Support |
albums
See all-
-
- Sky Blue Sky
- Released 2007
-
-
-
- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
- Released 2002
-
-
-
- Summerteeth
- Released 1999
-
-
-
- Wilco (The Album)
- Released 2009
-
biography
Wilco rose from the ashes of the seminal roots rockers Uncle Tupelo, who disbanded in 1994. While Jay Farrar, one of the group's two singer/songwriters, went on to form the band Son Volt, his ex-partner Jeff Tweedy established Wilco along with the remaining members of Tupelo's final incarnation, which included drummer Ken Coomer as well as part-time bandmates John Stirratt (bass) and Max Johnston (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, and lap steel). Guitarist Jay Bennett rounded out the group, which in 1995 issued their debut album, A.M., a collection of spry country-rock tunes that followed the course established in Tweedy's earlier work. Wilco's sophomore effort, 1996's two-disc set Being There, marked a radical transformation in the group's sound; while remaining steeped in the style that earned Tweedy his reputation, the songs took unexpected detours into psychedelia, power pop, and soul, complete with orchestral touches and R&B horn flourishes. Shortly after the release of Being There, which most critics judged to be among the year's best releases, Johnston left the group to play with his sister, singer Michelle Shocked, and was replaced by guitarist Bob Egan of the band Freakwater. At the same time, while remaining full-time members of Wilco, Stirratt, Bennett, and Coomer also began performing together in the pop side project Courtesy Move. In 1998, Wilco collaborated with singer/songwriter Billy Bragg on Mermaid Avenue, a collection of performances based on unreleased material originally written by Woody Guthrie.
Their stunningly lush third album, Summerteeth, followed in 1999 and met with critical acclaim but only average sales, initiating tensions with their label, Warner Bros. 2000 saw the release of Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2, which featured more selections from the band's collaborations with Bragg on Woody Guthrie's unfinished songs. Following this release, longtime drummer Ken Coomer decided to amicably leave the band and was replaced by the Chicago-based Glenn Kotche. The band then focused on recording their fourth album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which ultimately led to the departure of guitarist Jay Bennett, and further tensions with their label. Unwilling to change the album to make it more "commercially viable," Wilco bought the finished studio tapes from Warner/Reprise for a reported $50,000 and left the label altogether. Leaked tracks from the album surfaced on the Internet in late 2001, and the stripped-down lineup of Tweedy, Kotche, Stirratt, and multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach embarked on a small tour to support -- or drum up support for -- their unreleased album. Nonesuch Records picked up the album and the official release came out in early 2002 to widespread critical acclaim. Meanwhile, an independent film documenting the drama surrounding the album entitled I Am Trying to Break Your Heart followed in the fall of 2002. During the down time after the album was recorded, Tweedy composed and recorded the film score to the Ethan Hawke film Chelsea Walls, which ended up being released around the same time as Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
Wilco toured extensively following the release of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and in 2003 began work on their next album, A Ghost Is Born. While sessions went smoothly compared to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, after the album was finished Leroy Bach left the band in a split that was described as mutual and amicable; guitarist Nels Cline, keyboardist Mike Jorgensen, and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone joined Wilco for their subsequent tour. Shortly before the album's release, Tweedy surprised many fans by announcing he had entered a drug rehabilitation facility to treat a dependency on painkillers, prescribed to treat a long history of migraine headaches aggravated by panic disorder. Tweedy discussed his health problems in depth, along with the often tangled history of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, in Wilco: Learning How to Die, a biography of the group written by rock journalist Greg Kot, published to coincide with A Ghost Is Born's release in the spring of 2004. The following year, the group released Kicking Television: Live in Chicago, a 23-track collection recorded in the Windy City's Vic Theater, an album that was later deemed one of the Top 20 best live albums by Q Magazine. In 2007 Wilco's sixth studio album, Sky Blue Sky, hit shelves. Less experimental than its predecessors, Sky Blue Sky peaked at number five on the U.S. album charts and made a strong showing internationally. Wilco's seventh album, the breezy and laid-back Wilco (The Album), was released on June 30, 2009, one month after the death of former bandmember Jay Bennett, who passed away in his home in Urbana, IL after accidentally overdosing on the prescription painkiller fentanyl. ~ Jason Ankeny & Zac Johnson, All Music Guide
Their stunningly lush third album, Summerteeth, followed in 1999 and met with critical acclaim but only average sales, initiating tensions with their label, Warner Bros. 2000 saw the release of Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2, which featured more selections from the band's collaborations with Bragg on Woody Guthrie's unfinished songs. Following this release, longtime drummer Ken Coomer decided to amicably leave the band and was replaced by the Chicago-based Glenn Kotche. The band then focused on recording their fourth album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which ultimately led to the departure of guitarist Jay Bennett, and further tensions with their label. Unwilling to change the album to make it more "commercially viable," Wilco bought the finished studio tapes from Warner/Reprise for a reported $50,000 and left the label altogether. Leaked tracks from the album surfaced on the Internet in late 2001, and the stripped-down lineup of Tweedy, Kotche, Stirratt, and multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach embarked on a small tour to support -- or drum up support for -- their unreleased album. Nonesuch Records picked up the album and the official release came out in early 2002 to widespread critical acclaim. Meanwhile, an independent film documenting the drama surrounding the album entitled I Am Trying to Break Your Heart followed in the fall of 2002. During the down time after the album was recorded, Tweedy composed and recorded the film score to the Ethan Hawke film Chelsea Walls, which ended up being released around the same time as Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
