Editing Adrian Belew

{{short description|American musician, songwriter, and record producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Adrian Belew
| image             = Adrian_belew_2022.jpg
| caption           = Belew in 2022
| image_size        = 
| birth_name        = Robert Steven Belew
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1949|12|23}}
| birth_place       = [[Covington, Kentucky]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Progressive rock]]|[[industrial rock]]|[[experimental rock]]|[[new wave music|new wave]]}}
| occupations       = {{hlist|Musician|singer|songwriter|record producer}}
| instruments       = {{hlist|Guitar|vocals|drums}}
| years_active      = 1977–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[Island Records|Island]]|[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]|[[Caroline Records|Caroline]]/[[Virgin Records|Virgin]]}}
| current_member_of = {{hlist|[[Gizmodrome]]|Beat}}
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[King Crimson]]|[[Frank Zappa]]|[[David Bowie]]|[[Talking Heads]]|[[Tom Tom Club]]|[[Laurie Anderson]]|[[The Bears (band)|the Bears]]}}
| website           = {{URL|adrianbelew.net}}
}}
'''Robert Steven''' "'''Adrian'''" '''Belew'''<!-- Leave this until we have certifiable references that he ever changed his name legally --> (born December 23, 1949) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. A multi-instrumentalist primarily known as a [[guitarist]] and singer, he is noted for his unusual approach to the instrument, his playing cited as fluid, expressive, and often resembling "animal noises or mechanical rumblings".<ref name="AllMusic biography">{{cite web |last1=Deming |first1=Mark |title=Adrian Belew Biography by Mark Deming |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/adrian-belew-mn0000498577#biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref>

Widely recognized as an "incredibly versatile [guitar] player",<ref>{{cite web
  | last = Prato
  | first = Greg
  | title = Adrian Belew: Biography
  | website = [[AllMusic]]
  | url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3654|pure_url=yes}}
  | access-date = April 22, 2009}}</ref> Belew is perhaps best known for his tenure as guitarist and frontman in the [[progressive rock]] group [[King Crimson]] between 1981 and 2009. He has also released nearly twenty solo albums for [[Island Records]] and [[Atlantic Records]] in various styles. In addition, Belew has been a member of the intermittently active band [[The Bears (band)|the Bears]], and fronted GaGa in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
 
Belew has also worked extensively as a [[session musician|session]], guest, and touring musician, including periods with [[Frank Zappa]], [[David Bowie]], [[Talking Heads]], [[Laurie Anderson]], and [[Nine Inch Nails]], as well as contributing to hit singles by [[Paul Simon]], [[Tom Tom Club]], and others. His 1989 solo single "[[Oh Daddy (Adrian Belew song)|Oh Daddy]]" was a top ten hit in the United States,{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} and his 2005 single "Beat Box Guitar" was nominated for a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance|Best Rock Instrumental Performance]]. Belew has also worked in instrument design and multimedia, collaborating with [[Parker Guitars]] to help design his [[Parker Fly]] signature guitar, and designing two [[iOS]] [[mobile app]]s.

==Biography==
===Early life (1949–1977)===
Robert Steven Belew was born into a middle-class family in [[Covington, Kentucky]], on December 23, 1949. Initially known to friends and classmates as "Steve", he played drums in his adolescence, playing with the [[Ludlow, Kentucky|Ludlow]] High School marching band and later with the high school [[cover band]] the Denems. Inspired by [[Jimi Hendrix]], he took up guitar while bedridden with [[Infectious mononucleosis|mononucleosis]].<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Locey
  | first = Bill
  | title = Ventura County Weekend; King Crimson Reigns in Times of Change; Led by Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew, the band brings its modern, muscular sound to Ventura Theatre
  | page = 16
  | publisher = [[Los Angeles Times]] (Ventury County)
  | date = July 25, 1996
  }}</ref> At the age of 17, he was further inspired after witnessing a live performance by [[Lonnie Mack]], who later became a close friend.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Munro|first=Scott|date=2016-04-29|title=Ex King Crimson man Belew pays tribute to Lonnie Mack|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/ex-king-crimson-man-belew-pays-tribute-to-lonnie-mack|access-date=2023-02-21|website=louder|language=en|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717172627/https://www.loudersound.com/news/ex-king-crimson-man-belew-pays-tribute-to-lonnie-mack|url-status=live}}</ref>

Not inclined to formal music study, Belew primarily taught himself guitar by listening to records. He was not aware of the studio sound manipulation used to create particular guitar lines, and so found ways of replicating them himself manually using unusual playing techniques and [[Effects unit|effects pedals]]. While maturing as a player and mastering various playing styles, Belew became increasingly preoccupied with ways to avoid "sounding like everybody else". He eventually found his own sound and style by learning how to make his guitar mimic sound effects such as car horns, animal noises, or industrial sounds.

In the mid-1970s,<!-- (and having now formally changed his first name to "Adrian", a name he had always liked and wanted to use),{{cn|date=October 2021}}--> Belew began using the first name "Adrian" and moved to [[Nashville]] to pursue a full-time career as a professional musician. By 1977, he was playing with the regionally popular cover band Sweetheart, but wondered whether he had missed his chance to make a living with original music.

===Work with Frank Zappa (1977–1978)===
In 1977, while playing with Sweetheart at Fanny's Bar in Nashville, Belew was discovered by [[Frank Zappa]], who had been tipped off regarding the band's talents by his chauffeur. Zappa approached Belew and discussed auditioning him for an upcoming tour, although Belew did not receive an official invitation to audition for the better part of a year. During this time Sweetheart split up. Once the formal invitation came, Belew flew out to Los Angeles and found himself auditioning alongside more formally trained musicians. Believing that he had performed poorly, Belew persuaded Zappa to give him a second audition, a more intimate experience which took place in Zappa's living room. Zappa was impressed enough to hire Belew as a guitarist and vocalist for a year.<ref name=guitarhoo>{{cite web|title=Adrian Belew Interview|url=http://www.guitarhoo.com/interviews/adrian-belew-68|work=Guitarhoo!|publisher=Guitarhoo.com|date=December 5, 2003|access-date=March 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029212630/http://www.guitarhoo.com/interviews/adrian-belew-68|archive-date=October 29, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Belew toured with Zappa in 1977 and 1978, and appeared on Zappa's 1979 album ''[[Sheik Yerbouti]]'' and [[concert film]] ''[[Baby Snakes]]''. While with Zappa, Belew was mostly credited as a rhythm guitarist, although he also played lead, melody, or noise lines, and sang lead vocals on the songs "Jones Crusher" and "City of Tiny Lites". According to Belew, "Frank either played or sang, never both at the same time, so ultimately my role became covering his parts. When he sang I played his guitar part. When he played I sang his vocal part." He also took on the role of band clown, performing impressions (such as the [[Bob Dylan]] impersonation on the song "Flakes"), wearing unusual clothing, and performing visual stunts. ("Need someone to wear a flashing helmet and bounce around like a robot? How about Adrian? Need someone to wear a dress onstage? There's always Adrian.")<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-20|title=The story behind Adrian Belew, part 1: 1976-1980 (Zappa, Bowie, Talking Heads)|url=https://musicaficionado.blog/2020/02/20/adrian-belew-part-1-1976-1980/|access-date=2022-05-12|website=The Music Aficionado|language=en-US|archive-date=May 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515222411/https://musicaficionado.blog/2020/02/20/adrian-belew-part-1-1976-1980/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Belew has described his year in Zappa's band as a "crash course" in [[music theory]], due to Zappa's rigorous rehearsals and often technically demanding music; he has stated that he "went to the Frank Zappa School of Rock."<ref>{{cite web
  | last = Brodnitz
  | first = Dan
  | title = An Interview with Adrian Belew, Part 2
  | publisher = about Creativity
  | date = December 28, 2007
  | url = http://about-creativity.com/2007/12/an-interview-with-adrian-belew-part-2.php
  | access-date = April 22, 2009
  | archive-date = July 7, 2011
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075603/http://about-creativity.com/2007/12/an-interview-with-adrian-belew-part-2.php
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>

