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Nils Lofgren

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Biography

For|the Swedish scientist|Nils LöfgrenUse mdy dates|date=February 2011Infobox musical artist | name = Nils Lofgren| image = Nils Lofgren Ronnie Scotts 97.jpg| caption = Nils Lofgren at Ronnie Scotts, 1997| image_size = | background = solo_singer| birth_name = Nils Hilmer Lofgren| alias = Lefty, Crazy Horse| Born = Birth date and age|1951|06|21
Chicago , Illinois, US| instrument = Guitar, keyboards, accordion | genre = Roots rock , heartland rock , blues rock | occupation = Musician, songwriter, Sportsperson|athlete | years_active = 1965–present| label = A& M Records|A& M , Columbia Records|Columbia , MCA Records|MCA , Rykodisc , Capitol Records|Capitol , Vision Music, Pure Records| associated_acts = E Street Band , Neil Young , Crazy Horse (band)|Crazy Horse , Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band , Patti Scialfa , Grin| website = http://www.nilslofgren.com/ Official Website
Nils Hilmer Lofgren (born June 21, 1951, Chicago , Illinois, United States) is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Along with his work as a solo artist, he has marked over 25 yearscite news |url= http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lofgren-neil-young-2293298-band-time |title=Nils Lofgren marks 25 years with Springsteen |last=Kinsler |first=Robert |date=January 28, 2009 |work=Orange County Register |publisher=© 2009 Orange County Register Communications |accessdate=March 14, 2009 as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band as well as a former member of Crazy Horse (band)|Crazy Horse and Grin.

Biography


Early life and career


Lofgren was born in Chicago in 1951 to Swedish/Italian parents. He moved to the suburban town of Garrett Park, Maryland , near the northern border of Washington, D.C. as a very young child.cite news |url= http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postrock/2008/10/six_questions_and_then_some_fo_2.html |title=Six Questions (And Then Some) For ... Nils Lofgren |author=J. Freedom du Lac |publisher= The Washington Post |date=October 8, 2008 |accessdate=November 11, 2008 Lofgren's first instrument was classical accordion , beginning at age 5,cite web |url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4776|pure_url=yes |title=Nils Lofgren Biography |last=Huey |first=Steve |year=2009 |work=Allmusic Biography |publisher=©Macrovision Corporation |accessdate=March 14, 2009 which he studied seriously for ten years. After studying classical music and jazz , throughout his youth, Lofgren switched his emphasis to rock music, and focused on the piano and the guitar.
By 1968, Lofgren formed the band Grin , originally with bassist George Daly, and drummer Bob Berberich, former players in the DC band The Hangmen. http://www.garagehangover.com/? q=Hangmen The group played in the venues throughout the Washington, D.C. area.
Lofgren had been a competitive gymnast in high school,cite web|url= http://www.djnoble.demon.co.uk/ints/NILSLOF.GRE.html |title=Nils Lofgren Interview |publisher=Djnoble.demon.co.uk |date= |accessdate=February 14, 2011 a skill that popped up later in his career. During this time, Lofgren met Neil Young and played for him. Young invited Lofgren to come to California and the Grin trio (Lofgren, Daly and Berberich) drove out west and lived for some months at a home Neil Young rented in Laurel Canyon.

Lofgren joined Neil Young 's band at age 17, playing piano and guitar on the album After the Gold Rush . Young gave him this role despite his having virtually no experience on the instrument; Lofgren worked on his parts around-the-clock when recording was not in session. Lofgren maintained a close musical relationship with Young, appearing on his '' Tonight's the Night (Neil Young album)|Tonight's the Night album and tour among others. He was also briefly a member of Crazy Horse (band)|Crazy Horse , appearing on their Crazy Horse (album)|1971 LP and contributing songs to their catalogue.

Grin


Lofgren used the Neil Young album credits to land his band Grin a record deal in 1971. Lofgren had formed the band originally with bassist George Daly (Music Industry)|George Daly and drummer Bob Berberich, and the group played in venues throughout the Washington D.C. area before going to California. Daly left the band early on to become a Columbia Records A & R Executive and was replaced by bassist Bob Gordon, who remained through the release of four critically acclaimed albums of catchy, hard rock, from 1971 to 1974, with guitar as Lofgren's primary instrument. The single "White Lies" got heavy airplay on Washington, D.C.-area radio. Lofgren wrote the majority of the group's songs, and often shared vocal duties with other members of the band (primarily drummer Bob Berberich). After the second album Nils added brother Tom Lofgren as a rhythm guitarist. Grin failed to hit the big time, and were released by their record company.

