Beck was born in Los Angeles to parents who’s careers as a Canadian musician and visual artist combined with the diverse LA atmosphere that first influenced his music. He dropped out of high school in the mid-1980’s and went to Europe. He busked over there and later back in the U.S. but this time alongside soon-to-be Presidents of the United States founder, Chris Ballew. In 1993 with the independent release of “Loser”, record labels began battling over Beck. In the end he went with the label that allowed him the most creative freedom even if it meant less money, Geffen Records.
The release of
Mellow Gold in 1994 brought Beck into the mainstream. In 1996 he released Grammy winning double-platinum electronic sensation
Odelay.
Mutations (1998), a blues heavy album won the Grammy for "Best Alternative Music Performance" in 1999. The much anticipated and acclaimed
Midnite Vultures (1999) was followed by the likewise
Sea Change in 2002. 2004 brought
Guero, probably Beck’s most mainstream album thus disappointing his fanbase but pleasing record executives with sales. The semi hip-hop album
The Information followed in 2006 with stickers enclosed for fans to make their own album cover. In 2008, Beck released
Modern Guilt and collaborated with producer great Danger Mouse (who fused Jay-Z with the Beatles on the Grey Album). That album is followed with a fall tour across the United States.
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