===Work with David Bowie (1978–1979)===

On the recommendation of [[Brian Eno]], [[David Bowie]] approached Belew after a Zappa concert in [[Berlin]] with an offer to hire him as a member of his touring band. Belew accepted the offer, as Zappa intended to spend the next four months editing ''Baby Snakes''.<ref name="guitarhoo" /> Belew served as lead guitarist and backing vocalist on Bowie's [[Isolar II – The 1978 World Tour|Isolar II]] world tour in 1978, as documented on the live album ''[[Stage (David Bowie album)|Stage]]'', and also contributed to Bowie's 1979 studio album ''[[Lodger (album)|Lodger]]''. Twelve years later, he returned to working with Bowie, acting as musical director on his 1990 [[Sound+Vision Tour]].

===Talking Heads, GaGa and the Tom Tom Club (1979–1982)===

In 1980, Belew formed a new band, GaGa, for which he served as the singer, guitarist, drummer, and primary songwriter. By now a frequent visitor to New York City, Belew had also befriended the New York-based [[New wave music|new wave]] band [[Talking Heads]]. After being invited to join the band onstage for a performance of "[[Psycho Killer]]", he became an occasional guest performer at their concerts. Around this time, Belew also met [[King Crimson]] guitarist [[Robert Fripp]] at a [[Steve Reich]] concert. In July of that year, GaGa was invited to open several New York City-area concerts for Fripp's band [[League of Gentlemen (band)|the League of Gentlemen]].<ref>Janssen, Bill (October 31, 1977). [http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-4540-no-regrets.html "No regrets – the enduring spirit of Springfield's Tonguesnatcher Revue"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226191335/http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-4540-no-regrets.html |date=February 26, 2012 }}. ''[[Illinois Times]]''. Retrieved June 12, 2013.</ref>

Talking Heads and Brian Eno subsequently hired Belew to add guitar solos to several tracks on their 1980 album ''[[Remain in Light]]''. He then joined an expanded nine-piece Talking Heads live band which toured in 1980 and 1981. These concerts were documented on the second disc of the band's 1982 live double album ''[[The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads]]''. Belew also played on Talking Heads member [[Jerry Harrison]]'s solo album ''[[The Red and the Black (album)|The Red and the Black]]'' and frontman [[David Byrne (musician)|David Byrne]]'s ''[[The Catherine Wheel (album)|The Catherine Wheel]]''.

At this time, the internal relationships in Talking Heads were becoming strained. The band's rhythm section, [[Tina Weymouth]] and [[Chris Frantz]], allegedly approached Belew with the suggestion that he should replace Byrne as the band's frontman, an offer which Belew immediately but politely turned down.<ref name="Century' 2002">''Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa: The Adventures of Talking Heads in the 20th Century'' by David Bowman ([[Bloomsbury Publishing plc]], August 19, 2002)</ref> (In his book ''Remain in Love'', Frantz denied that this offer was ever made.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}) Belew did, however, go on to work with Weymouth and Frantz in [[Tom Tom Club]]. Joining them for recordings at [[Compass Point Studios]] in [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]], Bahamas, Belew played guitar on the sessions for the band's [[Tom Tom Club (album)|self-titled debut album]], including the hit single "[[Genius of Love]]". However, recording engineer [[Steven Stanley]] erased the majority of Belew's solos during the mixing sessions, and Weymouth stopped talking to Belew after he asked to receive songwriting credits on the album. Belew did not play live with Tom Tom Club or contribute to any further recordings, and instead focused on other projects.<ref name="Century' 2002" />

===Beginning of solo career (1981)===

Belew's rising profile gained him a solo record contract with [[Island Records]]. During the recording of the debut Tom Tom Club album, members of GaGa joined Belew at Compass Point and backed him on a set of parallel sessions which would result in Belew's first solo album, ''[[Lone Rhino]]'' (1982). The album provided a home for GaGa material and blended various elements of Belew's work over the past decade. It also included an instrumental duet between Belew and his four-year-old daughter Audie on piano.

===King Crimson (1981–2013)===

Adrian Belew was the frontman, second guitarist, and occasional drummer for [[King Crimson]] from 1981 to 2009, one of the longest tenures in King Crimson by any member other than founder, bandleader, and sole constant member [[Robert Fripp]]. He maintained this position despite several splits or hiatuses in group activity, notwithstanding a brief period in the early 1990s when Fripp unsuccessfully asked singer [[David Sylvian]] of [[Japan (band)|Japan]] to front a new version of the band.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.elephant-talk.com/faq/et-faq.txt |title=King Crimson FAQ|access-date=2007-08-29|publisher=Elephant Talk (archived page from elephant-talk.com) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050828134638/http://www.elephant-talk.com/faq/et-faq.txt |archive-date=2005-08-28}}</ref>

Belew's involvement with King Crimson began while he was still involved with Talking Heads. Having been impressed by Belew's work with GaGa and David Bowie, Fripp asked him to join a new four-piece band, at that time called Discipline. While Belew was busy with Talking Heads and associated side projects at the time, he chose to leave and join Fripp's band due to the deteriorating relationships within Talking Heads. One of his conditions for joining the new band was that he would be allowed to continue his solo career, to which Fripp agreed.<ref>Smith, Sid (2001). ''In the Court of King Crimson'', Helter Skelter Publishing, {{ISBN|1-900924-26-9}}, pp. 215–216.</ref>

Former King Crimson and [[Yes (band)|Yes]] drummer [[Bill Bruford]] and New York session bassist and [[Chapman Stick]] player [[Tony Levin]] completed the Discipline lineup. During initial touring, the members of the band discussed the possibility of renaming themselves King Crimson, which they ultimately agreed to. This made Belew the first guitarist to formally play alongside Fripp within King Crimson on an equal footing (although [[Ian McDonald (musician)|Ian McDonald]] and [[John Wetton]] had occasionally contributed extra guitar to previous King Crimson recordings).{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} He was also the first King Crimson singer to write most of his own lyrics.

