John Britt Daniel (born April 14, 1971) is an American musician. He is the co-founder, lead singer and guitarist of the

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...

band

Spoon A spoon (, ) is a utensil consisting of a shallow bowl (also known as a head), oval or round, at the end of a handle. A type of cutlery (sometimes called flatware in the United States), especially as part of a table setting, place setting, it ...

, as well as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist, and singer of the band Divine Fits. Daniel also founded numerous other bands in the early 1990s.

Early life

John Britt Daniel was born in

Galveston, Texas Galveston ( ) is a Gulf Coast of the United States, coastal resort town, resort city and port off the Southeast Texas coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island (Texas), Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas. The community of , with a pop ...

, and grew up in

Temple, Texas Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. As of 2020, the city has a population of 82,073 according to the 2020 United States census, U.S. census. Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas and is a principal city in th ...

, a city about an hour north of

Austin Austin refers to: Common meanings * Austin, Texas, United States, a city * Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...

. Daniel is the oldest of three children from his parents' marriage. He also has two younger half-siblings. His father, a

neurologist Neurology (from , "string, nerve" and the suffix -logia, "study of") is the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the nervous system, which comprises the brain, the ...

, was a fan of

the Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...

and

the Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

and a collector of guitars; Daniel himself reportedly picked up the guitar in high school after his college-bound girlfriend ended their relationship.'Sup Magazine
"The Biography of Britt Daniel of Spoon As Told Through Music"
, December 2005. Retrieved October 11, 2007.

Career

In 1988, Britt Daniel formed his first band, The Zygotes, while in high school. In 1990, while a student at the

University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public university, public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 stud ...

, Daniel formed his second band, Skellington, with Travis Hartnett, Mac Stringfellow, Paul Cannon, and Mike Hurewitz. Skellington recorded and self-released ''This Town's Gone Dry'' in 1991, and the ''Skellington EP'' was released a year later in 1992. Before breaking up, the band released ''Skellington Rex'', which contained songs that were re-recorded on

's debut album '' Telephono''.Raoul Hernandez
"Drake Tungsten and his Boy Skellington"
''

Austin Chronicle Austin refers to: Common meanings * Austin, Texas, United States, a city * Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...

'', January 25, 1999 The following year, Daniel joined a three-piece

rockabilly Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the Southern United States, South. As a genre, it blends the sound of Western music (North America), Western musi ...

band named The Alien Beats with Brad Shenfeld. During a 1993 Alien Beats recording session, computer-chip designer and percussionist Jim Eno was brought in as a substitute drummer, and was later made the permanent drummer. The Alien Beats released a 7" single in May 1993, disbanding soon after. On 5 May 2018, Daniel appeared on

NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...

's news quiz show '' Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!'' for the regular celebrity question segment "Not My Job".

Spoon

In 1993, Daniel and ex-Alien Beats drummer Eno, along with guitarist Greg Wilson and bassist Andy McGuire, formed

. Spoon has served as Daniel's primary musical focus.

Drake Tungsten

Drake Tungsten was the pseudonym which Daniel performed under from 1994 to 1996 as a solo artist. When ''The Alien Beats'' disbanded in 1993, he decided to focus his music career on solo material that he had written over the previous years - songs that were more experimental and unfit for the styles of bands that he had previously played. Rather than releasing them under his proper name, Daniel decided to release them under the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

Drake Tungsten. His first such album, '' Clocking Out Is For Suckers'', was released in 1994 on cassette, and was distributed around his home town of

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

. Two years later, Tungsten released the five-song EP '' Six Pence for the Sauces'' on local label

Peek-A-Boo Records Peek-A-Boo Records is an Austin, Texas based independent record label. Current (active) bands * Peel * The Octopus Project * Palaxy Tracks Alumni (previous bands) * The 1-4-5s * Black Lipstick * Drake Tungsten * Golden Millennium * Junior ...

. Also in 1996, Daniel began working again with drummer Jim Eno (previously from The Alien Beats) and began writing music under the moniker

Divine Fits

From 2011 to 2013, Daniel was involved in a new band called Divine Fits, consisting of members from Spoon,

Wolf Parade Wolf Parade is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2003 in Montreal. The band released three full-length albums before taking a five-year hiatus in 2011. They announced their return in 2016, releasing a self-titled EP in May of that year, and ...

and New Bomb Turks. The group's debut, '' A Thing Called Divine Fits'', was released on August 28, 2012 through Merge Records. The first single from the album, "My Love Is Real", was released on July 10, 2012.

Collaborations

* In 1999, Daniel played bass for two gigs in the

glam rock Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s and was primarily defined by the flamboyant clothing, makeup, and hairstyles of its musicians, particularly platform shoes and glitter. Glam artists d ...

supergroup Golden Millennium, composed of fellow

labelmates. * In 2002, Daniel worked with Bright Eyes on the fourth volume of Post-Parlo's Home Series. * In 2002, Daniel recorded bass, keyboards and backing vocals on the first Sally Crewe & The Sudden Moves album, "Drive It Like You Stole It" (12XU). * Daniel has produced songs for the bands I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness and

Interpol The International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL (abbreviated as ICPO–INTERPOL), commonly known as Interpol ( , ; stylized in allcaps), is an international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime cont ...

. * In 2004, Daniel remixed

's " Slow Hands", which appears on the "Slow Hands" single. * He previously worked as a sound designer and composer for the computer game company

Origin Systems Origin Systems, Inc. was an American video game developer based in Austin, Texas. It was founded on March 3, 1983, by Richard Garriott and his brother Robert. Origin is best known for their groundbreaking work in multiple genres of video games ...

