Ken Stringfellow
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Stuart Stringfellow (born October 30, 1968) is an American musician, best known for his work with The Posies
, R.E.M.
, and the re-formed Big Star
.
extends to the mid-90s Seattle scene, where he first met guitarist Peter Buck
, with whom he also plays in Scott McCaughey
's The Minus 5
. Ken also spent time recording and touring with Lagwagon
in the late-1990's, during which he helped craft 1997's Double Plaidinum
, adding a unique flair to the band's high-paced melodic brand of punk rock. He has also formed a new band with three Norwegian musicians from the band Briskeby
, called The Disciplines.
He has released three solo albums: This Sounds Like Goodbye (1997, on the Hidden Agenda label), Touched (2001, on Manifesto Records
), and Soft Commands (2004, on Yep Roc Records
) as well as an EP with covers by other artists, The Sellout Cover Sessions Vol. 1 (2008, on Sellout Records). Touched was also released outside the United States by Pop Tones with different cover artwork; the Japanese release contains a bonus track (a cover of Robyn Hitchcock
's "Airscape"). An international version of Soft Commands was released by Rykodisc
; it has the same cover artwork, but contains four bonus tracks (covers of "Never My Love" by The Association
, "Down to the Wire" by Neil Young
, "New Test Leper
" by R.E.M.
, and "Knocks Me Off My Feet" by Stevie Wonder
). In 2003, Stringfellow and Jon Auer
released Private Sides, a six-song split EP
(Arena Rock Recording Co.
/Rykodisc
).
On December 22, 2007, Stringfellow revealed, via his blog, that he would not be part of R.E.M.'s 2008 tour in support of Accelerate
. On mid-2008, Stringfellow visited Serbia
and, during his visit, appeared as guest on most of the tracks of the album Nikadjekraj
(Neveristheend) by the Serbian rock
band Veliki Prezir
.
On March 3, 2009 Second Motion Records
is set to release the first single from The Disciplines
as a digital-only single and limited-edition blue vinyl 7", entitled "Yours For The Taking". The label will release the band's debut album "Smoking Kills" on April 28, 2009 in North America, which will also see the first Worldwide release of the album on Vinyl.
In 2010, he worked with Can Can, an Ecuadorian electro-rock band, by producing their third album, Caos. During his stay in Ecuador, he premiered a new song by The Posies called "Licenses to Hide".
He has recently been working in Queanbeyan, Australia, on Hannah Gillespie's follow up to her debut album Growing Up Stupid.
. They divorced in 1996, after a three-year marriage. Stringfellow has a younger sister who attends the University of Connecticut
.
with The Disciplines
with The Posies
with R.E.M.
with Jon Auer
with Twin Princess
with Sky Cries Mary
with Big Star
with The Minus 5
with Lagwagon
with Chariot
with The Orange Humble Band
with Saltine
with White Flag
with Parkinson DC
with Jim Protector
with Cecilia Ann
The Posies
The Posies are an alternative rock/power pop group. The band was formed in 1987 in Bellingham, Washington by primary songwriters Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow. They are best known for their radio hits "Golden Blunders" , as well as "Dream All Day", "Solar Sister" and "Flavor of the Month"...
, R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, and the re-formed Big Star
Big Star
Big Star was an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971 by Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel. The group broke up in 1974, but reorganized with a new line-up nearly 20 years later...
.
Musical career
His association with R.E.M.R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
extends to the mid-90s Seattle scene, where he first met guitarist Peter Buck
Peter Buck
Peter Lawrence Buck , is an American rock guitarist who is best known for playing in and co-founding alternative rock band R.E.M....
, with whom he also plays in Scott McCaughey
Scott McCaughey
As a singer and songwriter, Scott McCaughey is the leader of the Seattle and Portland-based bands The Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5.He is also bassist for Robyn Hitchcock's most recent touring band, The Venus 3, along with Bill Rieflin and Peter Buck....
's The Minus 5
The Minus 5
The Minus 5 is an American rock band, headed by musician Scott McCaughey and featuring R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck.-Band history:Formed in 1993, McCaughey designed the Minus 5 as a pop collective, with each record the group put out featuring a new lineup...
