Beck facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beck
Beck in 2018
Born	Bek David Campbell (1970-07-08) July 8, 1970 (age 55) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Musician singer songwriter record producer
Years active	1988–present
Spouse(s)	Marissa Ribisi ​ ​ (m. 2004; div. 2021)​
Children	2
Parents	David Campbell (father) Bibbe Hansen (mother)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Alternative rock folk rock psychedelia electronic folk rock alt-country lo-fi (early)
Instruments	Vocals guitar bass guitar keyboards
Labels	DGC Interscope Bong Load Fonograf Capitol K Sonic Enemy
Signature

Beck David Hansen (born Bek David Campbell; July 8, 1970), known as Beck, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He became famous in the early 1990s for his unique and experimental music style. Beck is known for mixing many different types of music together.

His music includes folk, funk, soul, hip hop, electronica, alternative rock, country, and psychedelia. He has released 14 studio albums and many other songs.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Beck loved hip hop and folk music as a teenager. He started performing in local coffeehouses and clubs. In 1989, he moved to New York City and joined the city's anti-folk music scene. When he returned to Los Angeles in the early 1990s, his song "Loser" became a big hit in 1993.

After signing with DGC Records, "Loser" reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the main song from his third album, Mellow Gold (1994). His next album, Odelay (1996), was highly praised by critics and won several awards.

Beck has released many different kinds of albums. These include the country-inspired Mutations (1998) and the funk-filled Midnite Vultures (1999). His album Sea Change (2002) showed a more serious side with acoustic songs. Guero (2005) returned to the sample-based style of Odelay.

The Information (2006) was inspired by electro-funk and hip hop. Modern Guilt (2008) had a 1960s pop feel. His folk-inspired album Morning Phase (2014) won Album of the Year at the 57th Grammy Awards. His 2017 album, Colors, won awards for Best Alternative Music Album. His fourteenth studio album, Hyperspace, was released in 2019. In 2022, Beck was nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Critics and fans admire Beck for his creative and unique musical style. He often mixes different genres, uses samples, drum machines, and live instruments. Two of his most famous albums, Odelay and Sea Change, are on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Beck has sold millions of records and has worked with many other artists.

Beck's Early Life

Bek David Campbell was born in Los Angeles on July 8, 1970. His mother, Bibbe Hansen, is an American visual artist. His father, David Campbell, is a Canadian arranger and composer. Bibbe Hansen grew up around Andy Warhol's art scene in New York City in the 1960s. Beck's grandfather, Al Hansen, was an artist and a pioneer in the avant-garde Fluxus movement. Beck's grandmother was Jewish, and he has said he considers himself Jewish because he "was raised celebrating Jewish holidays."

As a child, Beck lived in a changing neighborhood near Hollywood Boulevard. His family moved often. He also spent time with his grandparents in Kansas, where his grandfather was a Presbyterian minister. This meant Beck was influenced by church music and hymns. He also traveled in Europe with his maternal grandfather.

After his parents separated when he was 10, Beck lived with his mother and brother in Los Angeles. He was influenced by the city's many types of music, from hip hop to Latin music. He got his first guitar at 16 and became a street musician. He often played songs by Lead Belly in Lafayette Park.

In his teenage years, Beck discovered hip hop music, especially Grandmaster Flash records. He also learned how to breakdance. When he was 17, he became fascinated by Mississippi John Hurt's music and spent hours learning his guitar techniques. He then explored more blues and folk music, finding artists like Woody Guthrie and Blind Willie Johnson.

Beck left school after junior high. He felt school was important but also unsafe for him. He worked many different jobs, like loading trucks. He also spent time at Los Angeles City College, looking through records and books in the library.

Beck's Music Career

Starting Out and First Songs (1988–1993)

Beck began his career as a folk musician. He played different styles of folk music as a teenager. He started performing on city buses, often singing his own songs mixed with covers. He was also in a band called Youthless that put on unusual, creative shows in coffee shops.

In 1989, Beck traveled to New York City with little money. He joined the anti-folk scene in East Village. This group of musicians was known for being rough and unique. Beck said their goal was "to destroy all the clichés and make up some new ones." Inspired by this freedom, Beck started writing imaginative songs about everyday things.

Beck returned to Los Angeles in 1991. He worked at a video store. He started performing in art clubs and coffeehouses. To keep audiences interested, he would play in a funny and spontaneous way. He would sometimes wear a Star Wars stormtrooper mask.

