Wes Wehmiller
Encyclopedia
Wes Wehmiller was a bass guitar
ist who performed with Duran Duran
and Missing Persons.
He was born in New York City
, and named after John Wesley Powell
. He grew up in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
and later Wilmington, Delaware
, where he and his younger brother attended Wilmington Friends School
.
In high school
, Wehmiller was an award-winning member of the Delaware All State Jazz Band, and received the Delaware Music Educators' "Award of Distinction." He attended a summer "Berklee in Santa Fe" workshop, and while there was awarded a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music
in Boston
, where he studied under Danny Morris. After graduation, he worked with many other musicians in Los Angeles
before founding his own band I, Claudius.
When bassist John Taylor
bowed out of Duran Duran
in 1997, guitarist Warren Cuccurullo
brought Wehmiller on board. Wehmiller toured and performed on television with the band until 2001, when Taylor reunited with the band. Afterwards he worked with Warren Cuccurullo
, Missing Persons, and several other Los Angeles bands. In 2004, he played with Mike Keneally
.
In addition to his music, Wehmiller was an avid photographer, cyclist, and hockey
player. Although many close friends did not even know he was sick, he died in Los Angeles after a long battle with thyroid cancer
, at the age of 33.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist who performed with Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
and Missing Persons.
He was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and named after John Wesley Powell
John Wesley Powell
John Wesley Powell was a U.S. soldier, geologist, explorer of the American West, and director of major scientific and cultural institutions...
. He grew up in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Swarthmore was originally named Westdale in honor of noted painter Benjamin West, who was one of the early residents of the town. The name was changed to Swarthmore after the establishment of Swarthmore College...
and later Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, where he and his younger brother attended Wilmington Friends School
Wilmington Friends School
Wilmington Friends School, the oldest existing school in Delaware, is a preschool through 12th grade Quaker school in Wilmington, Delaware. The school was founded in 1748 by members of the Wilmington Monthly Meeting of Friends ....
.
In high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Wehmiller was an award-winning member of the Delaware All State Jazz Band, and received the Delaware Music Educators' "Award of Distinction." He attended a summer "Berklee in Santa Fe" workshop, and while there was awarded a scholarship to attend 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...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, where he studied under Danny Morris. After graduation, he worked with many other musicians in Los Angeles
Los 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...
before founding his own band I, Claudius.
When bassist John Taylor
Nigel John Taylor
John Taylor is an English musician who is best known as the bass guitarist and co-founder of pop rock band Duran Duran....
bowed out of Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
in 1997, guitarist Warren Cuccurullo
Warren Cuccurullo
Warren Bruce Cuccurullo in Brooklyn, New York is an American rock musician who worked with Frank Zappa, was a founding member of Missing Persons, and has been a long term member of Duran Duran. He also has some notoriety in the porn industry after making nude appearances in a magazine and...
brought Wehmiller on board. Wehmiller toured and performed on television with the band until 2001, when Taylor reunited with the band. Afterwards he worked with Warren Cuccurullo
Warren Cuccurullo
Warren Bruce Cuccurullo in Brooklyn, New York is an American rock musician who worked with Frank Zappa, was a founding member of Missing Persons, and has been a long term member of Duran Duran. He also has some notoriety in the porn industry after making nude appearances in a magazine and...
, Missing Persons, and several other Los Angeles bands. In 2004, he played with Mike Keneally
Mike Keneally
Michael Joseph Keneally is an American guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and composer. Allmusic says: "With his wide-ranging talents and ability to be creative in almost any musical situation, Keneally is the leading progressive rock genius of the post-Zappa era."Born on Long Island, New York, he...
.
In addition to his music, Wehmiller was an avid photographer, cyclist, and hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
player. Although many close friends did not even know he was sick, he died in Los Angeles after a long battle with thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid neoplasm is a neoplasm or tumor of the thyroid. It can be a benign tumor such as thyroid adenoma, or it can be a malignant neoplasm , such as papillary, follicular, medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer. Most patients are 25 to 65 years of age when first diagnosed; women are more affected...
, at the age of 33.