John Wicks is an American pop/avant-garde/experimental musician, songwriter, and film composer.

Career

Wicks is a co-founder of the band Fitz and the Tantrums and has co-written many of their songs. ''More Than Just a Dream'', the group's 2013 album, included the hit songs "

The Walker ''The Walker'' is a 2007 independent crime drama film written and directed by Paul Schrader and starring Woody Harrelson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lauren Bacall, Ned Beatty, Lily Tomlin, Willem Dafoe, Moritz Bleibtreu and Mary Beth Hurt. It ...

" and "Out of My League", which each climbed to No. 1 on

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

Alternative Songs Alternative Airplay (formerly known as Modern Rock Tracks between 1988 and 2009, and Alternative Songs between 2009 and 2020) is a music chart published in the American magazine ''Billboard'' since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-play ...

chart. '' Fitz and the Tantrums'', the band's self-titled studio album, features the hit song "HandClap". Wicks has also written for and appeared on

Bruno Mars Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Regarded as a pop icon, he is known for his three-octave tenor vocal range, live performances, R ...

' album ''

Doo-Wops & Hooligans ''Doo-Wops & Hooligans'' is the debut studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. It was released on October 4, 2010, by Atlantic and Elektra Records and was made available to listen before its official release on September 24, 20 ...

'' and

CeeLo Green Thomas DeCarlo Callaway-Burton (born May 30, 1975), known professionally as CeeLo Green (or Cee Lo Green or simply Cee-Lo), is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Green came to initial pr ...

's '' The Lady Killer'' and ''

Heart Blanche ''Heart Blanche'' is the fifth studio album by American recording artist CeeLo Green. The album was released on November 6, 2015, by Atlantic Records. This is Green's first album to featured all-new material since 2010's '' The Lady Killer''. Cr ...

'' albums. In addition, he has recorded and/or played live with such artists as

B.o.B Bobby Ray Simmons Jr. (born November 15, 1988), known professionally as B.o.B, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Raised in Decatur, Georgia, Simmons signed with record producer Jim Jonsin's Rebel Rock Entertainm ...

, George Clinton,

David Byrne David Byrne (; born May 14, 1952) is an American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker. He was a founding member, principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of the American New wave music, new wave band Talking Heads. Byrne has ...

Meshell Ndegeocello Meshell Ndegeocello ( ; born Michelle Lynn Johnson on August 29, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and bassist. She has gone by the name Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur which is used as a writing credit on some of her mid-career work. ...

, Chocolate Genius,

Money Mark Mark Ramos Nishita (born February 10, 1960), known professionally as Money Mark, is an American producer and musician, best known for his collaborations with the Beastie Boys from 1992 until 2011. Early life Born in Detroit to a Japanese-Hawai ...

Teddybears (band) Teddybears (formerly Teddybears STHLM) is a Swedish music group formed in Stockholm in 1991. The group consists of members Patrik Arve, Joakim Åhlund, and Klas Åhlund. Initially starting as a hardcore punk band, Teddybears began to incorporat ...

RZA Robert Fitzgerald Diggs (born July 5, 1969), better known by his stage name RZA ( ) or the RZA, is an American rapper, record producer, composer, actor, and filmmaker. He is the '' de facto'' leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, having pro ...

, and Mose Allison, among others. As of Fall semester 2024, Wicks is an instructor at the

University of Montana The University of Montana (UM) is a public research university in Missoula, Montana, United States. UM is a flagship institution of the Montana University System and its second largest campus. Fall 2024 saw total enrollment hit 10,811, marki ...

. He also composed the soundtrack to the TV show

Under the Banner of Heaven ''Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith'' is a nonfiction book by author Jon Krakauer, first published in July 2003. He investigated and juxtaposed two histories: the origin and evolution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da ...

with Pearl Jam bassist

Jeff Ament Jeffrey Allen Ament (born March 10, 1963) is an American musician best known as the bassist of rock band Pearl Jam, which he co-founded alongside Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder. Ament wrote or co-wrote many of Pearl Jam's hits, ...

and multi-instrumentalist

Josh Klinghoffer Josh Adam Klinghoffer (born October 3, 1979) is an American musician best known for being the guitarist for the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019, with whom he recorded two studio albums, '' I'm with You'' (2011) and '' The Geta ...

