Nick Zinner
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Joseph Zinner is the guitarist
for the New York rock band
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
. He is known for his "unmistakable" wild hair, skinny physique, and pale appearance. Zinner is an accomplished photographer.
and Brian Chase
in 2000, Zinner attended Bard College
where he played in the Boba Fett Experience, who later changed their name to Challenge of the Future because of concerns about being sued by George Lucas
. The band moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn
in the late 1990s and broke up in 2001.
Since 2001, Zinner has many collaborative efforts under his belt with such acts as TV on the Radio
, Har Mar Superstar
, Ronnie Spector
The Horrors
, and Scarlett Johansson
. He contributed guitar and keyboard to several tracks on Bright Eyes' 2005 album Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
and went on tour with the band as part of the rotating roster.
In 2005 Zinner formed a band Head Wound City
along with members from The Locust
and The Blood Brothers.
Zinner produced the re-mix of the track 'Compliments' on British group Bloc Party
's 2005 album Silent Alarm Remixed
, and has remixed The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower
's song, "INRI," on their INRI ep. Zinner has also remixed Single Frame's song, "People are Germs," in addition to appearing in the music video.
In August 2009 Nick was included at number 16 in NME magazine's future 50 list.
In early 2011 Zinner contributed guitar to the song "Go" by Santigold.
In May 2011 Zinner was commissioned to curate, compose and lead a performance 41 Strings in NYC to celebrate the 41st Earth Day
. The performance, in which he collaborated with musicians Hisham Bharoocha
and Ben Vida, involved 41 players of various stringed instruments, plus additional percussion and synthesiser parts.
, and Please Take Me Off the Guest List (2010).
An exhibit – 1001 Images – of Zinner's photographs was mounted in NYC in October 2010 and in San Francisco in February 2011.
In January 2011, Zinner was commissioned by Lee Jeans to shoot their Winter ’11 advertising campaign.
In May 2011 A further exhibit of his photographs was mounted at the Anastasia Photo Gallery in New York City, featuring shots of the crowds at his concerts.
and involved with the animal rights group, PETA
. He has tattoos in different places including one of a star on his arm, and another of a heart on his finger and one on his hand. Zinner listened to metal
bands while growing up, and cites Mötley Crüe
and Glenn Danzig
as major influences.
His father, Stephen Zinner MD, is a medical professor at Harvard University and a classical pianist.
Nick Zinner also played the violin, referring to himself as a "child prodigy."
His sister, Meredith Zinner, is an actress and photographer based in New York.
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...
for the New York rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
. He is known for his "unmistakable" wild hair, skinny physique, and pale appearance. Zinner is an accomplished photographer.
Musical career
Before forming the Yeah Yeahs Yeahs with Karen OKaren O
Karen Lee Orzolek , better known by her stage name Karen O, is the vocalist for New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.-Early life:...
and Brian Chase
Brian Chase
Brian Chase is an American drummer playing in the New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He was ranked at #50 in Gigwise's list of The Greatest Drummers of All Time. He plays drums with traditional grip.-Early life:...
in 2000, Zinner attended Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
where he played in the Boba Fett Experience, who later changed their name to Challenge of the Future because of concerns about being sued by George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
. The band moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
in the late 1990s and broke up in 2001.
Since 2001, Zinner has many collaborative efforts under his belt with such acts as TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....
, Har Mar Superstar
Har Mar Superstar
Sean Matthew Tillmann , better known by his stage names of Har Mar Superstar and Sean Na Na, is an American singer.-Life and career:...
, Ronnie Spector
Ronnie Spector
Veronica Yvette "Ronnie" Spector is an American rock and roll and popular music vocalist, and was the lead singer of the 1960s hit-making girl group, The Ronettes, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. She is known as the "original bad girl of rock and roll."-Personal...
The Horrors
The Horrors
The Horrors are an English band from Southend on Sea, formed in 2005. Their debut Strange House, was released in 2007 and reached number thirty-seven on the UK Albums Chart, their second album Primary Colours was released in 2009 and peaked at number 25 in the UK...
, and Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
. He contributed guitar and keyboard to several tracks on Bright Eyes' 2005 album Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
Digital Ash in a Digital Urn is one of two Bright Eyes albums released on January 25, 2005 by Saddle Creek Records. It peaked at #15 in the US and #43 in the UK...
and went on tour with the band as part of the rotating roster.
In 2005 Zinner formed a band Head Wound City
Head Wound City
Head Wound City is an American noisegrind supergroup consisting of Jordan Blilie and Cody Votolato of The Blood Brothers, Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Justin Pearson and Gabe Serbian, both from The Locust and Holy Molar...
along with members from The Locust
The Locust
The Locust is a musical group from San Diego, California, United States known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, mathcore complexity, and new wave weirdness.- Style :...
and The Blood Brothers.
Zinner produced the re-mix of the track 'Compliments' on British group Bloc Party
Bloc Party
Bloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
's 2005 album Silent Alarm Remixed
Silent Alarm Remixed
Silent Alarm Remixed is the remix album to Silent Alarm, the debut album by British indie rock band Bloc Party. It was released on 29 August 2005 in the British Isles on Wichita Recordings, the band's primary label, and on 13 September 2005 in the United States through Vice Records to coincide with...
, and has remixed The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower
The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower
The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower was a four-piece punk/noise band from San Diego, California, that formed in 2001. After disbanding in 2006, drummer Brian Hill now plays with The Soft Pack , while singer Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell formed the duo Crocodiles.-Members:* Brandon Welchez -...