. * In 2006, Daniel teamed up with Brian Reitzell and helped create some of the original music for the film '' Stranger Than Fiction''. * He also appeared in the ''

Veronica Mars ''Veronica Mars'' is an American teen neo-noir Mystery fiction, mystery Drama (film and television), drama television series created by screenwriter Rob Thomas (writer), Rob Thomas. The series is set in the fictional city, fictional town of Ne ...

'' episode " Rashard and Wallace Go to White Castle", air date February 1, 2006, in which he sang a karaoke version of

Elvis Costello Declan Patrick MacManus (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, author and television host. According to ''Rolling Stone'', Costello "reinvigorated the literate, lyrical ...

's "Veronica". * In 2009, he produced the White Rabbits album ''

It's Frightening ''It's Frightening'' is the second album by the United States, American indie rock band, the White Rabbits (band), White Rabbits. It was released May 19, 2009 on TBD Records, with "Percussion Gun" being the first single. The album was produce ...

''. * In 2015, he collaborated with Austin band Sweet Spirit on the song "Have Mercy" and a cover of

's Paper Tiger. * In 2022, he sings harmonies with

Conrad Keely Conrad Keely (born 15 May 1972) is a musician, artist, and writer known primarily as the lead singer for the American rock band ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. Background Born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England of Irish and Thai ...

on the song "Growing Divide" by the band ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, from the album XI: Bleed Here Now.

Discography

Skellington

* ''The Town's Gone Dry'' (1991) Self-Released * ''Skellington EP'' (1992) Self-Released * ''Skellington Rex'' (1992) Self-Released

The Alien Beats

* ''Cavin' In'' (1993) Syncretic Records

Drake Tungsten

* '' Clocking Out Is For Suckers'' LP (1994, self-released) * '' Six Pence for the Sauces'' EP (1996,

) * " Dozy Vs. Drake - Upon Further Consideration" Single (1998, Revival Records) * A song entitled "This is a Whipping" appeared on the

1995 Compilation ''Bicycle Rodeo'
Rodeo''
Artist Bio
"Drake Tungsten"
, Peek-A-Boo Records, retrieved March 7, 2008.

Golden Millennium

* ''Golden Millennium'' (1999)

Spoon

* '' Telephono'' (1996)

Matador Records Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of mainly indie rock, but also punk rock, experimental rock, alternative rock, and electronic acts. History Matador was created in 1989 by Chris Lombardi in his New York City ap ...

* '' Soft Effects'' (1997)

* ''

A Series of Sneaks ''A Series of Sneaks'' is the second studio album by the indie band Spoon, released by Elektra Records in April 1998. Despite being overlooked critically and commercially upon its release, the album has since attained cult status. Production Af ...

'' (1998)

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the ...

* '' The Agony of Laffitte'' (1998)

Saddle Creek Saddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Mike Mogis and Justin Oberst in 1993 (as Lumberjack Records). Mogis soon turned over his ...

* '' Love Ways'' (2000)

Merge Records Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as an outlet for music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expand ...

* ''

Girls Can Tell ''Girls Can Tell'' is the third studio album by American indie rock band Spoon (band), Spoon. Intended as a stylistic departure from the band's previous work, ''Girls Can Tell'' features classic rock and new wave influences absent on their major ...

'' (2001)

* '' Kill the Moonlight'' (2002)

* '' Gimme Fiction'' (2005)

* '' Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga'' (2007)

* ''

Transference Transference () is a phenomenon within psychotherapy in which repetitions of old feelings, attitudes, desires, or fantasies that someone displaces are subconsciously projected onto a here-and-now person. Traditionally, it had solely co ...

'' (2010)

* '' They Want My Soul'' (2014)

Loma Vista Recordings Loma Vista Recordings is a record label founded by Tom Whalley, former chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Records and Executive of A&R at Interscope Records. The label was initially a joint venture with Republic Records and is based in Beverly Hill ...

* '' Hot Thoughts'' (2017)

* ''

Lucifer on the Sofa ''Lucifer on the Sofa'' is the tenth studio album by American rock band Spoon, released on February 11, 2022, through Matador Records. Spoon began work on the album in late 2018 after the conclusion of their tour supporting '' Hot Thoughts'' (2017 ...

'' (2022)

Divine Fits

* '' A Thing Called Divine Fits'' (2012)

Solo recordings

* '' Home: Volume IV'' (2002) Post-Parlo

References

External links

Britt Daniel collection
at

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American 501(c)(3) organization, non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle that runs a digital library website, archive.org. It provides free access to collections of digitized media including web ...

live music archive * Peek-A-Boo Records
Drake Tungsten page
* Spoo
Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daniel, Britt American rock songwriters American male singer-songwriters American rock singers American rock guitarists Musicians from Galveston, Texas Writers from Austin, Texas Musicians from Austin, Texas Living people Origin Systems people Singer-songwriters from Texas Guitarists from Texas 1971 births American male guitarists Spoon (band) members 21st-century American singer-songwriters 21st-century American guitarists 21st-century American male singers

Early life

Career

Spoon

Drake Tungsten

Divine Fits

Collaborations

Discography

Skellington

The Alien Beats

Drake Tungsten

Golden Millennium

Spoon

Divine Fits

Solo recordings

See also

References

External links