Jim Creeggan

Infobox musical artist


Name = Jim Creeggan
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = James Raymond Creeggan
Born = birth date and age|1970|2|12|mf=yes Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Instrument = double bass bass guitar guitar
Genre =
Occupation = Bassist singer songwriter
Years_active =
Label =
Associated_acts = Barenaked Ladies
The Brothers Creeggan
URL =
Notable_instruments =

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.CBC FUSE radio show - February 24, 2007]

Early life

Creeggan's mother taught piano lessons to neighborhood children, which Creeggan credits as part of the reason for his interest in music.cite video
people = Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Steven Page, Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart
title = The Barenaked Truth
medium = Television documentary/DVD
publisher = Take 3 Productions/Casablanca Media Television
date = 2004 ]

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,cite video
people = Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Steven Page, Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart
title = Talk to the Hand ("behind the scenes" feature)
medium = DVD
publisher = Morningstar Entertainment/Desperation Records
date = 2007 ] 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,cite video
people = Moll, George (executive producer)
title = Behind the Music
medium = TV-series
publisher = VH1
location = New York, NY
date = 2000 ] 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".

Personal life

Creeggan married his wife Anna in 2003. They have one son, Finnian Davies Creeggan, and a second child was due at the end of October, 2007.

He enjoys yoga, and has practiced it on tour before. Creeggan also enjoys using bicycles as transportation in the city.

References