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

During the early days of Pantera, Rex Brown went by the stage name Rex Rocker. It wasn't until Far Beyond Driven that he changed his stage name to Rex Brown. 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".

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

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, 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 disbanded in 2003.

Rebel Meets Rebel

During down time Brown and the Abbott Brothers, teamed up with country artist David Allan Coe in a project called "Rebel Meets Rebel" in 1999. The album was released May 2, 2006 on Vinnie Pauls "Big Vin Records" label. Rebel Meets Rebel disbanded in 2004.

Down

Brown joined Down in 1999 after the departure of Todd Strange from the band. On March 26, 2002, Down released their second album called Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow with Brown on bass. After Down reunited in 2006 after a four year hiatus, work began on their third album, Down III: Over the Under. They are currently recording their fourth album to be released sometime in 2010.

Other work

Rex has worked previously with Jerry Cantrell on five tracks included on the album called Boggy Depot as well as eleven tracks with Crowbar on the album Lifesblood for the Downtrodden. He has also provided bass work for Crowbar in 2004 and 2005 and to Cavalera Conspiracy in 2008. Rex revealed his new project ARMS OF THE SUN, a project featuring Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN) on bass, John Luke Hebert (KING DIAMOND) drums, Lance Harvill on vocals and guitar, and Ben Bunker (GRYN) on guitar, has completed work on thirteen tracks that were produced and mixed by Terry Date (DEFTONES, PANTERA, SOUNDGARDEN). The material is set for a late February release through Extreme Music, which provides class-A production music to all major networks and studios, ad agencies and production companies, including FOX, HBO, NBC, BBC, MTV, SKY, ABC, Discovery, Nickelodeon, Turner Entertainment Networks, Universal, Lions Gate, Miramax, Sony Pictures, Touchstone and Disney, to name a few. ARMS OF THE SUN recorded the music, written by Lance Harvill, late last year at Willie Nelson's Pedernales Recording Studio in Austin. The project is executive-produced by Sir George Martin (THE BEATLES) and Mark Ross for the Grandmaster Series, which celebrates four of the world's top producers spanning from the '60s through the '90s, including Sir George himself, Terry Date, Jack Douglas (AEROSMITH), and Hugh Padgham (THE POLICE).

Personal life

Health concerns and illness

In August 2009, Brown had to sit out the Down tour due to acute pancreatitis. He would then have his gallbladder and polyps on his pancreas removed. Kirk Windstein recently Stated on Down's website: Bassist Rex Brown – Diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, he underwent surgery, during which his gall bladder, along with some polyps were removed. “He’s doing much better. He’s gaining a little weight back. Rex is one of my best friends in the world. I love him to death. He’ll be all right. Everybody’s not Lemmy (from Motörhead). I tell him that sometimes. It got to the point where his body just started giving out from 25 years on the road – drinking every day and what not. Most people do it on the weekend. Add that up to every day for 25 years and that’s what happens. By no means is he out of the band." As of December he is almost three years sober. As of the end of January 2010, Rex has nearly fully recuperated from his fight with pancreatitis. Says Brown, "After two major surgeries to close out 2009, I have recovered from pancreatitis and am looking forward to getting back to work with Down."

Brown, and the rest of Down, have discussed reconvening in New Orleans sometime after the Super Bowl to begin work on a new album. With a release date yet to be announced, the new album will be the band's fourth studio offering.

Brown who is currently looking forward to a healthy and productive 2010 says, "I'd like to thank everyone for their support and well wishes during my illness and recovery."

Playing style and equipment

Rex was a jazz bassist and was offered a scholarship to the University of North Texas but declined. 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", "Where You Come From", "This Love", "I'm Broken" and many others.

Brown is currently endorsed by Spector basses and Ampeg amplification.