Brian Viglione

Brian Viglione (born May 16, 1979 in Greenville, New Hampshire) is an American drummer best known for his work with The Dresden Dolls and Violent Femmes.[1] He was also a prominent member of New York City's cabaret punk orchestra, The World/Inferno Friendship Society.

Brian Viglione
Viglione performing with The Dresden Dolls
Background information
Birth nameBrian Viglione
Born (1979-05-16) May 16, 1979
OriginGreenville, New Hampshire, United States
GenresAlternative rock, punk cabaret, heavy metal, dark cabaret, industrial, darkwave
Occupation(s)Musician, actor, producer, clinician
InstrumentsDrums, percussion, bass guitar, guitar, piano, double bass, vocals
Years active1999-present
LabelsRoadrunner Records, 8ft. Records
Associated actsThe Dresden Dolls, The Cliks, The World/Inferno Friendship Society, Nine Inch Nails, Scarlet Sails, Franz Nicolay & Major General, Botanica, Black Tape For A Blue Girl, H.U.M.A.N.W.I.N.E., Martin Bisi, Violent Femmes, Gentlemen & Assassins, and Phillip Boa
Websitewww.brian-viglione.com

Known for his energetic and expressive drumming style, Viglione has often aligned himself with groups who incorporate eclectic musical styles and theatrical elements. A multi-instrumentalist, Viglione also plays guitar, bass, percussion, and sings in several of his collaborations, as well as having done producing work.

Viglione relocated from New York to Los Angeles in 2019.[2]

Career

Brian Viglione was introduced to the drums by his father on Christmas Day at age five with his interest quickly deepening at age nine when rock music became a primary focus and passion. A pivotal moment occurred in 1990 when his father brought him to see The Elvin Jones Jazz Machine and he witnessed his first up-close exposure to the drummer who would become his principal inspiration on the instrument. At sixteen years old, he began playing gigs in clubs with bands around New England before moving from New Hampshire to Boston in 1999. There, he played with several Boston punk bands on both drums and bass guitar.[2]

The Dresden Dolls
Main article: The Dresden Dolls

At a Halloween party in October 2000, Viglione first met Amanda Palmer, and together they formed The Dresden Dolls after their first time playing together. They are a Boston-based keyboard/drum duo.

In addition to playing drums, Viglione also plays guitar and bass on several Dresden Dolls songs including the first single, "Sing", from their 2006 album Yes, Virginia... and sings back-up vocals, most notably on their version of "Pierre" from The Dresden Dolls: Live in Paradise DVD.

After signing with Roadrunner Records in early 2004, the duo re-released their self-titled debut The Dresden Dolls to worldwide acclaim and made their Billboard chart debut with the equally applauded follow-up Yes, Virginia.... In addition, the duo's live audiences continued to grow around the planet as The Dresden Dolls completed sold-out tours on four continents, supported Nine Inch Nails, and performed at prestigious world festivals including Reading, Bonnaroo, Leeds, Coachella, Fuji Rock, Roskilde, Glastonbury, and Download.

Locally, they won numerous awards ranging from multiple Boston Music Awards to topping the Boston Phoenix/FNX Best Music Poll. In 2006, the band recorded their second live DVD chronicling their two sold-out shows at The Roundhouse in London. The concert DVD captures the band with their fan base, many of whom traveled from all over the US, Australia, and Europe to attend in concert at the peak of the band's most active period.

In June 2007 they toured with the True Colors Tour,[3] including his debut at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall, and his first review in The New York Times.[4]

The Dresden Dolls reunited for a tour in the United States in 2010, starting on Halloween in New York City and ending in San Francisco on New Year's Eve.[5] They performed two shows in 2011, in Australia and Mexico, and seven shows, in Australia and New Zealand, in 2012. They performed shows in Kingston, New York, Boston, and Brooklyn in August 2016. In 2017, they performed a Halloween show in Washington, DC and 3 shows in November at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. They have recently announced (May 2018) two reunion shows for Halloween 2018 in the UK[6]

The Onion Cellar

In January 2007, Viglione co-starred in the American Repertory Theater's production of The Onion Cellar, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The show was co-written by The Dresden Dolls, cast, and director, Marcus Stern, loosely based on a chapter from Günter Grass's book, The Tin Drum. The band's music was often used in unconventional ways to depict the drama and humor in a "call and response" method with the actors on stage, and Viglione was given a featured drum solo following one actor's moving scene recalling childhood abuse. The entire 40-show run sold out and the production garnered rave reviews.[7][8]

Solo career

In addition to his various recording and touring work, he also gives drumming workshops to help participants develop personal creativity on the instrument and has lectured at Harvard University, RISD, The Boston Day and Evening Academy,[9] as well as other schools around the northeastern US.

Viglione played drums on Fighting Naked, the debut album from his childhood friend Holly Brewer's band, HUMANWINE[10] released through Warner Music Group's Cordless Recordings. Through March and April 2007, he went on a US national tour to support this release.

Shortly thereafter, he performed drums for the Nine Inch Nails album Ghosts I-IV on a drum kit he built on site out of scrap metal and found objects. "Collaborating with Trent on 'Ghosts' was a great experience and he really allowed it to be a truly creative atmosphere, in having me build a drum kit and allowing me to improvise my drum parts."[11] Around that time, he also wrote, toured, and recorded with various artists including the likes of Jules Shear, Jesse Malin, Martin Bisi, as well as Franz Nicolay/Major General.

