• October 19, 1984
• Thundercat is the stage name of Stephen Lee Bruner, born in Los Angeles. His father, Thomas Bruner, is a jazz drummer, and his brothers Ronald Bruner Jr. and Travis Bruner are also professional musicians.
• He is a virtuoso bassist who came to widespread attention through his work with Kendrick Lamar, appearing on good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012) and To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), the latter of which won the Grammy for Album of the Year.
• Thundercat's career path is remarkably eclectic. He has collaborated with artists as diverse as Ariana Grande - performing his hit "Them Changes" with her at the 2020 Adult Swim Festival - and jazz legend Herbie Hancock, who played keyboards on his 2015 track "Lone Wolf and Cub." His early years were just as varied: he was a member of the early-2000s boy band No Curfew (which saw brief success in Germany) and served as the bassist for thrash metal icons Suicidal Tendencies alongside his brother, Ronald Bruner Jr., between 2002 and 2011. Reflecting on his boy band days, he told The Guardian, "I'm a working-class musician, man, and that was what it meant for me at the age of 14."
• One of his closest musical allies is producer Flying Lotus (real name Steven Ellison), a childhood friend who signed him to his Brainfeeder label and has produced much of his solo output.
• Outside of music, Thundercat cites one of his proudest moments as appearing in the Star Wars TV series The Book of Boba Fett, where he has a cameo as a character with a robotic hand. He joked that it's something he can always bring up in an argument every time somebody gets too high and mighty: "Hey, you can't talk to me like that, I was in Star Wars!"

Comments

More Songfacts:

Shot In The DarkOzzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne's "Shot In The Dark" is titled after a Pink Panther movie.

Rocket QueenGuns N' Roses

The moans of pleasure in the Guns N' Roses song "Rocket Queen" are authentic.

Invisible TouchGenesis

"Invisible Touch" was the first time a band member (Phil Collins) had a #1 Hot 100 hit with a group after scoring a #1 solo hit.

Let's DanceDavid Bowie

David Bowie's "Let's Dance" is about more than just dancing. It's about dishonesty, particularly when we mask our true feelings.

Sixth Avenue HeartacheThe Wallflowers

Mike Campbell from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers played the slide guitar on "Sixth Avenue Heartache." There is a connection here - Wallflowers lead singer Jakob's dad, Bob Dylan, played with Tom Petty in The Traveling Wilburys.

Undone - The Sweater SongWeezer

Weezer's "Undone - The Sweater Song" was written as a sad song about depression, but listeners heard it as a funny, ironic song.

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.