Dan Baird
Encyclopedia
Daniel "Dan" John Baird was born in San Diego
, California
and is an American
singer-songwriter
, musician
and producer. He is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist from the chart-topping 80s rock band The Georgia Satellites. Baird formed The Georgia Satellites in 1980 and left the band in 1990, to pursue a successful solo career. He is often credited as a pioneer in Cowpunk
and Alt-country
music, which combines elements of Rock
with Country
, outlaw country
and punk rock
.
Baird currently tours and records with his band Homemade Sin, which features a total of 3 ex-members from The Georgia Satellites, including bassist Keith Christopher and drummer Mauro Magellan. Homemade Sin also showcases the talents of guitarist Warner E. Hodges, who tours and records with Jason & the Scorchers
.
Homemade Sin performs a mixture of Baird's solo material in addition to the hits and fan favorites from his years with The Georgia Satellites. To achieve a similar classic tube amplifier sound with his current band Homemade Sin, Baird relies heavily on a vintage setup very similar to what was used during his tenure with The Georgia Satellites. Creating confusion for some fans, there is a re-formed version of The Georgia Satellites featuring original guitarist Rick Richards and bassist Rick Price, who joined the group to replace original bassist Keith Christopher, who left the band prior to their fame.
in his early teens. He is best known for his work with the band The Georgia Satellites. He has also worked on various other musical projects and is a record producer
. Baird owns numerous vintage guitars and amplifiers. His favorite guitar is an original Fender Esquire which previously belonged to Steve Marriott
, who was the lead singer of English
rock and roll
bands Small Faces and Humble Pie
. With The Georgia Satellites, Baird worked with producer Ian McLagan
who was also a member of Small Faces. Contrary to popular belief, Baird is happily married and does not drink alcohol. During tours, Baird can often be found exercising in hotel gyms. According to Baird's blog on MySpace, he met Neil Young
in a hotel gym locker room. The two discussed guitars and amplifiers and Young complimented Baird on his music.
, who founded Def American Recordings after leaving Def Jam Recordings. A contemporary review in Rolling Stone magazine praised its combination of foot-stomping redneck rock and slyly intelligent lyrics:
"I Love You Period", a single from the album, peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
In 2005, Baird began touring with his own band, Homemade Sin. He has recorded
with other artists
including The Yayhoos
and the Franklin, Tennessee
rock
musician
, Will Hoge
. Baird was one of the original members of Hoge's band before leaving to pursue individual ventures. Baird has also performed as a member of the country music band, Trent Summar & the New Row Mob
. More recently, Baird re-joined Will Hoge on tour as the lead guitarist during a portion of his summer tour. Currently, Dan Baird is working on new material with Homemade Sin and is currently on a world tour with the group.
With the Yayhoos
As a solo artist
Bootlegs & unofficial releases
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and producer. He is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist from the chart-topping 80s rock band The Georgia Satellites. Baird formed The Georgia Satellites in 1980 and left the band in 1990, to pursue a successful solo career. He is often credited as a pioneer in Cowpunk
Cowpunk
Cowpunk or Country punk is a subgenre of punk rock and New Wave that began in the UK and California in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It combines punk rock or New Wave with country music, folk music, and blues in sound, subject matter, attitude, and style...
and Alt-country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
music, which combines elements of Rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
with Country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, outlaw country
Outlaw country
Outlaw country is a subgenre of country music, most popular during the late 1960s and the 1970s , sometimes referred to as the outlaw movement or simply outlaw music...
and punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
.
Baird currently tours and records with his band Homemade Sin, which features a total of 3 ex-members from The Georgia Satellites, including bassist Keith Christopher and drummer Mauro Magellan. Homemade Sin also showcases the talents of guitarist Warner E. Hodges, who tours and records with Jason & the Scorchers
Jason & the Scorchers
Jason & the Scorchers, originally Jason & the Nashville Scorchers, are a Cowpunk / Country rock band formed in 1981 and led by singer/songwriter Jason Ringenberg....
.
Homemade Sin performs a mixture of Baird's solo material in addition to the hits and fan favorites from his years with The Georgia Satellites. To achieve a similar classic tube amplifier sound with his current band Homemade Sin, Baird relies heavily on a vintage setup very similar to what was used during his tenure with The Georgia Satellites. Creating confusion for some fans, there is a re-formed version of The Georgia Satellites featuring original guitarist Rick Richards and bassist Rick Price, who joined the group to replace original bassist Keith Christopher, who left the band prior to their fame.
