Editing Weasel Walter (section)

{{short description|American drummer}}

{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Weasel Walter
| image            = Lydia Lunch Retrovirus W71 13.jpg
| caption          = Weasel Walter at Club W71 in 2017
| background       = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name       = Christopher Todd Walter
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1972|5|18}}
| birth_place      = [[Rockford, Illinois]], U.S.
| genre            = [[Avant-garde music|Avant-garde]], [[Experimental music|experimental]], [[free jazz]], [[no wave]], [[death metal]], [[technical death metal]], [[progressive metal]], [[Avant-garde metal]], [[noise music|noise]], [[noise rock]], [[Progressive rock|brutal prog]], [[contemporary classical music|new music]], [[punk jazz]], [[hardcore punk]], [[free improvisation]]
| occupation       = composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, record label owner
| instrument       = drums, guitar, double bass, bass, bass clarinet, c melody saxophone, trombone, trumpet, mellotron, organ, piano, synthesizer, electronics, vocals
| years_active     = 1991–present
| label            = ugEXPLODE, [[Thirsty Ear Recordings|Thirsty Ear]], [[Skin Graft Records|Skin Graft]]
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
*[[The Flying Luttenbachers]]
*[[Cellular Chaos]]
* [[Lydia Lunch|Lydia Lunch Retrovirus]]
}}
| past_member_of    = {{flatlist|
*[[XBXRX]]
*Lake of Dracula
*[[Behold... The Arctopus]]
}}
| website          = {{URL|ugEXPLODE.com}}
}}

'''Weasel Walter''' (born '''Christopher Todd Walter''', May 18, 1972) is an American composer, improviser, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and founder of ugEXPLODE Records.<ref name="NYCJR Feature 2012">{{cite web |last1=Longley |first1=Martin |title=Artist Feature: Weasel Walter |url=http://www.nycjazzrecord.com/issues/tnycjr201207.pdf |website=The New York City Jazz Record |access-date=28 January 2021 |date=July 2012}}</ref> Walter's work has been informed by techniques and traditions of music including [[avant-garde music|Avant-garde]], [[experimental music|experimental]], [[no wave]], [[free jazz]], [[extreme metal]], [[punk jazz]], [[hardcore punk]], [[noise music|noise]], [[contemporary classical music|new music]] and 
[[free improvisation]]. He coined the term "brutal prog" to describe the aggressively dissonant strain of [[Progressive rock|prog]] played by groups like his band [[the Flying Luttenbachers]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Masters |first1=Marc |title=A Beginner's Guide to Brutal Prog |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/lists/brutal-prog-guide |website=Bandcamp |access-date=28 January 2021 |date=26 July 2019}}</ref>

Known as an unrelenting<ref name="VICE 2012">{{cite web |last1=Roe |first1=Nat |title=Brain Melters - Weasel Walter |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/brain-melters-weasel-walter/ |website=VICE |access-date=26 January 2021 |date=16 February 2012}}</ref> and abrasive<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kendrick |first1=Monica |title=Flying Luttenbachers |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/flying-luttenbachers/Content?oid=901124 |website=The Chicago Reader |access-date=26 January 2021 |date=6 January 2000}}</ref> provocateur whose performances trend toward overblown antics and "nihilistic glee",<ref name="Pitchfork 2002">{{cite web |last1=Pecoraro |first1=David M. |title=Flying Luttenbachers: Infection and Decline |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3122-infection-and-decline/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=26 January 2021 |date=8 December 2002}}</ref> Walter has been described by guitarist [[Mary Halvorson]] as "completely manic and extraordinarily sensitive"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cohan |first1=Brad |title=Weasel (Walter) Nation |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/08/15/weasel-walter-nation/ |website=The Village Voice |access-date=26 January 2021 |date=15 August 2012}}</ref> and by ''[[Chicago Reader|The Chicago Reader]]'' as "a splinter lodged beneath the fingernail".<ref name="Margasak 2002">{{cite web |last1=Margasak |first1=Peter |title=Go West, Loud Man |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/go-west-loud-manpostscript/Content?oid=910289 |website=The Chicago Reader |access-date=26 January 2021 |date=7 November 2002}}</ref> Avant-garde artist [[Glenn Branca]] once called him "one of the greatest rock composers who ever lived".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dasher |first1=Simon |title=Glenn Branca |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/6323-glenn-branca/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=26 January 2021 |date=30 April 2006}}</ref>

He has performed as leader and sideperson in a number of bands, including [[Cellular Chaos]] and [[Lydia Lunch]] Retrovirus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=flying_luttenbachers|title=Flying Luttenbachers}}</ref> Walter has worked with [[Roscoe Mitchell]], [[Marshall Allen]], [[John Butcher (musician)|John Butcher]], [[Tim Dahl]], [[Peter Evans (musician)|Peter Evans]], [[Mary Halvorson]], [[Henry Kaiser (musician)|Henry Kaiser]], [[Jim O'Rourke (musician)|Jim O'Rourke]], [[Evan Parker]], [[Elliott Sharp]], [[Ken Vandermark]], and [[William Winant]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nowave.pair.com/weasel_walter/ww_improvisation.html|title = Weasel Walter Improvised Music}}</ref> as well as in bands including [[XBXRX]], [[Bobby Conn]], [[Cock E.S.P.]], Curse of the Birthmark, [[Erase Errata]], [[Harry Pussy]], [[Lair of the Minotaur]], The Chicago Sound and others. He has produced albums by AIDS Wolf, [[Arab on Radar]], [[Glenn Branca]], Burmese, [[Lydia Lunch]], [[Coachwhips]], and Total Shutdown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nowave.pair.com/weasel_walter/ww_projects.html|title = Weasel Walter homepage}}</ref>