Peter Buck facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter Buck
Buck in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Peter Lawrence Buck
Born	(1956-12-06) December 6, 1956 (age 68) Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock, folk rock, punk rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass guitar
Years active	1976–present
Labels	Mississippi
Associated acts	R.E.M. Hindu Love Gods The Minus 5 Tuatara The Baseball Project The Venus 3 Eels Mark Eitzel The Replacements Tired Pony Saint John and the Revelations Filthy Friends Corin Tucker The Decemberists Amaral

Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the famous rock band R.E.M.. Peter also plays other instruments like the banjo and mandolin on some R.E.M. songs.

Besides his work with R.E.M. from 1980 to 2011, Peter Buck has been part of many other music groups. These are often called 'side projects'. Some of these groups include Arthur Buck, Hindu Love Gods, The Minus 5, and Filthy Friends. He has also helped produce albums for other bands. These include Uncle Tupelo and The Feelies. Peter has also played as a session musician for artists like The Replacements and The Decemberists.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Peter Lawrence Buck was born on December 6, 1956. His parents were Peter and Violet Buck. He was born in Berkeley, California. His family lived in Los Angeles and San Francisco. They later moved to Atlanta, Georgia.

Peter finished high school in 1975. He then went to Emory University. Later, he moved to Athens, Georgia. While in Athens, Peter worked at a record store called Wuxtry Records. There, he met Michael Stipe, who would become R.E.M.'s lead singer. He also met Bertis Downs, who became R.E.M.'s manager.

Peter Buck's Music Style

Buck on stage in Naples, Italy, in 2008

Peter Buck's guitar playing style is unique and easy to recognize. He often uses open strings when playing chords. This creates a special ringing sound. This sound became a key part of R.E.M.'s music.

He is often linked with Rickenbacker guitars. He used a black Rickenbacker 360 model a lot. As R.E.M. grew, Peter used many different instruments. This helped the band try new sounds.

Working with Other Artists

Buck with Arthur Buck in 2018

Peter Buck has produced music for many bands. These include Uncle Tupelo and The Fleshtones. He has also played on albums for other musicians. Some of these artists are Billy Bragg and Eels.

In 1987, Peter, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry from R.E.M. formed a band with Warren Zevon. They called themselves Hindu Love Gods. They recorded an album together. Peter also played country and rock songs with a local band called the Normaltown Flyers.

Peter has been part of other groups too. He joined The Minus 5 and the instrumental band Tuatara. In 2005, he formed an improvisational band called Slow Music. This group included Bill Rieflin and Robert Fripp.

In 2006, Peter toured with Robyn Hitchcock and others. They were called Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3. In 2008, Peter became the bass player for a new band called The Baseball Project.

Solo Music and Later Projects

After R.E.M. stopped playing together in 2011, Peter Buck started his solo career. He released his first solo album in 2012. It was simply called Peter Buck. He released his second solo album in 2014. It was titled I Am Back to Blow Your Mind Once Again. His third solo album, Warzone Earth, came out in 2015.

In 2017, Peter started a new project called Filthy Friends. This group includes other musicians he has worked with for a long time. The same year, he also formed The No Ones. In 2018, he released an album with Joseph Arthur as Arthur Buck.

Peter Buck's Personal Life

Peter Buck has been married three times. He has twin daughters, born in 1994. He is known for knowing a lot about music. He also has a very large collection of records. In the late 1990s, he thought he had about 25,000 records.

Peter has lived in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. He has also lived in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Discography

See also

In Spanish: Peter Buck para niños