. Ken also spent time recording and touring with Lagwagon
Lagwagon
Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, just outside Santa Barbara, California. They formed in 1990 and went on hiatus and reunited several times over the years...
in the late-1990's, during which he helped craft 1997's Double Plaidinum
Double Plaidinum
Double Plaidinum is the fourth album by Lagwagon, released on August 12, 1997 . It is their first album without the original line-up as guitarist Shawn Dewey and drummer Derrick Plourde both left the band before the recording of this album.-Track listing:# "Alien 8" – 1:50# "Making Friends" – 2:15#...
, adding a unique flair to the band's high-paced melodic brand of punk rock. He has also formed a new band with three Norwegian musicians from the band Briskeby
Briskeby
Briskeby is an electro-pop band from Norway. Bjørn Bergene, Claus Heiberg Larsen and Bård Helgeland are from Larvik, while Lise Karlsnes is from Tønsberg.-Band name:The band's name is derived from the neighbourhood where their rehearsal room was located....
, called The Disciplines.
He has released three solo albums: This Sounds Like Goodbye (1997, on the Hidden Agenda label), Touched (2001, on Manifesto Records
Manifesto Records
Manifesto Records is the name of an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California that has released records by The Wedding Present, Dead Kennedys, Tom Waits, Tim Buckley, Lilys, Concrete Blonde, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and others. Manifesto released the entire catalogue of Dead Kennedys...
), and Soft Commands (2004, on Yep Roc Records
Yep Roc Records
Yep Roc Records is an independent International record label based in Haw River, North Carolina and owned by Redeye Distribution . The label has put out albums by artists like The Go-Betweens, The Fleshtones, Gang of Four, The Reverend Horton Heat, and The Minus 5, as well as the work of important...
) as well as an EP with covers by other artists, The Sellout Cover Sessions Vol. 1 (2008, on Sellout Records). Touched was also released outside the United States by Pop Tones with different cover artwork; the Japanese release contains a bonus track (a cover of Robyn Hitchcock
Robyn Hitchcock
Robyn Rowan Hitchcock is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano and bass guitar....
's "Airscape"). An international version of Soft Commands was released by Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
; it has the same cover artwork, but contains four bonus tracks (covers of "Never My Love" by The Association
The Association
The Association is a pop music band from California in the folk rock or soft rock genre. During the 1960s, they had numerous hits at or near the top of the Billboard charts and were the lead-off band at 1967's Monterey Pop Festival...
, "Down to the Wire" by 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...
, "New Test Leper
New Test Leper
"New Test Leper" is a song by R.E.M. It is included on their tenth studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi, which was released in 1996. It wasn't released as a single; its only non-album issue was on a 1996 Germany-only-released Warner Bros. Records promotional CD....
" by R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, and "Knocks Me Off My Feet" by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
). In 2003, Stringfellow and Jon Auer
Jon Auer
Jonathan P. "Jon" Auer is an American musician who co-founded the power pop band The Posies, along with Ken Stringfellow. Auer and Stringfellow have also been a part of the rejuvenated Big Star....
released Private Sides, a six-song split EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(Arena Rock Recording Co.
Arena Rock Recording Co.
The Arena Rock Recording Company is an independent record label based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Albums are distributed by Redeye in the United States and Koch in Canada.-History:...
/Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
).
On December 22, 2007, Stringfellow revealed, via his blog, that he would not be part of R.E.M.'s 2008 tour in support of Accelerate
Accelerate (R.E.M. album)
Accelerate is the 14th studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on March 31, 2008 in Europe, and on April 1 in North America. Produced with Jacknife Lee, Accelerate was intended as a departure from the 2004 album Around the Sun. R.E.M...
. On mid-2008, Stringfellow visited Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and, during his visit, appeared as guest on most of the tracks of the album Nikadjekraj
Nikadjekraj
- Veliki Prezir :* Vladimir Kolarić — vocals, guitar, electric piano, bass, tambourine, harmonica* Robert Telčer — guitar, backing vocals, synthesizer [moog]* Boris Mladenović — bass, synthesizer, vocals, drums, mixed by [tracks: 3, 8], producer, recorded by...
