Jim Creeggan
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| Jim Creeggan | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | James Raymond Creeggan |
| Born | February 12, 1970 Scarborough, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Bassist singer songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | double bass bass guitar guitar |
| Associated acts | Barenaked Ladies The Brothers Creeggan |
James Raymond Creeggan, better known as Jim Creeggan (born February 12, 1970, in Scarborough, Ontario), is the bassist for Canadian band Barenaked Ladies (BNL). His most used bass is named "Grammah", after the Ladies tour manager nicknamed him "Grampah" for always complaining and not wanting to get up.[1]
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[edit] Early life
Creeggan's mother taught piano lessons to neighborhood children, which Creeggan credits as part of the reason for his interest in music.[2]
[edit] Career
Creeggan has played the double bass since he was in school. He was a member of a variety of school bands, as well as local youth symphony groups. He also attended the University of Toronto for performance bass,[3] though he did not complete a degree. Creeggan, along with his brother Andy, was invited to play with Ed Robertson and Steven Page (then performing as Barenaked Ladies as a duo) at a Christmastime show in Toronto,[4] and the pair was asked to join the band permanently. Creeggan has been with the band ever since, while his brother left the band in 1995. He and Andy formed a group together named The Brothers Creeggan before Andy left BNL. They continued to play following his departure, and went on a hiatus in the early 2000s.
Creeggan's musical trademark is being one of the few modern rock musicians who regularly plays a double bass (both bowed and pizzicato — usually the latter). He plays it for a majority of the band's songs. He has also played Electric double bass (including a Zeta bass circa Maybe You Should Drive, and a couple Ned Steinbergers later on), and bass guitar for BNL. He won the 1999 best male bassist award from the Gibson Guitar Corporation. He uses a French bow for his double bass. He has occasionally played guitar on some songs; mainly on songs which he sings lead (though he plays bass on some of those too). Creeggan has also contributed to albums with each of the other members of the violin family. He has also orchestrated charts of various instruments to be recorded for BNL songs by outside musicians.
Creeggan made minor contributions to the writing of the band's first two albums, in the form of several co-writes. His first major songs contributed to an album was for the band's third release, 1996's Born on a Pirate Ship, which featured both "Spider In My Room" and "In The Drink" — two songs written exclusively by Creeggan, and both with him on lead vocals. He would record another song, "Inline Bowline" for 2000's Maroon, but the track was left off the album (later released as a b-side/bonus track). The band instituted a new, more open writing process for their next album, and several of Creeggan's song ideas were expanded into songs featured on 2003's Everything to Everyone. 2004's Barenaked for the Holidays featured a holiday tune, "Christmas Pics", sung by Creeggan, and 2006's Barenaked Ladies Are Me features Creeggan singing lead on "Peterborough and the Kawarthas".
His tall, skinny figure and red hair are his trademark physical features. Around 1994-5, he grew his hair out, which caused him to frequently be compared to Carrot Top. Aside from the long-haired period, his appearance has remained remarkably constant compared to that of his bandmates.
In 2006, Creeggan played the bass in Sarah McLachlan's Christmas album, Wintersong.
[edit] Personal life
Creeggan married his wife Anna in 2003. They have one son, Finn Oct 05, and a second child was due at the end of October, 2007.
He enjoys yoga, and has practiced it on tour before.[2] Creeggan also enjoys using bicycles as transportation in the city.
[edit] References
- ^ CBC FUSE radio show - February 24, 2007
- ^ a b Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Steven Page, Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart. The Barenaked Truth [Television documentary/DVD]. Take 3 Productions/Casablanca Media Television.
- ^ Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Steven Page, Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart. Talk to the Hand ("behind the scenes" feature) [DVD]. Morningstar Entertainment/Desperation Records.
- ^ Moll, George (executive producer). Behind the Music [TV-series]. New York, NY: VH1.
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