Jeff Olson (Musician)
Encyclopedia
Jeff Olson is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, radio show host, and the original drummer for the legendary doom/rock band, Trouble
. He is also the founding member of Retro Grave and proprietor of Upland Recording.
, Olson left Trouble in 1986 to teach music while also writing musical scores and later receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Film Scoring (cum laude) from Berklee College of Music
. Olson returned to the band for the albums Run to the Light
(Hammond Organ), Trouble
(pre-pro for drums, keys), Plastic Green Head
(drums), Simple Mind Condition
(drums, French Horn), Unplugged and Live in LA.
Olson has toured with Trouble since 1979 headlining shows throughout the United States and Europe, as well as performing at numerous music festivals in Europe including the 1995 Dynamo Open Air Festival (Holland) in front of a record audience for Dynamo of over 118,000 people. In July 2008, Olson announced his departure from Trouble. His last show with them was at "The End" in Nashville, Tennessee on July 19, 2008.
while still the drummer for Trouble
. The debut self-titled EP was released on June 5, 2007 and was written, recorded, and performed entirely by Olson along side lyricist Paull Goodchild. The debut full-length, Again
, was released the following year as a download only (via the band's website) with two additional members who have since departed. In 2009, Michael Leonard Maiewski (Stasis) was added for strings and back up vocals and a hard copy of Again
was released in February 2010 with Maiewski added to the mix.
Olson is now collaborating again with lyricist Paull Goodchild and new guitarist Michael Leonard Maiewski for the sophomore album, "Skullduggery." The band is currently a duet.
During Trouble's hiatuses he graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1992 with a BM degree in Film Scoring and later composed music for the Borealis Theater Company in Chicago. In 1996, Olson created the "electronic music ensemble" course when he was a teacher of midi and recording techniques at Waubonsee Community College in Aurora, Illinois. The following year he was commissioned by the Paula Fraz Dance Company in Chicago, IL to arrange and compose original music for the performance of Songs My Mother Sang Me. Olson received the Ruth Page Award for his work on that production.
In 2001, Olson started his own label, Upland Recording, which released two albums in its first year. One was a children's album, Children's Stories From Around the World, narrated by Marie Fraz. The other was a jazz and classical album, Music to Cook By, compiled from his previous theater work. On July 5, 2010, Olson premiered an internet radio show, Heady Metal with Jeff Olson, via Metal Messiah Radio. Heady Metal with Jeff Olson features interviews with musicians from different metal genres across the board, comedic segments, and music news. Olson's first guest was Dave Chandler of Saint Vitus
.
and Trouble guitarist Bruce Franklin
in the band, Supershine. Olson also played on Trouble guitarist Rick Wartell's Wet Animal debut album. He was involved in pre-production work and recorded percussion for Canticle of the Plains by Rich Mullins
.
Trouble (band)
Trouble is an American doom metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre, alongside bands such as Candlemass and Saint Vitus. The band created a distinct style taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s...
. He is also the founding member of Retro Grave and proprietor of Upland Recording.
Trouble
Following the release of their first two albums, 1984's Pslam 9 and 1985's The SkullThe Skull (album)
The Skull is the second album by the American doom metal band Trouble, released in 1985. It was the follow-up to their 1984 classic debut Psalm 9....
, Olson left Trouble in 1986 to teach music while also writing musical scores and later receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Film Scoring (cum laude) from Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
. Olson returned to the band for the albums Run to the Light
Run to the Light
Run to the Light was the third album by the American doom metal band Trouble, released on July 15, 1987. It was the band's last release on Metal Blade before signing to Def American for their follow-up, the 1990 self-titled release.-Track listing:...
(Hammond Organ), Trouble
Trouble (ST 1990 album)
Trouble is the fourth album by the American doom metal band of the same title, released in 1990. It was the band's first release on Def American...
(pre-pro for drums, keys), Plastic Green Head
Plastic Green Head
Plastic Green Head was the sixth album by the American doom metal band Trouble, released in 1995. First released on the Music for Nations label in Europe, it was distributed in the U.S. by Century Media Records. Soon after the release of this album, Trouble went on an extended hiatus after their...
(drums), Simple Mind Condition
Simple Mind Condition
Simple Mind Condition is Trouble's seventh studio album. It was the band's first full-length studio release in twelve years, the longest gap between Trouble's studio albums to date...
(drums, French Horn), Unplugged and Live in LA.
Olson has toured with Trouble since 1979 headlining shows throughout the United States and Europe, as well as performing at numerous music festivals in Europe including the 1995 Dynamo Open Air Festival (Holland) in front of a record audience for Dynamo of over 118,000 people. In July 2008, Olson announced his departure from Trouble. His last show with them was at "The End" in Nashville, Tennessee on July 19, 2008.
Songs written for Trouble by Olson
- "Victim of The Insane" - Psalm 9
- Drum parts for "E.N.D." - TroubleTrouble (ST 1990 album)Trouble is the fourth album by the American doom metal band of the same title, released in 1990. It was the band's first release on Def American...
