Tyler Willman
Encyclopedia
Tyler Willman, also known as Ty Willman, is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who lives in Seattle, Washington. He is probably best known for his work with the Seattle-based band Green Apple Quick Step
. He briefly fronted the band Devilhead
and helped form Calm Down Juanita
.
-based band Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys, which he fronted, with guitarists Steve Ross and Dan Kempthorne, drummer Bob Martin and bassist Eric Munday. They recorded a limited edition 7" purple vinyl 4-song EP, called Another World and released 700 numbered copies of it on Aroma Records in 1989. By 1992 that band had become Seattle's Green Apple Quick Step, with mostly the same personnel and a new bassist. Willman, guitarists Kempthorn and Ross
, drummer Bob 'Mink' Martin, and a new singer-bassist, Mari Ann Braeden, went on to record three albums, releasing only the first two: Wonderful Virus
in 1993, and Reloaded
in 1995, both on The Medicine Label.
Always involved in many side-projects, Willman worked on Mike McCready's
project, $10,000 Gold Chain; a collaboration that also included Mari Ann Braeden and produced the song Oh! Sweet Nuthin' for the 1996 soundtrack to the film The Cable Guy and he worked with the rest of GAQS on writing and performing Dizzy for the 1995 soundtrack to the film Basketball Diaries.
He sang with Devilhead
, with Kevin Wood and former members of Haters
, recording lead vocals for one song, Buying Milk, on their album Pest Control, released in 1996 on Loosegroove Records
.
He recorded backing vocals on The Skies Magnify Me, with Brandon
and Ben Curtis
and Joseph Butcher for UFOFU
, on their CD UFOFU, released on the Medicine Label in 1997.
Willman and session drummer kevtone
formed the Seattle-based studio band Calm Down Juanita
, a writing collaboration that produced two albums; an eponymous 7-song debut EP in 1998, and a full-length CD in 2002, entitled Undertown. These albums featured several other notable musicians, including, again, fellow GAQS member, bassist Mari Ann Braeden, bassist and recording engineer Steve Feasley, Josh Freese
, Stone Gossard
, bassist Cole Peterson, and saxophonist Skerik
.
Starting in 1998, Willman also worked with Stone Gossard
on Gossard's first solo album, Bayleaf
, recording during Gossard's visits to Willman's house and released in 2001. Willman sang lead vocals on three songs, Cadillac, Unhand Me, and Fend It Off, as well as background vocals on the rest of the album.
Willman also formed a number of other projects. In July 1999, he and former Gigolo Aunt
, Phil Hurley
formed Hula Bess.
He wrote Leaving California; recorded with Shawn Smith
on guitar and bass guitar and Michael Shrieve
on drums, for Smith's 2003 album, Shield of Thorns
, released on Establishmentstore Records.
He was frontman for the band Novatone, for its 2005 album release on Wax Orchard Records, Time Can't Wait, which also featured Dave Krusen
and Cody Davis, as well as a guest appearance by Shawn Smith
.
Later, in 2007-2008, he formed Mass Sugar, which was referred to as a "part acoustic indie rock, part groovy jam band".
In 2009, he reconstituted Green Apple Quick Step for a few 2010 "reunion" performances, including gigs at Tacoma's Hell's Kitchen and Seattle's Crocodile Café
. Their lineup as of May 2010 consisted of Willman on lead vocals, Christa Wells on vocals, Dana Turner on guitar, Geoff Reading
on drums, and guest guitarist Mike Squires
.
Green Apple Quick Step
Green Apple Quick Step, often abbreviated as GAQS, is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. Their sound was described as hard-edged, post-grunge rock. The band began as Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys in Tacoma, Washington before becoming Green Apple Quick Step, in Seattle, by 1992...
. He briefly fronted the band Devilhead
Devilhead
Devilhead is an American alternative rock group formed by brothers Kevin and Brian Wood, who were both brothers of the late Andrew Wood , in 1994 in Seattle, Washington following the breakup of their previous group Fire Ants...
and helped form Calm Down Juanita
Calm Down Juanita
Calm Down Juanita is a Seattle, Washington studio band writing partnership between vocalist Tyler Willman and drummer Kevin Guess, catalyzed and engineered by Steve Wilmans, that has featured several other notable players. Their sound is progressive psychedelic alternative rock...
.
Biography
Ty Willman was a founding member of the Tacoma, WashingtonTacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
-based band Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys, which he fronted, with guitarists Steve Ross and Dan Kempthorne, drummer Bob Martin and bassist Eric Munday. They recorded a limited edition 7" purple vinyl 4-song EP, called Another World and released 700 numbered copies of it on Aroma Records in 1989. By 1992 that band had become Seattle's Green Apple Quick Step, with mostly the same personnel and a new bassist. Willman, guitarists Kempthorn and Ross
Steve Ross
Steve Ross may refer to:* Steve Ross , American movie mogul* Stephen Ross , British politician* Stephen Ross , American economist...
, drummer Bob 'Mink' Martin, and a new singer-bassist, Mari Ann Braeden, went on to record three albums, releasing only the first two: Wonderful Virus
Wonderful Virus
-Personnel:Green Apple Quick Step*Tyler Willman – vocals*Steve Ross – guitar*Daniel Kempthorne – guitar*Mari Ann Braeden – bass, vocals*Bob Martin – drumsProduction personnel*Daniel Rey – production...
in 1993, and Reloaded
Reloaded (Green Apple Quick Step album)
-Personnel:Green Apple Quick Step*Tyler Willman – vocals, acoustic guitar, organ*Steve Ross – guitar*Daniel Kempthorne – guitar*Mari Ann Braeden – bass, vocals*Bob Martin – drumsAdditional personnel...
in 1995, both on The Medicine Label.
Always involved in many side-projects, Willman worked on Mike McCready's
Mike McCready
Michael David McCready is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Dave Krusen, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
project, $10,000 Gold Chain; a collaboration that also included Mari Ann Braeden and produced the song Oh! Sweet Nuthin' for the 1996 soundtrack to the film The Cable Guy and he worked with the rest of GAQS on writing and performing Dizzy for the 1995 soundtrack to the film Basketball Diaries.
He sang with Devilhead
Devilhead
Devilhead is an American alternative rock group formed by brothers Kevin and Brian Wood, who were both brothers of the late Andrew Wood , in 1994 in Seattle, Washington following the breakup of their previous group Fire Ants...
, with Kevin Wood and former members of Haters
Haters
Haters can refer to:* The Haters, a noise music group* Haters , a 2006 book by author Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez* "Haters", a song by So Solid Crew on the 2001 album They Don't Know...
, recording lead vocals for one song, Buying Milk, on their album Pest Control, released in 1996 on Loosegroove Records
Loosegroove Records
Loosegroove Records was a Seattle based record label formed by Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard and Brad drummer Regan Hagar in 1994. Initially a subsidiary of Sony before going independent in 1996, Loosegroove signed many up and coming artists from various musical genres, especially rock and hip...
.
He recorded backing vocals on The Skies Magnify Me, with Brandon
Brandon Curtis
Brandon Curtis is the vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the rock band The Secret Machines. Originally from Norman, Oklahoma, he was friends with Tim, Mark, and Brian of Tripping Daisy, as well as members of The Flaming Lips and The Chainsaw Kittens. Brandon and his brother Benjamin moved to...
and Ben Curtis
Benjamin Curtis (musician)
Benjamin Curtis is an American guitarist. He is a member of School of Seven Bells, in which he sings and plays instruments in addition to guitar. Benjamin was the guitarist and backing vocalist for the rock band The Secret Machines until March 2007, when, according to the band's website, he left to...
and Joseph Butcher for UFOFU
UFOFU
UFOFU was a rock band based in Dallas, Texas. The band consisted of Joseph Butcher, and brothers Brandon Curtis and Ben Curtis. It rose to local prominence in the mid-90's through word of mouth and slots opening for other north Texas bands such as Hagfish and Tripping Daisy...
, on their CD UFOFU, released on the Medicine Label in 1997.
Willman and session drummer kevtone
Kevtone
Kevtone is an American musician, percussionist, and songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Performing live and in studio, his rhythm style may best be described as improvisational, melodic, progressive, and bluesy, over a wide variety of styles; reflecting influences from many genres of music.He is...
formed the Seattle-based studio band Calm Down Juanita
Calm Down Juanita
Calm Down Juanita is a Seattle, Washington studio band writing partnership between vocalist Tyler Willman and drummer Kevin Guess, catalyzed and engineered by Steve Wilmans, that has featured several other notable players. Their sound is progressive psychedelic alternative rock...
, a writing collaboration that produced two albums; an eponymous 7-song debut EP in 1998, and a full-length CD in 2002, entitled Undertown. These albums featured several other notable musicians, including, again, fellow GAQS member, bassist Mari Ann Braeden, bassist and recording engineer Steve Feasley, Josh Freese
Josh Freese
Josh Freese is an American session drummer and songwriter. He is a permanent member of A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, and Devo, having formerly played drums for Nine Inch Nails from late 2005 until late 2008, and for Guns N' Roses from mid-1998 to 2001. Freese has appeared on close to 300 records....
, Stone Gossard
Stone Gossard
Stone Carpenter Gossard is an American musician who serves as the rhythm and lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
, bassist Cole Peterson, and saxophonist Skerik
Skerik
Skerik is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, Skerik is a pioneer in a playing style that has been dubbed saxophonics. He is a founding member of Critters Buggin, Garage a Trois and Skerik's Syncopated...
.
Starting in 1998, Willman also worked with Stone Gossard
Stone Gossard
Stone Carpenter Gossard is an American musician who serves as the rhythm and lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
on Gossard's first solo album, Bayleaf
Bayleaf (album)
Japanese bonus track- Personnel :* Stone Gossard – vocals, bass guitar, guitar, piano, drums, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion, conga, background vocalsAdditional musicians and production* Zac Baird – Nord Lead...
, recording during Gossard's visits to Willman's house and released in 2001. Willman sang lead vocals on three songs, Cadillac, Unhand Me, and Fend It Off, as well as background vocals on the rest of the album.
Willman also formed a number of other projects. In July 1999, he and former Gigolo Aunt
Gigolo Aunts
-Early history:The band was formed by middle school students Steve Hurley, Dave Gibbs, Phil Hurley and Paul Brouwer in 1981 in Potsdam, New York, originally known as Sniper...
, Phil Hurley
Phil Hurley
Phil Hurley is a versatile American singer-songwriter from Potsdam, New York. He has collaborated with many prominent musicians and bands in New York, Boston, Washington state, the Netherlands, Los Angeles, and Austin....
formed Hula Bess.
He wrote Leaving California; recorded with Shawn Smith
Shawn Smith
Shawn Smith is a Seattle-based songwriter, vocalist and musician in several bands and also as a solo artist. He was born in Spokane, Washington.Smith has cited Freddie Mercury, Prince and KISS as early influences...
on guitar and bass guitar and Michael Shrieve
Michael Shrieve
Michael Shrieve is an American drummer, percussionist, and later, an electronic music composer. He is best known as the drummer in Carlos Santana's eponymous band, playing on their first eight albums from 1969 through 1974...
on drums, for Smith's 2003 album, Shield of Thorns
Shield of Thorns
Shield of Thorns is the second solo studio album by Seattle musician Shawn Smith. Two songs were featured on the "Long Term Parking" episode of The Sopranos fifth season on HBO....
, released on Establishmentstore Records.
He was frontman for the band Novatone, for its 2005 album release on Wax Orchard Records, Time Can't Wait, which also featured Dave Krusen
Dave Krusen
Dave Krusen is an American musician who is best known for being the original drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam and for his work on the band's debut album, Ten...
and Cody Davis, as well as a guest appearance by Shawn Smith
Shawn Smith
Shawn Smith is a Seattle-based songwriter, vocalist and musician in several bands and also as a solo artist. He was born in Spokane, Washington.Smith has cited Freddie Mercury, Prince and KISS as early influences...
.
Later, in 2007-2008, he formed Mass Sugar, which was referred to as a "part acoustic indie rock, part groovy jam band".
In 2009, he reconstituted Green Apple Quick Step for a few 2010 "reunion" performances, including gigs at Tacoma's Hell's Kitchen and Seattle's Crocodile Café
Crocodile Cafe
The Crocodile is a music club at 2200 2nd Avenue at Blanchard Street in the neighborhood of Belltown in Seattle, Washington, USA. Opened as the "Crocodile Cafe" on April 30, 1991 by Stephanie Dorgan, it quickly became a fixture on the local music scene. It closed on December 15, 2007...
. Their lineup as of May 2010 consisted of Willman on lead vocals, Christa Wells on vocals, Dana Turner on guitar, Geoff Reading
Geoff Reading
Geoff Reading is an American musician. In his career, Reading has been a member of a number of groups, including Loaded , Green Apple Quick Step, New American Shame, The Disciples Geoff Reading (born February 23, 1968, in Rochester, New York) is an American musician. In his career, Reading has...
on drums, and guest guitarist Mike Squires
Mike Squires (musician)
Mike Squires is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist in the hard rock group Loaded, the group led by Velvet Revolver and former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan....
.
See also
- Calm Down JuanitaCalm Down JuanitaCalm Down Juanita is a Seattle, Washington studio band writing partnership between vocalist Tyler Willman and drummer Kevin Guess, catalyzed and engineered by Steve Wilmans, that has featured several other notable players. Their sound is progressive psychedelic alternative rock...
- DevilheadDevilheadDevilhead is an American alternative rock group formed by brothers Kevin and Brian Wood, who were both brothers of the late Andrew Wood , in 1994 in Seattle, Washington following the breakup of their previous group Fire Ants...
- Green Apple Quick StepGreen Apple Quick StepGreen Apple Quick Step, often abbreviated as GAQS, is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. Their sound was described as hard-edged, post-grunge rock. The band began as Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys in Tacoma, Washington before becoming Green Apple Quick Step, in Seattle, by 1992...