Solo career, part I


In 1974 Grin disbanded. Lofgren's Nils Lofgren (album)|eponymous debut solo album was a success with critics; a 1975 Rolling Stone review by Jon Landau labeled it one of the finest rock albums of the year, and NME ranked it 5th in its list of albums of the year.cite web|url= http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/1975.html |title=Rocklist.net...NME End Of Year Lists 1975 |publisher=Rocklistmusic.co.uk |date=May 9, 1992 |accessdate=February 14, 2011 Subsequent albums did not always garner critical favor,Allmusic|class=album|id=r1826843|first=Joe|last=Viglione although Cry Tough was voted number 10 in the 1976 NME Album round up;cite web|url= http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/1976.html |title=Rocklist.net...NME End Of Year Lists 1976 |publisher=Rocklistmusic.co.uk |date=May 9, 1992 |accessdate=February 14, 2011 I Came to Dance|I Came To Dance in particular received a scathing review in the New Rolling Stone Record Guide .cite book|last=Marsh|first=Dave and John Swenson|title=New Rolling Stone Record Guide, The|year=1983|publisher=Random House/Rolling Stone Press|location=New York, NY|isbn=0-394-72107-1|page=302 He achieved progressive rock (radio format)|progressive rock radio hits in the mid-1970s with "Back It Up", "Keith Don't Go" and "I Came to Dance". His song "Bullets Fever", about the Washington Wizards#Miracle 1977–78 season|1978 NBA champion Washington Bullets , would become a favorite in the Washington area. Throughout the 1970s, Lofgren released solo albums and toured extensively with a backing band that again usually included brother Tom on rhythm guitar. Lofgren's concerts displayed his reputation for theatrics, such as playing guitar while doing flips on a trampoline .

In 1971 he appeared on stage on the Roy Buchanan Special, Public Broadcast Service|PBS TV , with Bill Graham . In 1973 he appeared with Grin on NBC on The Midnight Special (TV series)|Midnight Special , performing three songs live. In 1978 he wrote and sang the "Nobody Bothers Me" theme for a D.C. Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do advertisement, and also appeared in the notorious '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)|Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band movie. In 1987 he contributed the TV Show theme arrangement for Hunter (U.S. TV series)|Hunter . In 1993 he contributed to The Simpsons , with two Christmas jingles with Bart. In 1995 he appeared on a PBS tribute to the Beatles along with Dr. John . From 1991–95 he was the CableAce Awards musical director and composer.

E Street Band


In 1984, he joined Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band as the replacement for Steven Van Zandt on guitar and vocals, in time for Springsteen's massive Born in the U.S.A. Tour . Following the tour he appeared on Late Night with David Letterman , to promote his 1985 solo release Flip . The E Street Band toured again with Springsteen in 1988 on the Tunnel of Love Express . In 1989 Springsteen broke up the E Street Band, but Lofgren and Van Zandt rejoined when Springsteen revived the band in 1999 for their Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour|Reunion Tour , followed by The Rising (album)|The Rising and another The Rising Tour|massive tour in 2002 and 2003 , then again for the Magic (Bruce Springsteen album)|Magic album and Magic Tour (Bruce Springsteen)|world tour of 2007/2008 , and most recently in 2009 for the Working on a Dream Tour .

Solo career, part II


Lofgren continues to record and to tour as a solo act, with Patti Scialfa , with Neil Young, and as a two-time member of Ringo Starr 's Ringo Starr All-Starr Band|All-Starr Band . Many of the people he worked with on those tours appeared on his 1991 album, Silver Lining . During the 2000s he got his own "Nils Lofgren Day" in Montgomery County, Maryland (August 25). In 2006 Lofgren released Sacred Weapon , featuring guest appearances by David Crosby , Graham Nash , Willie Nelson and Martin Sexton . In 2006 he recorded a live DVD Nils Lofgren & Friends: Acoustic Live .

On June 23, 2006, Lofgren performed at a benefit concert for Arthur Lee (musician)|Arthur Lee at New York's Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theater , along with Robert Plant , Ian Hunter (singer)|Ian Hunter , Yo La Tengo and Garland Jeffreys . In 2007, he appeared playing guitar as part of Jerry Lee Lewis ' backing band for Lewis' Last Man Standing Live concert DVD. He released The Loner Nils Sings Neil , an album of acoustic covers of Neil Young songs, in 2008.

In September 2008, Lofgren had hip replacement surgery for both of his hips as a result of years of playing basketball, "performance 'flips' on stage, and age."cite news |url= http://www.411mania.com/music/news/94981/Springsteen-Guitarist-Talks-About-The-Super-Bowl.htm |publisher= Billboard (magazine)|Billboard |title=Nils Lofgren on John Madden, the Cardinals and a brand new set of hips... |date=January 2009 Lofgren has stated on his website that he feels he will be in good condition.

