|
|
|
|
Steve Shelley
|
| |
|
| |
Steven Jay Shelley (born June 23, 1962, Midland, Michigan) is an American drummer, best known as the drummer of alternative rock band Sonic Youth.
He played in several mid-Michigan bands, including Faith and Morals and Strange Fruit, and was among the original lineup of the seminal punk band the Crucifucks. Since 1985, he has performed with the experimental rock band Sonic Youth, when he replaced Bob Bert.
After leaving the Crucifucks, he moved to Manhattan, subletting the apartment of Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon while the band was in Europe.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Steve Shelley' Start a new discussion about 'Steve Shelley' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Steven Jay Shelley (born June 23, 1962, Midland, Michigan) is an American drummer, best known as the drummer of alternative rock band Sonic Youth.
He played in several mid-Michigan bands, including Faith and Morals and Strange Fruit, and was among the original lineup of the seminal punk band the Crucifucks. Since 1985, he has performed with the experimental rock band Sonic Youth, when he replaced Bob Bert.
After leaving the Crucifucks, he moved to Manhattan, subletting the apartment of Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon while the band was in Europe. When the band returned, they hired him as their drummer without an audition.
In 1992 he founded the independent record label Smells Like Records, based in Hoboken, New Jersey. Along with friend and Two Dollar Guitar musician Tim Foljahn, he helped advance Cat Power's musical career, serving as drummer on her first three albums. He also produced Blonde Redhead's debut self-titled album in 1993 and Cat Power's What Would the Community Think? in 1996. In 1998 Shelley played on the soundtrack of the film Velvet Goldmine as a member of Wylde Ratttz, along with The Stooges' Ron Asheton, Thurston Moore, Mike Watt, Don Fleming, Mark Arm of Mudhoney and Jim Dunbar.
Other significant work away from Sonic Youth includes recording and performing with an array of artists such as Christina Rosenvinge, , John Wolfington, , and Enrique Morente.
His enthusiasm for the music of Daniel Johnston and Townes Van Zandt led to his appearances in the documentaries The Devil and Daniel Johnston and Be Here to Love Me.
Shelley is also in charge of operating Sonic Youth's own record labels, SYR and Goofin'.
Style and Influences
Steve Shelley is a "drummer's drummer" with a playing style that is precise and powerful without being overpowering. Hallmarks of his style include heavy use of toms, the innovative use of maracas, excellent dynamic control, and the ability to play in service of the song above displaying "chops". He anchors the music of Sonic Youth by composing drum parts that are generally as unchanging as the chord structures and melody lines of the songs, therefore providing an ideal foundation for their unique brand of organized chaos. He has also proven himself to be an astute improviser, performing admirably in that role when the need arises (as evidenced mainly on the SYR series).
Other drummers that have influenced him include but are not limited to: Pete de Freitas, Stephen Morris, Phill Calvert, Kenny Buttrey, Keith Moon, and Ringo Starr.
Non-Sonic Youth Discography
| Date | Artist | Release | Comments |
|---|
| | | 7" Babel 01 | | 1984 | Strange Fruit | Strange Fruit/Abiku | split 12" Babel 02 | | 1985 | Crucifucks | The Crucifucks | Alternative Tentacles 38 | | 1989 | Maureen Tucker | Life in Exile After Abdication | 50 Skidillion Watts 007 | | 1991 | Lucky Sperms | Lucky Sperms | 7" Ecstatic Peace! 15 (recorded in 1987) | | 1991 | Dim Stars | Dim Stars | 3x7" Ecstatic Peace! 11 |
|
| |
|
|
