Beth Liebling

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Beth Liebling
Background information
Years active	1993-2001 2001-
Associated acts	Hovercraft Lola Schema Space Helmet
Notable instrument(s)
Bass Guitar, Drums

Beth Liebling (born March 12, 1967, Chicago, Illinois) is the co-founder of Seattle-based experimental instrumental group Hovercraft^[1] with guitarist/keyboardist/samplist Ryan Campbell ("Cambell 2000").^[2] She played bass for the band under the stage name "Sadie 7." She is also noted for being the former wife of Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder.^[3]

[edit] Biography

Liebling first became interested in playing while, as a teenager, attending all ages hardcore punk shows in Chicago such as Articles of Faith and the Dead Kennedys. Prior to forming the trio Hovercraft, Liebling and Campbell had played together in Space Helmet, which formed when Liebling moved to Seattle. Space Helmet broke up when Campbell moved to New York and the other members of Space Helmet, including Campbell's brother, formed the band Magnog. Ryan Campbell's departure for New York was short and upon his return, Hovercraft was formed and contined to record until 1999.

On 3 June 1994 Liebling married longtime boyfriend Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam in Rome, Italy. The relationship had not always been a smooth one. Describing his relationship with Liebling, Vedder said: "Relationships can be tough. There are times—I end up putting a lot of time into this music thing. I don't sleep at night."^[4] The couple, who had a 15-year relationship, divorced in September 2000.^[3]

Liebling lives in Chicago, Maui, and Rome where she paints, writes, and works on music.

[edit] Hovercraft and other projects

Hovercraft, who had been included in the grunge music documentary Hype! (1996), had existed for four years before they released their first and only 7" single, "0,0,0,1," (1995). Drums on early recordings were provided by Eddie Vedder, under the name "Jerome230", and Bobby Tamkin, using the name "Paul 4". Hovercraft's first tour of the United States was as the opening act for the Foo Fighters and Mike Watt. When Vedder left, the band found a new drummer, Dave Krusen, a.k.a. Karl 3-30, who had been the drummer on Pearl Jam's record "Ten". With Krusen they recorded Stereo Specific Polymerization on their own label, Repellent Records. In 1997 they were signed by Daniel and Paul Smith to London-based Mute Records. In America, they were represented by "Mute Records America". They released Akathisia in 1997 and Experiment Below in 1998. Hovercraft toured the United States a few times on their own, and in Europe with Unwound. Hovercraft also collaborated on the project Schema with Stereolab's Mary Hansen, releasing an album in 2000.

After Hovercraft ended around 2000, Liebling took a brief hiatus from music. She later sat in on sessions with various groups in Los Angeles, including playing drums in the Los Angeles-based group Lola.

[edit] References