Roger Joseph Manning Jr.

Band membership

Manning was a founding member of bands Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, The Moog Cookbook, and TV Eyes. He has also spent several years as an integral member of Beck's backing band, and made contributions to several recordings by the band Air. He is known for his distinctive style of playing various analog and digital synthesizers. Electronica, power pop, psychedelia and jazz are his primary genres although he also does session work with a number of artists as well as commercial and soundtrack music. He worked with producer Jerry Finn, through whom he was credited as keyboardist on a number of recordings with pop-punk band Blink-182.

Solo releases

In early 2006, Manning released his first solo album in Japan only: Solid State Warrior. It was subsequently issued in the U.S. under a different title, The Land of Pure Imagination, along with an altered song content. In March 2008, Manning released his second solo album in Japan only. That album, Catnip Dynamite, was eventually released in the U.S. on February 3, 2009. The U.S. release contains three bonus tracks that were recorded during a live performance at Fujifest in Japan. Roger is also credited with playing keyboards on several 2004-2009 works by singer Morrissey.

Influences

Manning lists his influences as various artists who emphasize keyboards in their work, including Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Jean-Luc Ponty, Chick Corea, Frank Zappa, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Brian Eno and Roxy Music, Steely Dan, Mahavishnu Orchestra as well as punk rock and new wave artists like Gang of Four, Thomas Dolby, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, Buzzcocks, Dead Kennedys, Talk Talk, The Damned, XTC, Tears for Fears, Suicidal Tendencies, Madness and Wall of Voodoo.

Solo works

TV Eyes

Imperial Drag