Other work


Novelist Clive Cussler lives close to Lofgren's Arizona home, and collaborated on a song with him, which they co-wrote, and recorded, titled, "What Ever Happened to Muscatel? "cite web|url= http://www.nilslofgren.com/store07.html |title=Nils Lofgren Merchandise |publisher=Nilslofgren.com |date= |accessdate=February 14, 2011

In 2010, Lofgren – a self-described "huge sports fan" – wrote a long open letter to ESPN and the rest of the sports reporting community, condemning their favorable treatment of Michael Vick 's return to football stardom.cite web|url= http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story? id=5876114 |title=Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick incites outrage and concern – ESPN |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=December 3, 2010 |accessdate=February 14, 2011

Musical equipment


Lofgren primarily uses a variety of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender guitars and Fender Amplifiers|amplifers . http://www.uberproaudio.com/content/view/455/38/ Nils Lofgren Guitar Rig Gear and Equipment Uberproaudio.com Retrieved: May 16, 2009 http://www.fender.com/artists/artist.php? id=273 Fender artist – Nils Lofgren / Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band fender.com Retrieved:2010-07-19

Guitars


col-begincol-2
  • Fender Stratocaster – Including two 1961 which he often uses.

  • Fender Jazzmaster s

  • Gibson Les Paul – 1952 Goldtop.

  • Gibson SG – Cherry red. Used on Johnny Bye, Bye during the E Street Band's Magic Tour.

  • Gibson Flying V – Used during Grin's reunion tour in 2001.

  • BC. Rich Mockingbird

  • Epiphone Les Paul – Used on tours with Ringo Starr .

  • C. F. Martin & Company|Martin D-18 – Given to Lofgren by Neil Young .

  • Gretsch|Gretsch Black Penguin

  • col-2
  • Fender Telecaster

  • Fender Telecaster Black. Used on Born To Run during the "Magic" Tour.

  • Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson L-10 acoustic

  • Spector|Spector ARC6

  • Takamine Guitars|Takamine acoustic guitars

  • Resonator guitar|Owens/Zeta Resonator Guitars

  • Pedal steel guitar|Carter Pedal steel guitars



  • During performances of the song "The River" on The E Street Band 's Working On A Dream Tour, Nils would use a custom Fender Stratocaster double-neck guitar, with one 12-string neck, and one standard six. The 12 string was tuned B-G-Bb-F-D-Eb, and the six string A-G#-Bb-Bb-Bb-F#.

    col-end

    Effects


    col-begincol-2
  • Vocoder

  • Electro-Harmonix|Electro-Harmonix POG

  • Distortion (music)|Barber Burn Unit Overdrives

  • Distortion (music)|FullTone Fulldrive2

  • Line 6 (company)|Line 6 DL4 Delay

  • Digital Music GCX audio switcher

  • Furman Power Conditioner

  • col-2
  • Line 6 (company)|Line 6 Pod Pro

  • Boss Corporation|BOSS OC-3

  • Boss Corporation|BOSS DD-3

  • Electronic tuner|Korg DTR tuner

  • Peterson Tuners|Peterson AutoStrobe 490

  • Voodoo Lab Ground Control

  • col-end

    Amplifers


    col-begincol-2
  • Fender Twin Reverb s – Used most recently.

  • Fender Super Reverb|Fender blackface Super Reverbs – With four 10" speakers.

  • Fender amplifier|Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

  • col-2
  • Fender Amplifiers|Fender Vibro Kings – With three 10" speakers'

  • Fender Amplifiers|Fender Vibro King Custom

  • Fender Hot Rod DeVille s

  • col-end

    Discography


    Grin discography


  • 1971: Grin (Grin album)|Grin (Spindizzy/Epic)

  • 1972: 1+1 (Grin album)|1+1 (Spindizzy/Epic)

  • 1973: All Out (Grin album)|All Out (Spindizzy/Epic)

  • 1973: Gone Crazy (Grin album)|Gone Crazy (A& M)


  • Solo discography


  • 1975: Nils Lofgren (album)|Nils Lofgren (A& M)

  • 1975: Back It Up!& #33; (Live) (album)|Back It Up!& #33; (Live) (A& M)

  • 1976: Cry Tough (Nils Lofgren album)|Cry Tough (A& M)

  • 1977: I Came to Dance (A& M)

  • 1978: Night After Night (Nils Lofgren album)|Night After Night (A& M)

  • 1979: Nils (album)|Nils (A& M)

  • 1981: Night Fades Away (Backstreet/MCA)

  • 1981: Best of Nils Lofgren (A& M)

  • 1982: A Rhythm Romance vinyl/cassette only, UK (A& M)

  • 1983: Wonderland (Backstreet/MCA)

  • 1985: Flip (album)|Flip (CBS)