The renamed band released and toured the album ''[[Discipline (King Crimson album)|Discipline]]'' later in 1981. The follow-up, 1982's ''[[Beat (King Crimson album)|Beat]]'', proved harder to record. Finding himself responsible for the bulk of the band's songwriting and dealing with the extra pressures of being the frontman in a high-level group, Belew argued with Fripp over the group's approach and sound. Disagreements were mostly resolved and the band continued to find success as a live act. However, writing and recording 1984's ''[[Three of a Perfect Pair]]'' proved yet more difficult, and Fripp opted to split the band following the conclusion of the ''Three of a Perfect Pair'' tour later that year.

Despite these tensions, the members of this King Crimson incarnation maintained enough camaraderie and mutual respect to reunite in 1994, forming a sextet with the addition of drummer [[Pat Mastelotto]] and [[Warr Guitar|Warr guitar]]ist [[Trey Gunn]]. This lineup toured successfully until 1997, releasing the 1995 album ''[[Thrak]]'' and several live recordings. From 1997 onward, Belew participated in several of the [[ProjeKcts]], a series of King Crimson [[side project]]s active during the band's hiatuses, in which he predominantly played [[electronic drum]]s.

King Crimson was then reduced to a quartet with the departures of Bruford and Levin, subsequently releasing the albums ''[[The Construkction of Light|The ConstruKction of Light]]'' (2000) and ''[[The Power to Believe]]'' (2003). After a further four-year hiatus, the band returned to active work in 2008 as a five-piece, with Levin returning to replace Gunn and [[Porcupine Tree]] drummer [[Gavin Harrison]] joining. From 2000 through 2008, King Crimson used Belew's home studio in [[Mount Juliet, Tennessee]], as a rehearsal space and studio.

In September 2013, Fripp announced the formation of a new King Crimson lineup which did not include Belew.

===Solo career, part two (1983–1986)===

Following the release of his first solo album ''Lone Rhino'' in 1982, Belew recorded a 1983 follow-up called ''[[Twang Bar King]]'', which once again featured GaGa as backing band (now augmented by former [[Elvis Presley]] drummer [[Larrie Londin]]).

His next solo album was recorded in 1986, and was an experimental all-instrumental album of processed guitar, guitar synthesizer, and percussion called ''[[Desire Caught by the Tail (album)|Desire Caught By the Tail]]''. According to Belew, this album cost him his contract with Island Records due to its highly experimental nature.

From 1986 to 1989, Belew's solo career was on hold while he concentrated on [[The Bears (band)|the Bears]].

===The Bears (1985–1989, 1997–present)===

Following King Crimson's breakup/entry into hiatus in 1984, Belew formed the Bears with fellow guitarist and singer [[Rob Fetters]], drummer Chris Arduser, and bass guitarist Bob Nyswonger. All three were close friends of Belew whom he had met during his Sweetheart days in the mid-1970s, and were also ex-members of the Raisins, a [[Cincinnati]]-based band that had some local success in the early 1980s and had an album produced by Belew.

As a band, the Bears was a conscious attempt to create a more unified and collective group, with Belew and Fetters sharing lead vocal duties. Although Belew's guitar skills were still in evidence, they took second place to the band's commitment to songs. Signing to the I.R.S. Records subsidiary Primitive Man Recording Company, the Bears recorded and released two albums, 1987's ''The Bears'', and 1988's ''Rise and Shine''. After three years of constant recording, promotion, and touring, the band broke up in 1989 following the collapse of PMRC.{{anchor|Oh_Daddy}} The success of Belew's solo hit single "Oh Daddy" led to him touring with David Bowie. The remaining three Bears regrouped as '''psychodots'''.

All four musicians remained friends, stayed in contact with each other, and continued to help each other. Arduser drummed on Belew's 1992 solo album, ''Inner Revolution'' (with Fetters joining the 1992 touring band). On the tour supporting Belew's ''Here'' album in 1994, psychodots played as both the opening act and as Belew's backing band. Belew would also co-write two songs on Rob Fetters' ''Lefty Loose – Righty Tight'' album in 1998.

Starting in 1997, the Bears regularly reunited in the studio for intermittent recording sessions. This resulted in two further albums, 2001's ''Car Caught Fire'', and 2007's ''Eureka''. The band performed short tours to promote these releases, and continued to work together around its members varied schedules.  Drummer Chris Arduser died on September 27, 2023.<ref>Instagram post by Adrian Belew, https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxs4RsBMsr2/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105220926/https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxs4RsBMsr2/ |date=January 5, 2024 }}, September 27, 2023.</ref>

===Solo career, part three (1989–present)===

Belew revived his solo career with 1989's ''[[Mr. Music Head]]'', on which he played virtually all the instruments (with the exception of double bass). The album was split between relatively straightforward pop and more experimental songs, with a strong emphasis on Belew's signature electric tones, plus plenty of percussion and an unusual approach to acoustic production. ''Mr. Music Head'' also generated a hit single (No. 5 on the US Modern Rock chart) in the shape of "Oh Daddy", on which Belew duetted with his 11-year-old daughter Audie.

In 1990, Belew produced a similar follow-up with ''[[Young Lions (album)|Young Lions]]''. This featured a number of cover versions, plus two guest appearances by his past and current employer David Bowie, who'd hired Belew as musical director for his then-current [[Sound+Vision Tour]]. The album generated another US Modern rock chart hit (No. 2) with the Belew-and-Bowie duet "Pretty Pink Rose", and a minor hit on the same chart with the subsequent single, "Men In Helicopters" (No. 17).

The following year, Belew released ''[[Desire of the Rhino King]]'', a compilation of digitally remastered material from his first three (now out-of-print) albums.

The next phase in Belew's career saw him pursuing a more traditional singing and songwriting style (albeit with his trademark unusual guitar tones), which owed a lot to his old heroes the Beatles. 1992's ''[[Inner Revolution]]'', and 1994's ''[[Here (Adrian Belew album)|Here]]'' (as well as 1993's self-explanatory and back-catalogue-revisiting ''[[The Acoustic Adrian Belew]]'') were all heavily song-oriented and accessible, but sold less than Belew expected. 1996's ''[[Op Zop Too Wah]]'' blended Belew's songwriting approach with more avant-garde instrumental parts.

In parallel to Belew's work with a revived [[King Crimson]], he released the first in a proposed Experimental Guitar Series, ''[[The Guitar as Orchestra: Experimental Guitar Series, Vol. 1]]'', in 1997. This was an album of [[Atonality|atonal]] contemporary classical music entirely realized on [[MIDI]] guitar using digital models of orchestral instruments. Belew has mentioned plans for releasing more records in the Experimental Guitar series, including one called ''The Animal Kingdom'', but no more yet have been released.