. Up until Oct 16, 2022 Wicks continued to tour, compose and record with Fitz and the Tantrums, but left the band after 13+ years to focus on his family, and to "get away from the constant influence of the music business so I can reinvent and upgrade my drumming." Before exiting the band he wrote songs and recorded drums for ''

Let Yourself Free ''Let Yourself Free'' is the fifth studio album by American band Fitz and the Tantrums. It was released on November 11, 2022, by Elektra Records. A deluxe edition of the album with six extra songs was released on June 23, 2023. It is their firs ...

'' (2022). he is consistently working with

Pearl Jam Pearl Jam is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. One of the key bands in the grunge, grunge movement of the early 1990s, Pearl Jam has outsold and outlasted many of its contemporaries from the early 1990s, ...

, as a duo group called Deaf Charlie. In addition, Wicks is exploring new artistic territories with musical endeavors: Flüffy Bünny blends punk, metal, and humor with bassist Jesse Phillips of St. Paul and The Broken Bones; Punisher is an avant-garde trio featuring saxophonist Loren Stillman and trombonist Cameron Doucette; and Chill Monkey Chill showcases his improvisational skills with a minimalist drum kit and sampler, putting his own spin on Deantoni Parks' Technoself concept. .

Recordings

* Fitz and the Tantrums ''Let Yourself Free'' (

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 ...

) 2022 * Fitz and the Tantrums ''All the Feels'' (

) 2019 * Fitz and the Tantrums ''Fitz and the Tantrums'' (

) 2016 * Fitz and the Tantrums ''More Than Just a Dream'' (

) 2013 *

'' (

) 2010 co-wrote and played on "The Other Side" * Fitz and the Tantrums ''Pickin' Up the Pieces'' (

Dangerbird Records Dangerbird Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, California. The label is home to artists from around the world and part of the burgeoning Silver Lake music scene. The label has had international success from its small roster of ...

) 2010 *

with Cee Lo &

It's Better If You Don't Understand ''It's Better If You Don't Understand'' is the debut extended play (EP) by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. The Pop music, pop EP consists of four tracks and its title comes from the final lyrics of one of its songs, "The Other Side". It ...

'' EP (

) 2010 * Cee Lo Green "Heart Blanche" (Elektra Records) 2015 * Chocolate Genius ''Swan Songs'' 2010 * Cee Lo Green "Lady Killer" (Elektra Records) 2010 * Peter Adams ''Spotlight Floodlight'' 2010 *

Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet (also known as SST7) is a jazz ensemble formed in Seattle, Washington (state), Washington, in 2002 and led by saxophonist Skerik, Eric "Skerik" Walton.

'' Live at The Triple Door'' (Royal Potato Family) 2010 * Soundtrack to Holy Rollers

First Independent Pictures First Independent Pictures (FIP) is an American motion picture distribution company. History First Independent Pictures was formed in 2004 as a distributor of high quality independent feature and documentary films. In 2013, the company and its ...

2010 * Soundtrack to ''

Adventures of Power ''Adventures of Power'' is a 2008 American adventure comedy film written and directed by Ari Gold, starring Gold, Michael McKean, Jane Lynch, Shoshannah Stern, Chiu Chi Ling, and Adrian Grenier. It also features Steven Williams, Jimmy Jean-L ...

'' 2010 * Heather Porcaro ''The Heartstring Symphony'' produced by

Tony Berg Anthony Rains "Tony" Berg (born October 21, 1954) is an American musician, record producer, and A&R representative, in which role he has been described as an "industry guru". Berg's music career began in the late 1970s as a session guitarist who ...

2009 * Henry Gummer "Stop the Train" on the soundtrack to ''

Julie & Julia ''Julie & Julia'' is a 2009 American biographical comedy drama film written and directed by Nora Ephron starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams in the title roles with Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, and Linda Emond in supporting roles. The film ...

