| Brian Fallon | |
|---|---|
Brian Fallon in Dublin, Ireland, November, 2010 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brian Fallon |
| Born | January 28, 1980 Red Bank, New Jersey, USA |
| Origin | New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA |
| Genres | Alternative rock, folk punk, punk rock, Soul |
| Occupations | Musician, Songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels | Mercury records SideOneDummy XOXO Sabot Productions Resist records |
| Associated acts | The Gaslight Anthem The Horrible Crowes This Charming Man Surrogate McKenzie Amping Copper Cincinnati Rail Tie No Release Chuck Ragan Shady View Terrace |
| Website | Cassettes In The Mailbox |
| Notable instruments | |
| Fender Telecaster Gibson Les Paul Nash TK-54 |
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Brian Fallon (born January 28, 1980) is an American musician. Fallon is one of the founding members of the band The Gaslight Anthem. He plays guitar and provides lead vocals for the band. He is currently working on a side project called The Horrible Crowes.
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Brian Fallon was born in Red Bank, New Jersey in 1980. His mother Debbie was in a folk band in the late 1960s called 'The Group Folk Singers'. Fallon spent his teen years in Hackettstown, New Jersey, where he became close friends with Tom "Tommy Gunn" DuHamel of the band Communication Redlight.[1] When Fallon was 17 he released a cassette under the stage name 'No Release'. He also once wanted to start a small record label to be called 'Old 45 Records'.[2]
At the age of 17 Fallon released a cassette titled The Coffeehouse Sessions under the name No Release. It was released under 'Mean Little Man Productions'. There are only about 200 copies of the limited release demo. There are 16 tracks on the demo which featured Chris Eissing as lead guitar on a few tracks.
While Fallon was in the band Surrogate McKenzie they recorded 3 unreleased demo albums, Surrogate McKenzie (1998), Songs To Grow Up To (1998) and The Six Degrees of Separation (2000)
With the band Amping Copper, which has been called "basically...Surrogate McKenzie version 2", Fallon was involved with the recording of the 6-track self-titled CD, Amping Copper in 2001.
After Amping Copper, Fallon wanted to record a solo EP, while maintaining the band feel. He asked a friend, Casey Lee Morgan, from the band Lanemeyer to play drums. Another friend, Mike Hemberger, played bass and produced the EP. One of Fallon's old guitar teachers, Tim Fogerty, played guitar on two tracks. Together they recorded, The American Music EP in 2004, the EP also featured Fallon's mother on backing vocals.[2]
In 2004, Fallon along with Michael Volpe, Chris Clementi and Mike Leboeuf founded This Charming Man. Fallon remained the only original member when Benny Horowitz and Alex Levine joined in late 2005. In early 2006, Alex Rosamilia was brought onboard, thus bringing together the present lineup of The Gaslight Anthem.
This Charming Man's only full release was Every Little Secret in 2005, with the original lineup. Another song by the original band called "She Coulda Raised the Titanic" later became The Gaslight Anthem's "1930" song on the Sink or Swim album.
Fallon has been the prominent song writer and vocalist for The Gaslight Anthem since their transition from This Charming Man. With the band he has recorded 3 studio albums, Sink or Swim, The '59 Sound and American Slang. In 2009, he joined Bruce Springsteen on stage for the headlining set at the Hard Rock Calling Festival, performing the song "No Surrender."
Following the release of their third full-length album, American Slang, Fallon himself said, "There's so much else that we look at for our sound and influences that you don't want to be notched in with one guy," Fallon explains. "There's a lot of things [Springsteen] does that I admire. We come from a lot of the same places but a lot of different places, too. But at the same time, that's a good thing to be compared to. I think it's one of those things we're gonna have to wear until it wears out."[3]
On January 20, 2011, Fallon announced on his blog that he had formed the group The Horrible Crowes with his guitar tech, Ian Perkins. In the same entry, Brian also says, "the name comes from a poem called the Twa Corbies, which means, "two crows." Check it out,it's a dark commentary on life. ... It's the darker side of soul music, it's slow, it slithers, and it's raw. At the same time, the melodies and pianos are a juxtaposition to the topic material because it's eerily soothing. I'm really proud of what's been coming out and we'll see how it goes, but it's in the works and it's heading for an actual record." [4]
The first single "Behold the Hurricane" was made available for streaming through RollingStone.com on July 13, 2011.[5] On September 1st, Rolling Stone streamed the album in its entirety. On September 20th, the video for "Behold The Hurricane" was uploaded to The Horrible Crowes website. [6]
Their debut album, Elsie, was released on September 6, 2011 in the USA.
Fallon also released several solo songs on his now defunct MySpace page, including The Blues, Mary. [7] He also took part in the 2011 Revival tour, playing songs by The Gaslight Anthem and The Horrible Crowes.
Fallon along with the other Gaslight Anthem members, Alex Rosamilia, Alex Levine and Ben Horowitz have advertised for Levi Jeans. Fallon has also appeared on a Jones Soda bottle, standing next to the Phil Lynott statue in Dublin.
Brian Fallon is a Christian, but he avoids using references to his faith in his music. As he stated in an interview with spinner.com referring to The Gaslight Anthem's new cd, "There are no religious songs and there never would be because the four of us, we all have different views, completely different religions...I'm very cautious not to push that on the band."[8]
| Year | Song | Album | Band | Record label | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "Alarm" | — | Lanemeyer | Springman Records | Vocal |
| 2000 | "Somebody to Shove" (Soul Asylum cover) | — | Lanemeyer | Springman Records | Vocal |
| 2009 | "No Surrender" | London Calling: Live in Hyde Park | Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band | Columbia Records | Vocal |
| 2010 | "The South Has Spoiled Me" | Raise It High | Chamberlain | — | Vocal |
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