Beck met people who helped him record demo songs in their living room. He started sharing these cassette tapes. He soon gained support from Margaret Mittleman at BMG Music Publishing and the team at Bong Load Custom Records. In 1992, Beck worked with producer Carl Stephenson. They created the hip hop song "Loser." Beck didn't think much of the song at first, but it was released as a single in 1993.

"Loser" and Early Albums (1993–1994)

By 1993, Beck was living in a small, run-down place in Los Angeles. Bong Load released "Loser" as a single in March 1993. Only 500 copies were made. Surprisingly, "Loser" started getting played on college radio stations in Los Angeles. Then, other stations like KROQ-FM began playing it almost every hour.

As "Loser" became popular, major record labels wanted to sign Beck. He signed with Geffen Records in December 1993. His contract allowed him a lot of creative freedom. He could still release music on smaller, independent labels. For example, Flipside released Stereopathetic Soulmanure, a collection of 25 early songs, in February 1994.

When Beck released his first album for Geffen, Mellow Gold, on March 1, "Loser" was already a top 40 hit. The song quickly reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It also topped the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The media called Beck the "King of Slackers," linking him to the "slacker" movement. However, Beck disagreed, saying he was always working hard to make a living.

Odelay and More Success (1994–1997)

After the success of "Loser," Beck faced some challenges. Some people thought he was just a passing trend. He often played unusual concerts, sometimes changing his hit songs so people couldn't sing along. Despite this, other musicians like Tom Petty and Johnny Cash respected him.

Beck wanted to record an album in a continuous way, not just a collection of old songs. This led to Odelay. He worked with the Dust Brothers, who were known for their sample-heavy production. This style fit Beck's idea for a fun and easy-to-listen-to album.

Odelay was released on June 18, 1996. It was a big success and received great reviews. The album had several hit songs, including "Where It's At", "Devils Haircut", and "The New Pollution". It was nominated for Album of the Year in 1997. It won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. "Where It's At" also won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

Odelay sold two million copies, proving Beck was not a "one-hit wonder." During this time, he also contributed the song "Deadweight" to the movie A Life Less Ordinary (1997).

Mutations and Midnite Vultures (1998–2001)

Beck wanted to record new music quickly. He put together several songs he had been working on for years. Beck and his band wrote songs for Mutations in just fourteen days. He worked with producer Nigel Godrich, who had produced Radiohead's album OK Computer. The goal was to capture the live performance of the musicians. Mutations was released in 1998. Beck later won Best Alternative Music Performance for Mutations at the 42nd Grammy Awards.

Midnite Vultures, Beck's next album, was originally planned as a double album. Many songs were left out. Beck and his producers studied modern hip hop and R&B music. They wanted to include these influences in their new songs. Beck worked with his bandmates and producers at his home studio. His father, David Campbell, also played on the album. The musicians focused on making an upbeat album that would be fun to play on tour.

Midnite Vultures was released in November 1999. It was supported by a big world tour. Beck's live shows were full of energy, just like his earlier performances. The album was nominated for Best Album at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Sea Change and Guero (2002–2005)

In 2000, Beck's long-term relationship ended. This led him to write sad, acoustic songs that later became Sea Change. He didn't want to share his personal life at first. But he decided the songs were about common experiences. He recorded them with producer Nigel Godrich.

Sea Change, released in September 2002, was a commercial success and loved by critics. Rolling Stone magazine called it "the best album Beck has ever made." The album was later listed as one of the best records of the decade and of all time. Beck went on an acoustic tour and a larger tour with The Flaming Lips.

After Sea Change, Beck wrote many more songs. But he lost the tapes of these songs during a tour stop. This was very upsetting for him. So, he took a break from songwriting in 2003. He then went back into the studio with the Dust Brothers to finish a project that started around the time of Odelay. Many of these songs had been around since the 1990s.

Guero, Beck's ninth studio album, was recorded over nine months. During this time, Beck got married and had a son. He worked with the Dust Brothers again. They used advanced technology to create a raw, lo-fi sound. Guero was released in March 2005.

Guero debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, selling many copies. The main song, "E-Pro", reached number one on Modern Rock radio. This was his first chart-topper since "Loser." In February 2005, Beck released Hell Yes, an EP with remixes. In December 2005, Geffen also released Guerolito, a remixed version of Guero.

The Information and Modern Guilt (2006–2008)

The Information, Beck's tenth studio album, began production around 2003. Working with Godrich again, Beck built a studio in his garden. They wrote many songs there. Beck described the album as "introspective hip hop." He said the recording process was "painful" because he edited songs constantly.