(Neveristheend) by the Serbian rock
Serbian rock
Serbian rock is the rock music scene of Serbia. During the 1960s, 1970s and the 1980s, while Serbia was a constituent republic of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbian rock scene was a part of the SFR Yugoslav rock scene....
band Veliki Prezir
Veliki Prezir
Veliki Prezir is a Serbian britpop/alternative rock band from Vrbas.- 1990s :...
.
On March 3, 2009 Second Motion Records
Second Motion Records
Second Motion Records is part of Second Motion Entertainment based in Carrboro, North Carolina. The Label was founded in Chapel Hill, NC by Stephen Judge, who is the former manager of the rock band Athenaeum as well as the former General Manager/A&R Director of Redeye Distribution and Yep Roc...
is set to release the first single from The Disciplines
The Disciplines
The Disciplines is a garage rock band from Oslo, Norway, led by singer Ken Stringfellow .- Albums :*VIRGINS OF MENACE, CD 2011, Rock's My Ass Records www.rocksmyassrecords.com , SPARK & SHiNE ,Tin Robot , Naked Man VOW , Other Tongues *SMOKiNG...
as a digital-only single and limited-edition blue vinyl 7", entitled "Yours For The Taking". The label will release the band's debut album "Smoking Kills" on April 28, 2009 in North America, which will also see the first Worldwide release of the album on Vinyl.
In 2010, he worked with Can Can, an Ecuadorian electro-rock band, by producing their third album, Caos. During his stay in Ecuador, he premiered a new song by The Posies called "Licenses to Hide".
He has recently been working in Queanbeyan, Australia, on Hannah Gillespie's follow up to her debut album Growing Up Stupid.
Personal life
Stringfellow is married to a French band manager, Dominique Sassi, and they have a daughter, Aden, born in May 2004. He was previously married to The Fastbacks' bass player Kim WarnickKim Warnick
Kim Warnick was co-founder, bassist, and lead vocalist of the Seattle band Fastbacks between 1979 and 2002, and bassist with Visqueen from 2001 until her retirement from performing in 2004....
. They divorced in 1996, after a three-year marriage. Stringfellow has a younger sister who attends the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
.
Discography
Solo- This Sounds Like Goodbye (1997)
- Touched (2001)
- Soft Commands (2004)
- The Sellout Cover Session Vol. 1 (2008)
with The Disciplines
The Disciplines
The Disciplines is a garage rock band from Oslo, Norway, led by singer Ken Stringfellow .- Albums :*VIRGINS OF MENACE, CD 2011, Rock's My Ass Records www.rocksmyassrecords.com , SPARK & SHiNE ,Tin Robot , Naked Man VOW , Other Tongues *SMOKiNG...
- Smoking KillsSMOKiNG KiLLS-Track listing:#"Yours For The Taking"#"Wrong Lane"#"Get It Right"#"Best Mistake"#"There's A Law"#"Oslo"#"Hurricane"#"I Got Tired"#"Like So Many Times Before"#"No Vacancy"#"Cause Or FX"...
(2009) - Virgins of Menace (2011)
with The Posies
The Posies
The Posies are an alternative rock/power pop group. The band was formed in 1987 in Bellingham, Washington by primary songwriters Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow. They are best known for their radio hits "Golden Blunders" , as well as "Dream All Day", "Solar Sister" and "Flavor of the Month"...
- FailureFailure (The Posies album)Failure is the debut album of The Posies. It was first released independently in 1988 on cassette only. In 1989 it was reissued on cassette, LP and CD in 1989 on PopLlama Records. Due to time playing time restrictions imposed by the LP manufacturer the band was forced to drop one song from the...
(1988) - Dear 23Dear 23Dear 23 is the major label debut by Seattle Alternative rock/grunge/power pop band The Posies. "Apology" appears in Children of Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the Second Psychedelic Era, 1976–1995 along with "I May Hate you Sometimes" from their first album, Failure.- Track listing :All tracks by...
