Guy Picciotto

Guy Picciotto
Background information
Born (1965-09-17) September 17, 1965[1]
Washington D.C.[1]
Genres Emo, post-hardcore, hardcore punk, alternative rock, punk rock
Occupation(s) Songwriter, musician, producer
Instruments Vocals, guitar, clarinet, piano
Years active 1984–present
Labels Dischord
Associated acts Fugazi, Rites of Spring, Happy Go Licky, One Last Wish
Notable instruments
Rickenbacker 330

Guy Charles Picciotto[2] (pronounced [ˈɡi piˈtʃoto] or "Gee Pi-CHO-toe") is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, musician, and producer from Washington, DC.[3]

He is most widely known for his role as guitarist and vocalist in Fugazi and Rites of Spring.[4]

Career

Rites of Spring and early projects

Main article: Rites of Spring

Picciotto's musical career began in 1984, with the group Rites of Spring. A part of the D.C. post-hardcore scene, Rites of Spring increased the frenetic violence and visceral passion of hardcore while simultaneously experimenting with its compositional rules. Picciotto, as the band's lyricist, as well as singer & guitarist also shifted hardcore into intensely personal realms and, in doing so, is generally credited with creating emo.[5]

Picciotto's early musical resume also includes the bands One Last Wish (1986), Happy Go Licky (1987–1988), Brief Weeds (EPs released circa 1991–1992), and The Black Light Panthers (ongoing sporadic project since 1982), the last two bands both being projects with Brendan Canty. He also created a record label called Peterbilt Records, which released limited-quantity vinyl record albums for the bands Rain, Happy Go Licky, and Deadline, then years later was involved in releasing the album 1986 by One Last Wish, along with Dischord Records.

Fugazi

Main article: Fugazi

Though not in the original line up of Fugazi, Picciotto joined very early in the group's career, singing with them by their second show and appearing on all the band's studio recordings.

From the Margin Walker EP on, he also took up 2nd guitar duties, playing characteristically trebly Rickenbacker guitars. After seven albums (13 Songs, Repeater, Steady Diet of Nothing, In on the Kill Taker, Red Medicine, End Hits, The Argument), and several tours, Fugazi went on "indefinite hiatus" in 2003.

Side projects and production work

Picciotto has collaborated and performed with Mats Gustafsson, Vic Chesnutt, and members of the Ex among others. He has also produced numerous albums including, The Gossip's breakthrough record Standing in the Way of Control as well as Blonde Redhead's Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons (2000), Misery Is a Butterfly (2004) and The Blood Brothers final album, Young Machetes. Picciotto played on the Vic Chesnutt albums North Star Deserter (2007) and At the Cut (2009), and accompanied him on a 2009 Fall/Winter North American Tour.[6] He co-produced the films Chain and Museum Hours with Jem Cohen (who made the Fugazi film Instrument).

Equipment

Guitars

Amplification

Personal

Picciotto holds a BA degree in English from Georgetown University and is a graduate of the Washington, D.C. private school, the Georgetown Day School.[9]

Picciotto married musician Kathi Wilcox from the band Bikini Kill and the Frumpies, and as of January 2013 the two were living in Brooklyn with their seven-year-old daughter.[10][11]

Discography

Rites of Spring

One Last Wish

Happy Go Licky

Black Light Panthers

Brief Weeds

Fugazi

References

  1. 1 2 "Fugazi Biography." Worldoffugazi.org. Last accessed January 27, 2012.
  2. ↑ http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/guy_picciotto
  3. ↑ Picciotto's first name is French, while his last name is Sicilian
  4. ↑ Prato, Greg. "Biography: Guy Picciotto". AMG. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  5. ↑ DeRogatis, Jim (1999). "Emo (The Genre That Dare Not Speak Its Name)". Guitar World (Future US, Inc.). Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  6. ↑ Fresh Air. "In Memoriam: Sweet, Sad Rocker Vic Chesnutt," January 7, 2010.
  7. ↑ "FUGAZI: A guitar gear summary." Effects Bay. Last accessed February 10, 2011.
  8. ↑ http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVgdLgrFtRs/UaAMTcYd83I/AAAAAAAAAyw/kYRni4IyLtQ/s1600/fugazi-letter2.png
  9. ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=bfPuzbXZdJAC&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=%22guy+picciotto%22+%22georgetown+day+school%22&source=bl&ots=A-Eblh3x0P&sig=AlhGo-HmCyoUc95ZobAzlQmu_Wk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1lIST8KWMq240gHKz5H4CQ&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22guy%20picciotto%22%20%22georgetown%20day%20school%22&f=false
  10. ↑ Savage, Emily (January 22, 2013). "Rebel girls". San Francisco Bay Guardian.
  11. ↑ Bobbitt, Melissa (January 22, 2013). "Interview - Kathi Wilcox of Bikini Kill". About Entertainment. About.com. Retrieved September 19, 2014.

External links

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