Jeff Mangum Biography

(Founder, Songwriter, Vocalist and Guitarist of 'Neutral Milk Hotel')

Birthday: October 24, 1970 (Scorpio)

Born In: Ruston, Louisiana, United States

Jeff Mangum is an American vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. He has attained stardom for his contribution to the band Neutral Milk Hotel in which he served as a singer, lyricist, and guitarist. Also recognized as one of the founders of The Elephant 6 Recording Company, he received critical acclaim for his lyrically-dense song-writing on the album ‘In the Aeroplane Over the Sea’. Born in the remote town of Ruston, Louisiana, Mangum started out as a singer in the later part of the 1980s after meeting Robert Schneider, Bill Doss, and Will Cullen Hart. Influenced by the likes of the Beach Boys and the Beatles, the aspiring musicians began exchanging home recordings and playing in each other's bands. Soon, Mangum came up with his recording project ‘Neutral Milk Hotel’ which eventually evolved into an indie rock band as Jeremy Barnes, Scott Spillane, and Julian Koster joined him. Besides his involvement with the bands, Mangum is also active as a solo artiste. In 2008, Mangum married filmmaker Astra Taylor. He is a vegan and routinely supports causes related to animals.

4
Quick Facts

Age: 54 Years, 54 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Astra Taylor (m. 2008)

Born Country: United States

Vegans Singers

U.S. State: Louisiana

  • 1

    Where is Jeff Mangum from?

    Jeff Mangum is from Ruston, Louisiana.
  • 2

    What genre of music is Jeff Mangum known for?

    Jeff Mangum is known for indie rock and folk music.
  • 3

    Has Jeff Mangum released any solo albums?

    Yes, Jeff Mangum released a solo album titled "Live at Jittery Joe's" in 2001.
  • 4

    Is Jeff Mangum still active in the music industry?

    Jeff Mangum has been relatively inactive in recent years, with sporadic appearances and performances.
  • 5

    What is one of Jeff Mangum's most famous bands?

    Jeff Mangum was the founder and frontman of the band Neutral Milk Hotel, which gained significant critical acclaim.
Childhood & Early Life
Jeff Mangum was born on October 24, 1970, in Ruston, Louisiana, the United States.
As a young boy, he met Robert Schneider, Bill Doss, and Will Cullen Hart, and together they eventually founded the Elephant 6 Recording Co. Imprint.
He went on to form several groups, including Maggot, Cranberry Lifecycle, and Synthetic Flying Machine.
In the early 1990s, he alongside Doss and Hart moved to Athens, Georgia, where their group Synthetic Flying Machine evolved into the rock band Olivia Tremor Control. With Olivia, Mangum contributed to several recordings, including their EP ‘California Demise.’
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Career
Jeff Mangum left Athens and travelled throughout USA, working on solo tape recordings under the name Milk. His recording project soon became Neutral Milk Hotel whose earlier releases were ‘Everything Is’ and the Elephant 6 cassette ‘Hype City Soundtrack.’
Mangum released his debut LP titled ‘On Avery Island’ in 1996. Following the album's release, he expanded Neutral Milk Hotel by including his friends Julian Koster, Jeremy Barnes, and Scott Spillane.
After disbanding Neutral Milk Hotel in 1998, the artist continued making public appearances until 2001. That summer, he released ‘Orange Twin Field Works: Volume I’, a compilation of Bulgarian folk music field recordings.
He released a live solo album titled ‘Live at Jittery Joe's’ in 2001. In the fall of the same year, Mangum collaborated with The Instruments and Circulatory System on a tour.
In 2002, he hosted numerous shows on the New Jersey radio station WFMU. Throughout the 2000s, he also contributed to several Elephant 6-related albums, such as 'Major Organ and the Adding Machine', 'Signal Morning', and ' New Magnetic Wonder', to name a few.
Following an onstage appearance with the Olivia Tremor Control in New York City in 2005, he stopped appearing publicly until October 2008.
In late 2009, Mangum contributed a cover to Chris Knox’s tribute album ‘Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox’.
In August 2011, he launched his website called ‘Walking Wall of Words’ as a medium to release some previously unreleased material. That month, he also performed in an East Coast tour. In September, the artist featured at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival that commenced in New Jersey.
He then went on to curate the ATP festival in England in March 2012, where he invited many Elephant 6 groups, including The Music Tapes, The Apples in Stereo, and Olivia Tremor Control. He also made a high-profile appearance at the Calgary Folk Music Festival.
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On October 11, 2013, he alongside his band Neutral Milk Hotel performed their show at a former Methodist church in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. Two years later, Mangum’s band Neutral Milk Hotel commenced on their “last tour for the foreseeable future". Their final show was held on June 11, 2015 at the Phoenix Theatre, California.
Major Works
In 1998, Jeff Mangum’s band Neutral Milk Hotel released their second and final album, titled ‘In the Aeroplane Over the Sea’. Mangum wrote all the songs for the album and garnered appreciation for his lyrically-dense writing. The album went on to become one of the most admired indie rock albums of all time.
Family & Personal Life
Jeff Mangum married documentary filmmaker Astra Taylor in January 2008.
He is an animal lover and follows a vegan lifestyle.
Facts About Jeff Mangum
Jeff Mangum, best known as the frontman of Neutral Milk Hotel, is known for his reclusive nature and avoidance of the spotlight, making him somewhat of a mysterious figure in the music industry.
Mangum is a talented artist beyond music, having created intricate and surreal artwork for Neutral Milk Hotel's album covers and promotional materials.
He has a deep appreciation for DIY culture and has been known to support independent artists and small venues throughout his career.
Mangum is a passionate environmentalist and has been involved in various conservation efforts, including supporting organizations that focus on protecting natural habitats.
Despite his success and influence in the indie music scene, Mangum remains humble and down-to-earth, often shying away from the trappings of fame and celebrity.
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See the events in life of Jeff Mangum in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Jeff Mangum Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/jeff-mangum-48755.php

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