Robert Sledge
Encyclopedia
Robert Sledge is an American musician, best known for his work with Ben Folds Five
.
's Sully Erna
).
Robert was a founding member of the piano-rock trio Ben Folds Five
. Robert was the bass player for the group as well as taking up backup vocal duties on almost every song at the time. During the Reinhold Messner tour Robert began to use synths on stage as well as playing bass until the band's break up in 2000.
Robert was the only member of Ben Folds Five that was able to stand while performing (although Ben Folds would often stand while playing the piano during intense performances). He is known for his use of a Big Muff
distortion pedal and rockstar flair. Sledge played a Hamer Blitz Bass throughout the early years of Ben Folds Five. It was used on their eponymous debut album. He later switched to a Fender Jazz Bass
to record Whatever and Ever Amen
, while playing his Gibson
and Epiphone
Les Paul
basses in live shows from that time to the present. Between Whatever and Ever Amen
, Sledge had a sponsorship from Epiphone for his use of the Les Paul Bass, which can be seen in the Ben Folds Five Performance on Sessions at West 54th
. He also plays an upright double bass
for several songs, including Brick
.
Ben Folds
made reference to Sledge in the lyrics of his song "Not the Same" on his 2001 solo album Rockin' the Suburbs
: "You took a trip and climbed a tree/At Robert Sledge's party". Though Folds used Sledge's name, he claims the events in the song actually happened at drummer Darren Jessee's party.
members Tom Maxwell and Ken Mosher. According to John D. Luerssen's Rivers' Edge: The Weezer Story Sledge was heavily considered to replace Mikey Welsh
as the new Weezer
bassist in 2001 but instead Scott Shriner
took the job.
He later joined the band International Orange, as a songwriter, bassist and vocalist. International Orange broke up in 2005. Currently he lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
. He currently gives music lessons and plays in a local rock band named the "Bob Sledge Band."
Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five is an alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group comprises Ben Folds , Robert Sledge , and Darren Jessee . The group achieved mainstream success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes...
.
Biography
Robert Sledge began playing bass guitar at the age of eleven. His brother was playing guitar at his house so he also learned how to play the guitar at the same time. Robert Sledge got his start in the music scene when he was discovered in his basement by Jon Royce of The Beam, a regionally known band. They were from Murfreesboro, NC, but played many shows to sold out crowds in the 1980s and early 90's in Atlantic Beach and they were also well known in Greenville, NC and all along the East Coast. The Beam played shows in Savannah, Ga as well, and played with Johnny WInter and opened for The Black Crowes. Robert Sledge had Steven Dean Davis(Stomp,Pandemonium),Jon Royce(Zakk's Coffeehouse), and Brad Dilday as well as others as his band mates in The Beam Before playing with Ben Folds Five he was bassist for the bands Toxic Popsicle and Lexx Luthor (with GodsmackGodsmack
Godsmack is an American heavy metal band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band is composed of founder, frontman and songwriter Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill, and drummer Shannon Larkin...
's Sully Erna
Sully Erna
Salvatore Paul "Sully" Erna , is an American vocalist and primary songwriter for the American heavy metal band, Godsmack. Erna is also a guitarist and drummer, performing these both on albums and during live shows. He has a daughter named Skylar Brooke Erna and an older sister named Maria.-Early...
).
Ben Folds Five
Robert Sledge got his start in the music scene when he was discovered in his basement by Jon Royce of The Beam, a regionally known band. They were from Murfreesboro, NC, but played many shows to sold out crowds in the 1980s and early 90's in Atlantic Beach and they were also well known in Greensboro, NC. The Beam played shows in Savannah, Ga as well, and played with Johnny WInter and opened for The Black Crowes. Robert Sledge had Steven Dean Davis (Stomp, Pandemonium), Jon Royce (Zakk's Coffeehouse), and Brad Dilday as well as others as his band mates in The Beam. (The Sun Newspaper,(VA), Feb 17 1987)Robert was a founding member of the piano-rock trio Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five is an alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group comprises Ben Folds , Robert Sledge , and Darren Jessee . The group achieved mainstream success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes...
. Robert was the bass player for the group as well as taking up backup vocal duties on almost every song at the time. During the Reinhold Messner tour Robert began to use synths on stage as well as playing bass until the band's break up in 2000.