[[File:Adrian_Belew_Bowie_2022.jpg|240px|thumb|Belew in 2022, performing with [[Todd Rundgren]] on the "Celebrating David Bowie" tour]]
Belew's subsequent releases were two more acoustic albums, 1998's ''[[Belew Prints: The Acoustic Adrian Belew, Vol. 2]]'', and the 1999 ''[[Salad Days (Adrian Belew album)|Salad Days]]'' compilation, as well as the ''[[Coming Attractions (album)|Coming Attractions]]'' album of works-in-progress. In 2004, he collaborated on a spoken-word-and-instrumentation album with [[Kevin Max]], called ''[[Raven Songs 101]]''. Between 2005 and 2007, Belew released the ''Side'' series of albums:  2005's ''[[Side One]]'' and ''[[Side Two]]'', 2006's ''[[Side Three]]'', and 2007's ''[[Side Four]]'', with a variety of guest performers, including Tool's [[Danny Carey]] and [[Primus (band)|Primus]]' [[Les Claypool]].

In April and May 2006, Adrian toured Australia with local musicians [[John Prior (musician)|John Prior]] from [[Matt Finish]] playing drums, and Al Slavik playing bass guitar and [[Chapman Stick|Stick]] (as well as singing backing vocals). In August 2006, he performed in [[Atlanta]], Georgia, on The Acoustic Planet Tour with [[Bela Fleck & the Flecktones]] and [[Umphrey's McGee]].

Later in 2006, Belew formed a new long-term trio, which his fans rapidly christened the Adrian Belew Power Trio,{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} featuring former [[The Paul Green School of Rock Music|Paul Green School of Rock]] students [[Eric Slick]] on drums and [[Julie Slick]] on bass. This band featured on the 2007 live recording ''[[Side Four]]'' and the 2009 download-only ''Live Overseas''.

In 2008, Belew played at the Adelaide Guitar Festival.<ref name="adelaide">{{cite web
 |last=Kelton 
 |first=Sam 
 |title=Zappa prodigy Adrian Belew still rockin' 
 |work=Adelaide Now 
 |date=November 27, 2008 
 |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/zappa-prodigy-still-rockin/story-e6frea6u-1111118169771 <!--was http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24720127-5018246,00.html --> 
 |access-date=2009-04-22 
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115000811/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/zappa-prodigy-still-rockin/story-e6frea6u-1111118169771
 |archive-date=2013-01-15
 |url-status=live
}}</ref> In June 2009, the Adrian Belew Power Trio released an all-new studio record titled simply ''e.'', featuring a five-part long-form Belew instrumental composition. During the same month, Belew released ''A Cup of Coffee and a Slice of Time'', an album credited to "Clay & Belew". This was an album of improvised classical-based interpretations of Belew songs (both solo and from King Crimson) mostly performed by pianist Michael Clay, with additional guitar, cello, and [[music concrete]] contributions from Belew.

Belew has been a frequent collaborator of [[Nine Inch Nails]], appearing on the albums ''[[The Downward Spiral]]'', ''[[The Fragile]]'', ''[[Ghosts I–IV]]'', and ''[[Hesitation Marks]]''. Bandleader [[Trent Reznor]] briefly named Belew as the group's touring guitarist in 2013, but he ultimately left the group before playing any live dates.<ref name="pitchfork.com">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/51069-adrian-belew-quits-nine-inch-nails-it-didnt-work/ |title=Adrian Belew Quits Nine Inch Nails: "It Didn't Work" |date=June 7, 2013 |publisher=Pitchfork |access-date=2022-12-11 |archive-date=September 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908084045/http://pitchfork.com/news/51069-adrian-belew-quits-nine-inch-nails-it-didnt-work/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 16, 2019, Belew announced an expansion of his "Power Trio" to a quartet with the addition of Saul Zonana and a 2019 tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicnewsnet.com/2019/01/guitar-legend-adrian-belew-back-on-tour-with-with-a-new-quartet.html|title=Guitar Legend Adrian Belew Back on Tour With A New Quartet!|website=Music News Net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116202507/https://www.musicnewsnet.com/2019/01/guitar-legend-adrian-belew-back-on-tour-with-with-a-new-quartet.html|archive-date=January 16, 2019}}</ref>

In 2022, Belew participated in the "Celebrating David Bowie" tour, featuring [[Angelo Moore]], [[Todd Rundgren]], and others.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://consequence.net/2022/08/celebrating-david-bowie-2022-tribute-tour/ | title=Celebrating David Bowie 2022 tribute tour to feature Todd Rundgren, King Crimson's Adrian Belew, and more | date=August 16, 2022 | access-date=October 10, 2022 | archive-date=October 10, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010220916/https://consequence.net/2022/08/celebrating-david-bowie-2022-tribute-tour/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2023, Belew joined [[Jerry Harrison]] of Talking Heads on the Remain In Light tour, which featured music from the Talking Heads album ''[[Remain in Light]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.remaininlight.net/|title=Remain in Light Tour Site|access-date=June 25, 2023|archive-date=May 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524222604/https://www.remaininlight.net/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2024, Belew began a tour with Tony Levin, [[Steve Vai]], and [[Tool (band)|Tool]] drummer [[Danny Carey]] as Beat, performing music by the 1980s incarnation of King Crimson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beat-tour.com/|title=BEAT Tour Site|access-date=July 17, 2024|archive-date=June 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628115423/https://beat-tour.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Rolling Stone Article for 'BEAT' Tour |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=April 2024 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/steve-vai-tool-danny-carey-king-crimson-beat-tour-1234996077/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515123646/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/steve-vai-tool-danny-carey-king-crimson-beat-tour-1234996077/ |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |access-date=April 1, 2024}}</ref>

===FLUX apps===

Most recently, Belew has moved into working with [[mobile app]] platforms via his self-designed [[iOS]] apps ''FLUX:FX – the professional audio multi-effects app'' and ''FLUX by belew'', which contain over three hundred audio tracks and pieces of artwork that he describes as "never playing the same twice".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fluxbybelew.com/ |title=FLUX by belew |publisher=Adrian Belew |access-date=2015-04-16 |archive-date=April 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417025050/http://www.fluxbybelew.com/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref> ''FLUX:FX'' is a real-time audio manipulation app for the [[iPad]] that he said "lets me make sounds that I can't get with any other gear."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://flux.noii.se/ |title=FLUX:FX – the iPad effects app from Adrian Belew |publisher=NOIISE |access-date=2015-04-16 |archive-date=April 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414083328/http://flux.noii.se/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Both apps have gathered significant industry recognition, including being honored twice in the 2015 [[Webby Award]]s and receiving a 'best of the best'  at the 2015 [[Red Dot]] Design Awards.

==Musical style==

Although he has frequently worked as a lead singer, Belew is best known as a guitar player with a highly unusual but accessible playing style (featuring bizarre electronic tones, unorthodox playing techniques, and a wide variety of sonic effects, including guitar-based impressions of animals, birds, insects, vehicles, and mechanical noise). Among his best-known guitar parts are the chorus riff in Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al", the riff on Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love", the guitar solos on Talking Heads' ''Remain in Light'', and the elephant impressions on King Crimson's "Elephant Talk".