For this album, Beck was allowed to try an unusual release plan. He made low-budget videos for each song. The CD came with stickers so buyers could customize the cover. He also shared songs and videos on his website before the album's release.

In 2007, Beck released the song "Timebomb," which was nominated for a Grammy Award. For his next album, Beck worked with producer Danger Mouse. They recorded two songs quickly, but the album took longer to finish. Beck called it "the most intense work I've ever done."

Modern Guilt (2008) had a 1960s feel with unique rhythms. This album was the last one under Beck's contract with Geffen Records.

Independent Work and New Projects (2008–2013)

After leaving Geffen Records, Beck became an independent artist. He started focusing more on his own record label. He worked on smaller, more creative projects. He also produced music for other artists like Charlotte Gainsbourg and Thurston Moore.

Beck started Record Club, a project where he and other musicians would cover entire classic albums in one day. The first album they covered was The Velvet Underground & Nico. Later, they covered Songs of Leonard Cohen and Oar. The Record Club also covered albums by INXS and Yanni.

Beck also contributed four songs to the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). He collaborated with many artists, including Philip Glass, Jack White, and The Lonely Island.

In December 2012, Beck released Song Reader. This project was 20 songs presented only as sheet music. The idea was for musicians to record their own versions. Beck wanted to create simple songs that could fit into the Great American Songbook. In 2013, Beck started playing special Song Reader concerts with various guests.

In the summer of 2013, Beck was working on two new studio albums. One was an acoustic album, and the other was a follow-up to Modern Guilt. He planned to release both independently. He released three songs that year: "Defriended", "I Won't Be Long", and "Gimme". In October 2013, Beck signed with Capitol Records.

Recent Albums and Awards (2014–2022)

In January 2014, Beck released "Blue Moon" from his twelfth studio album, Morning Phase. The album was officially released on February 21, 2014. For this album, Beck worked with many of the same musicians from his 2002 album Sea Change. Because of this, the two albums have a similar mood.

On February 8, 2015, at the 57th Grammy Awards, Morning Phase won three Grammys. It won Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, Best Rock Album, and Album of the Year.

Beck in October 2018

In June 2015, Beck released "Dreams," the first song from his next album. The next June, he released "Wow." On September 8, 2017, Beck released "Dear Life." His album, Colors, was released on October 13, 2017. Beck and co-producer Greg Kurstin played almost every instrument on the album. This experimental pop album received good reviews.

On April 15, 2019, Beck released "Saw Lightning," a song co-produced with Pharrell Williams. This song was from his fourteenth studio album, Hyperspace. The album was released on November 22, 2019.

Latest Activities (2022–Present)

On September 25, 2022, Beck released a cover of Neil Young's song "Old Man." This song was used to promote a Sunday Night Football game. The track was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance at the 65th Grammy Awards. A music video for the song was released on December 8, 2022.

On February 10, 2023, Beck released "Thinking About You." This was his first original solo song since 2019's Hyperspace. A music video for the song was released on February 20, 2023. Many music critics noted that it sounded like a return to the folk style of Morning Phase and Sea Change.

On June 21, 2023, Beck released the song "Odyssey" with the French pop-rock band Phoenix. They also went on a co-headlining summer tour together.

In 2024, Beck appeared on the song "Boom Boom Back" by the band Hinds. This song is from Hinds' 2024 album, Viva Hinds. In July 2024, Beck also featured on the Orville Peck song "Death Valley High." A music video for this song was also filmed.

Collaborations and Other Works

Beck performs at Madison Square Garden with Jenny Lewis in 2018

Beck has worked with many other artists throughout his career. In 1994, he co-wrote and performed on the song "Flavor" from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion album Orange.

In 1999, Beck contributed to a tribute album called Dimension Mix. This album was released in 2005 to help raise money for Cure Autism Now.

In 2009, Beck started Record Club. In this project, he and other musicians would record cover versions of entire albums in one day. They covered albums by The Velvet Underground, Leonard Cohen, Skip Spence, INXS, and Yanni.

In 2009, Beck also started "Planned Obsolescence," a weekly DJ set. He also began "Irrelevant Topics," which featured conversations with other artists. He added "Videotheque" to his website, which included music videos and live clips. Also in 2009, Beck worked with Charlotte Gainsbourg on her album IRM, released in 2010. Beck wrote the music and helped with the lyrics.