's song, "INRI," on their INRI ep. Zinner has also remixed Single Frame's song, "People are Germs," in addition to appearing in the music video.
In August 2009 Nick was included at number 16 in NME magazine's future 50 list.
In early 2011 Zinner contributed guitar to the song "Go" by Santigold.
In May 2011 Zinner was commissioned to curate, compose and lead a performance 41 Strings in NYC to celebrate the 41st Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
. The performance, in which he collaborated with musicians Hisham Bharoocha
Hisham Bharoocha
Hisham Akira Bharoocha was born in Niigata, Japan and is an ex-member of the Providence, Rhode Island bands Lightning Bolt and Black Dice. Currently, Bharoocha is involved in his band Soft Circle and works an artist in New York City.- Biography :...
and Ben Vida, involved 41 players of various stringed instruments, plus additional percussion and synthesiser parts.
Photography
Zinner studied photography at Bard and also in Paris, France. He has released four separate collections of his work: No Seats on the Party Car (2001), Slept in Beds (2003), I hope you are all happy now (2004) which features an introduction written by director Jim JarmuschJim Jarmusch
James R. "Jim" Jarmusch is an American independent film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, editor and composer. Jarmusch has been a major proponent of independent cinema, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:...
, and Please Take Me Off the Guest List (2010).
An exhibit – 1001 Images – of Zinner's photographs was mounted in NYC in October 2010 and in San Francisco in February 2011.
In January 2011, Zinner was commissioned by Lee Jeans to shoot their Winter ’11 advertising campaign.
In May 2011 A further exhibit of his photographs was mounted at the Anastasia Photo Gallery in New York City, featuring shots of the crowds at his concerts.
Personal life
Nick is a veganVeganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
and involved with the animal rights group, PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
. He has tattoos in different places including one of a star on his arm, and another of a heart on his finger and one on his hand. Zinner listened to metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands while growing up, and cites Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
and Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Allen Anzalone; June 23, 1955 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, entrepreneur, and a progenitor of the horror punk subgenre of music. He is a founder of bands the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig...
as major influences.
His father, Stephen Zinner MD, is a medical professor at Harvard University and a classical pianist.
Nick Zinner also played the violin, referring to himself as a "child prodigy."
His sister, Meredith Zinner, is an actress and photographer based in New York.
Album Appearances
- The Blood Brothers – CrimesCrimes (album)Crimes is the fourth studio album by the American band The Blood Brothers released on October 12, 2004. It is their second major label album and their first for V2...
(2004) – "Wolf Party" - Bright Eyes – Digital Ash in a Digital UrnDigital Ash in a Digital UrnDigital Ash in a Digital Urn is one of two Bright Eyes albums released on January 25, 2005 by Saddle Creek Records. It peaked at #15 in the US and #43 in the UK...
(2005 · Saddle Creek) - Head Wound CityHead Wound CityHead Wound City is an American noisegrind supergroup consisting of Jordan Blilie and Cody Votolato of The Blood Brothers, Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Justin Pearson and Gabe Serbian, both from The Locust and Holy Molar...
– Head Wound City EP (2005) - Bloc PartyBloc PartyBloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
– Silent Alarm RemixedSilent Alarm RemixedSilent Alarm Remixed is the remix album to Silent Alarm, the debut album by British indie rock band Bloc Party. It was released on 29 August 2005 in the British Isles on Wichita Recordings, the band's primary label, and on 13 September 2005 in the United States through Vice Records to coincide with...
(2005) – "Compliments (Shibuyaka Remix By Nick Zinner)" - The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel TowerThe Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel TowerThe Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower was a four-piece punk/noise band from San Diego, California, that formed in 2001. After disbanding in 2006, drummer Brian Hill now plays with The Soft Pack , while singer Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell formed the duo Crocodiles.-Members:* Brandon Welchez -...
– INRI (EP) (2006) – "INRI (Nick Zinner Remix)" - Scarlett JohanssonScarlett JohanssonScarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
– Anywhere I Lay My HeadAnywhere I Lay My HeadAnywhere I Lay My Head is the debut studio album by actress Scarlett Johansson, released through Atco Records on May 20, 2008. Dave Sitek produced the album, and David Bowie contributed to two tracks, "Falling Down" and "Fannin Street."...
(2008) - Nickel EyeNickel EyeNickel Eye is the solo project of The Strokes' bassist Nikolai Fraiture. The band consists of Nikolai Fraiture , Joel Cadbury , Jamie McDonald and Brett Shaw ....
– The Time of the AssassinsThe Time of the Assassins- Personnel :*Nikolai Fraiture: guitar, vocals, electric bass, double bass , harmonica *Joel Cadbury: steel guitar *Jamie McDonald: additional guitar and solo *Brett Shaw: drums on all tracks except 6 and 10...
(2009) - N.A.S.A.N.A.S.A. (musical group)N.A.S.A. is a hip hop music duo, consisting of L.A.-based producers Squeak E. Clean and the Brazilian DJ Zegon. N.A.S.A. stands for North America/South America and, in addition to the two principals, includes approximately three dozen other artists from both coasts of the U.S...
– The Spirit of Apollo (2009) – "Whachadoin?"
External links
- Nick Zinner at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Free Williamsburg Interview with Alexander LaurenceAlexander LaurenceAlexander Laurence is a writer who was born in Los Angeles, California in May 1964. He attended CSULB and studied English Literature, where he graduated in 1988. He moved to San Francisco, California in 1989 and New York City in 1996. In that time, he attended classes at SF Art Institute and the...
(2003)