- "Till The End of Time" - Plastic Green HeadPlastic Green HeadPlastic Green Head was the sixth album by the American doom metal band Trouble, released in 1995. First released on the Music for Nations label in Europe, it was distributed in the U.S. by Century Media Records. Soon after the release of this album, Trouble went on an extended hiatus after their...
- "Beginning of Sorrows" - Simple Mind ConditionSimple Mind ConditionSimple Mind Condition is Trouble's seventh studio album. It was the band's first full-length studio release in twelve years, the longest gap between Trouble's studio albums to date...
- "Intro" - Live in LA
Retro Grave
In 2006, Jeff "Oly" Olson formed Retro GraveRetro Grave
Retro Grave is an American heavy metal band formed in 2006 by Jeff Olson, original drummer from the internationally acclaimed doom metal band Trouble.-Biography:In 2006, Jeff Olson formed Retro Grave while still the drummer for Trouble...
while still the drummer for Trouble
Trouble (band)
Trouble is an American doom metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre, alongside bands such as Candlemass and Saint Vitus. The band created a distinct style taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s...
. The debut self-titled EP was released on June 5, 2007 and was written, recorded, and performed entirely by Olson along side lyricist Paull Goodchild. The debut full-length, Again
Again (Retro Grave album)
Again is the debut full-length album from Retro Grave. The album features original Trouble drummer Jeff Olson. The album was released initially in December 2008 as a download only via the band's website. One month later Michael Leonard Maiewski was added to the band for strings and back up vocals...
, was released the following year as a download only (via the band's website) with two additional members who have since departed. In 2009, Michael Leonard Maiewski (Stasis) was added for strings and back up vocals and a hard copy of Again
Again (Retro Grave album)
Again is the debut full-length album from Retro Grave. The album features original Trouble drummer Jeff Olson. The album was released initially in December 2008 as a download only via the band's website. One month later Michael Leonard Maiewski was added to the band for strings and back up vocals...
was released in February 2010 with Maiewski added to the mix.
Olson is now collaborating again with lyricist Paull Goodchild and new guitarist Michael Leonard Maiewski for the sophomore album, "Skullduggery." The band is currently a duet.
Background
Jeff Olson was born on July 14, 1962 in Wareham, Massachusetts. He moved to Aurora, Illinois at age five. Olson first learned to play the piano at age six and the trumpet at age eight. At age twelve, Olson began marching for DCI (Drum Corps International) with the Fox Valley Raiders in the snare line. The following season, The Raiders drum corps folded and Olson joined Blue Stars of Lacrosse Wisconsin playing first soprano bugle. He can be seen on the [DCI] Legacy DVD (front row first soprano bugle side left).During Trouble's hiatuses he graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1992 with a BM degree in Film Scoring and later composed music for the Borealis Theater Company in Chicago. In 1996, Olson created the "electronic music ensemble" course when he was a teacher of midi and recording techniques at Waubonsee Community College in Aurora, Illinois. The following year he was commissioned by the Paula Fraz Dance Company in Chicago, IL to arrange and compose original music for the performance of Songs My Mother Sang Me. Olson received the Ruth Page Award for his work on that production.
In 2001, Olson started his own label, Upland Recording, which released two albums in its first year. One was a children's album, Children's Stories From Around the World, narrated by Marie Fraz. The other was a jazz and classical album, Music to Cook By, compiled from his previous theater work. On July 5, 2010, Olson premiered an internet radio show, Heady Metal with Jeff Olson, via Metal Messiah Radio. Heady Metal with Jeff Olson features interviews with musicians from different metal genres across the board, comedic segments, and music news. Olson's first guest was Dave Chandler of Saint Vitus
Saint Vitus (band)
Saint Vitus is an American doom metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1978. They consist of founding members Dave Chandler and Mark Adams , alongside sporadic singer Scott Weinrich and recently added drummer Henry Vasquez...
.
Other projects
In addition to Olson's work with Trouble and Retro Grave, he has drummed with Doug PinnickDoug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick sometimes stylised as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. He has fourteen albums with King's X, four solo albums, and numerous side projects and guest...
and Trouble guitarist Bruce Franklin
Bruce Franklin (guitarist)
Bruce Franklin is a metal guitarist. He is the guitarist for the band Trouble. He is also in the band Supershine featuring King's X frontman Doug Pinnick and longtime Trouble drummer, Jeff Olson. Franklin appeared as a guest lead guitarist on Tourniquet's 2003 album Where Moth and Rust Destroy...
in the band, Supershine. Olson also played on Trouble guitarist Rick Wartell's Wet Animal debut album. He was involved in pre-production work and recorded percussion for Canticle of the Plains by Rich Mullins
Rich Mullins
Richard Wayne "Rich" Mullins was an American Contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter born in Richmond, Indiana. He had two sisters and two brothers....
.