Pedro the Lion was an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington, and, for over a decade, the main creative outlet of singer/songwriter David Bazan. The band combined a biting wit with first person narrative to cover both politics and faith.
Biography
Pedro the Lion was formed by David Bazan in 1995 and released its debut EP Whole in April 1997. Throughout the band's many lineup changes, Bazan remained the primary artist and musician behind the group, singing and playing virtually every instrument on the band's first two full length albums, It's Hard to Find a Friend (1998) and Winners Never Quit (2000). Seldom's Casey Foubert joined Bazan for the band's 2002 effort, Control, playing drums and keyboards and co-writing "Penetration" and "Second Best". Achilles Heel followed in 2004 and featured T.W. Walsh, perhaps the only other individual—besides Bazan—to ever be considered an official band member. All told, the band released four full-length albums as well as several EPs and various 7" singles.Throughout his career, Bazan has been involved with such musical acts as Damien Jurado, Scientific, The Six Parts Seven, The Soft Drugs, Seldom, and Unwed Sailor. He, TW Walsh, and Frank Lenz of Starflyer 59, comprised the band Headphones during the time that the band's debut and only LP was recorded. TW later left the band for personal reasons after a tour on which he handled drum duties. Nick Peterson filled in on drums for the remaining Headphones live shows. David has said that he is not sure if there will be another Headphones album or not, but there are no plans for one at the moment.
In early January 2006, Pedro the Lion formally announced that they had split. The split was amicable; Bazan and Walsh continue to be good friends. In fact, Bazan has admitted that their friendship has even been strengthened by the breakup. Bazan toured in support of Fewer Moving Parts, his solo debut EP. His first full length album is in the works for 2008. Walsh returned to his career as a web application developer and is busy with his band, The Soft Drugs, and their debut release, In Moderation. Pedro The Lion was managed by Bob Andrews at Undertow Music. David Bazan will release his debut solo LP on Seattle-based Barsuk Records in 2008.
Personnel
- David Bazan · vocals, guitar, bass, drums, synthesizer, percussion · (1997-2005)
- Benjamin Brubaker · drums · (1999, 2003)
- Jeremy Dybash · drums · (1998)
- Johnathon Ford · bass · (1998)
- Casey Foubert · drums, keyboards · (2001-2004)
- Ben Gibbard · bass (tour) · (2000)
- Josh Golden · bass, drums · (1999-2000)
- Frank Lenz · drums (tour) · (2004-2005)
- Ken Maiuri · bass · (2004-2005)
- Trey Many · drums, bass, guitar · (1998, 2000-2001, 2005)
- Yuuki Matthews · keyboards · (2000)
- James McAlister · keys, percussion, drums · (2004)
- Paul Mumaw · drums · (1998)
- Brian Olson · drums · (1997)
- Nick Peterson · guitar · (1997-1999)
- Tim Schiefer · guitar · (1997)
- Travis Smith · bass · (1997)
- Tim Walsh · bass, guitar, keys, drums · (2000, 2002, 2003-2005)
- Christian Wargo · guitar · (2003)
- Blake Wescott · drums · (1998)
Trivia
- The band is featured in the 2004 Christian music documentary Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?
- Keyboardist Yuuki Matthews played in the now defunct Seldom, and is a former member of Crystal Skulls.
- Drummer/keyboardist Casey Foubert also played in Seldom and Crystal Skulls.