Belew's playing style involves [[extended technique]]s such as [[tapping]], pick scrapes, bending the neck, unorthodox styles of [[slide guitar]], and occasional employment of objects such as files to attack the strings. In his riffs, he generally includes fret intonation work, and is even known to produce sounds from off the fretboard, including the stringed portion of the nut and bridge. He also makes extensive use of the [[Vibrato systems for guitar|vibrato arm]].

Belew uses a wide variety of heavily synthesized and electronically altered guitar tones. Over the years he has become known for playing various guitars processed through an immense array of electronic effects devices ("I'm surrounded by guitar pedals, though. I can't step out the ring I'm surrounded in without stepping on a pedal," he told ''Adelaide.now'' in 2008.<ref name="adelaide"/>) He has also stated that he composes specifically for certain amps and effects. Lamenting the demise of one specific amplifier made by now-defunct [[Johnson Amplification]], he said, "I wrote specific sounds and types of looping and things that I just can't seem to make other amps do."<ref>{{cite web
 |last=Beck 
 |first=Steven 
 |title=Guest column: Adrian Belew Interview 
 |publisher=Online Rock 
 |year=2005 
 |url=http://www.onlinerock.com/guest/adrianbelew.shtml 
 |access-date=2009-04-22 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013013939/http://onlinerock.com/guest/adrianbelew.shtml 
 |archive-date=2008-10-13 
}}</ref> While he has used many brands of effects pedals, [[Electro Harmonix]] was one of his mainstays.<ref>{{cite journal
  | last = Blackett
  | first = Matt
  | title = The 50 Greatest Tones of All Time
  | journal = [[Guitar Player]]
  | volume = 38
  | issue = 10
  | pages = 44–66
  | date = October 2004
  }}
</ref><ref>{{cite web
  | title = Electro Harmonix Stereo Polychorus Guitar Effects Pedal
  | publisher = DV247.com
  | url = http://www.dv247.com/invt/60327/
  | access-date = 2009-04-22| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090517033603/http://www.dv247.com/invt/60327/| archive-date= May 17, 2009 <!--was http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24720127-5018246,00.html -->| url-status= live}}</ref>

Belew is a pioneer of [[guitar synthesizer]]s, having been one of the first players to bring them to, and consistently use them in, popular music. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was a user of the Roland GR-300 (alongside [[Andy Summers]], [[Pat Metheny]], and [[Robert Fripp]]). In the late 1980s and the 1990s, he used the Roland GR-1. He now favors the [[Line 6 (company)|Line 6]] Variax digital modelling system. In the early 1980s, Belew was notable for owning and using a rare Roland GR-505 fretless guitar synthesizer.

Belew's first guitar was a [[Gibson Firebird]] that he bought for $170.<ref name="adelaide"/> Belew now has a signature [[Parker Fly]] guitar, the company's first.<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Adrian Belew Endorses Parker Guitars
  | publisher = Parker Guitars
  | date = August 18, 2005
  | format=Press release
  | url = http://www.parkerguitars.com/code/press/press_display.asp?pressid=75
  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215042118/http://www.parkerguitars.com/code/press/press_display.asp?pressid=75
  | archive-date=2005-12-15
  | access-date = April 22, 2009}}</ref>

Belew has also been seen playing an extraordinarily flexible rubber-neck guitar in the [[Laurie Anderson]] film ''Home of the Brave'' and in the video for his 1989 single "Oh Daddy". In 2007, he revealed that the guitar's neck was rubber containing "metal vertebrae" and that it was solely a visual (and unplayable) prop.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Belew|first=Adrian|date=2007-01-29|title=Rubberneck Guitar!|url=http://elephant-blog.blogspot.com/2007/01/rubberneck-guitar.html|access-date=2023-02-21|website=elephant blog|archive-date=August 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810004333/http://elephant-blog.blogspot.com/2007/01/rubberneck-guitar.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Belew's singing voice is often compared to that of Talking Heads' David Byrne. In addition to his singing and guitar playing talents, Belew is an accomplished drummer and percussionist, and also plays bass guitar, upright bass, keyboards, and cello.

Belew has cited Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, [[Jeff Beck]], [[Igor Stravinsky]], and [[George Gershwin]] as particular influences. He has also cited comedian [[Spike Jones]] as an influence on the [[Surreal humor|absurdist]] humor of his lyrics.

===Equipment setup===
In 2010, Guitar Geek interviewed Belew's guitar technician André Cholmondeley, creating a list and diagram of Belew's guitar setup at the time.<ref>Cooper, Adam (June 7, 2010). {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120416080345/http://www.guitargeek.com/adrian-belew-2010-guitar-rig-and-gear-setup-diagram/ "Adrian Belew's 2010 Guitar Rig"]}}. GuitarGeek.com.</ref>

An instructional video from 1984 shows he also used an A/DA Flanger, an Electro-Harmonix Octave Multiplexer, an Electro-Harmonix 16 Second Digital Delay, an Electro-Harmonix Frequency Analyzer, two Foxx Tone Machine Fuzzes, a [[Boss Corporation|Boss]] DM-2 Delay, an Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer, an [[MXR]] Dyna Comp, a Pitch-Voltage Synthesizer, three Boss volume pedals, two MXR 10-band graphic equalizers, a Roland GR-300 Guitar Synthesizer, a Boss pedal switcher, an Electro-Harmonix [[Big Muff]], an Electro-Harmonix Foot Controller, a tape loop machine, and an Electro-Harmonix Stereo Polychorus.

Belew is always adjusting his live setup, and according to audio engineer Daniel Rowland, he uses a [[Fractal Audio]] Axe-FX II, Liquid Foot 12+ controller, Roland VG-99, [[Kemper Profiler]], a Keeley Compressor pedal, Ableton Live (running on an Apple Macbook), Soundblox Multi-wave distortion, [[DigiTech]] HarmonyMan, iConnectMidi 4+, MOTU Ultralite 3 hybrid, Keith Mcmillen Instruments Softstep 2, and his own NOIISE FLUX:FX iPad app through the Bose L1 and Atomic monitoring wedges. This was the rig seen by fans on his 2019 tour.

