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Nels Cline

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Nels Cline
Cline in 2004
Cline in 2004
Background information
Birth nameNels Courtney Cline
Born (1956-01-04) January 4, 1956 (age 69)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresFree jazz, experimental, noise, punk rock, indie rock
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1977–present
LabelsCryptogramophone, Nine Winds, Atavistic, Enja, Little Brother, Strange Attractors, Audio House, Long Song, Mack Avenue, Blue Note
Websitewww.nelscline.com
Signature

Nels Courtney Cline (born January 4, 1956)[1] is an American guitarist and composer. He has been a guitarist for the band Wilco since 2004.

In the 1980s he played jazz, often in collaboration with his twin brother Alex, a percussionist. He has worked with musicians in punk and alternative rock such as Carla Bozulich and the Geraldine Fibbers, Mike Watt and Thurston Moore. He leads the Nels Cline Singers, Nels Cline Trio, and the Nels Cline 4.[citation needed]

Cline was named the 82nd greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in November 2011.[2]

Career

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Cline playing a double-necked guitar with Wilco in 2010

Cline began to play guitar at age 12 when his twin brother Alex Cline started playing drums. The brothers developed together musically, playing in a rock band called Homogenized Goo.[3] Both graduated from University High School. Cline cites hearing a recording of Jimi Hendrix performing "Manic Depression" as a defining moment in his decision to become a guitarist.[4]

Cline in Aarhus Denmark 2014 playing with the BB&C Band

Cline has performed on over 150 albums in jazz, pop, rock, country, and experimental music. He was featured in a cover story by Guitar Player magazine for his work with the rock band Wilco.[5]

Personal life

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Cline is married to Yuka Honda of Cibo Matto.[1][6] Their wedding was in Honda's hometown in Japan in November 2010.[1][6] They met through Mike Watt when he assembled the group Floored by Four.[1][7] Cline joined Honda as a guest guitarist in the Yoko Ono Plastic Ono band for their tour in 2010.[8] Cline joined Honda and her band Cibo Matto at the 2015 Solid Sound Festival.[9]

Discography

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Main article: Nels Cline discography

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Fusilli, Jim (October 5, 2010), "Four Rock Nomads Unite for a Fleeting Tune", The Wall Street Journal, retrieved March 31, 2011
  2. ^ "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  3. ^ Hoinski, Michael (May 8, 2009). "Nels Cline on Masturbation, Thurston Moore, and Wilco's New Record". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on May 10, 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  4. ^ Poole, Rod. "Nels Cline: In The Avant-Garde Spotlight" (Audio interview). National Public Radio. Retrieved December 18, 2013. It was hearing Jimi Hendrix one afternoon on the AM radio, the song was Manic Depression. That was it. We were both literally jumping up and down and freaking out.
  5. ^ Steadfast Inclinations. Barry Cleveland. Guitar Player. March 2005.
  6. ^ a b Gilbert, Andrew (January 27, 2011). "Nels Cline and Yuka Honda treasure time together". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  7. ^ "Interview: Mike Watt talks about Yoko Ono gigs". Music-illuminati.com. January 27, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  8. ^ Tulich, Katherine (September 30, 2010). "Musicians pay tribute to John Lennon and Yoko Ono". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  9. ^ "Wilco Tinkers and Experiments at a Festival It's Happy to Share". The New York Times. June 29, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
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