Chris Ballew

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Chris Ballew

Ballew in 2005
Background information
Born (1965-05-28) May 28, 1965
Origin Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Genres Alternative rock, post-grunge, power pop, grunge, pop punk
Instruments vocals, basitar, bass guitar
Years active 1986–present
Associated acts The Presidents of the United States of America, Balls, EGG, Caspar and Mollusk, Supergroup, The Minus 5, The Giraffes, The Tycoons, Chris and Tad, The Feelings Hijackers

Christopher "Chris" Ballew (born May 28, 1965) is a member of the alternative rock group The Presidents of the United States of America and performs as a children's artist under the pseudonym Caspar Babypants.

Ballew grew up in Seattle and attended middle and high school at The Bush School, where he met David Dederer, with whom he would form The Presidents of the United States of America many years later. In the late 1980s and early 90s Ballew lived in Boston, where he performed as a street musician in a duo called Egg with Phil Franklin (later of Caroliner Rainbow and Sunburned Hand of the Man).[1] Many of Ballew's songs with Egg would become well-known Presidents songs, most notably Naked and Famous, which is performed by Egg as a bonus track on a 2005 reissue of the Presidents' eponymous debut album. While in Boston, Ballew played briefly with Mary Lou Lord, and also with Mark Sandman of Treat Her Right and Morphine in a duo called Supergroup, in which they developed the oddly stringed instruments that would become a staple of both the Presidents' and Morphine's sound.

Ballew is endorsed by Epiphone Guitars and Hartke amps, utilising an Epiphone SG-400 guitar (converted into a two-string "basitar") as well as a 3500 bass amplilfier from Hartke. No distortion pedals are used live, just the natural distortion of the amp is heard. Says Ballew, "I have a Hartke amp, a 3500 which has a really snappy, upfront, punchy sound and distorts nicely. It has a nice gain structure in it and a multi-band EQ which I love too".[2]

Regarding his two-string "basitar", Ballew admits: "I’m technically not really a bass player, although, I play as if I’m playing bass lines, a lot of times I strum like (on a) guitar and make chords.[3]

In 2009, Ballew launched a project targeted toward toddlers called Caspar Babypants.[4] Ballew uses a three-string acoustic guitar when performing Caspar Babypants songs. To date, Caspar Babypants has released seven full-length albums; Here I Am!, More Please!, This Is Fun!, Sing Along!, Hot Dog!, I Found You!, and Baby Beatles!

Ballew also was a member of Beck's live band for a period of time in the early 90s, stating the gig "was the beginning of my professional career as a guy getting paid to make music."[citation needed]

Ballew is married to collage artist Kate Endle.[5]

Discography

With The Presidents of the United States of America:

With Balls

  • We Will Grow On You (1990, Elaterium Records) - only 300 LPs printed

With EGG

  • "Emotional Cowboy" on the compilation EP A Kinder, Gentler Genocide (Wasted Effort Records, 1990)

As Caspar:

  • Lint Cake (1991, Raw Poo Music)
  • Sonic Uke (1993, Raw Poo Music)
  • Caspar (1996, Raw Poo Music)

With Caspar and Mollusk: (aka Chris & Beck)

With Supergroup: (aka Chris & Mark Sandman)

  • Supergroup (1995, Cosmic Records, 45 rpm single)

With The Minus 5L

With The Giraffes:

With The Tycoons:

  • Is It Christmas Yet? (1998, Collective Fruit)

With Chris and Tad:

With SUbSET (aka PUSA & Sir Mix-A-Lot)

  • Addicted To The Fame (2000, MusicBlitz.com)

With Chris Ballew and Friends:

  • Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS): Sing with a Child (2002)

With Creepy Stick

  • Creepy Stick (2005)

With The Feelings Hijackers:

  • T.F.H. (2005)
  • Skeletal Remains (2007)

As Caspar Babypants:

  • Here I Am! (2009)
  • More Please! (2009)
  • PEPS Sing A Long! (2010) (Download only)
  • This Is Fun! (2010)
  • Sing Along! (2011)
  • Hot Dog! (2012)
  • I Found You! (2012)

Solo work:

  • My First Computer (2003)
  • Like to Boogie (2004)
  • Run world, run. (2005) (A soundtrack to a short Flash advertisement for Brooks Running.)

References

  1. ↑ Chris Ballew Bandography, accessed August 19, 2010. When Ballew loved in Los Angeles in the 90s he shared an apartment with alternitive artist Beck.
  2. ↑ Presidents Of The USA: 'Digital Technology Is Genius', retrieved 2010-08-06 
  3. ↑ Singing Bassist interview with Chris Ballew', retrieved 2010-08-06 
  4. ↑ Chris Ballew’s Back With Caspar Babypants, retrieved 2009-04-30 
  5. ↑ Two New Children’s Books from Kate and Caspar, retrieved 2011-12-21 

External links

The Presidents of the United States of America
Studio albums
Compilations
Live albums
Demos & EPs
  • Froggystyle
  • Peaches & Live
  • Munky River
Singles
Related articles
Authority control
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