Robert was the only member of Ben Folds Five that was able to stand while performing (although Ben Folds would often stand while playing the piano during intense performances). He is known for his use of a Big Muff
Big Muff
The Big Muff is a fuzzbox produced in New York City by the Electro-Harmonix company, along with their Russian sister company Sovtek, primarily for use with the electric guitar...
distortion pedal and rockstar flair. Sledge played a Hamer Blitz Bass throughout the early years of Ben Folds Five. It was used on their eponymous debut album. He later switched to a Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
to record Whatever and Ever Amen
Whatever and Ever Amen
Whatever and Ever Amen is the second album by Ben Folds Five, released in 1997. A remaster was made available on March 22, 2005. All of the extra tracks had been previously released except for a cover of the Buggles song "Video Killed the Radio Star", which is a staple of Ben Folds Five's live...
, while playing his Gibson
Gibson
Gibson may refer to:* Gibson Amphitheatre* Gibson Appliance* Gibson Girl* Gibson Guitar Corporation* Gibson * Gibson Generating Station-Places:In the United States:* Gibson, Arkansas* Gibson, Georgia* Gibson, Iowa* Gibson, Louisiana...
and Epiphone
Epiphone
The Epiphone Company is a musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Epiphone was bought by Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which also owned Gibson Guitar Corporation, in 1957. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market...
Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
basses in live shows from that time to the present. Between Whatever and Ever Amen
Whatever and Ever Amen
Whatever and Ever Amen is the second album by Ben Folds Five, released in 1997. A remaster was made available on March 22, 2005. All of the extra tracks had been previously released except for a cover of the Buggles song "Video Killed the Radio Star", which is a staple of Ben Folds Five's live...
, Sledge had a sponsorship from Epiphone for his use of the Les Paul Bass, which can be seen in the Ben Folds Five Performance on Sessions at West 54th
Sessions at West 54th
Sessions at West 54th was an American television program that featured music performances, and was in some ways a pop music variation on the theme set by the long-lived Austin City Limits, though the featured musicians represented a number of musical genres. It was called Sessions at West 54th...
. He also plays an upright double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
for several songs, including Brick
Brick (song)
"Brick" is a song performed by Ben Folds Five released on their 1997 album Whatever and Ever Amen and later on Ben Folds Live. The verses were written by Ben Folds about his high school girlfriend undergoing an abortion, and the chorus was written by the band's drummer, Darren Jessee...
.
Ben Folds
Ben Folds
Benjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
made reference to Sledge in the lyrics of his song "Not the Same" on his 2001 solo album Rockin' the Suburbs
Rockin' the Suburbs
Rockin’ the Suburbs is an alternative rock album by singer/songwriter Ben Folds, released on September 11, 2001 . His first solo album after leaving his band Ben Folds Five , Rockin’ the Suburbs is also Folds' most popular LP to date, and includes the...
: "You took a trip and climbed a tree/At Robert Sledge's party". Though Folds used Sledge's name, he claims the events in the song actually happened at drummer Darren Jessee's party.
Post-Ben Folds Five
After Ben Folds Five broke up, Robert Sledge performed for one summer with the short lived rock group Brother Seeker, a band composed of Robert and former Squirrel Nut ZippersSquirrel Nut Zippers
The Squirrel Nut Zippers are a band formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by James "Jimbo" Mathus , Katharine Whalen , Chris Phillips on drums, Don Raleigh on bass and sideman Ken Mosher....
members Tom Maxwell and Ken Mosher. According to John D. Luerssen's Rivers' Edge: The Weezer Story Sledge was heavily considered to replace Mikey Welsh
Mikey Welsh
Michael Edward "Mikey" Welsh was an American artist and musician, best known as the former bassist of Weezer. He played with Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo during Cuomo's time in Boston during the hiatus in the band Homie...
as the new Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
bassist in 2001 but instead Scott Shriner
Scott Shriner
Scott G. Shriner is the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band Weezer.-Early life:Shriner was born in Toledo, Ohio. He took up bass in high school. After being discharged from the Marine Corps, he found his high school bass teacher Mark Kieswetter, with whom he studied until moving to Los...
took the job.
He later joined the band International Orange, as a songwriter, bassist and vocalist. International Orange broke up in 2005. Currently he lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
. He currently gives music lessons and plays in a local rock band named the "Bob Sledge Band."