Personal life
Born and raised in San Diego, Baird moved to Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in his early teens. He is best known for his work with the band The Georgia Satellites. He has also worked on various other musical projects and is a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. Baird owns numerous vintage guitars and amplifiers. His favorite guitar is an original Fender Esquire which previously belonged to Steve Marriott
Steve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
, who was the lead singer of English
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
bands Small Faces and Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
. With The Georgia Satellites, Baird worked with producer Ian McLagan
Ian McLagan
Ian McLagan is an English keyboard instrumentalist, best known as a member of the English rock bands Small Faces and Faces.-Small Faces and Faces:...
who was also a member of Small Faces. Contrary to popular belief, Baird is happily married and does not drink alcohol. During tours, Baird can often be found exercising in hotel gyms. According to Baird's blog on MySpace, he met Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
in a hotel gym locker room. The two discussed guitars and amplifiers and Young complimented Baird on his music.
Musical career
Baird released his first solo album, Love Songs for the Hearing Impaired, in October 1991. The CD was produced by Rick RubinRick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
, who founded Def American Recordings after leaving Def Jam Recordings. A contemporary review in Rolling Stone magazine praised its combination of foot-stomping redneck rock and slyly intelligent lyrics:
"This is how bluesed-up macho rock ought to be served: sizzling hot and extra lean, seasoned with a sneaky sense of humor. On his solo debut, Love Songs for the Hearing Impaired, the former Georgia Satellites frontman commands attention like a smart bar-stood bard. Dan Baird spins ribald white-trash tales to familiar Chuck Berry-derived boogie, yet the guitars emit a stinging immediacy. Retro it's not - really."
"I Love You Period", a single from the album, peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
In 2005, Baird began touring with his own band, Homemade Sin. He has recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
with other artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
including The Yayhoos
The Yayhoos
The Yayhoos are an American rock group. The band was once described as the "Harlem Globetrotters of Roots Rock", "a genuine, supergroup of southern-rock and alt.country heavyweights" and just "supergroup." The four bandmates share singing, songwriting and playing duties.- Members' background :*Dan...
and the Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, Will Hoge
Will Hoge
Will Hoge is an American singer, songwriter and musician from Nashville, Tennessee.-Early life:Will Hoge grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, a rural suburb south of Nashville...
. Baird was one of the original members of Hoge's band before leaving to pursue individual ventures. Baird has also performed as a member of the country music band, Trent Summar & the New Row Mob
Trent Summar & The New Row Mob
Trent Summar & The New Row Mob is an American country music group from the state of Tennessee. Its members comprise Trent Summar , Ken McMahan , Dan Baird , Dave Kennedy , and Michael "Supe" Granda...
. More recently, Baird re-joined Will Hoge on tour as the lead guitarist during a portion of his summer tour. Currently, Dan Baird is working on new material with Homemade Sin and is currently on a world tour with the group.
Discography
With the Georgia SatellitesGeorgia Satellites
The Georgia Satellites are a Southern rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. They are best known for their 1986 top five hit single "Keep Your Hands to Yourself", and draw inspiration from Chuck Berry, Little Feat, and AC/DC, among others.- History :...
- Keep the Faith EP (1985)
- Georgia Satellites (1986)
- Inspired By Jack Daniels: Live In Concert (1987)
- Open All Night (1988)
- In the Land of Salvation and Sin (1989)
- Let It Rock: The Best of the Georgia Satellites (1993) [Compilation]
With the Yayhoos
- Fear Not the Obvious (2001)
- Put the Hammer Down (2006)
As a solo artist
- Love Songs for the Hearing Impaired (1991)
- Buffalo Nickel (1996)
- Dan Baird and the Sofa Kings -- Redneck Savant (2001)
- Out of Mothballs (2003)
- Dan Baird and Homemade Sin (2008)
- Fresh Out of Georgia Live Like a Satellite: Greatest Hits Live (2010)
Bootlegs & unofficial releases
- Redneck Punk (2005)
- Live at the Borderline London (2007)