alternative pop music.

Beck: Childhood

Beck was born in Los Angeles, California. His father was David Campbell, a musician and his mother was Bibeb Hansen, a visual artist.

In the 1980s, Beck quit high school and travelled to Europe, where he developed his musical talent by working as a busker. He returned to the US in the late 80's, and became involved in New York's anti-folk movement.

Beck: Early Career

Beck released the Banjo Story cassette in 1988, which has subsequently been released as a bootleg. At the end of the decade, he returned to L.A., playing everywhere from coffee shops to punk clubs, as well as busking on the streets. He sometimes busked with Chris Ballew, of the band The Presidents of the United States of America.

Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf, of Bong Load Records, signed Beck to their label. The song 'Loser', which was a collaboration with the hip-hop producer Carl Stephenson, became a success after it was played on Santa Monica College Radio, KCRW. A record label bidding war ensued and Beck signed to Geffen, who offered him the least money, but the greatest amount of freedom.

Beck: The Breakthrough

Beck's debut full-length studio album, Mellow Gold was released in 1994. Around the same time, he also released Stereopathetic Soulmanure on Flipside Records as well as One Foot in the Grave, on Calvin Johnson's K Records. This was followed by a worldwide tour and a main stage slot at 1995's Lollapalooza.

Beck initially called on Schnapf and Rothrock to produce the follow up to Mellow Gold but eventually the recordings were shelved. Instead, he enlisted the Dust Brothers, who had produced Paul's Boutique by the Beastie Boys. Odelay was both a critical and commercial success. The album launched the singles 'Where It's At', 'Devil's Haircut' and 'The New Pollution'.

The follow up to Odelay, Mutations, was released amid complex legal wranglings, which remain unsolved to this day. The album was originally intended for release by Bong Load Records but Geffen intervened and released the album against his wishes. In 1999, Beck won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance for Mutations.

Mutations was then followed by Midnite Vultures. The album was accompanied by a world tour, which included an elaborate set as well as a brass section to augment his existing live band.

Beck went on to contribute a number of tracks to film soundtracks, including 'Deadweight' for A Life Less Ordinary, a cover of 'Diamond Dogs' (by David Bowie) for Moulin Rouge! and a cover of 'Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime' (by The Korgis) for Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind.

2002's Sea Change became Beck's first Top 10 album in the United States. The album featured his father's string arrangements and with Nigel Godrich on board again, the production sound was reminiscent of that on Mutations. Following the release of the album, he embarked on a tour that saw The Flaming Lips appearing both as his opening act and his backing band.

Guero, released in 2004, brought the Dust Brothers back into the production seat. The album also featured a collaboration with Jack White of The White Stripes.

In 2006, Beck began using a live feed video during his live shows. The videos featured puppets of him and his band, performing the songs simultaneously with the live show.

Beck seventh studio album was The Information, released in 2006. The album featured the singles 'Cellphone's Dead' and 'Nausea'. This was followed by a non-album single, 'Timebomb', which was released via iTunes in August 2007.

In early 2008, it was revealed that Beck had been working with the respected producer Danger Mouse on a new album entitled Modern Guilt and that the singer Cat Power had contributed vocals to the album. The album was released in July 2008.

Beck: Personal Affairs

In 2004, Beck married Marissa Ribisi, an actress. They have one son, Cosimo Henri and a daughter, Tuesday. Both Beck and Marissa are Scientologists.