Russell Lissack

Infobox musical artist
Name = Russell Lissack

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Img_capt = Russell Lissack
Landscape =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Russell Dean Lissack
Born = birth date and age|1981|03|11
Died =
Origin = flagicon|England Chingford, England
Instrument = Guitar
Genre = Indie rock
Art rock
Occupation =
Years_active = 2002–present
Associated_acts = Bloc Party
Pin Me Down
Notable_instruments = Fender Telecaster

Russell Dean Lissack [ [http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=1696713&search_in=c&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=20&start=1 ASC
] ] (born March 11, 1981) is the lead guitarist of London-based indie rock band Bloc Party. He is also in the band Pin Me Down; a duo of himself and Milena Mepris. Mepris once referred to Lissack as a "Meerkat" due to how he appears and darts about on and off stage. Bloc Party's singer Kele Okereke referred to him as "Silent but Deadly" during their 2007 Reading Festival performance; Russell responded by cheering.

Biography

Lissack grew up in Chingford, London, and went to Bancroft's School in Woodford, Essex. He then studied Sociology at London South Bank University, dropping out weeks before graduation so he could tour with Bloc Party. He does not do many interviews, (and when he does, he keeps words to a minimum) and he shies away from the camera, leading many to believe that he is quite quiet. When Bloc Party became popular mid 2004, Russell was noted for his distinctive haircut, involving a triangular fringe covering a large part of his face and head. This style has affectionately become known as a "blochead."

Personal life

Over the 2007 Christmas period, Lissack got engaged to his girlfriend, Melanie Hunter.

He is also a committed vegetarian, and recently appeared in the Vegetarian Magazine to talk about his Christmas dinner, which he likes 'traditional, with a Quorn fillet to replace the meat'.

Influences

Lissack cites some of his major influences as Manic Street Preachers, Suede, Blur, Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins, New Order, The Smiths, Prince, Weezer, the anime series Escaflowne, and late-90s Trance music. [http://blocparty.com/russell.php]

Guitar influences include Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead and Graham Coxon of Blur who are users of the Fender Telecaster.

In a recent interview, Kele from Bloc Party stated that Russell used to play guitar in an Ash tribute band. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b1736EF0R8 YouTube - Bloc Party - The Making of Song For Clay (Disappear Here) ] ] Kele jokingly adds that, as Russell was playing lead guitar, he filled the role of Charlotte Hatherley.

He also recently remixed Kate Nash's single 'Pumpkin Soup'.

Musical Equipment used

Guitars

* Fender Telecaster – Lissack's main guitar; used in almost all live songs. A Japanese Vintage off blonde model with a black pickguard that features an array of stickers, including Pokémon and Disney characters. The strap is covered with countless badges, including the one that the Spanish band TvToys gave him on Bloc Party's last concert in Madrid.
* Fender Telecaster – White, white scratchplate, maple fretboard, several Family Guy badges on strap.
* Fender Telecaster – White, mint green scratchplate, rosewood fretboard. Probably a Fender 60's Classic Series Telecaster.
* Fender Telecaster Custom – Bubble-gum pink, as seen in the video for "Little Thoughts".
* Fender Telecaster Custom – Black, maple fretboard, 1 humbucker and 1 single coil bridge pickup, flashing LED lights on scratchplate. Used on "Uniform" live, and seen in the Hunting for Witches video. Features the unusual modification of a children's toy fitted next to the guitar's pickups, which produces a series of futuristic sound effects when activated from a switch on the scratchplate. These sounds are picked up by the guitar's humbuckers and are amplified as normal.
* Epiphone SG – White, used earlier in the band's career.
* Fender Jaguar – Blue, tortoise shell scratchplate, used earlier in the band's career.
* It has also been suggested that he has an affinity for multicoloured fake Stratocasters.
* He also uses producers Gibson's in the studio, for example the les paul in uniform

Effects pedals

Russell uses a variety of guitar effects live and in the studio, so many that it is difficult to track exactly which are used at any given point. From eye-witness accounts/interviews it has been suggested that he has used all of these following effects
* BOSS LS-2 Line Selector.
* BOSS DD-6 Delay (Four in a series rig)
* BOSS DD-5 x2 (1 set to reverse)Delay.
* BOSS DD-3 Digital Delay
* BOSS OS-2 Overdrive/Distortion
* BOSS DS-1 Distortion
* BOSS DS-2 Turbo Distortion
* BOSS PS-5 Super Shifter. x2
* BOSS PW-10 Wah
* BOSS TR-2 Tremolo.
* BOSS TU-2 Tuner.
* BOSS RV-5 Reverb.
* Electro-Harmonix Big Muff.
* Electro-HarmonixDeluxe Memory Man.
* Ernie Ball 6165 Stereo Volume/Pan Pedal.
* Electro Harmonix POG PolyPhonic Octave Pedal.
* Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
* BOSS V-Wah
* Ibanez Weeping Demon Wah
* Korg Kaoss Pad
* DigiTech XP100 Whammy
* Pro Co Rat

Amplifiers

* Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

References