View source for Brendan Canty

{{short description|American drummer (born 1966)}}
{{for|the cyclist|Brendan Canty (cyclist)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image             = FUGAZI 8 (19741226841) (cropped).jpg
| name              = Brendan Canty
| caption           = Canty performing with Fugazi in 1996
| birth_name        = 
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1966|3|9}}
| birth_place       = [[Teaneck, New Jersey]], U.S.<ref name="showcase">{{cite web |title=Brendan Canty and Christoph Green (The Liberation) – American Film Showcase |url=https://americanfilmshowcase.com/filmmakers/canty-green/ |website=American Film Showcase |publisher=[[USC School of Cinematic Arts]] |access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| origin            = 
| instrument        = 
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative rock]]
* [[indie rock]]
* [[post-hardcore]]
* [[hardcore punk]]
* [[post-punk]]
* [[punk rock]]
* [[emo]]
}}
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
* Musician
* composer
* producer
* film maker
}}
| years_active      = 
| label             = 
| associated_acts   = {{flatlist|
* [[Fugazi (band)|Fugazi]]
* [[Rites of Spring]]
* [[Happy Go Licky]]
* [[Girls Against Boys]]
* [[The Messthetics]]
}}
| website           = 
}}

'''Brendan John Canty''' (born March 9, 1966)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/brendan_canty |title=Archived copy |website=rateyourmusic.com |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109143643/https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/brendan_canty |archive-date=9 January 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{deprecated source|certain=y|date=November 2024}} is an American musician, composer, producer and filmmaker, best known as the drummer for the band [[Fugazi (band)|Fugazi]].

In 2007, ''[[Stylus Magazine]]'' ranked Canty at No. 29 on the list of "50 Greatest Rock Drummers".<ref name=Stylus50>{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/stylus-magazines-50-greatest-rock-drummers.htm|title=50 Greatest Rock Drummers|author=Stylus Staff|work=Stylus Magazine's 50 Greatest Rock Drummers|access-date=May 5, 2011|archive-date=May 24, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524213700/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/stylus-magazines-50-greatest-rock-drummers.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Biography==
===Early years, Rites of Spring===
Brendan Canty was born in [[Teaneck, New Jersey]], and grew up in the [[Cleveland Park]] neighborhood of [[Washington, D.C.]], where his family moved when he was 10 months old.<ref name="showcase"></ref><ref name="barber">{{cite AV media |people= Tropea, Joe, and Robert A. Emmons Jr. (directors) |date=2021 |title= Fugazi's Barber |type=Short film |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuHwmqb2asA |access-date=22 October 2023 |publisher=Haricot Vert Films}}</ref> He began playing drums at the age of 15, debuting in [[Dischord Records]] band Deadline, one of the signature bands of the early D.C. hardcore scene in the summer of 1981. They recorded a demo at [[Inner Ear Studios]] that fall, and from those sessions three tracks were used on the Dischord "[[Flex Your Head]]" compilation. After playing a number of shows through the following year, Deadline recorded one more session at Inner Ear in August 1982, just prior to disbanding. Canty continued his musical career in 1985 with Dischord band [[Rites of Spring]], after which he played in [[One Last Wish]] and [[Happy Go Licky]].{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

===Fugazi===
{{main|Fugazi}}
Canty was a near-original member of [[Fugazi]] as their drummer, replacing original drummer [[Colin Sears]]. Canty joined the band in 1987. He recorded and toured with the group until their "indefinite hiatus" in 2003.

Many of Fugazi's songs since ''[[Repeater (album)|Repeater]]'' are based on guitar [[riffs]] introduced at rehearsals by Canty. An adept multi-instrumentalist, Canty also writes songs on piano (he plays a skeletal version of "Bed for the Scraping" on the ''[[Instrument (film)|Instrument]]'' DVD), as well as bass lines for some songs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.in-your-ear.net/features/interviews/fugazi/ |title=in your ear |publisher=in your ear |access-date=2011-10-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220051102/http://www.in-your-ear.net/features/interviews/fugazi/ |archive-date=February 20, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He is also noted for using a large farmers bell as part of his drum kit.

===Soundtrack work, film scoring, directing and side projects===
In 1989, Canty formed the band [[Girls Against Boys]] alongside [[Eli Janney (musician)|Eli Janney]]. It was initially a side project for Canty, although he ultimately only appeared on one release by the band (1990's ''[[Nineties vs. Eighties]]'') as he turned his focus to Fugazi in 1990.

Canty frequently composes soundtrack music, primarily for documentaries, often with ''National Geographic'' and Discovery Channel.  He also contributes to or helps produce other Washington D.C.-area recordings.  During Fugazi's post-2002 hiatus, Canty took part in a side project, [[Garland of Hours]], with vocalist/cellist/keyboardist Amy Domingues and drummer/percussionist Jerry Busher, both of whom have contributed to Fugazi recordings and performances. Their first self-titled album was released on the [[Arrest Records]] label founded by Busher and Canty's younger brother James, formerly of [[Nation of Ulysses]].
He currently has a band with [[Joe Lally]] of Fugazi called [[The Messthetics]], and has toured with the late Wayne Kramer in his revival of the MC5, MC50.

Canty's score for the Sundance Channel documentary series ''The Hill'' premiered on August 23, 2006.  Canty was the sole composer on Hard Time, for ''National Geographic'' for all four seasons from 2009 to 2012.  Also, the composer on two of ESPN's 30 for 30's: Angry Sky, and Birth of Big Air. He scored the film Frank Serpico.  He continues to score for film, television, and commercials.