  • 1986: Code Of The Road , Live '85, Europe/Japan only (A& M)

  • 1987: Classics Vol. 13/Best Of Nils Lofgren (A& M)

  • 1991: Nils Lofgren Live , video aka Nils Lofgren Band Live at Town and Country Club, UK (Castle Music Pictures)

  • 1991: Silver Lining (Rykodisc)

  • 1992: ''Don't Walk. Rock , Best Of, UK only (Connoisseur)

  • 1992: Crooked Line (Rykodisc)

  • 1993: Every Breath , Soundtrack (Stampede)

  • 1993: Every Breath , with 4 track EP, diff. cover, with Lou Gramm, Dutch (SPV)

  • 1993: Every Breath , RE, diff cover, (Vision)

  • 1993: Live On The Test , UK only (Windsong)

  • 1994: Code Of The Road , Live (Stampede)

  • 1994: Soft Fun, Tough Tears – Best Of with Grin, Australia only (Raven)

  • 1995: Damaged Goods (Pure)

  • 1995: Shine Silently , Best Of, Germany only (Spectrum)

  • 1996: Steal Your Heart , Best of, Dutch only (A& M)

  • 1997: Acoustic Live (Vision)

  • 1997: Archive Live , Live N.J. Stone Pony 1985 (A.A.)

  • 1997: Code Of The Road , RE, diff cover, Live 1985 (Right Stuff)

  • 1998: Acoustic Live , RE, diff. cover (Right Stuff)

  • 1998: Into the Night , Best Of, Germany Live (BMG)

  • 1998: Best Of A& M Years, Nils+Grin Dutch only (Spectrum)

  • 1998: New Lives BBC, UK only (HUX)

  • 1999: Ultimate Collection , Best of (Hip-O)

  • 2001: Bootleg , 1975, Live (Vision)

  • 2001: Nils Lofgren , re-issue with 2 bonus tracks (A& M)

  • 2001: Nils , with 1 bonus track (A& M)

  • 2001: Flip , with 1 bonus track (CBS)

  • 2001: Breakaway Angel , (Vision)

  • 2002: Tuff Stuff-The Best of the All-Madden Team Band (Vision)

  • 2003: Nils Lofgren Band Live (Vision)

  • 2006: Sacred Weapon (Vision)

  • 2008: The Loner – Nils Sings Neil (Vision)

  • 2011: Old School (MvD)


  • With Neil Young


  • After the Gold Rush (1970)

  • '' Tonight's the Night (Neil Young album)|Tonight's the Night (1975)

  • Trans (album)|Trans (1982)

  • Unplugged (Neil Young album)|Unplugged (February 1993)


  • With Lou Reed


  • The Bells (album)|The Bells (1979)


  • With Bruce Springsteen


  • Live/1975-85 (1986)

  • Tunnel of Love (album)|Tunnel of Love (1987)

  • Chimes of Freedom (EP) (1988)

  • Greatest Hits (Bruce Springsteen album)|Greatest Hits (1995)

  • Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live In New York City (2001)

  • The Rising (2002)

  • Magic (Bruce Springsteen album)|Magic (2007)

  • Working on a Dream (2009)


  • References


    reflist

    External links


    commons category
  • http://www.nilslofgren.com nilslofgren.com (official website)

  • http://www.nilslofgren.com/History07.html History at nilslofgren.com

  • http://www.shinesilently.com/nilsalbums.htm shinesilently.com/nilsalbums Discography on UK fan site

  • Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4776|label=Nils Lofgren

  • imdb name|id=0530460|name=Nils Lofgren

  • http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2008/nov/11/nils-lofgren-vetiver-alan-mcgee Alan McGee on Lofgren and Vetiver


  • Neil YoungBruce Springsteen
    Persondata | NAME =Lofgren, Nils
    | ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
    | SHORT DESCRIPTION =
    | DATE OF BIRTH =1951-06-21
    | PLACE OF BIRTH =
    | DATE OF DEATH =
    | PLACE OF DEATH =
    DEFAULTSORT:Lofgren, Nils Category:1951 births
    Category:Living people
    Category:American rock guitarists
    Category:American rock keyboardists
    Category:American accordionists
    Category:Steel guitarists
    Category:American male singers
    Category:Songwriters from Illinois
    Category:Slide guitarists
    Category:Crazy Horse (band) members
    Category:The E Street Band members
    Category:American people of Swedish descent
    Category:Musicians from Chicago, Illinois
    Category:Epic Records artists
    Category:A& M Records artists
    Category:Rykodisc artists
    Category:American session musicians
    Category:Columbia Records artists
    Category:Pedal steel guitarists
    Category:Musicians from Maryland

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    Copyright Citations

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    Nils Lofgren Photo by: home.att.net



          

     
       
     
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