Wilco toured extensively following the release of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and in 2003 began work on their next album, A Ghost Is Born. While sessions went smoothly compared to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, after the album was finished Leroy Bach left the band in a split that was described as mutual and amicable; guitarist Nels Cline, keyboardist Mike Jorgensen, and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone joined Wilco for their subsequent tour. Shortly before the album's release, Tweedy surprised many fans by announcing he had entered a drug rehabilitation facility to treat a dependency on painkillers, prescribed to treat a long history of migraine headaches aggravated by panic disorder. Tweedy discussed his health problems in depth, along with the often tangled history of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, in Wilco: Learning How to Die, a biography of the group written by rock journalist Greg Kot, published to coincide with A Ghost Is Born's release in the spring of 2004. The following year, the group released Kicking Television: Live in Chicago, a 23-track collection recorded in the Windy City's Vic Theater, an album that was later deemed one of the Top 20 best live albums by Q Magazine. In 2007 Wilco's sixth studio album, Sky Blue Sky, hit shelves. Less experimental than its predecessors, Sky Blue Sky peaked at number five on the U.S. album charts and made a strong showing internationally. Wilco's seventh album, the breezy and laid-back Wilco (The Album), was released on June 30, 2009, one month after the death of former bandmember Jay Bennett, who passed away in his home in Urbana, IL after accidentally overdosing on the prescription painkiller fentanyl. ~ Jason Ankeny & Zac Johnson, All Music Guide
news
See all-
-
-
-
Nels Cline on the Cover of Jazz Times
-
- 10/7/2009
- |
- 4:00 PM
- |
- WILCO - NEWS
- Nels Cline is featured on the cover of this month's JazzTimes magazine. Go here to read the article.
-
-
-
-
-
-
WILCO Plays Farm-Aid
-
- 10/4/2009
- |
- 3:59 PM
- |
- WILCO - NEWS
- WILCO performed at Farm-Aid on Sunday, October 4 along with Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz and a bunch of othe…
-
-
-
-
-
-
On Fillmore - Extended Vacation Coming this November
-
- 8/28/2009
- |
- 2:47 PM
- |
- WILCO - NEWS
- On Fillmore, the duo of Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche and bassist Darin Gray will release their fourth album "Extended Vacation" on November 3 on Dead…
-
-
-
-
-
-
The Autumn Defense contributes to Mark Mulcahy benefit album
-
- 7/31/2009
- |
- 7:41 PM
- |
- WILCO - NEWS
- The Autumn Defense has contributed 2 tracks to a project celebrating the music of one of our favorite singers and songwriters, Mark Mulcahy. Other c…
-
-
-
-
-
-
WILCO joins Neil Finn and others for OXFAM
-
- 7/31/2009
- |
- 3:19 PM
- |
- WILCO - NEWS
- This past December members of Wilco traveled to New Zealand to be a part of Neil Finn's OXFAM Project "7 Worlds Collide". The outcome of this effo…
-
-
comments
-
-
-
-
New Album
-
- By roadtrip5
- 6/30/2009 22:25:39
- Rocks! Love the feel of Bull Black Nova, the keys and guitar make you feel the heart beat and nerves of the guilty narrator.
This can't be undone
This can't be undone - Be the first person to rate this comment!
-
-
-
-
-
-
Wilco Rocks!!!!
-
- By BeaverLeaverJoe
- 6/21/2009 23:10:53
- Just drove 9 hours to see you guys in El Paso! VERY worth it! That was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. You guys didn't want to stop playing and we didn't want you to either!!! Can't wait for the new album. Thank you for everything!
- Be the first person to rate this comment!
-
-
-
-
-
-
Wilco news ...
-
- By X24Gee
- 5/4/2009 17:54:19
- New Wilco song at band's site
Wilco's cover of Woody Guthrie's "The Jolly Banker" is now available at wilcoworld.net for a small contribution to the Woody Guthrie Foundation.
New album -- called "Wilco (the album)" -- drops on June 30. Track listing is:
- Wilco (the song)
- Deeper Down
- One Wing
- Bull Black Nova
- You And I
- You Never Know
- Country Disappeared
- Solitaire
- I'll Fight
- Sonny Feeling
- Everlasting Everything - 1 out of 1 people
- think this is useful
-
-
-
-
-
-
Ashamed to miss them
-
- By Vrad FunkBox
- 2/16/2009 20:30:34
- BEST BAND EVER HANDS DOWN! I am ashamed I won't be able to make their concert in Detroit Lakes over the summer. I would kill to see Jeff and Nels live.
- Be the first person to rate this comment!
-
-
-
-
-
-
Love these guys
-
- By Yyachub
- 12/31/2008 02:23:36
- Everytime I hear a new song or album it hits me like something brand new.
Its something you have to pay attention to though,
The first time i heard many of the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot songs they were unremarkable,
Second time around every single one of them just clicked so well, and its become one of my favorite albums - 1 out of 1 people
- think this is useful
-
-
- 1 - 5 / 7
most played
|
tour dates
See all-
-
7
- Feb
-
-
- Missoula, Montana, US
- February 07, 2010
- Adams Center
-
-
9
- Feb
-
-
- Portland, Oregon, US
- February 09, 2010
- Portland Center for the Performing Arts - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
-
-
10
- Feb
-
-
- Seattle, Washington, US
- February 10, 2010
- Paramount Theatre
-
-
13
- Feb
-
-
- Vancouver, CA
- February 13, 2010
- David Lam Park
-
-
15
- Feb
-
-
- Edmonton, Alberta, CA
- February 15, 2010
- Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