==Legacy==

Many artists have expressed their admiration for Belew or have cited him as an influence, including [[John Frusciante]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-28 |title=John Frusciante names one of his "guiding lights" |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/john-frusciante-one-of-his-guiding-lights/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=faroutmagazine.co.uk |language=en-US |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515222020/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/john-frusciante-one-of-his-guiding-lights/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Adam Jones (musician)|Adam Jones]] of Tool,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.guitarworld.com/adam-jones-adams-jones | access-date = February 20, 2017 | title = Tool's Adam Jones: My 10 Favorite Guitarists | first = Brad | last = Angle | date = January 15, 2015 | magazine = [[Guitar World]] | quote = People don't bring up Adrian Belew enough, and I think he's just as heavy as Fripp. Adrian plays straight from his heart, so some of his lead structures defy the classical approach to scales and teaching. He's also really into new technology, but he uses it in a very thought-out and tasteful way. | archive-date = June 7, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110607212324/http://www.guitarworld.com/adam-jones-adams-jones | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Steven Wilson]],<ref>{{cite web|access-date=May 19, 2020|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/steven_wilson_i_can_save_1_guitar_1_amp__1_pedal_from_a_fire_this_is_what_i_choose.html|title=Steven Wilson: I Can Save 1 Guitar, 1 Amp & 1 Pedal From a Fire. This Is What I Choose|date=October 14, 2017|first=Steven|last=Rosen|website=[[Ultimate Guitar]]|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709003016/https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/steven_wilson_i_can_save_1_guitar_1_amp__1_pedal_from_a_fire_this_is_what_i_choose.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Henry Rollins]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.joeydevilla.com/2005/09/01/henry-rollins-william-shatner-story/ | access-date = September 15, 2020 | website = JoeyDeVilla.com | title = Henry Rollins' "William Shatner" Story | date = September 1, 2005 | author = Joey deVilla | archive-date = September 16, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200916181442/http://www.joeydevilla.com/2005/09/01/henry-rollins-william-shatner-story/ | url-status = live }}</ref> [[St. Vincent (musician)|St. Vincent]],<ref>{{cite web | url = https://reverb.com/news/video-annie-clark-of-st-vincent-talks-gear-and-influence-at-namm-2017 | access-date = March 24, 2017 | website = [[Reverb.com]] | format = video | title = Video: Annie Clark of St. Vincent Talks Gear and Influence at NAMM 2017 | time = 1:34 | date = January 20, 2017 | author = Jim | archive-date = March 25, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170325201418/https://reverb.com/news/video-annie-clark-of-st-vincent-talks-gear-and-influence-at-namm-2017 | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Anneke van Giersbergen]] of [[The Gathering (band)|the Gathering]],<ref>{{cite web | author = Keefy | access-date = February 26, 2017 | url = http://www.ghostcultmag.com/uncharted-waters-anneke-van-giersbergen/ | quote = [...] For instance Adrian Belew and I've followed him since I know him, he worked with Zappa and King Crimson and I listen to all that stuff. I think he's one of the best singers in the genre and of course best guitar players. | title = Uncharted Waters- Anneke van Giersbergen | date = April 29, 2009 | website = Ghostcultmag.com | archive-date = September 2, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170902232331/http://www.ghostcultmag.com/uncharted-waters-anneke-van-giersbergen/ | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Garry Roberts]] of [[the Boomtown Rats]],<ref>{{cite web | access-date = February 21, 2017 | title = Bulmers Live at Leopardstown to close with Boomtown Rats | date = August 9, 2016 | first = Neil | last = Fetherstonhaugh | website = DublinPeople.com | url = http://www.dublinpeople.com/news/southside/articles/2016/08/09/4124547-bulmers-live-at-leopardstown-to-close-with-boomtown-rats/ | archive-date = February 22, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170222113454/http://www.dublinpeople.com/news/southside/articles/2016/08/09/4124547-bulmers-live-at-leopardstown-to-close-with-boomtown-rats/ | url-status = live }}</ref> William Rees of [[Mystery Jets]],<ref>{{ cite web | access-date = February 25, 2017 | url = http://www.voxamps.com/artists/mystery-jets/ | title = artists » William Rees and Blaine Harrison of Mystery Jets |  url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090329193716/http://www.voxamps.com/artists/mystery-jets/ | archive-date = March 29, 2009 | first = Grace | last = Ryan | website = [[Vox (musical equipment)|Voxamps.com]] }}</ref> [[Nick Reinhart]] of [[Tera Melos]],<ref>{{cite web | date = August 2010 | url = http://www.silbermedia.com/qrd/archives/43nickreinhart.html | access-date = February 20, 2017 | title = Guitarist Interview with Nick Reinhart of Tera Melos | publisher = Silbermedia.com | website = QRD | issue = 43 | archive-date = November 14, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111114165633/http://www.silbermedia.com/qrd/archives/43nickreinhart.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Josh Christian of [[Toxik]],<ref>{{cite web | access-date = February 21, 2017 | url = https://addictedtomoshblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/toxik-interview/ | date = January 19, 2013 | title = Interview with Josh Christian from TOXIK | author = CalvinF | website = Addictedtomoshblog.wordpress.com | archive-date = May 15, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240515222357/https://addictedtomoshblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/toxik-interview/ | url-status = live }}</ref> and Sean Worrell of [[Nero di Marte]].<ref>{{cite web | access-date = February 21, 2017 | quote = There are several singers I've admired and have listened to since I was a teen... Bjork, Adrian Belew, Mike Patton, are the first that come to mind. | url = http://agoraphobicnews.com/nero_di_marte.php | title = Interview with Sean Worrell of Nero di Marte | website = AgoraphobicNews.com | date = July 29, 2015 | archive-date = February 22, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170222114019/http://agoraphobicnews.com/nero_di_marte.php | url-status = live }}</ref> In a 1994 interview with ''[[Guitar Player]]'' magazine, Trent Reznor described Belew as "the most awesome musician in the world".<ref>{{ cite magazine | magazine = Guitar Player | date = April 1994 | title = Adrian Belew & Trent Reznor – Nine Inch Nails Meets The Lone Rhino | first = Greg | last = Rule | page = 41 }}</ref>

==Session credits and other work==

Belew is well regarded for his contributions, particularly on guitar, to various other artists' recordings.

In the 1980s, following his work with Talking Heads, Belew became an in-demand session player. Among the albums he contributed to during this period were [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]]'s ''Left-handed Dream'' in 1981, [[Joan Armatrading]]'s ''[[The Key (Joan Armatrading album)|The Key]]'' in 1983, [[Peter Wolf]]'s ''[[Lights Out (Peter Wolf album)|Lights Out]]'' and [[Jean Michel Jarre]]'s ''[[Zoolook]]'' (both in 1984), [[Cyndi Lauper]]'s ''[[True Colors (Cyndi Lauper album)|True Colors]]'' and [[Paul Simon]]'s ''[[Graceland (album)|Graceland]]'' (both in 1986), and [[Mike Oldfield]]'s ''[[Earth Moving]]'' in 1989. During the mid-1980s, he frequently worked with Laurie Anderson, appearing on 1983's ''[[Mister Heartbreak]]'' album and her subsequent concert film, ''[[Home of the Brave (1986 film)|Home of the Brave]]''. In his 1984 instructional video ''Electronic Guitar'', Belew explained and demonstrated the technology and techniques used to create some of his signature music.<ref>''Adrian Belew – Electronic Guitar''. VHS, 60 minutes, 1984, New York. [[Alfred Music Publishing]] 1992, {{ISBN|978-0-7692-4751-9}}.</ref>

