Dylan Carlson (musician)

Dylan Randolph Carlson (born March 12, 1968) is an American musician best known as the guitarist and founder of the drone metal/post-rock group Earth, and the main contributor to his solo project Drcarlsonalbion.

Early life and education

Carlson was born in Seattle, Washington, United States. His father worked for the Department of Defense, and as a result, moved quite frequently. Living in Philadelphia, Texas, New Mexico, and New Jersey, before coming back to live in Washington state.<ref name="doom">Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

He had first become interested in being a rock musician at age 15, inspired by bands such as Molly Hatchet, AC/DC, and Black Sabbath.<ref name="doom" /> He also cites the Melvins, and composers La Monte Young and Terry Riley as major influences on his music. It was in Olympia, Washington that he met Slim Moon, Greg Babior, Dave Harwell and Joe Preston, with whom he would later form Earth.<ref name="doom" /> During this time, he would often make "sonic collages" with his then-roommate Kurt Cobain.<ref name="wire">Template:Cite web</ref> From 1991 to 1996, Earth had an ever-changing lineup. Carlson attributes a lack of (full-length) studio album recordings from 1997 to 2005 to "legal and drug problems".<ref name="drrock">Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

Carlson was a good friend of Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and, like Cobain, has struggled with heroin addiction, particularly so after Cobain's death.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Carlson purchased the gun that Cobain used to end his life, which he bought at Cobain's request six days before his death.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was actually with investigator Tom Grant when he searched Cobain's home, but they failed to search the greenhouse above the garage where his body was eventually discovered on April 8, 1994.Template:Citation needed

In his biography of Cobain, Heavier Than Heaven, Charles R. Cross asserted that "In Bloom" was a "thinly disguised portrait" of Carlson.<ref>Heavier Than Heaven, Charles R. Cross, p. 149</ref> He now lives in recovery of heroin addiction. He has survived a rare form of hepatitis B and liver failure.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Rocker back to music and life Seattle Times</ref> Carlson was married to fellow Earth member, drummer Adrienne Davies for a time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Davies still remains in the band despite their split.Template:Citation needed

Solo discography

File:Dylan-carlson DSC08055.jpg

Dylan Carlson at Aarhus Festival, Denmark 2018

• La Strega and the Cunning Man in the Smoke (as Drcarlsonalbion) (2012)
• Gold (as Drcarlsonalbion) (2014)
• Falling with a 1000 Stars and other wonders from the House of Albion (with Coleman Grey) (2016)
• Conquistador (2018)

External links

• Template:Official website
• Earth's MySpace page
• Extensive Earth Interview
• Dylan's Interview with I Heart Noise