In 2004, Canty and director Christoph Green co-founded the film Production company Trixie to release an ongoing series of music-related films entitled [[Burn to Shine (DVD series)|''Burn to Shine'']]. The series involves independent alternative music bands from a particular region showing up to perform one song live, without overdubs or corrections, in a house that is about to be demolished.  The first volume was filmed in Canty's home region of Washington, D.C., and features performances from [[Bob Mould]], [[Weird War]], [[Q and Not U]], [[Ted Leo]], French Toast, [[Medications]], fellow Fugazi member Ian MacKaye's side project [[The Evens]], and Garland of Hours. A second volume, filmed in the Chicago area, was released in 2005, and a third filmed in [[Portland, Oregon]] came out August 20, 2006.<ref name=exclaim>{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/brendan_canty_reveals_plans_for_new_wilco_film_talks_future_of_burn_to_shine|title=Brendan Canty Reveals Plans for New Wilco Film, Talks Future of Burn to Shine|website=Exclaim.ca|access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref><ref name=cl>{{Cite web |url=http://www.creativeloafing.com/music/article/13086893/burn-to-shine-6-ignites-the-past |title=Burn to Shine 6 ignites the past |access-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808193922/http://www.creativeloafing.com/music/article/13086893/burn-to-shine-6-ignites-the-past |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In late 2004 and early 2005, Canty contributed drum tracks to Bob Mould's 2005 solo album, ''[[Body of Song]]''.  Canty was also the drummer for many dates on the winter 2005/2006 tour in support of the album.  Canty returned as the drummer for Bob Mould's [[District Line (album)|District Line]], released February 2008. Using the same crew and filming style as on the Burn to Shine series, Canty and Green made a concert film of a Bob Mould show, entitled "Circle of Friends."{{When|date=August 2017}} Canty produced the film and played drums during the show, which took place at Washington D.C.'s [[9:30 Club]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2017}} In 2006, Canty and Green also made''[[Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest]]'', a 2006 [[Jeff Tweedy]] ([[Wilco]]) tour film, and the Wilco tour film ''[[Ashes of American Flags]]'', which was released in 2009 and toured festivals extensively, eventually being broadcast on the Sundance Channel in the US, and being released on DVD and iTunes.

He produced [[Ted Leo and the Pharmacists]]'s ''[[Living With the Living]]'' and ''[[The Tyranny of Distance (album)|The Tyranny of Distance]]'' albums. He also produced [[Benjy Ferree]], [[The Thermals]]'s ''[[The Body, The Blood, The Machine]]'', and French Toast records, as well as mixing the self-titled debut album for [[The Aquarium (band)|The Aquarium]].{{When|date=August 2017}} In 2011, he directed long-time friend [[Eddie Vedder]]'s new solo performance DVD release, ''[[Water on the Road]]'', and took the drums for Vedder's cover of "[[All Along the Watchtower]]".<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110407060155/http://www.bostonmusicspotlight.com/news-pearl-jam-frontman-eddie-vedder-plots-solo-release-tour-boston-show-citi-wang-june-2011/ Boston Music Spotlight » Eddie Vedder plots solo release, tour]}}</ref>

==Influence==
In 2007, ''[[Stylus Magazine]]'' ranked Canty at No. 29 on their list of the "50 Greatest Rock Drummers" based on his drumming work with Fugazi.<ref name=Stylus50 /> Canty has been cited as an influence by such drummers as Sara Lund of [[Unwound]] and multi-instrumentalist [[Joe Wong (musician)|Joe Wong]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lau |first=Andrew K |date=September 16, 2017 |title=Meet a Drummer: A Q&A with Sara Lund on Drum Nerds, Equipment Hassles, and the Gender Issue |url=https://www.norecessmagazine.com/single-post/2017/09/12/meet-a-drummer-a-qa-with-sara-lund-on-drum-nerds-equipment-hassles-and-the-gender-issue |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207143038/https://www.norecessmagazine.com/single-post/2017/09/12/meet-a-drummer-a-qa-with-sara-lund-on-drum-nerds-equipment-hassles-and-the-gender-issue |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |access-date=April 2, 2024 |website=norecessmagazine.com}}</ref><ref name=trapset>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetrapset.net/the-trap-set-episode-1-brendan-canty/|title=THE TRAP SET|website=Thetrapset.net|access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==
His siblings include musician [[James Canty]] and writer [[Kevin Canty (author)|Kevin Canty]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sadler |first1=Brook |title=Canty Could |url=https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/books/article/13009648/canty-could |access-date=10 May 2019 |work=[[Washington City Paper]] |date=18 November 1994}}</ref> He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and four children.{{r|trapset}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheMeter/050128.html Bringing the House Down]
* [https://www.maximumfun.org/blog/2007/01/podcast-burn-to-shine-with-brendan.html Interview with Canty] on public radio program [[The Sound of Young America]]
* [http://www.bandtoband.com/artist/brendan-canty Brendan Canty – BandToBand.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090418073919/http://www.stateofmindmusic.com/entry/628/Fading-Americana%3A-Brendan-Canty-and-Wilco%27s-Ashes-of-American-Flags/ Fading Americana: Brendan Canty and Wilco's Ashes of American Flags] State of Mind, April 2009

{{Fugazi}}
{{The Messthetics}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Canty, Brendan}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:American indie rock musicians]]
[[Category:American punk rock drummers]]
[[Category:American male drummers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Teaneck, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Hardcore punk musicians]]
[[Category:Post-hardcore musicians]]
[[Category:Fugazi members]]
[[Category:20th-century American drummers]]
[[Category:Rites of Spring members]]
[[Category:One Last Wish members]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:The Messthetics members]]
[[Category:Drummers from New Jersey]]