John Wright (musician)

John Wright (sometimes known as Mr. Right) (born February 23, 1962) is a Canadian musician and songwriter.

This article is about the progressive rock multi-instrumentalist. For the jazz pianist, see John Wright (pianist).

John Wright
John Wright in Naples, Italy (2012)
John Wright in Naples, Italy (2012)
Background information
Born (1962-02-23) February 23, 1962
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenresPunk rock, progressive rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, drums, keyboards
Years active1979–present
LabelsAlternative Tentacles, Wrong Records, Southern Records

Biography

Wright is best known as the drummer, keyboardist, occasional vocalist and co-songwriter in the progressive punk rock/punk jazz band NoMeansNo, as well as the lead singer and co-songwriter of the pop-punk group The Hanson Brothers.[1] Both groups also feature Wright's older brother Rob and guitarist Tom Holliston.[2] He has also performed in noted Canadian punk groups DOA, the Showbusiness Giants, and the Infamous Scientists. He is currently the songwriter and "musical director" for Compressorhead, a collaboration with Berlin-based artist Frank Barnes consisting of a "band" of robots that play real instruments.[3]

Wright's distinct style of drumming utilizes traditional grip, an uncommon method for hard rock drummers, and fuses jazz, rock and punk techniques. His playing has been cited as an influence by several noted drummers, including Dave Grohl of Nirvana and the Foo Fighters,[4][5] Tre Cool of Green Day,[6] and Tim Solyan of Victims Family and Plaid Retina. Nomeansno further emphasized the drumming in the live environment by positioning the drum kit not near the back of the stage as is more common, but rather near the front of the stage so that the audience may see a side view of the drummer. Wright confirmed that this arrangement was intentional:

There's no doubt that it's more exciting for audience to see what the drummer's doing and you feel more connected to the rhythm section that way. I mean that was standard set up in the old days – rock n' roll was the oddball that put the drummer in the back.[7]

An avid homebrewer of beer, he has filmed and released an instructional video detailing his recommended brewing process. This video is currently available on DVD packaged with the live Hanson Brothers record It's A Living. In 2019, Wright and his brother Rob teamed with Isaac Tremblay to open the Wildwood Public House, a craft beer pub in Powell River, British Columbia.[8] The pub closed for re-organization in December 2022, with the intent to re-open the following March, but the business remained closed.

Wright is the father of two sons.

References
  1. "Interviews: John Wright (Nomeansno)". PunkNews.org. September 20, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  2. "Nomeansno to Be Inducted into Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame". Exclaim!. June 10, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  3. "Episode 227: "John Wright & Frank Barnes of Compressorhead". Kreative Kontrol podcast with Vish Khanna. November 26, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  4. "Returning to His Roots with Probot". Modern Drummer. 2004. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  5. 9/18/07 Grohl-hosted show on BBC Radio 1
  6. "Green Day Acceptance Speeches at the 2015 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - YouTube". YouTube.
  7. Nielson, Jeff (November 2010). "I Am Wrong: An interview with NoMeansNo's John Wright". The Big Takeover. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  8. "New Craft Pub Comes to Powell River". January 23, 2019.
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