Billy James (November 11, 1960 - March 15 2025), better known by his

stage name A stage name or professional name is a pseudonym used by performers, authors, and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. The equivalent concept among writers is called a ''nom de plume'' (pen name). Some performers ...

Ant-Bee, was an American experimental musician and writer. In his musical work, he focused on a revival of 1960s style

psychedelic rock Psychedelic rock is a rock music Music genre, genre that is inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelia, psychedelic culture, which is centered on perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. The music incorporated new electronic sound ...

, working with members of

The Mothers of Invention The Mothers of Invention (also known as the Mothers) were an American rock music, rock band from California. Formed in 1964, their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Originally an ...

; the original members of the

Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...

group, and

Captain Beefheart Don Van Vliet (; born 'Don Glen Vliet'; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as the M ...

Magic Band The 6-meter band is the lowest portion of the very high frequency (VHF) radio spectrum (50.000-54.000 MHz) internationally allocated to amateur radio use. The term refers to the average signal wavelength of 6 meters. Although located in ...

. Founder of Glass Onyon PR, he represented music artists including

King Crimson King Crimson were an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald (musician), Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield. Guitarist Fripp remained the only constant member throughout the ...

Jon Anderson Jon Anderson (born John Roy Anderson, 25 October 1944) is a British, and latterly American, singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the former lead singer of the progressive rock band Yes (band), Yes, which he formed in 1968 with bassis ...

, Michael Bruce,

Greg Lake Gregory Stuart Lake (10 November 1947 – 7 December 2016) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He gained prominence as a founding member of the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). Born and b ...

Mitch Mitchell John Graham "Mitch" Mitchell (9 July 194612 November 2008)In his book about the Experience, Mitchell states he celebrated his 21st birthday while on tour on 9 July 1967, which makes his birth year 1946.Mitchell's obituaries in ''Billboard (mag ...

John Wetton John Kenneth Wetton (12 June 1949 – 31 January 2017) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. Although he was left-handed, he was known for his skilled right-handed bass playing as well as his booming baritone voice. He was a member ...

, and others. As a recording artist with the name ANT-BEE, he was a multi-instrumentalist who has recorded and performed with musicians including members of the original

group Michael Bruce,

Dennis Dunaway Dennis Dunaway (born December 9, 1946, in Cottage Grove, Oregon) is an American musician, best known as the original bass guitarist for the rock band Alice Cooper. He co-wrote some of the band's most notable songs, including "I'm Eighteen" and ...

, and Neal Smith; the original

Mothers of Invention The Mothers of Invention (also known as the Mothers) were an American rock band from California. Formed in 1964, their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Originally an R&B band ...

; Bruce Cameron, and others; and produced his four solo albums. As a writer, he has co-authored and authored biographies of musicians including Michael Bruce,

Todd Rundgren Todd Harry Rundgren (born June 22, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who has performed a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the bands Nazz and Utopia. He is known for his sophistica ...

, and others. In the 1990s James performed and recorded with musicians including Michael Bruce, whose autobiography James co-authored, "No More Mr Nice Guy: The Inside Story of the Alice Cooper Group", first published in 1996.

Producer

Billy James helped to gather together an array of guest artists on the album ''

Midnight Daydream Bruce Cameron (1955 – October 16, 1999)Michael Bruce, Billy James (2000). No More Mr. Nice Guy: The Inside Story of the Original Alice Cooper Group. SAF Publishing Ltd. was an American guitarist who released an album entitled ''Midnight Daydream ...

'' from Bruce Cameron. He died of

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of ...

Author

James' rock biographies, such as the book ''Lunar Notes - Zoot Horn Rollo's Captain Beefheart Experience'' written with Bill Harkleroad (

Zoot Horn Rollo Bill Harkleroad (born January 8, 1949), known professionally as Zoot Horn Rollo, is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work with Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band. In 2003, he was ranked No. 62 in a ''Rolling Stone'' magazi ...

) have been reprinted after being out of print for years by GONZO MultiMedia UK.

Other

Interviews with Billy are featured in the DVD documentaries ''From Straight To Bizarre - Zappa, Beefheart, Alice Cooper and LA's Lunatic Fringe'' and ''Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - In The 1960s''.

Discography

*'' Pure Electric Honey'' (1990) *'' With My Favorite "Vegetables" & Other Bizarre Muzik'' (1994) *''

Lunar Muzik ''Lunar Muzik'' is the third studio album by Ant-Bee, released in 1997 by Divine Records. Track listing Personnel Adapted from ''Lunar Muzik'' liner notes. ;Musicians *Daevid Allen (Father Gong) – guitar, engineering * Harvey Ba ...

'' (1997) *''

Electronic Church Muzik ''Electronic Church Muzik'' is the fourth Album#Studio album, studio album by Ant-Bee, released on February 28, 2011 by Barking Moondog Records. Recorded over the course of several years, it features musical contributions from members of Alice Co ...

'' (2011)

References

External links

The Official Ant-Bee Website

Interviews with Billy James on Outsight Radio Hours
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ant-Bee 1960 births Living people American rock musicians Berklee College of Music alumni American jazz musicians American male non-fiction writers American writers about music 20th-century American musicians 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American musicians 21st-century American male musicians Musicians from Charlotte, North Carolina Writers from Charlotte, North Carolina 20th-century American non-fiction writers 20th-century American male writers