Doug Pinnick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Doug Pinnick
Pinnick performing with King's X in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Douglas Theodore Pinnick
Also known as	dUg Pinnick
Born	(1950-09-03) September 3, 1950 (age 74) Braidwood, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock, progressive rock, progressive metal, alternative metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, bass

Douglas Theodore Pinnick (born September 3, 1950), also known as dUg Pinnick, is an American musician. He is best known as the bass player, co-lead singer, and songwriter for the rock band King's X. He has played on 15 albums with King's X and released several solo albums. Doug Pinnick is known for his unique singing voice, which has a strong gospel influence. He is also known for his heavily distorted bass sound. He often plays bass with a guitar pick, but sometimes uses his fingers.

Doug Pinnick's Early Life and Musical Journey

Doug Pinnick was born in Braidwood, Illinois. When he was fourteen, his family moved to Joliet, Illinois. He grew up in a very musical family where everyone sang or played an instrument. He was raised by his great-grandmother in a religious home. Doug has seventeen half-brothers and sisters.

In grade school, Pinnick sang in the choir and played the saxophone. As a teenager, he listened to classic R&B and Motown artists like Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. He sang in bands during high school, including one called Stone Flower. While attending Joliet Junior College in 1969, he found inspiration in hard rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. He also started listening to Sly & the Family Stone, who became a big influence. His dream was to create a band that mixed all these different styles.

After about six months of college, Pinnick left to join a traveling gospel band called The Spurrlows. Later, he moved to a religious community in Florida, where he promoted shows for Christian rock bands. Soon after, he moved back to Illinois.

In the mid-1970s, Pinnick formed a band called Servant. They played progressive rock music, similar to bands like Yes. The band played in the Midwest and made a demo of their songs.

Forming King's X

In 1979, Doug Pinnick was asked to join a new band in Springfield, Missouri. He moved there, but the band broke up quickly. Soon after, he joined guitarist Phil Keaggy's touring band with drummer Jerry Gaskill. Pinnick toured with Keaggy for about a year.

After returning to Springfield, Pinnick met guitarist Ty Tabor. Jerry Gaskill joined them, and they formed a band called The Edge. In 1983, they changed their name to Sneak Preview and released an album. A few years later, after moving to Houston, Texas, the trio became King's X.

Since then, Pinnick has become a highly respected musician in rock music. Other artists often ask him to appear on their albums or join their side projects.

Pinnick in 2006

Doug Pinnick also has his own studio in Texas called Hound Pound. He now lives in Los Angeles. In 2018, he joined Wayne Kramer of the proto punk band MC5 for a tour celebrating their 50th anniversary. He played bass alongside other famous musicians like Kim Thayil from Soundgarden.

Doug Pinnick's Other Music Projects

Besides King's X, Doug Pinnick has worked on many other music projects.

Solo Albums

His first solo project was called Poundhound. He released two albums under this name: Massive Grooves and Pineappleskunk. His King's X bandmate Jerry Gaskill played drums on some of these songs. For his third solo album, Emotional Animal, he used his own name, "dUg Pinnick." Jerry's son, Joey Gaskill, played drums on this album. He released his fourth solo album, Strum Sum Up, in 2007.

Pinnick in 2018

Collaborations and Side Bands

• Pinnick was part of a band called Supershine, with Trouble members Bruce Franklin and Jeff Olson. They released one album in 2000.
• He sang lead vocals for The Mob, a band formed by former Winger guitarist Reb Beach, on their 2005 album.
• He filled in as lead singer for Living Colour on their European tour in 2006.
• Doug Pinnick has also sung on songs by other bands, including Dream Theater's "Lines in the Sand" and a Kiss tribute album.
• He appeared on the 2008 holiday album We Wish You a Metal Xmas..., singing "Little Drummer Boy."
• He performs with King's X partner Ty Tabor and former Galactic Cowboys members Wally Farkas and Alan Doss in a group called The Jibbs.
• He sang all lead vocals on Razr 13's debut album "Reflections" in 2009.
• Pinnick's side project, Tres Mts., with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam and Richard Stuverud of the Fastbacks, released their album Three Mountains in 2011.
• In 2013, he formed Pinnick Gales Pridgen with Eric Gales on guitar and Thomas Pridgen on drums. They released two albums, PGP (2013) and PGP 2 (2014).
• Also in 2013, Pinnick worked with Robbi Robb of Tribe After Tribe to form the jam band 3rd Ear Experience. They released two albums, Peacock Black and Boi.
• In 2014, Pinnick's all-star side project KXM released their first album. This band includes former Dokken guitarist George Lynch and Korn drummer Ray Luzier.
• His side project Grinder Blues with the Bihlman Brothers released their first album in 2014.

Doug Pinnick's Musical Gear

Doug Pinnick is known for playing the 12-string bass. This is a special bass guitar with four sets of three strings, similar to a 12-string guitar. He uses a custom-made 12-string bass from Yamaha for his recordings and live shows. He has also used basses from Dean and Schecter.

For his sound, he used Ampeg amplifiers for a long time. Now, Tech 21 has released his own signature bass amp head, called the dUg Ultra bass 1000. He also uses a complex setup with many equalizers (EQs) and amplifiers. Pinnick uses a Line 6 POD pro for effects, and interestingly, he uses the guitar model of the POD pro, not the bass model.

Discography