'' (Columbia Pictures) 2009 * N.A.S.A. (ANTI-/Epitaph/Spectrophonic Sound) 2008 with

Chali 2na Charles Stewart (born June 26, 1971), better known as Chali 2na (), is an American painter and rapper, associated with the groups Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli. He is known for his bass-baritone voice and quick-delivery rapping style. Personal life ...

and George Clinton *

Donavon Frankenreiter Donavon Frankenreiter (born December 10, 1972) is an American musician and surfer. His debut self-titled album was released in 2004 on Brushfire Records through Universal Music. Career Frankenreiter was born in Downey, California, United Stat ...

'' Pass It Around'' (Wrasse Records) 2008 * ''Alana Sweetwater'' 2008 * ''Jean Mazzei'' produced by Ronan Chris Murphy * ''Whitton'' produced by Ronan Chris Murphy * ''Ashton Zyer'' produced by David Rosa 2007 * Soundtrack to '' Beautiful Losers'' composed by Money Mark 2007 * Jessica Fichot ''Le Chemin'' April 2007 * ''Tina Tohsakul'' 2007 *

'' Brand New by Tomorrow'' produced by Mario Caldato Jr. (Brushfire/Universal) 2007 * ''Soccermom'' 2007 *

"Lovely Day" on '' Snakes on a Plane'' soundtrack (New Line Cinema) 2006 *

Iggy Pop James Newell Osterberg Jr. (born April 21, 1947), known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, actor and radio broadcaster. He was the vocalist and lyricist of proto-punk band the Stooges, who were formed in 1 ...

with Teddybears "

Punk Rocker Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

" Squeak E Clean remix (Atlantic) 2006 * Soundtrack to the

surf film Surf movies fall into three distinct genres: * The surfing documentary — targeting the surfing enthusiast. * The 1960s beach party films — targeting the broader community. * Fictional feature films with a focus on the reality of surfing. ...

''The Kill Seven'' with Soccermom 2006 *

Husky Husky is a general term for a type of dog used in the polar regions, primarily and specifically for work as sled dogs. It refers to a traditional northern type, notable for its cold-weather tolerance and overall hardiness. Modern racing huskies ...

'' (Hyena) 2006 - #1 on

CMJ CMJ Holdings Corp. is a music events, online media company and a distributor of up and coming music CDs, originally founded in 1978, which ran a website, hosted an annual festival in New York City, and published two magazines, ''CMJ New Music ...

Jazz Charts * ''Swampdweller'' (Freetone Records) 2005 * ''Longboard Magazine'' DVD with Dylan Cooper and Heather Porcaro 2005 * Skip Heller "Fakebook" (Hyena) 2004 * ''Spirit Tuck'' 2004 * ''

'' (Ropeadope/WEA) 2003 * The Hit ''Shermer, Illinois'' (Cydonia) 2003 * Skip Heller ''The Battle in Seattle'' (Jewbilee) 2003 *

Joe Doria Joe Doria is an American Hammond Organ keyboardist from Seattle, Washington. Playing many styles, Doria has backed solo artists from the Seattle area and is a member of several Seattle based groups, some of which have toured nationally. These inc ...

''The Place to Be'' 2003 * Samo ''Hard G Coach'' (NCM East) 2001 * Nikol Kollars ''Cream of the Drop: Seattle Downbeat'' Hip Hop Compilation (360BPM) 2000 * Bebop and Destruction ''Heavy Machinery'' (My Own Planet) 1998 * Dan Heck Trio ''Go to Work!'' (Trio) 1998 * Ryan Burns ''This Is The Ryan Burns Trio'' (Trio) 1997 * ''The Marriott Jazz Quintet'' produced by

Delfeayo Marsalis Delfeayo Marsalis (; born July 28, 1965) is an American jazz trombonist, record producer and educator. Life and career Marsalis was born in New Orleans, the son of Dolores (née Ferdinand) and Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr., a pianist and music pro ...

(Red Raspus) 1997 * Robert Strauss "Children" Demo (WEA) 1997 * Bebop and Destruction ''Day After'' 1996

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wicks, John Living people American male drummers Drummers from Seattle Wicks John M. Fitz and the Tantrums members Year of birth missing (living people) Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet members