Tim Branom
Encyclopedia
Tim Branom is an American musician, record producer, and writer. Best known for working with bands such as Alice In Chains producing audio cassette in the mid-80's.
In 1986, at age 21, he produced a three-song demo tape for an early version of Alice In Chains
(then called Alice N' Chains) that included vocalist Layne Staley
(Alice In Chains, Mad Season
), guitarist Nick Pollock
(My Sister's Machine
, Soulbender
, Tanks of Zen
), bassist Johnny Bacolas
(Second Coming
), and drummer James Bergstrom
(Second Coming). These songs are still unreleased.
(Alice In Chains), and drummer Mike “Bones” Gersema (L.A. Guns). Guitarist Jerry Cantrell
(Alice In Chains) briefly played in the band and took Mike Starr
(Alice In Chains) with him after the second Gypsy Rose line-up broke up.
In 1989, he would make a cameo in the locally televised Seattle cable movie “Father Rock” which would feature the unreleased music he recorded with Gypsy Rose and the early Alice ‘N Chains demos. This 90 minute film also featured music by other Seattle bands of the day [Boom Boom G.I., Show & Tell, Alice ‘N Chains, Ron Stokes] and also shows footage of Layne Staley (Alice In Chains) at age 19 in 1986 made to look like he is performing to one of Branom’s songs.
to pursue a band called United Snakes Of America. The band was courted by new label Giant Records. But the band dissolved months later.
Branom permanently stayed in Los Angeles and in 1991, he would sing with Bone Dancer, a “street metal” band that echoed the scene on the Sunset Strip
. [vocalist Tim Branom, guitarist Ron Cerrito, guitarist Joe Bertalli, bassist Kurt Scheaffer, drummer Joe Fuoco].
In 1993, he would sing, play guitar, bass and keyboards for Cloud Nine. This band was a major departure from his other bands in that it was heavily influenced by The Beatles
, Led Zeppelin
and Jimi Hendrix
. The band would finally break up after seven years without any official releases. An album was recorded in 1998 with guest backing vocals on three songs by Zoe Bonham, daughter of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham
. There were several different lineups, but the core band consisted of vocalist / bassist / keyboardist Tim Branom, guitarist Tim “Hoffa” Hofstetter, and drummer Scott Ernest. Other members included original drummer Joe Pafumi (Walter Trout Band), and bassists: Reed “Clackers” Kay (Leif Garrett Band), Lance Turner (Atomic Punks), Richard “Bumper” Renga, and Jean-Paul Tantet.
In 1995 he sang lead and background vocals for the drummer/singer/songwriter; Monn Tanno Mondo which appeared on the CDs; "Moods & Madness" then on "Tales of Eternity". One song of note is "Mental Orgasm" which is an acoustic rock song with heavy drums, characteristic of the Monn Tanno Mondo style and sound.
By late 1999, Branom changed musical direction again and began working with JVC A&R man Eiji Nahahira which lead to airplay in Japan
of his new music. When enough interest was generated, a small tour and TV show were financed in 2000 by Tower Records
& ANA Airlines in Miyazaki, Japan. Branom recorded all the songs himself, but a band was hired for the tour. This band, called Branom, consisted of vocalist/guitarist Tim Branom, guitarist Brian Davis, bassist Mike Davis (Rob Halford
, Dramarama, Lizzy Borden
) and drummer Jackie Ramos (Bangalore Choir).
Also in 2000, Branom was invited to Louisville
, KY to record guitar tracks for Days Of The New (The Red Album on Interscope Records). But due to a technical error, his tracks never made it onto the album and he returned back to CA to resume working for an independent record label as a Staff Producer.
At record label Delta Entertainment, he began working behind the scenes on hundreds of albums in the areas of Liner Notes, Musician, Mastering, Editing, and as a Producer. These record labels included Time-Life Music, Reader’s Digest, Capriccio, Black Cat, Style, Delta, Laserlight, Capriccio, RCA Camden, BMG Special Products, EMI Special Products, and Yamaha.
In 2002, he assembled Jazz musicians to Produce three Christmas albums: “Martinis & Mistletoe”, “Holiday Dinner”, and “The Gift” (Label: Delta/Laserlight).
In 2003, He began playing guitar, bass and keyboards for future American Idol
finalist Carly Smithson
.
In 2004, he started writing and recording an album by himself (still unreleased). Two songs were remixed and released on the Tube Bar Collector's Edition
by the Bum Bar Bastards for a limited time.
In 2007, his Seattle colleagues convinced him to write a book about the Seattle music scene in the 1980’s and his first-hand experiences. This book is set to be finished in 2010.
Early Career
First become known in the Seattle area with Juvenile [vocalist Tim Branom, guitarist Tom Thew, guitarist Vince Boccio, bassist Taze Yanick, drummer Jeff McCormack (Red Platinum, Heir Apparent, Nightshade)] which morphed into Sentence [vocalist Tim Branom, guitarist Kevin Hughes, bassist Taze Yanick, Ron Stokes (Uncle Sam), drummer Jeff McCormack (Red Platinum, Heir Apparent, Nightshade)] before breaking up in late 1985.In 1986, at age 21, he produced a three-song demo tape for an early version of Alice In Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
(then called Alice N' Chains) that included vocalist Layne Staley
Layne Staley
Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-lyricist of the rock group Alice in Chains, which was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987 by Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the...
(Alice In Chains, Mad Season
Mad Season
Mad Season was an American rock supergroup formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1994 by members of three popular Seattle-based bands: Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Screaming Trees. Mad Season only released one album, Above, and is best known for the single "River of Deceit"...
), guitarist Nick Pollock
Nick Pollock
Nick Pollock is a Seattle-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band My Sister's Machine. He has also played in various bands with other notable musicians, including Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley and Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton...
(My Sister's Machine
My Sister's Machine
My Sister's Machine was a grunge band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1989. Its members were Nick Pollock , Owen Wright , Chris Ivanovich , and Chris Gohde ....
, Soulbender
Soulbender
Soulbender is a heavy metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, by musicians hailing from both Seattle and Vancouver, including Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton and My Sister's Machine vocalist Nick Pollock. Other founding members were guitarist Dave Groves and drummer Wes Hallam, both of whom...
, Tanks of Zen
Tanks of Zen
Tanks of Zen is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, led by singer-guitarist Nick Pollock, who has previously fronted the bands My Sister's Machine and Soulbender...
), bassist Johnny Bacolas
Johnny Bacolas
Johnny Bacolas born March 3, 1969, in Seattle, Washington, is a composer, musician, producer, and videographer. He is best known for his work with the post-grunge band Second Coming...
(Second Coming
Second Coming (band)
Second Coming was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1990. They relocated to Seattle, Washington around 1992 and released their debut album L.O.V.Evil in 1994. This band underwent several lineup changes throughout its existence with drummer James Bergstrom being the sole...
), and drummer James Bergstrom
James Bergstrom
James Bergstrom is an American musician best known for his work in the bands Alice N' Chains, a precursor to Alice in Chains, and Second Coming.-Alice N' Chains:...
(Second Coming). These songs are still unreleased.
Gypsy Rose
In 1987, he formed a metal band called Gypsy Rose which had many different lineups. But the first lineup was the best known: vocalist Tim Branom, guitarist Brock Graue (Lipstick), bassist Mike StarrMike Starr (musician)
Michael Christopher "Mike" Starr was an American musician, best known as the original bassist in Alice in Chains, with whom he played from the band's formation in 1987 until 1993.- Career :...
(Alice In Chains), and drummer Mike “Bones” Gersema (L.A. Guns). Guitarist Jerry Cantrell
Jerry Cantrell
Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band Alice in Chains, as lead guitarist, backing and co-lead vocalist, and co-lyricist. He performs lead vocals on his solo projects, and is part of Alice in Chains' harmonizing...
(Alice In Chains) briefly played in the band and took Mike Starr
Mike Starr (musician)
Michael Christopher "Mike" Starr was an American musician, best known as the original bassist in Alice in Chains, with whom he played from the band's formation in 1987 until 1993.- Career :...
(Alice In Chains) with him after the second Gypsy Rose line-up broke up.
In 1989, he would make a cameo in the locally televised Seattle cable movie “Father Rock” which would feature the unreleased music he recorded with Gypsy Rose and the early Alice ‘N Chains demos. This 90 minute film also featured music by other Seattle bands of the day [Boom Boom G.I., Show & Tell, Alice ‘N Chains, Ron Stokes] and also shows footage of Layne Staley (Alice In Chains) at age 19 in 1986 made to look like he is performing to one of Branom’s songs.
Record producing, Other bands
In 1990, he moved to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to pursue a band called United Snakes Of America. The band was courted by new label Giant Records. But the band dissolved months later.
Branom permanently stayed in Los Angeles and in 1991, he would sing with Bone Dancer, a “street metal” band that echoed the scene on the Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
. [vocalist Tim Branom, guitarist Ron Cerrito, guitarist Joe Bertalli, bassist Kurt Scheaffer, drummer Joe Fuoco].
In 1993, he would sing, play guitar, bass and keyboards for Cloud Nine. This band was a major departure from his other bands in that it was heavily influenced by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. The band would finally break up after seven years without any official releases. An album was recorded in 1998 with guest backing vocals on three songs by Zoe Bonham, daughter of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
. There were several different lineups, but the core band consisted of vocalist / bassist / keyboardist Tim Branom, guitarist Tim “Hoffa” Hofstetter, and drummer Scott Ernest. Other members included original drummer Joe Pafumi (Walter Trout Band), and bassists: Reed “Clackers” Kay (Leif Garrett Band), Lance Turner (Atomic Punks), Richard “Bumper” Renga, and Jean-Paul Tantet.
In 1995 he sang lead and background vocals for the drummer/singer/songwriter; Monn Tanno Mondo which appeared on the CDs; "Moods & Madness" then on "Tales of Eternity". One song of note is "Mental Orgasm" which is an acoustic rock song with heavy drums, characteristic of the Monn Tanno Mondo style and sound.
By late 1999, Branom changed musical direction again and began working with JVC A&R man Eiji Nahahira which lead to airplay in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
of his new music. When enough interest was generated, a small tour and TV show were financed in 2000 by Tower Records
Tower Records
Tower Records was a retail music chain that was based in Sacramento, California. It currently exists as an international franchise and an online music store....
& ANA Airlines in Miyazaki, Japan. Branom recorded all the songs himself, but a band was hired for the tour. This band, called Branom, consisted of vocalist/guitarist Tim Branom, guitarist Brian Davis, bassist Mike Davis (Rob Halford
Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song of the same name from 1980's...
, Dramarama, Lizzy Borden
Lizzy Borden (band)
Lizzy Borden is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. Lizzy Borden is also the name of the band's lead vocalist.-History:Lizzy Borden specializes in the shock rock style originated by artists such as Alice Cooper and Kiss...
) and drummer Jackie Ramos (Bangalore Choir).
Also in 2000, Branom was invited to Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, KY to record guitar tracks for Days Of The New (The Red Album on Interscope Records). But due to a technical error, his tracks never made it onto the album and he returned back to CA to resume working for an independent record label as a Staff Producer.
At record label Delta Entertainment, he began working behind the scenes on hundreds of albums in the areas of Liner Notes, Musician, Mastering, Editing, and as a Producer. These record labels included Time-Life Music, Reader’s Digest, Capriccio, Black Cat, Style, Delta, Laserlight, Capriccio, RCA Camden, BMG Special Products, EMI Special Products, and Yamaha.
In 2002, he assembled Jazz musicians to Produce three Christmas albums: “Martinis & Mistletoe”, “Holiday Dinner”, and “The Gift” (Label: Delta/Laserlight).
In 2003, He began playing guitar, bass and keyboards for future American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
finalist Carly Smithson
Carly Smithson
Carly Smithson is an Irish soul/pop rock singer-songwriter and actress from San Diego, California who was the sixth place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. In 2001, Smithson released her first studio album for MCA Records called Ultimate High. Smithson was dropped from the record...
.
In 2004, he started writing and recording an album by himself (still unreleased). Two songs were remixed and released on the Tube Bar Collector's Edition
Tube Bar Collector's Edition
-Tube Bar Collector's Edition:Tube Bar Collector's Edition [2-CD Set] is a prank call comedy compilation by the Bum Bar Bastards. This 2 disc album is a compilation of the previous 2 albums Tube Bar and Tavern Tour....
by the Bum Bar Bastards for a limited time.
In 2007, his Seattle colleagues convinced him to write a book about the Seattle music scene in the 1980’s and his first-hand experiences. This book is set to be finished in 2010.