Warren Ellis (musician)

Warren Ellis (born 1965, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer, most famous for his work with Dirty Three, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. He plays violin, piano, bouzouki, guitar, flute, mandolin and can program electronic loops. Ellis is also known for his excessive and eccentric, though amusing banter between songs during Dirty Three live shows.Ellis now performs with Grinderman, along with fellow bad seeds Nick Cave, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos and currently lives in Paris, with his wife and two children.

Background

In the early '80s Ellis moved to Melbourne and completed a Dip. Ed. in Music and English. He then spent a few years teaching in secondary schools before resigning; after this he wrote music for theatre groups in Melbourne.

In Melbourne, Ellis played with several groups and individuals- Charlie Marshall, The Blackeyed Susans, and Dave McComb of The Triffids before he formed, in 1992, the Dirty Three with Jim White and Mick Turner.

In 1995, Ellis was invited to play with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on a recording, he remained with the band and continues to play and record with them to date, and has been played on each record they have made since he joined.

In 2002, Ellis released a solo album on King Crab records called "Three Pieces for Violin". In 2005 he collaborated with Nick Cave on the award-winning score of the film The Proposition.

Ellis was on the front cover of the first issue of popular London fanzine "The Freaky Jason".

Collaborations

The track 'Hell's Coming Down' from the album 'Riot City Blues' with Primal Scream.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford soundtrack with Nick Cave.
The Proposition soundtrack also with Nick Cave.Soundtrack to Woyzeck adaptation by Gísli Örn Gardarsson's with Nick Cave."Crazy Love" by Marianne Faithfull/Nick Cave with Isabelle Huppert.Also performed with the chicago burlesque queen Maya Sinstress in early 2000.

Awards

* 2005 AFI Awards: Best Original Music Score ("The Proposition")
* 2005 Inside Film Awards: Best Music ("The Proposition")
* 2005 Film Critics Circle Of Australia Awards: Best Musical Score ("The Proposition")Ellis is now performing with Grinderman, along with fellow bad seeds Nick Cave, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos.Ellis is currently on tour with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds in support of the "Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!" Album.

External links

* [http://www.dirtythree.com The Dirty Three]
* [http://nickcaveandthebadseeds.com Nick Cave official site]
* [http://www.grinderman.com Grinderman official site]