John Spiker

John Spiker is an American musician primarily known for being the bassist for Tenacious D since 1999, and for the Industrial Rock band Filter from 2008 to 2010. He currently plays guitars and keys with Ronnie Vannucci's band Big Talk.

Biography

Spiker was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and graduated from Upper Arlington High School in 1999. He got his start in music playing the piano and drums at a very young age. He has played guitar since age 12.

In 2011, Spiker joined Ronnie Vannucci's new band Big Talk. He plays keys, guitar, and sings backup vocals with Big Talk. Spiker spent the beginning of 2011 touring with Disney Channel's Shane Harper. He played guitar and sang backup with Shane. He has spent a good part of 2011 recording on the new Tenacious D album. Spiker is engineering the new album, along with playing bass. Spiker also Produced the new album for Brooks Wackerman's band, Kidneys, for which Spiker plays bass.

In 2010 Spiker toured with a few new bands, as well as doing session work as a guitarist, bassist, producer, and engineer. He recently played "Bonnaroo" with "Tenacious D" and "Wango Tango" with "Justin Gaston" as well as touring with "Trainwreck". Other bands he's playing with are "Abandoned Pools", "Zac Poor", Brooks Wackerman's "Kidneys" and various up and coming acts.

John spent most of 2009 in the studio playing as a session bassist and guitarist on: the upcoming Filter album, Jonas Brothers tracks, Steve Earle's Townes, and Soundtracks for "The Runaways", "2012 (film)", "Stepfather" and others.

In the spring of 2008, John Spiker joined the band Filter. After touring the majority of '08, they returned to Los Angeles to shoot a Live Concert DVD. Spiker played bass on Steve Earle's Washington Square Serenade in 2007, which won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. He also plays with Tenacious D, and has toured with them in North America, Europe and Australia. He recently played the UK's Reading and Leeds festivals with the D in the Fall of 2008. He plays bass and sings in Kyle Gass's side project Trainwreck.

Current happenings

• Fall 2011: Spiker is currently touring with Ronnie Vannucci's new band Big Talk. He is on keys, guitar, and backup vocals.
• Fall 2011: John is recording with Tenacious D. He is engineering the record, as well as playing bass.
• Spring 2011: Spiker toured with Shane Harper from Good Luck Charlie. They are on tour with Cody Simpson and Greyson Chance.

Appearances

Music videos

• "Getaways", Big Talk (2011)
• "Replica", Big Talk (2011)
• "Brodeo", Trainwreck (2010)
• "Tim Blankenship", Trainwreck (2008)
• "Soldiers of Misfortune", Filter (2008)
• "Pick of Destiny", Tenacious D (2006)

Credits

• Beyond Reality (1994) - Guitar, Lead Vocals
• Guano (1995) - Guitar, Lead/Back-up Vocals
• Dem Bones - NWCC Edition (1995) - Bass/Guitar
• A day at the Park (1996) - Anonymous Boy
• A Bad Dream (1996) - Sleeping Boy/Boy who is shown the way
• Drunk Driving PSA (1996) - Drinking/Drunk Boy #3
• Evil Woods (1996) - Scared Boy
• Caption: (1996) - Guitar
• Guerolito, Beck (2005) - Guitar, Modulator
• Odelay - Deluxe Edition, Beck (2008) - Programing (uncredited)
• The Pick of Destiny, Tenacious D (2006) - Bass, Vocals (Background), Clavinet, Assistant Engineer
• Washington Square Serenade, Steve Earle (2007) - Bass [Grammy Winner, Contemporary Folk Album]
• Whipped Cream & Other Delights Rewhipped, Herb Alpert (2006) - Synthesizer, Bass, Piano, Ukulele, Clavinet, Bells, Shaker, Lap Steel Guitar, Wurlitzer
• Hollywood, Little Birdy (2006) - Piano, Vocals, Assistant Engineer
• Debut Solo Album, UK artist Laurance Traverso (2007) - Bass, Vocals (background)
• "Boyz on Da Run, Disney Channel - Performed All Vocals, Songwriter
• ESPN Fantasy Baseball Commercial (2007) - Guitar
• The Complete Masterworks Part 2, Tenacious D (2008) - Bass, Vocals
• Remixes For The Damned, Filter (2008) - Remixer
• "Saw V Soundtrack", Filter/John Spiker (2008) - Remixer
• "Live Concert DVD", Filter (2009) - Bass, Vocals, Engineer
• "Paper Heart Soundtrack" (2009) - Producer, Engineer
• "Townes, Steve Earle (2009) - Bass, Electric
• "Stepfather Soundtrack" (2009), Filter - Co-Producer, Engineer, Bass, Guitars
• "2012 (film) Soundtrack" (2009), Filter - Engineer, Bass, Guitars
• "Barry Munday Soundtrack" (2010) - Writer, Performer

References

External links

• Big Talk website
• Tenacious D website