Jesse Tobias
Encyclopedia
Jesse Tobias is a Texan guitarist
of Mexican
origin. He first gained notoriety during a brief tenure with the Red Hot Chili Peppers
in 1993, although he was replaced by Dave Navarro
within a month after joining the band. Before he joined the Chili Peppers, he briefly played with the L.A. based band, Mother Tongue. Afterwards he played for Alanis Morissette
.
After having their offer turned down by Dave Navarro
in 1992 to become the replacement for John Frusciante
, the Red Hot Chili Peppers turned to guitarist, Arik Marshall
to finish out their world tour for their hit album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik
. Once the tour ended the band felt that there was no connection in the writing and recording process with Marshall so he was fired. Shortly after, singer Anthony Kiedis
spotted Tobias while he was performing with his band, Mother Tongue in a local nightclub. Kiedis felt that Tobias had what the band was looking for and after months of long auditions (in which the band took out an ad in the newspaper), Tobias was on board as the new guitarist for the Chili Peppers. Rolling Stone
magazine devoted a full page article to the new guitarist of the Chili Peppers. Jesse and the Peppers began writing for the next record; however, while the band felt Jesse was a great guitarist, the connection just wasn't there between Jesse and the other three, especially bassist Flea
. At this time, Dave Navarro suddenly made himself available and the band made the painful decision to fire Jesse although Kiedis said that it would have happened regardless of Navarro becoming available. The band felt bad that they pulled Tobias away from a band he just joined only to fire him a month later.
Tobias would resurface two years later with Alanis Morissette and would be her guitarist on her Jagged Little Pill
world tour. While he was on tour with Morissette in 1996, he met Angie Hart
, whose band Frente!
was Morissette's opening act. The two were married in 1997 and moved to Los Angeles
. Tobias continued to work as a session player
, touring guitarist and in other non-performing roles in the music industry. The pair formed their own band, Splendid, which released an album in 1999. The album's release was largely received only in Australia
; and the band's American exposure was largely due only to their association with Joss Whedon
, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, including on-camera appearances when Splendid performed at The Bronze
. Tobias was credited as a producer
(with Christophe Beck
and Whedon) and with arranging the music (with Beck) for "Once More, with Feeling
", the musical episode from Whedon's show's sixth season. Hart and Tobias ended their marriage in divorce in early 2005.
In 2006 Tobias played on Morrissey
's album Ringleader of the Tormentors
, and he toured with him. Most recently, he has kept busy writing his newest material including the single "All You Need Is Me
". In 2009, Tobias played lead guitar on Morrissey's Years of Refusal
tour.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
of Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
origin. He first gained notoriety during a brief tenure with the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
in 1993, although he was replaced by Dave Navarro
Dave Navarro
David Michael "Dave" Navarro is an American guitarist who plays in the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction and cover band Camp Freddy. He has also played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Panic Channel, and many others.- Early life :...
within a month after joining the band. Before he joined the Chili Peppers, he briefly played with the L.A. based band, Mother Tongue. Afterwards he played for Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
.
After having their offer turned down by Dave Navarro
Dave Navarro
David Michael "Dave" Navarro is an American guitarist who plays in the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction and cover band Camp Freddy. He has also played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Panic Channel, and many others.- Early life :...
in 1992 to become the replacement for John Frusciante
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, record and film producer. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, with whom he had been for a number of years and recorded five studio albums...
, the Red Hot Chili Peppers turned to guitarist, Arik Marshall
Arik Marshall
Arik Marshall is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, poet, and author, best known as a one-time member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has earned the respect and praise of artists as diverse as Joe Strummer, Prince, Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, Annabella Lwin of Bow Wow Wow, and Carlos...
to finish out their world tour for their hit album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the fifth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Rick Rubin, it was the band's first record released on Warner Bros. Records...
