Loose Fur
| Company type | Supergroup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Jeff Tweedy, Glenn Kotche, Jim O'Rourke |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
| Website | www |
Loose Fur was a rock supergroup from the United States, comprising Wilco members Jeff Tweedy and Glenn Kotche, along with Wilco collaborator and Sonic Youth multi-instrumentalist Jim O'Rourke. The three first connected in May 2000 while preparing for a Tweedy performance at a festival in Chicago. Tweedy selected O'Rourke as his partner, who then invited Kotche to join the rehearsals, leading to the creation of enough material for a full album. They issued two records: 2003's Loose Fur and 2006's Born Again in the USA, both released under Drag City. The group only conducted a single tour.
Loose Fur played a significant role in shaping Wilco's fourth album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Dissatisfied with the initial recordings, Tweedy made lineup changes during the sessions, replacing members with O'Rourke and Kotche. Both musicians continued contributing to Wilco’s projects through 2007’s Sky Blue Sky. Kotche remains an active member of Wilco .
Formation
Towards the end of 1999, Jeff Tweedy, Wilco’s frontman, encountered Jim O'Rourke’s 1997 release Bad Timing, which impressed him with its eclectic and difficult-to-classify instrumental compositions. When invited to perform with a collaborator at the 2000 Noise Pop Festival in Chicago, Tweedy opted for O'Rourke over other candidates. They convened shortly before the festival, drawing creative influence from artists such as T. Rex, Phil Niblock, and Roy Harper, and composed material specifically for the event.
O'Rourke brought drummer Glenn Kotche into the rehearsals. Tweedy crafted lyrics through wordplay exercises and sought to refine his guitar technique, inspired by free jazz musicians like James "Blood" Ulmer. On May 14, 2000, at the Noise Pop Festival, Tweedy performed alongside Loose Fur, premiering new songs including "Laminated Cat," which was a reimagined Wilco demo.
During the summer of 2000, the trio recorded a six-track album and contributed anonymously to O'Rourke’s 2001 solo effort Insignificance. The release of Loose Fur’s debut was postponed as Tweedy concentrated on completing Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot sessions.
Impact on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
By late 2000, Wilco had gathered sufficient material for an album; however, Tweedy felt it lacked an "emotional core" and sought a sound more aligned with his work in Loose Fur. His intention was to progress Wilco’s musical direction similarly to how Being There and Summerteeth had evolved the band’s style. Both Tweedy and guitarist Jay Bennett grew frustrated with drummer Ken Coomer’s inconsistent performances. Initially considering adding Kotche as an additional percussionist, Tweedy ultimately replaced Coomer with his Loose Fur bandmate:
Kotche swiftly reimagined drum parts, most notably transforming "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" by incorporating unconventional percussion elements such as hubcaps and floor tiles. Although initially uncertain about these changes, the rest of the band came to fully support Kotche after hearing his contributions. Bennett later remarked:
Tweedy also experienced disagreements with Bennett regarding the album’s mixing process, particularly concerning transitions between tracks. Fearing Bennett was approaching burnout, Tweedy enlisted Jim O'Rourke to remix "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart." While O'Rourke enhanced the mix significantly, this led to friction between him and Bennett. O'Rourke proceeded to remix additional songs, intensifying the album’s tension by reducing parts from other Wilco members—sometimes leaving only Tweedy, Kotche, and himself (the Loose Fur lineup) featured on certain tracks.
Recording career
Loose Fur unveiled their self-titled six-track album on January 28, 2003, which had been recorded at the Wilco loft back in 2000. In contrast to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the Loose Fur record featured just a single overdub per track. The group debuted live under the name "Loose Fur" during their initial concert on December 6, 2002, followed by a second performance in Brooklyn, NY.
By October 2005, Tweedy revealed that the band was approaching completion of their sophomore album, Born Again in the USA. This release stood out as the first to predominantly showcase O'Rourke's lyrical contributions since Insignificance. Unlike their first album, Loose Fur chose not to embark on a tour to promote this record. The sound of Born Again in the USA leaned towards a heavier tone, incorporating more intricate guitar harmonies. Both albums were met with positive critical acclaim. Additionally, Tweedy featured performances of "The Ruling Class" and "Laminated Cat" on a solo DVD released in 2005.
Glenn Kotche continues his role as Wilco's drummer, while Jim O'Rourke maintains an ongoing collaboration with the band; both musicians participated in the creation of A Ghost Is Born and Sky Blue Sky. In a 2016 interview, Jeff Tweedy confirmed that a subsequent album following Born Again in the USA had been recorded but remained in the post-production phase.
Discography
| Date | Title | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| January 28, 2003 | Loose Fur | CD, vinyl |
| March 21, 2006 | Born Again in the USA | CD, vinyl |