Birth name John Cory Hassall Movies The Libertines Years active 1999–present | Role Musician Name John Hassall | |
Instruments Vocals, bass guitar, guitar Albums Anthems for Doomed, Up the Bracket, The Libertines, Time for Heroes – The Best, The Legend of Yeti Gonz | ||
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter Associated acts The Libertines, Yeti | ||
John Cory Hassall (born 17 February 1981 in Westminster, London) is an English musician and bassist for The Libertines. He now performs with his own band The April Rainers. Previously, he formed the band Yeti.
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Early life
He has said that when he discovered the Beatles at age 13 was the first time he fell in love. He went on to buy their entire discography in chronological order.
The Libertines
Hassall attended Highgate School, where he was classmates with Johnny Borrell of Razorlight .It is reported Borrell was actually part of the band's line up as bass player before Hassall; Another band member was quoted saying he left because he could not keep up with a song they were practising (allegedly 'Horrorshow', a song from the band's Up The Bracket – their first album). Hassall joined a band and ended up playing bass. He played in various bands for a few years, but none of them worked out until he met Pete Doherty. Doherty and Carl Barât had already founded the Libertines, but were in need of a bassist and drummer. It is said that Doherty was intrigued by Hassall not only for his talent but because he had 'proper' equipment. To play the drums on their first recording session, the trio hired Paul Dufour. Hassall was hired to rejoin them on bass when they were signed by Rough Trade just before during December 2001. He continued to play with the band until they disbanded at the end of 2004. The band has since reformed and was a "Special Guest" at the Reading/Leeds Festival on 28 August 2010. According to both Barât and Doherty, The Libertines plan to play live at Hyde Park in London on 5 July 2014 probably with some new material which they may possibly record in the future. John Hassall has also formed a new band The April Rainers where he lives in Denmark .After a number of Scandinavian gigs and support slots on Pete Doherty's Eudaimonia tour, the Rainers played a series of headlining gigs in England with more to follow in 2017. The band's much delayed debut album "Wheels to Idyll" is available on order and released in March 2017 (http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/johnhassall), following single releases and videos for "Given time" and "Intercity 125".