In 1993, Belew played "synthesized guitar" on the song "[[God Shuffled His Feet (song)|God Shuffled His Feet]]" by [[Crash Test Dummies]] and also contributed to Sara Hickman's ''Necessary Angels'' album. In 1994, he established himself as Trent Reznor's guest guitarist of choice, contributing to four Nine Inch Nails albums over the next nineteen years (''[[The Downward Spiral]]'', ''[[The Fragile]]'', ''[[Ghosts I–IV]]'', and ''[[Hesitation Marks]]''). He worked again with Laurie Anderson on her 1994 album, ''[[Bright Red]]''. During the 2000s, Belew was prominently featured on [[Tori Amos]]'s 2001 album of [[cover versions]], ''[[Strange Little Girls]]'', and played on [[William Shatner]]'s second musical album, ''[[Has Been]]'', in 2004. In 2005, he featured as "primary guitarist" on the album ''Habitat'' by [[progressive rock]] band Man on Fire and contributed two solos to [[Porcupine Tree]]'s album ''[[Deadwing]]''. In 2006 and 2007, Belew contributed to two [[Pink Floyd]] tribute albums produced by [[Billy Sherwood]]: ''[[Back Against the Wall]]'', and ''[[Return to the Dark Side of the Moon]]''.

In 2016, Belew scored the [[Pixar]] short film ''[[Piper (2016 film)|Piper]]'', which was shown before ''[[Finding Dory]]'' in theaters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/piper-scored-by-covington-native-wins-oscar-for-best-animated-short|title='Piper,' scored by Covington native, wins Oscar|date=February 27, 2017|website=WCPO|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-date=May 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515222357/https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/piper-scored-by-covington-native-wins-oscar-for-best-animated-short|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pixarpost.com/2016/04/Piper-Pixar-upcoming-short-film-by-Alan-Barillaro.html|title=Meet 'Piper' – Pixar's Upcoming Short Film by Alan Barillaro|first=Pixar|last=Post|date=April 6, 2016|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-date=January 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102050732/https://www.pixarpost.com/2016/04/Piper-Pixar-upcoming-short-film-by-Alan-Barillaro.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He also featured on the album ''The News'' by Italian progressive/eclectic rock band N.y.X.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=51340|title=N.Y.X – The News (2016)|website=Progarchives.com|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-date=January 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102094540/http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=51340|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Record production==

In 1983, Belew produced the eponymous debut album for the Raisins. In 1985, he produced [[the Elvis Brothers]]' second album, ''Adventure Time''.

During the 1990s, he began making more of a name for himself as a producer, most notably producing two tracks on [[Jars of Clay]]'s [[Jars of Clay (album)|debut album]] in 1995 (including the crossover Christian hit "[[Flood (Jars of Clay song)|Flood]]"), but also producing the Irresponsibles' 1999 album, ''When Pigs Fly''.

Belew has also produced and played on albums by three Mexican rock bands: [[Caifanes]]'s 1992 album, ''[[El silencio]]''; [[Santa Sabina (band)|Santa Sabina]]'s 1994 album, ''Símbolos'', and [[Jaguares (band)|Jaguares]]' 2005 album, ''[[Cronicas de un Laberinto]]''.

Belew was credited as co-producer and musician on [[Kevin Max]]'s 2001 album, ''[[Stereotype Be]]''.

Belew established a recording studio in his home in Williams Bay, Wisconsin in the early 1990s<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Verna|first=Paul|title=Engineer Takes Belew To School|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SggEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22adrian+belew%22+%22home+studio%22&pg=PA86|magazine=Billboard|date=14 May 1994|access-date=3 June 2024}}</ref> before relocating the studio, now named StudioBelew to the Nashville, Tennessee suburb of [[Mount Juliet, Tennessee|Mount Juliet]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Verna|first=Paul|title=Belew Is The King Of His Nashville Home Studio|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6AsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22adrian+belew%22+studiobelew&pg=PA105|magazine=Billboard|date=8 April 1995|access-date=3 June 2024}}</ref>

==Instrument design==

Belew has also worked in instrument design, collaborating with [[Parker Guitars]] to help design his own [[Parker Fly]] signature guitar. This guitar is noticeably different from the standard design, containing advanced electronics, such as a sustainer pickup and a [[Line 6 (company)|Line 6]] Variax guitar modelling system. It is also [[MIDI]]-capable, allowing it to be used with any synthesizer with MIDI connectivity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parkerguitars.com/Signature-Series/ |title=Signature Series |publisher=Parkerguitars.com |access-date=2012-03-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319122903/http://www.parkerguitars.com/Signature-Series/ |archive-date=2012-03-19 }}</ref>

==Discography==

===Studio albums===
*''[[Lone Rhino]]'' (1982, Island)
*''[[Twang Bar King]]'' (1983, Island)
*''[[Desire Caught by the Tail (album)|Desire Caught By the Tail]]'' (1986, Island)
*''[[Mr. Music Head]]'' (1989, Atlantic)
*''[[Young Lions (album)|Young Lions]]'' (1990, Atlantic)
*''[[Inner Revolution]]'' (1992, Atlantic)
*''[[The Acoustic Adrian Belew]]'' (1993, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''[[Here (Adrian Belew album)|Here]]'' (1994, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''[[The Experimental Guitar Series Volume 1: The Guitar as Orchestra]]'' (1995, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''[[Op Zop Too Wah]]'' (1996, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''[[Belew Prints: The Acoustic Adrian Belew, Vol. 2]]'' (1998, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''[[Salad Days (Adrian Belew album)|Salad Days]]'' (1999, Thirsty Ear)
*''[[Side One]]'' (2004, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''[[Side Two]]'' (2005, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''[[Side Three]]'' (2006, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''[[e (Adrian Belew album)|e]]'' (2009, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''[[Pop-Sided]]'' (2019, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''Elevator'' (2022, Adrian Belew Presents)

===Live albums===
*''[[Side Four]]'' (2007)
*''Live At Rockpalast 2008'' (2008) CD & DVD
*''Live In Germany'' (2009)
*''[[Live Overseas]]'' (2009) digital
*''	Adrian Belew's E For Orchestra: Live'' (2011) DVD

===Compilations===
*''[[Desire of the Rhino King]]'' (1991, Island) – compilation derived from first three albums
*''[[Coming Attractions (album)|Coming Attractions]]'' (2000, Adrian Belew Presents) – previously unreleased recordings 
*''Dust'' (2014, Adrian Belew Presents) – collection of demos and studio outtakes
*''Idiom' on Classwar Karaoke 0031 Survey'' (2015)
*''Sixteen'' (2015, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''Twenty'' (2015, Adrian Belew Presents)
*''A Toe in the Ocean'' (2024, Adrian Belew Presents)

