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Jim Weider | |
|---|---|
 Jim Weider at Levon Helm Studios, May 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1951-12-21)December 21, 1951 (age 73) Woodstock, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Website | jimweider |
James Jeffrey Weider (born December 21, 1951) is an Americanguitarist, best known for his work withThe Band. He joined the reformed version of the Band in 1985 to replace original guitaristRobbie Robertson.
A native ofWoodstock, New York, Weider was born in 1951 and began playing guitar at age 11. Some of his early influences includedChuck Berry,James Burton andScotty Moore. While still a teenager in Woodstock, Weider was influenced by guitaristBuzz Feiten,Robbie Robertson and harp blues musicianPaul Butterfield, he became acquainted withLevon Helm andGarth Hudson and was exposed to the Band's music.[citation needed] Weider went on to become an accomplished studio session player in cities such asNashville, touring withJohnny Paycheck,Lee Clayton andJames Talley and inAtlanta working at Axis Studios withHarvey Brooks (bassist) andRichard Bell (musician)[1] but eventually returned to Woodstock to tour withRobbie Dupree and Levon Helm Woodstock All Stars. Levon Helm invited Weider to become the Band's sole guitarist in 1985, remaining until the group's dissolution in 2000 following the death ofRick Danko in late 1999.[2] Highlights with The Band include performing at Roger Waters THE WALL in Berlin, Germany 1990, Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary celebration andWoodstock '94.[3] Weider co-wrote on all three Band albums, including the song "Remedy" forJericho (The Band album). As a member of The Band, he opened for the Grateful Dead at their final show.[4]
Weider's main instrument is his 1952Fender Telecaster, but he also plays a vintage 1960sSilvertoneelectric guitar (primarily forslide) and a vintage 1960sGuild Starfire III. For amplification, Weider uses a combination ofFenderamplifiers and his own signature series JW40 amp, designed in conjunction with Fargen Amplification, Inc. He is also the co-designer of the Analog ManKing of Toneoverdrive pedal, which he uses on his pedalboard, and BIG-T PICKUPS he co-designed withLindy Fralin,[citation needed] and the COLBY dtb amp released on April 4, 2013, as part of the COLBY Amps line of boutique guitar amplifiers created by guitaristMitch Colby and Jim Weider.[5]
In addition to his work with the Band and his own musical group, the Jim Weider Band, Weider has performed and recorded with numerous other musicians, includingMavis Staples (co-wrote "Have a Little Faith", winning the 2005Blues Music Award),Los Lobos,Robbie Dupree,Dr. John,Graham Parker,Keith Richards andBob Weir. He has also played alongsideKeith Richards andScotty Moore, who worked withElvis Presley.[6] Jim produced and played onPaul Burlison's albumTrain Kept A-Rollin andTom Pacheco'sWoodstock Winter. He is also featured in several instructional videos produced by Homespun Video. Following the departure ofJimmy Vivino in early 2009, Weider performed with theLevon Helm Band until Helm's death in 2012.[citation needed]
The latest incarnation ofThe Band's history,The Weight Band, originated inside the barn of Levon Helm Studios in 2013 when Jim Weider and Randy Ciarlante, both former members of The Band, were performing "Songs of The Band" with Garth Hudson, Jimmy Vivino and Byron Isaacs. After receiving support from fans, Weider, Ciarlante and Isaacs decided to continue the tradition of performing songs from The Band and invited Brian Mitchell andMarty Grebb -who contributed to both the Jericho and Jubilation albums- to complete their sound. The Weight Band later added Albert Rogers (2016), Michael Bram (2017) and Matt Zeiner (2019).[citation needed]
In 2015, Jim Weider started Camp Cripple Creek with The Weight Band, a celebration of The Band's music, with the first year at Levon Helm Studios and the years after at Full Moon Resort inBig Indian. Some of the guest artists wereJackie Greene,Larry Campbell (musician),Paul Barrere &Fred Tackett,David Bromberg,Maria Muldaur andJohn Sebastian, with part of the proceeds going to Levon Helm Studios.[citation needed]
In July 2017,PBS'sInfinity Hall Live program began airing a televised performance by The Weight Band, featuring new music by the band.[7] In January 2018, Weider announced the first studio album for the Weight Band, World Gone Mad. "Common Man" - co-written by Levon Helm - was released as the first single.[8]
In 2018, The Weight Band was announced as the first headliner for the new Folk & Americana Music Series,[9] a celebration of the genre's rich musical history and influence, at theBoch Center in Boston, Massachusetts.[10] Their first guest was the Guthrie Family (Woody Guthrie).[11]
In addition to playing in The Weight Band, Weider tours withG.E. Smith andTom Principato as Masters of the Telecaster[12] and does solo shows with his touring band Project Percolator.[13]
With the Band[edit]
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