. Once the tour ended the band felt that there was no connection in the writing and recording process with Marshall so he was fired. Shortly after, singer Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis is an American vocalist/lyricist, and occasional actor best known as the lead vocalist of the Grammy-winning American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis spent his youth in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his mother before moving, shortly before his 12th birthday, to Hollywood,...
spotted Tobias while he was performing with his band, Mother Tongue in a local nightclub. Kiedis felt that Tobias had what the band was looking for and after months of long auditions (in which the band took out an ad in the newspaper), Tobias was on board as the new guitarist for the Chili Peppers. Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine devoted a full page article to the new guitarist of the Chili Peppers. Jesse and the Peppers began writing for the next record; however, while the band felt Jesse was a great guitarist, the connection just wasn't there between Jesse and the other three, especially bassist Flea
Flea (musician)
Michael Peter Balzary , better known by his stage name Flea, is an Australian-American musician and occasional actor. He is best known as the bassist, co-founding member, and one of the composers of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers...
. At this time, Dave Navarro suddenly made himself available and the band made the painful decision to fire Jesse although Kiedis said that it would have happened regardless of Navarro becoming available. The band felt bad that they pulled Tobias away from a band he just joined only to fire him a month later.
Tobias would resurface two years later with Alanis Morissette and would be her guitarist on her Jagged Little Pill
Jagged Little Pill
Jagged Little Pill is the third studio album by Canadian recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette. It was Morissette's first internationally released album, and her first studio album after the three year hiatus following her break with MCA Records. The album marked a shift from her style...
world tour. While he was on tour with Morissette in 1996, he met Angie Hart
Angie Hart
Angie Hart is an Australian pop singer best known for her role as lead vocalist in the band Frente!.Hart was a founding member of Frente! in 1989. She is renowned for her delicate songcraft, lyrics, and her breathy vocals....
, whose band Frente!
Frente!
Frente! are an Australian alternative rock group, formed in 1991. The original lineup featured singer Angie Hart, founder and guitarist Simon Austin, bassist Tim O'Connor , and drummer Mark Picton...
was Morissette's opening act. The two were married in 1997 and moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Tobias continued to work as a session player
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
, touring guitarist and in other non-performing roles in the music industry. The pair formed their own band, Splendid, which released an album in 1999. The album's release was largely received only in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
; and the band's American exposure was largely due only to their association with Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, including on-camera appearances when Splendid performed at The Bronze
The Bronze
The Bronze is a fictional nightclub in Sunnydale, the fictional setting for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Of 144 episodes of the series, 66 have at least one scene at the Bronze, not including its appearance in the unaired pilot....
. Tobias was credited as a 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...
(with Christophe Beck
Christophe Beck
Christophe Beck , also credited as Chris Beck, is a Canadian television and film score composer....
and Whedon) and with arranging the music (with Beck) for "Once More, with Feeling
Once More, with Feeling (Buffy episode)
"Once More, with Feeling" is the seventh episode of the sixth season of the fantasy television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the only one in the series performed as a musical...
", the musical episode from Whedon's show's sixth season. Hart and Tobias ended their marriage in divorce in early 2005.
In 2006 Tobias played on Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
's album Ringleader of the Tormentors
Ringleader of the Tormentors
-The Band:* Morrissey – vocals* Alain Whyte – guitars and backing vocals* Boz Boorer – guitars* Jesse Tobias – guitars* Gary Day – bass guitar* Matt Chamberlain – drums* Michael Farrell – piano, organ, keyboards, trumpet, trombone and percussion...
, and he toured with him. Most recently, he has kept busy writing his newest material including the single "All You Need Is Me
All You Need Is Me
"All You Need Is Me" is a 2008 song by Morrissey that is featured on his Greatest Hits album. It was released as a single on 2 June 2008 in the UK for only one week. It reached #24 in the UK Top 40...
". In 2009, Tobias played lead guitar on Morrissey's Years of Refusal
Years of Refusal
Years of Refusal is the ninth solo album by Morrissey. Distributed by Decca in the UK and Lost Highway in the US, it was released on 16 February 2009 in the UK and on 17 February 2009 in the US...
tour.