(1990) - Frosting on the BeaterFrosting on the BeaterFrosting on the Beater is the third album by the Seattle rock group The Posies, released in 1993. It featured a heavier, more intense sound than the band's prior works, in part due to production duties being handled by Don Fleming. The band later revealed that the album title was a reference to...
(1993) - Amazing DisgraceAmazing DisgraceAmazing Disgrace is the fourth album by Seattle Alternative rock band The Posies and their final release for DGC Records.- Track listing :All songs by Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow.# "Daily Mutilation" – 4:04# "Ontario" – 2:38# "Throwaway" – 3:53...
(1996) - SuccessSuccess (The Posies album)Success is the fifth album by Seattle Alternative rock band The Posies. This was their last album until their reunion album: Every Kind of Light .- Track listing :All songs by Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow.# "Somehow Everything"...
(1998) - In Case You Didn't Feel Like Plugging InIn Case You Didn't Feel Like Plugging InIn Case You Didn't Feel Like Plugging In is a live album by Seattle Alternative rock band The Posies. A recording of the 24 February 2000 show on their acoustic tour, at the Showbox in Seattle...
(2000) - Alive Before the IcebergAlive Before the IcebergAlive Before the Iceberg is live album by Seattle Alternative rock band The Posies. Recorded live at Luz De Gas on July 28th, 1998...
(2000) - At Least, At LastAt Least, at LastAt Least, at Last is an album from the band The Posies, released in 2000.At Least, at Last is a box set containing a "history" of The Posies b-sides, demos and outtakes from 1987-1998 on four discs. Published by Not Lame records, this box set was produced to satisfy fans after the reported "demise"...
(Box Set) (2000) - Dream All Day: The Best of the PosiesDream All Day: The Best of the Posies- Personnel :*Jon Auer - Lead vocals and guitar*Ken Stringfellow - Lead vocals, guitar and keyboards*Dave Fox - Bass*Joe Skyward - Bass*Mike Musburger - Drums*Brian Young - Drums...
(2000) - Nice Cheekbones and a Ph.D. (2001)
- Every Kind of LightEvery Kind of LightEvery Kind of Light is an album from the band The Posies, released June 28, 2005. The album was released in the U.S. by Rykodisc. This was the first full-length album release by The Posies since 1998's Success. The Posies had broken up after Success release...
(2005) - Blood/CandyBlood/Candy-Personnel:The Posies*Jon Auer - Lead Vocals and guitars*Ken Stringfellow - Lead Vocals, guitars and keyboards*Matt Harris - Bass guitar*Darius Minwalla - DrumsAdditional musicians*Hugh Cornwell - vocal on ‘Plastic Paperbacks’...
(2010)
with R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
- Man on the Moon OSTMan on the Moon (soundtrack)The soundtrack to the 1999 Miloš Forman film, Man on the Moon, was released on November 22, 1999 in the UK and November 23, 1999 in the US. It was issued on Warner Bros. Records, in conjunction with Jersey Records, a part of Danny DeVito's Jersey Group. Incidentally, in some countries, the film was...
(1999) - Reveal (2001)
- In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003 is the second official compilation album released by R.E.M. Issued in 2003, it includes tracks from their Warner Bros. Records era, from 1988's Green to 2001's Reveal, as well as two new recordings and two songs from movie soundtracks...
(2003) - Perfect SquarePerfect SquarePerfect Square is a video recording of a concert by rock band R.E.M., filmed on 19 July 2003 at the Bowling Green in Wiesbaden, Germany. It was released in DVD format on the Warner Brothers label on March 9, 2004....
(2004) - Around the SunAround the SunAround the Sun is the 13th studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 2004.-Description:"The Outsiders" features a guest appearance by rapper Q-Tip. When performed live, Michael Stipe carries out the rap, as he does on a later b-side release of the song."Final Straw" is...
(2004) - R.E.M. LiveR.E.M. LiveR.E.M. Live is a live album from R.E.M., recorded at the Point Theatre, Dublin, on February 26 and 27, 2005, the closing nights of the winter European leg of the Around the World Tour in support of their thirteenth studio album Around the Sun released in late 2004...