===Other releases===
*with ''[[Kevin Max]]'': ''[[Raven Songs 101]]'' (2004)
*as ''Michael Clay & Adrian Belew'': ''A Cup Of Coffee and a Slice of Time'' (2009)
*with [[the New Czars]]: ''Doomsday Revolution'' (2010)
*with [[Metropole Orchestra]]:''Adrian Belew's e For Orchestra'' (2011, Adrian Belew Presents) studio recording CD
*''FLUX Volume One'' (2016, Adrian Belew Presents), as part of the FLUX project
*''FLUX Volume Two'' (2017, Adrian Belew Presents), as part of the FLUX project
*''FLUX Volume Three'' (2018, Adrian Belew Presents), as part of the FLUX project

===Contributions (selection)===
with [[Frank Zappa]]
*1979: ''[[Sheik Yerbouti]]'' <small>("Flakes", "Jones Crusher", "City of Tiny Lites")</small>
*1983: ''[[Baby Snakes (soundtrack)|Baby Snakes]]'' Soundtrack
*1992: ''[[You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6]]'' [2CD] <small>("The Poodle Lecture", "Is That Guy Kidding Or What?", "White Person", "Tryin' To Grow A Chin")</small>
*2008: ''[[One Shot Deal]]'' <small>("Heidelberg", recorded February 24, 1978)</small>
*2010: ''[[Hammersmith Odeon (album)|Hammersmith Odeon]]'' <small>(recorded Jan–Feb 1978)</small> [3CD]
*2017: ''[[Halloween 77]]'' <small>(recorded Oct 28-31, 1977)</small> [3CD]
with [[David Bowie]]
*1978: ''[[Stage (David Bowie album)|Stage]]'' <small>(recorded Apr–May 1978)</small> [2CD]
*1979: ''[[Lodger (album)|Lodger]]'' <small>("Fantastic Voyage", "Move On", "Red Sails", "DJ", "Boys Keep Swinging", "Repetition", "Red Money")</small>
with [[Talking Heads]] / [[Tom Tom Club]] / [[Jerry Harrison]] / [[David Byrne]]
*1980: ''[[Remain in Light]]''
*1981: ''[[Tom Tom Club (album)|Tom Tom Club]]''
*1981: ''[[The Red and the Black (album)|The Red and the Black]]''
*1981: ''[[The Catherine Wheel (album)|The Catherine Wheel]]''
*1982: ''[[The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads]]''
*1990: ''[[Walk on Water (Jerry Harrison album)|Walk on Water]] ''
with [[King Crimson]]
*1981: ''[[Discipline (King Crimson album)|Discipline]]''
*1982: ''[[Beat (King Crimson album)|Beat]]''
*1984: ''[[Three of a Perfect Pair]]''
*1994: ''[[Vrooom]]'' EP
*1995: ''[[Thrak]]''
*1996: ''[[Thrakattak]]''
*1998: ''[[Absent Lovers: Live in Montreal|Absent Lovers [Live in Montreal 1984]]]''
*2000: ''[[the construKction of light|The ConstruKction Of Light]]''
*2001: ''[[Vrooom Vrooom]]''
*2002: ''[[Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With]]'' EP
*2003: ''[[The Power to Believe]]''
with [[Herbie Hancock]]
*1981: ''[[Magic Windows]]''
with [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]]
*1981: ''Left-handed Dream''
*1990: ''The Arrangement ''
*1994: ''Soundbytes''
with [[Joe Cocker]]
*1982: ''[[Sheffield Steel]]''
with [[Jean Michel Jarre]]
*1984: ''[[Zoolook]]''
with [[Laurie Anderson]]
*1984: ''[[Mister Heartbreak]]''
*1986: ''[[Home of the Brave (soundtrack)]]''
*1994: ''[[Bright Red]]''
with [[Cyndi Lauper]]
*1986: ''[[True Colors (Cyndi Lauper album)|True Colors]]''
with [[Paul Simon]]
*1986: ''[[Graceland (album)|Graceland]]''
*1990: ''[[The Rhythm of the Saints]]''
with [[The Bears (band)|the Bears]]
*1987: ''[[The Bears (album)|The Bears]]''
*1988: ''[[Rise and Shine (The Bears album)|Rise and Shine]]''
*2001: ''Car Caught Fire''
*2007: ''Eureka!''
with [[Mike Oldfield]]
*1989: ''[[Earth Moving]]''
with [[Nine Inch Nails]]
*1994: ''[[The Downward Spiral]]''
*1999: ''[[The Fragile]]''
*2008: ''[[Ghosts I–IV]]''
*2013: ''[[Hesitation Marks]]''
with [[Sara Hickman]]
*1998 ''[[Two Kinds of Laughter]]''
with [[Béla Fleck & the Flecktones]]
*2000: ''[[Outbound (Béla Fleck and the Flecktones album)|Outbound]]''
with [[William Shatner]]
*2004: ''[[Has Been]]''
with [[Porcupine Tree]]
*2005: ''[[Deadwing]]''
with [[Tony Levin]]
*2006: ''[[Resonator (Tony Levin album)|Resonator]]''
with [[N.y.X]]
*2016: ''The News''

with [[Gizmodrome]]
*2017: ''[[Gizmodrome (album)|Gizmodrome]]''
*2021: ''[[Gizmodrome Live]]''

with [[Turkuaz (band)|Turkuaz]]
*2020: ''Ophidiophobia'' (single)
*2022: ''Apollyon''

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Year
!rowspan="2"|Title
!colspan="4"|Chart positions
!rowspan="2"|Album
|-
!US [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]
!US [[Modern Rock Tracks chart|Modern Rock]]
!US [[Mainstream Rock Tracks chart|Mainstream Rock]]
![[UK Singles Chart|UK]]
|-
| 1989
| "Oh Daddy"
| style="text-align:center;"|58
| style="text-align:center;"|5
| style="text-align:center;"| –
| style="text-align:center;"| –
| ''[[Mr. Music Head]]''
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1990
| "Pretty Pink Rose" (with [[David Bowie]])
| style="text-align:center;"| –
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|24
| style="text-align:center;"|89
|rowspan="2"| ''[[Young Lions (album)|Young Lions]]''
|-
| "Men in Helicopters"
| style="text-align:center;"| –
| style="text-align:center;"|17
| style="text-align:center;"| –
| style="text-align:center;"| –
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine|title=Adrian Belew|page=41|magazine=Music Technology|date=March 1987|issn=0957-6606|oclc=24835173}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/adrian-belew Adrian Belew Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Collection]] (2015)

{{Adrian Belew|state=expanded}}
{{Tom Tom Club}}
{{King Crimson}}
{{Nine Inch Nails}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Belew, Adrian}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American session musicians]]
[[Category:Avant-garde guitarists]]
[[Category:Discipline Global Mobile artists]]
[[Category:Island Records artists]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records artists]]
[[Category:Caroline Records artists]]
[[Category:King Crimson members]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Progressive rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Rock musicians from Kentucky]]
[[Category:Nine Inch Nails members]]
[[Category:People from Covington, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Tom Tom Club members]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Kentucky]]
[[Category:Singers from Kentucky]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Kentucky]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:Gizmodrome members]]