World/Inferno Friendship Society

From May 2008 – October 2009, Viglione was the drummer for Brooklyn's punk-orchestra, The WORLD/INFERNO Friendship Society, touring 16 countries and recording a new studio album with The Dresden Dolls' production team of Sean Slade, Paul Q. Kolderie, Adam Taylor, and Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studios in Allston, Massachusetts. He also performed in the band's theatrical production, Addicted To Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre's 20th Century, in the US, Canada, Netherlands, and Finland. Viglione's final performance with the group was a sold-out performance at The Grand Ball Room, NYC, for the annual HALLOWMAS 2009 gala, where amidst a sea of balloons and video projections, hundreds of fans rushed the stage during the encore.

Black Tape for a Blue Girl

During this period, Viglione also was heavily involved with various side-projects and albums, including Black Tape for a Blue Girl's album 10 Neurotics.[12]

Viglione recorded his parts for 12 of the 14 tracks (drums, bass & guitar) in December 2008 and January 2009, at B.C. Studio, owned by Martin Bisi,[13] where the first Dresden Dolls album was recorded.[14] He also co-produced the album.[15] Viglione performed multiple instruments and helped shape the arrangements and sonic direction of the album.

Violent Femmes

On July 15, 2013, it was announced that Brian joined Violent Femmes as their new drummer.[16][17][18]

They released the EP Happy New Year for Record Store Day on April 18, 2015. It was the first recording of original songs by the band in 15 years. The EP was released on 12-inch, 180-gram, champagne-colored vinyl, and later made available for digital download on June 2, 2015.[19]

Viglione later went on to record the album We Can Do Anything with Violent Femmes before leaving the band in December 2015.[20]

Solo career

Since January 2009, when not on the road, Viglione has performed with a number of artists and musicians at Dances Of Vice, a monthly Victorian and Jazz Age-themed cabaret in New York City. Past collaborators at Dances of Vice have included Nicki Jaine, Fern Knight, and The Ragwater Review.

On November 8, 2009 an official press release was issued, announcing that Viglione would be joining up with Toronto-based rock outfit, The Cliks for a small handful of shows around New England in the fall and winter of 2009.[21] These shows consisted of Viglione on drums, founder Lucas Silveira on guitar and vocals, and bassist Tobi Parks.

In 2010, he recorded with Franz Nicolay and NYC folk singer, Anthony da Costa.[22]

On January 29, 2011 he collaborated with pianist Viktoriya Yermolyeva on a live concert (VIGGIE & VIKA: Live in Iceland), where they performed heavy metal covers.[23]

From 2011 to 2013, he toured in Europe with NYC based punk-cabaret band Botanica.[22] He also played shows with Martin Bisi, The Land of Dreams, and Black Tape for a Blue Girl.

From 2014 through 2016 Viglione collaborated with the German Wave Cabaret act Feline&Strange (female vocals, piano, cello, synths) on 3 records, LIES, TRUTHS, and OUT.[24]

In March 2015, Brian formed the band Scarlet Sails. Scarlet Sails recorded their debut album, Future From The Past, in December 2016, and after a successful Kickstarter campaign, it was released on April 10, 2017.[25]

Discography

With The Dresden Dolls
Further information: The Dresden Dolls discography

Collaborations

Bibliography
  • Palmer, Amanda; Brian Viglione (2008). The Dresden Dolls – The Virginia Companion. Cherry Lane Music Company. ISBN 1-60378-079-3.
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See also

References
  1. "Band Tries to Make It Big Without Going Broke". NPR.org. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  2. Stories, Local. "Meet Brian Viglione of The Dresden Dolls in Beverly Hills - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  3. "True Colors Tour web site". Truecolorstour.com. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  4. Chinen, Nate (20 June 2007). "Power to the People (and Some Pop Too)". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  5. Amanda Palmer (September 7, 2010). "THE DRESDEN DOLLS HALLOWEEN 10th ANNIVERSARY & FALL TOUR". Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  6. "The Dresden Dolls return with new fall tour dates". Consequence of Sound. 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
  7. "Past Productions: The Onion Cellar". 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  8. "On The Download - Dresden Dolls take the ART". 23 May 2006. Archived from the original on 23 May 2006. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  9. "Welcome to Boston Day and Evening Academy | Boston Day and Evening Academy". Bacademy.org. Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  10. HUMANWINE
  11. Video on YouTube
  12. "black tape for a blue girl interview". 13 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  13. Rosenthal, Sam (23 December 2008). "black tape for a blue girl: Studio update | recording with Brian Viglione". black tape for a blue girl. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  14. "Martin Bisi's Personal Discography". www.martinbisi.com. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  15. Rodman, Sarah (17 April 2009). "He's taking on the World". Boston.com. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  16. Levy, Piet (July 15, 2013). "Recently reunited Violent Femmes replaces founding drummer". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  17. "VVN Music: Brian Viglione of the Dresden Dolls Joins the Violent Femmes". Vintagevinylnews.com. 2013-07-15. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  18. "Brian Viglione announces he's joined Violent Femmes". facebook.com. 2013-07-15. Retrieved 2013-07-15.
  19. Murray, Nick; Murray, Nick (4 March 2015). "Hear Violent Femmes' First New Song in 15 Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  20. "Brian Viglione". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  21. "The Cliks 2.0". PENETRATION INC. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  22. "BIO | Brian Viglione". Mysite. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  23. Viggie and Vika Live in Iceland - YouTube
  24. "Album LIES von Feline&Strange feat. Brian Viglione". felineandstrange.com. 2015-03-30.
  25. Brungardt, Leah. "An Interview With The New York-Based Rock Band SCARLET SAILS! | All Access Music". music.allaccess.com. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
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