Billy Mohler
Encyclopedia
Billy Mohler is an L.A-based songwriter
, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was raised in South Orange County and is Bill Medley
's (of the Righteous Bros.) godson. He attended and graduated from Berklee College of Music
where he studied electric and acoustic bass. He was a member of the rock band The Calling
(until 2002).
He is currently a member of the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex
, and is good friends with Chamberlin. The two first met when Mohler auditioned for Zwan
, Chamberlin's former band. While he wasn't hired, Mohler and Chamberlin became quick friends. It was Mohler who Chamberlin called first after securing a record deal. Mohler contributed greatly to the band's first album, co-writing and co-producing it with Chamberlin Life Begins Again
, playing bass guitar
, electric guitar and keyboards throughout, and singing in "Streetcrawler" and "Newerwaves". Billy Corgan, Rob Dickinson and Bill Medley all make guest vocal appearances. Mohler has worked with The Smashing Pumpkins as well.
Mohler's recording/songwriting/production credits are diverse. He has recorded with Liz Phair
, Kelly Clarkson, Macy Gray, The Calling , Lifehouse, Debi Nova. Mohler has produced/written with Limp Bizkit, Gustavo Galindo, War Tapes, Carina Round, Katy Rose, Lenka, The Bellrays, Bill Madden, Shane Alexander, Trevor Menear and many others. Mohler performed with Jon Brion on the Charles Kaufman film Synecdoche, New York. Mohler just recently co-wrote music for John Krasinski's latest film Brief Interviews.
For a brief period in 2006 Mohler worked with The Smashing Pumpkins in Los Angeles, CA.
Mohler produced LA band Miss Derringer for an IAMX covers record called - Dogmatic Infidel Comedown OK on Metropolis Records.
Mohler also plays drums in a band called War Tapes who have opened for the Smashing Pumpkins, Tiger Army, VNV Nation, Shiny Toy Guns, Moving Units and toured in the UK and the West Coast with The Bravery. War Tapes are signed to Sarathan Records in Seattle, WA and recently completed a US tour with VNV Nation as well as releasing their first full length, The Continental Divide.
Mohler's performance credits are equally as diverse including Macy Gray
, Lee Scratch Perry, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Terrance Blanchard, Lenka, Billy Childs, Steven Tyler, and he was a member of the band Anarchy Orchestra, formed in part by legendary skater Tony Hawk
. While at Berklee, Mohler was a member of The Jay Hodgson Group, which also included violinist Ludvig Girdland, drummer Rohin Khemani and lead-singer and songwriter Jay Hodgson; Girdland would go on to become an important session violinist in Los Angeles, working with the likes of Electric Light Orchestra
and The Eels, among others. He recorded on their debut album, which topped collegeweb.com's national 'indie' chart for more than three months in 1998. Billy also received a full scholarship to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz for Upright Bass and performed at The North Sea Jazz Festival with that group.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was raised in South Orange County and is Bill Medley
Bill Medley
William Thomas Medley is an American singer and songwriter, best known as one half of The Righteous Brothers....
's (of the Righteous Bros.) godson. He attended and graduated from Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
where he studied electric and acoustic bass. He was a member of the rock band The Calling
The Calling
The Calling is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, best known for their hit single, "Wherever You Will Go." The group formed in 2000 and have released two albums. They have been on an indefinite hiatus since 2005.-Band history:...
(until 2002).
He is currently a member of the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex
Jimmy Chamberlin Complex
The Jimmy Chamberlin Complex is an alternative rock/jazz fusion band, founded by Jimmy Chamberlin and Billy Mohler. Their debut album entitled Life Begins Again was released on January 25, 2005...
, and is good friends with Chamberlin. The two first met when Mohler auditioned for Zwan
Zwan
Zwan was an American alternative rock band that was formed by members of The Smashing Pumpkins, Slint, Tortoise, Chavez, and A Perfect Circle. Zwan was started in late 2001 by Billy Corgan, lead singer and guitarist of The Smashing Pumpkins, after the Pumpkins disbanded in December 2000. The band...
, Chamberlin's former band. While he wasn't hired, Mohler and Chamberlin became quick friends. It was Mohler who Chamberlin called first after securing a record deal. Mohler contributed greatly to the band's first album, co-writing and co-producing it with Chamberlin Life Begins Again
Life Begins Again
Life Begins Again is the debut album by the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex . It was released on January 25, 2005 and as an Enhanced CD...
, playing bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, electric guitar and keyboards throughout, and singing in "Streetcrawler" and "Newerwaves". Billy Corgan, Rob Dickinson and Bill Medley all make guest vocal appearances. Mohler has worked with The Smashing Pumpkins as well.
Mohler's recording/songwriting/production credits are diverse. He has recorded with Liz Phair
Liz Phair
Phair's entry into the music industry began when she met guitarist Chris Brokaw, a member of the band Come. Brokaw and Phair moved to San Francisco together, and Phair tried to become an artist there...
, Kelly Clarkson, Macy Gray, The Calling , Lifehouse, Debi Nova. Mohler has produced/written with Limp Bizkit, Gustavo Galindo, War Tapes, Carina Round, Katy Rose, Lenka, The Bellrays, Bill Madden, Shane Alexander, Trevor Menear and many others. Mohler performed with Jon Brion on the Charles Kaufman film Synecdoche, New York. Mohler just recently co-wrote music for John Krasinski's latest film Brief Interviews.
For a brief period in 2006 Mohler worked with The Smashing Pumpkins in Los Angeles, CA.
Mohler produced LA band Miss Derringer for an IAMX covers record called - Dogmatic Infidel Comedown OK on Metropolis Records.
Mohler also plays drums in a band called War Tapes who have opened for the Smashing Pumpkins, Tiger Army, VNV Nation, Shiny Toy Guns, Moving Units and toured in the UK and the West Coast with The Bravery. War Tapes are signed to Sarathan Records in Seattle, WA and recently completed a US tour with VNV Nation as well as releasing their first full length, The Continental Divide.
Mohler's performance credits are equally as diverse including Macy Gray
Macy Gray
Macy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,...
, Lee Scratch Perry, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Terrance Blanchard, Lenka, Billy Childs, Steven Tyler, and he was a member of the band Anarchy Orchestra, formed in part by legendary skater Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
. While at Berklee, Mohler was a member of The Jay Hodgson Group, which also included violinist Ludvig Girdland, drummer Rohin Khemani and lead-singer and songwriter Jay Hodgson; Girdland would go on to become an important session violinist in Los Angeles, working with the likes of Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
and The Eels, among others. He recorded on their debut album, which topped collegeweb.com's national 'indie' chart for more than three months in 1998. Billy also received a full scholarship to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz for Upright Bass and performed at The North Sea Jazz Festival with that group.