Ian Williams
Encyclopedia
Ian Williams is an American
rock guitarist
. He became noted for his finger tapping guitar playing in bands such as Don Caballero
, Storm & Stress
and currently in Battles
.
, before returning to the US in the 6th grade.
pioneers Don Caballero
as a second guitarist in 1992 until 2000. He had also played in the Chicago-based, avant-garde band Storm & Stress
from 1997 to 2000. Williams moved to New York City in the early 2000s and formed Battles
in 2002.
Williams is well known for his approach to finger tapping on guitar and uses Gibson's Echoplex looping system. His propensity towards guitar tapping allows him to accompany himself on keyboard at live performances, using one hand for each instrument.
Williams made a short cameo appearance in the 2000 movie High Fidelity
as a customer in the music store (shortly after John Cusack
's character announces, "I will now sell five copies of The Three E.P.'s
by The Beta Band
.")
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He became noted for his finger tapping guitar playing in bands such as Don Caballero
Don Caballero
Don Caballero are an American rock group from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The group took their name from the character Guy Caballero, portrayed by Joe Flaherty, on the sketch comedy show Second City Television...
, Storm & Stress
Storm & Stress
Storm & Stress is an American experimental/noise rock band. The band's name is derived from the German literary movement Sturm und Drang.-Discography:*Storm and Stress - Touch & Go Records...
and currently in Battles
Battles (band)
Battles is an American experimental rock group, founded in 2002 in New York City, comprising guitarists Ian Williams and Dave Konopka , and drummer John Stanier .-Biography:...
.
Biography
Williams grew up in Pennsylvania and spent part of his childhood in MalawiMalawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, before returning to the US in the 6th grade.
Musical career
Williams joined Pittsburgh math rockMath rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
pioneers Don Caballero
Don Caballero
Don Caballero are an American rock group from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The group took their name from the character Guy Caballero, portrayed by Joe Flaherty, on the sketch comedy show Second City Television...
as a second guitarist in 1992 until 2000. He had also played in the Chicago-based, avant-garde band Storm & Stress
Storm & Stress
Storm & Stress is an American experimental/noise rock band. The band's name is derived from the German literary movement Sturm und Drang.-Discography:*Storm and Stress - Touch & Go Records...
from 1997 to 2000. Williams moved to New York City in the early 2000s and formed Battles
Battles (band)
Battles is an American experimental rock group, founded in 2002 in New York City, comprising guitarists Ian Williams and Dave Konopka , and drummer John Stanier .-Biography:...
in 2002.
Williams is well known for his approach to finger tapping on guitar and uses Gibson's Echoplex looping system. His propensity towards guitar tapping allows him to accompany himself on keyboard at live performances, using one hand for each instrument.
Williams made a short cameo appearance in the 2000 movie High Fidelity
High Fidelity (film)
High Fidelity is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack and the Danish actress Iben Hjejle. The film is based on the 1995 British novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, with the setting moved from London to Chicago and the name of the lead character...
as a customer in the music store (shortly after John Cusack
John Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
's character announces, "I will now sell five copies of The Three E.P.'s
The Three E.P.'s
The Three EPs is a compilation of The Beta Band's first three releases, consisting of the EPs Champion Versions, The Patty Patty Sound and Los Amigos del Beta Bandidos...
by The Beta Band
The Beta Band
The Beta Band were a British musical group who received much critical acclaim and achieved cult status amongst avid followers of the underground and experimental music scene...
.")