In 2010, electronic artist Tobacco collaborated with Beck on two songs for his album Maniac Meat. Beck also produced songs for the Jamie Lidell album Compass. In the summer of 2010, Beck contributed songs to the soundtracks for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and True Blood. He also contributed songs to the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

In 2011, he worked with Seu Jorge on a song for the Red Hot Organization's album Red Hot+Rio 2. The money from sales helped raise awareness and funds to fight AIDS/HIV.

In October 2011, Beck worked with producer Hector Castillo and composer Philip Glass to create a remix album of Glass's works. The album, Rework Philip Glass Remixed, was released in October 2012. Beck was both a curator and a performer on the album. His 22-minute contribution, "NYC: 73–78," was highly praised. Beck also brought together other artists for the album.

Beck contributed three new songs to the video game Sound Shapes for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita. He also collaborated on two songs for Childish Gambino's "Royalty" mixtape in 2012. In 2014, Beck worked with Sia on the song "Moonquake Lake" for the Annie film soundtrack.

In 2015, Beck collaborated with Nate Ruess on the song "What This World Is Coming To" for Ruess's album Grand Romantic. He also worked with the electronic dance music duo The Chemical Brothers on their album Born in the Echoes, providing vocals for "Wide Open." In 2016, Beck collaborated with M83 on "Time Wind" from their album Junk. He was also featured on "Tiny Cities" by Flume. He also worked with Lady Gaga on "Dancin' in Circles" from her 2016 album Joanne.

Also in 2016, Beck performed with the remaining members of Nirvana at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. They played Nirvana's version of "The Man Who Sold the World" as a tribute to David Bowie and Kurt Cobain. Beck and Nirvana teamed up again in 2020 for a fundraiser.

In 2017, Beck appeared in the film The American Epic Sessions. He recorded "14 Rivers, 14 Floods" with a gospel choir, using an old 1920s recording system.

In 2021, Beck collaborated with Paul McCartney on his song "Find My Way" from the album McCartney III Imagined.

In 2023, Beck worked with The Chemical Brothers again on the song "Skipping like a Stone." This was the fourth song released from their album For That Beautiful Feeling.

Beck's Musical Style

Beck's music style is often called alternative and indie. He often plays many of the instruments in his songs himself. He has also remixed songs for other artists, like David Bowie and Björk.

Beck is known for mixing many different musical elements in his songs. These include folk, psychedelia, electronic, country, Latin music, hip hop, funk, soul, blues, noise music, jazz, art pop, and various types of rock. Because of this unique way of combining styles, Beck is sometimes described as a postmodern musician. He also uses music from Los Angeles as inspiration in his songs.

Critics have praised Beck's ability to blend different sounds. For example, Pitchfork Media said Midnite Vultures wonderfully mixes artists like Prince and Talking Heads. Beck even has a song called "Harry Partch," which is a tribute to the composer of the same name. This song uses Partch's 43-tone scale, a special musical scale.

Beck's Art Career

In 1998, Beck's art collaborations with his grandfather Al Hansen were shown in an exhibition. It was called "Beck & Al Hansen: Playing With Matches." The show displayed their collage, assemblage, drawing, and poetry works. The exhibition traveled to different galleries, including one in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Beck chose Winnipeg because his grandfather had family connections there.

Beck's Personal Life

Beck's nine-year relationship with designer Leigh Limon ended in 2000. This breakup is said to have inspired his 2002 album Sea Change. He wrote most of the songs for the album shortly after the relationship ended. In April 2004, Beck married actress Marissa Ribisi. They had a son in 2004 and a daughter in 2007. Beck filed for divorce from Ribisi in February 2019, and their divorce was finalized in September 2021.

Beck has said he considers himself Jewish because he "was raised celebrating Jewish holidays." He has also clarified that he is not a Scientologist, despite past reports. He stated in a November 2019 interview that he does not have any connection or affiliation with Scientology.

Beck's mother, Bibbe Hansen, is an artist, writer, and performer. She worked with Andy Warhol in the past. Beck also has a brother, Channing Hansen, who is a fiber artist, and a sister, Rain Whittaker, who is a poet.

Beck had a spinal injury while filming the music video for his 2005 song "E-Pro." This injury was serious enough to limit his touring for a few years, but he has since recovered.

Beck primarily lived in Los Feliz, Los Angeles until 2022. He owns properties in California, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

Beck's Albums

Studio Albums

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Beck (músico) para niños

• List of people from Los Angeles
• List of singer-songwriters