(2007)
with Jon Auer
Jon Auer
Jonathan P. "Jon" Auer is an American musician who co-founded the power pop band The Posies, along with Ken Stringfellow. Auer and Stringfellow have also been a part of the rejuvenated Big Star....
- Private Sides
with Twin Princess
- The Complete Recordings (2000)
with Sky Cries Mary
Sky Cries Mary
Sky Cries Mary is an American trance rock musical group from Seattle, Washington, that formed in the late 1980s.The husband and wife team of Roderick Wolgamott Romero and Anisa Romero sing dual lead vocals...
- Until the Grinders Cease (1989)
- Don't Eat the Dirt (1990)
with Big Star
- Columbia - Live At Missouri University 4/25/93 (1993)
- Big Star Story (2003)
- In SpaceIn SpaceIn Space is the fourth studio album by the American rock group Big Star, released in 2005. It was the first new studio recording by the band since Third/Sister Lovers, which was recorded in 1974....
(2005)
with The Minus 5
The Minus 5
The Minus 5 is an American rock band, headed by musician Scott McCaughey and featuring R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck.-Band history:Formed in 1993, McCaughey designed the Minus 5 as a pop collective, with each record the group put out featuring a new lineup...
- Old LiquidatorOld LiquidatorOld Liquidator is the debut full-length album by American rock band The Minus 5. It was released in 1995 by East Side Digital.-Track listing:# "Winter Goes Away" – 4:06# "Worse" – 2:46# "All the Time" – 3:49...
(1995) - Down with WilcoDown With WilcoDown with Wilco is the fifth album by American rock band The Minus 5. Released on Yep Roc in 2003, it features Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies as well as contributions from Wilco, where the album derives its name.-Track listing:...
(2003)
with Lagwagon
Lagwagon
Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, just outside Santa Barbara, California. They formed in 1990 and went on hiatus and reunited several times over the years...
- Double PlaidinumDouble PlaidinumDouble Plaidinum is the fourth album by Lagwagon, released on August 12, 1997 . It is their first album without the original line-up as guitarist Shawn Dewey and drummer Derrick Plourde both left the band before the recording of this album.-Track listing:# "Alien 8" – 1:50# "Making Friends" – 2:15#...
(Fat Wreck ChordsFat Wreck ChordsFat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
, 1997)
with Chariot
- I Am Ben Hur (1998)
with The Orange Humble Band
The Orange Humble Band
The Orange Humble Band were formed in early 1995, as the brain child of The Lime Spiders & The Someloves founder, Daryl Mather. The band consisted of Ken Stringfellow of US outfit The Posies, former Lonely Hearts member, Anthony Bautovich, American indie producer/manager legend, Mitch Easter, &...
- Assorted Creams (1998)
- Humblin' (Across America) (2001)
with Saltine
- Find Yourself Alone (1999)
- Reveal Love (1999)
with White Flag
White Flag (band)
White Flag is an American punk rock band currently based in Los Angeles. Their current lineup consists of frontman Pat Fear , Mike Mess , Jello B. Afro , and Trace Element . All of these members have been in the band since 1982, though many have rotated in and out...
- On the Way DownOn the Way Down"On the Way Down" is the debut single by Ryan Cabrera, released from his 2004 studio album, Take It All Away. The song won a 2006 ASCAP Pop Award for most performed song of that year. The song was co-written with Curt Frasca and Sabelle Breer who also helped create hit songs for Stacie Orrico and...
(1999) - Eternally Undone (2001)
- History Is Fiction (2002)
- Piangi Con Me (2006)
with Parkinson DC
- Albanige (1995)
with Jim Protector
Jim Protector
Jim Protector is an Norwegian alternative rock group. The band was formed in 2001 in Horten, Norway by primary songwriters Alexander Svanberg and Jarle Nordaas. They are best known for their radio hit "Jim Protector's guide to self-pity" .-History:Jim Protector was formed in 2001 by primary...
- Shields Down (2007)
with Cecilia Ann
- Un Segundo (1998)