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All Music Guide:
As the co-founder of Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, and the Moog Cookbook, keyboardist Roger Manning became one of the most beloved figures in '90s underground pop music. While none of those bands remained together for longer than four years, Manning's talent as a harmony vocalist, arranger, and instrumentalist helped him secure work with additional groups. His session gigs for blink-182, Fiona Apple, and Jamiroquai cemented his industry profile, while a five-year stint in Beck's band brought his keyboard skills to a mainstream audience. Manning also pursued a solo career during the 2000s, releasing several albums that combined his demonstrated love for pop music with experimental flourishes.
Wikipedia:
Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. (born May 27, 1966) is an American keyboard player, vocalist, and guitarist, and 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 currently the session keyboardist for rock supergroup Angels & Airwaves. He is known for his distinctive style 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. As well as providing session work, he used to work frequently with producer Jerry Finn, through whom he was credited as keyboardist on a number of recordings with pop-punk band Blink-182.
In early 2006, Manning released his long-awaited first solo album in Japan only. That album, Solid State Warrior, 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.
Roger lists his influences as keyboard-centric artists 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.
