Duke Erikson

Not to be confused with former Metal Church bassist Duke Erickson.

Duke Erikson
Duke Erikson performing live
Background information
Birth name	Douglas Elwin Erikson
Born	January 15, 1951 (1951-01-15) (age 60)
Origin	Lyons, Nebraska, U.S.
Genres	Rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, record producer, remixer
Instruments	Bass guitar, Guitar, Keyboards
Years active	1978–present
Labels	Geffen Records, A&E Records, Atlantic Records
Associated acts	Garbage Firetown Spooner

Douglas Elwin Erickson (born January 15, 1951 in Nebraska), better known as Duke Erikson, is a founding member of the band Garbage. At 16 years old he formed his first band, The British. Erickson studied art history, and financed his studies with numerous jobs such as carpenter or truck driver. Duke is single and the father of daughter, Roxy Erickson, a photographer in London, England whom he named after musician Roky Erickson of the 13th Floor Elevators.

Early life

Duke Erikson was born Douglas Erickson on January 15, 1951 in Lyons, a small farming community in Nebraska. His first instrument was the piano, until he bought a guitar. At the age of 16 he joined his first band, called 'The British'. When he completed his first scholastic cycle, he went to Wayne State College in Nebraska. He earned money during this time as a truck driver, a carpenter, and a waiter, among other things. Duke met Steve Marker at a bar in Madison. Duke and Butch played together in Spooner and later in Firetown and Rectal Drip. He also worked with Butch and Steve on their unnamed band project after the demise of Rectal Drip. Duke used to be a producer and engineer at Smart Studios. In the band he plays guitar, bass and the keyboards.

Music career

In 1979, Erickson's band Spooner, for whom he was the main songwriter and singer, released a four-song EP that started them as being one of the most popular bands in the region. Two full-length records followed, Every Corner Dance and the nationally distributed Wildest Dreams. In 1987 Duke and Butch Vig, with Phil Davis^{[disambiguation needed ]} as a singer, created the band Firetown. Firetown published two albums and six singles in very short period of time, along with a video for the single Carry The Torch, but separated in 1989. Then the Spooner single "Mean Old World" hit number one in Madison, their home town, helping to bring a full reunification of the band. A new album, Fugitive Dance, soon appeared and a tour followed, before the band separated again in 1993. By this time, Butch Vig had made his name as a producer.

In 1994, Duke Erikson formed Garbage along with Shirley Manson, Butch Vig and Steve Marker.

Discography

Spooner Cruel School E.P. (1979) Every Corner Dance (1982) Wildest Dreams (1985) The Fugitive Dance (1990) Fire Town In the Heart of the Heart Country (1987) The Good Life (1989)

Garbage Studio albums Garbage (1995) Version 2.0 (1998) Beautiful Garbage (2001) Bleed Like Me (2005) Compilation albums Special Collection (2002) Absolute Garbage (2007) Main article: Garbage discography

References

External links

• Duke Erikson at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Website Garbage

Persondata
Name	Erikson, Duke
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 15, 1953
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death