Ian Williams (musician)

Ian Williams (musician)
Ian Williams (born August 31, 1970) is an American rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. He became noted for his finger tapping guitar playing in bands such as Don Caballero, Storm & Stress and currently in Battles. He is known for his one-handed guitar playing technique, often while playing keyboards or Ableton Push simultaneously with the other hand.
Biography
Williams was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and spent part of his childhood in Malawi, before returning to the US in the 6th grade.
He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, where he studied history and political science.
Musical career
In his teenage years Williams was a drummer and vocalist for Pittsburgh-based band 'Sludgehammer'.
Williams joined Pittsburgh math rock pioneers Don Caballero as a second guitarist in 1992 until 2000. He had also played in the Chicago-based, avant-garde band Storm & Stress from 1997 to 2000. Williams moved to New York City in the early 2000s and formed Battles in 2002.
Williams is well known for his approach to finger tapping on guitar and uses Gibson's Echoplex looping system. His propensity towards guitar tapping allows him to accompany himself on keyboard at live performances, using one hand for each instrument.
Williams made a short cameo appearance in the 2000 film High Fidelity as a customer in the music store (shortly after John Cusack's character announces, "I will now sell five copies of The Three E.P.'s by The Beta Band."). He also had small cameos in Heaven's a Drag and Bloodmoon, a 1997 martial arts action film.
Setup
(Battles: 2004 - 2010)
Guitars
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Keyboards
M-Audio ProKeys Sono 88
Software
Native Instruments Kontakt 4
Computers
Apple Mac
Rack Mount Units
Gibson Echoplex Digital Pro - w/Footswitch
Amplifiers
Roland JC-120
Ampeg SVT VR Head
Marshall 4x12 Cabinet
(Battles: 2011 - present)
Guitars
Gibson Les Paul
Gibson SG
Keyboards
M-Audio Axiom 61 - X 2 (2011 - 2013)
Novation 61 SL MkII (2014 - 2016)
M-Audio Keystation 61 II (2014–Present)
Software
Native Instruments Kontakt 5
Ableton Live
Mainstage (Software) (2011 - 2013)
Sequencer
Akai APC40 (2011 - 2013)
Ableton Push (2014–Present)
Computers
Apple Mac - X 2 (2011 - 2013)
Apple Mac - X 1 (2014–Present)
Apogee Duet
Rack Mount Units
Gibson Echoplex Digital Pro - w/Footswitch (2011 - 2013)
MIDI Footswitches
Roland FC-300 (2011 - 2013)
Keith McMillen SoftStep 2 (2014–Present)
Amplifiers
Roland JC-120
Ampeg SVT-VR Head
Ampeg SVT-CL Head
Ampeg 6x12 Cabinet
Marshall 4x12 Cabinet
Discography
As a band member
Don Caballero - For Respect (1993)
Don Caballero - Don Caballero 2 (1995)
Don Caballero - What Burns Never Returns (1998)
Don Caballero - Singles Breaking Up (Vol. 1) (1999)
Don Caballero - American Don (2000)
Storm & Stress - Storm and Stress (1997)
Storm & Stress - Under Thunder & Fluorescent Lights (2000)
Battles — EP C / B EP (2006)
Battles — Mirrored (2007)
Battles — Gloss Drop (2011)
Battles – La Di Da Di (2015)
Battles - Juice B Crypts (2019)
References
External links
1970 births
Living people
American rock guitarists
American male guitarists
People from Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Guitarists from Pennsylvania
Storm & Stress members
Battles (band) members
Math rock musicians
21st-century American guitarists
21st-century American male musicians