Rex Brown

Rex Brown

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Rex Brown

Rex Robert Brown (born July 27, 1964 in Graham, Texas) is an American heavy metal bassist. Currently a member of Down, he is most famous as the longtime bassist for the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling band Pantera.

Life and career

Pantera
Rebel Meets Rebel
Down
Other work

Playing style
Equipment

Basses
Effects
Amplifiers

Discography

With Jerry Cantrell (1998)
With Cavalera Conspiracy (2008)
With Crowbar (2004-2005)
With Down (1999-present)
With Pantera (1982-2003)
With Rebel Meets Rebel (2000-2003)

Life and career

Along with former Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo, he subsequently joined Down to replace bassist Todd Strange, and most recently played bass on the Down album Down III: Over the Under.

During the early days of Pantera Rex Brown went by the stage name Rex Rocker. It wasn't until Far Beyond Driven that both Rex Brown and Dimebag Darrell changed their stage names. Rex dropped Rex Rocker and was just credited from then on as Rex Brown and Diamond Darrell was changed to Dimebag Darrell.

According to the Pantera Cowboys from Hell inner notes, Rex is simply credited as "Rex" , thus dropping the last part of his stage name "Rocker".

Pantera

Rex joined Pantera in 1982 with his friend guitarist Dimebag Darrell, drummer Vinnie Paul and vocalist Terry Glaze.

Pantera recruited vocalist Phil Anselmo to replace Glaze in 1987. By 1990 the band had been signed to Atco Records and released Cowboys from Hell which proved to be the band's turning point. Over the course of four more studio records, a live album and a greatest hits compilation, Anselmo and Pantera were nominated for four best metal performance Grammys, in 1995 for "I'm Broken", 1997 for "Suicide Note Pt. I", 1998 for "Cemetery Gates" and 2001 for "Revolution Is My Name." In 2001, Anselmo decided to put Pantera on hold because of back pain while he toured and recorded with his side projects. Pantera's official disbandment happened in 2003 by Phil Anselmo.

Rebel Meets Rebel

While in between bands, Rex and the Abbott Brothers, teamed up with country artist David Allan Coe in a project called "Rebel Meets Rebel" in 2000. The album was released May 2, 2006 on Vinnie's "Big Vin Records" label. Rebel Meets Rebel's offically disbandment on July 28 2003, when Rex and Darrell are taking the blame and fell out, However Rex and Darrell are both friends again.

Down

In 1999 Rex has joined Down after Todd Strange left the band, Rex meets Kirk Windstein, Pepper Keenan and Jimmy Bower. In September 2000 and November 2001 Down has done 2nd album was called A Bustle in Your Hedgerow. after Down reunited in 2006 after disband in four years, In December 2006 and February 2007 Down has done 3rd album was called Over the Under, the new songs are I Scream and On March the Saints.

Other work

Rex has done five tracks with Jerry Cantrell, the album was called Boggy Depot as well as eleven tracks with Crowbar the album was called Lifesblood for the Downtrodden, and also is producer and also play Acoustic guitar. He has also provided bass work for Crowbar in 2004 and 2005 and to Cavalera Conspiracy in 2008.

Playing style

Rex was a jazz bassist while attending James Bowie High School in Arlington Texas and was offered a scholarship to the University of North Texas but declined.^[1] He often plays with a pick. He is widely considered to be, along with Dimebag Darrell, one of the driving forces behind groove metal.

Rex was notable for often contributing walking basslines underneath Darrell's guitar solos. Standout tracks include "Floods" "Walk" "5 Minutes Alone", "Throes of Rejection", "Cowboys from Hell", "Living Through Me (Hells Wrath)", "I Can't Hide", "Use my Third Arm", "I'm Broken" and many others. Rex uses Spector Rex basses, which are modeled after the Gibson Thunderbird.