John Wicks is a drummer, songwriter, film composer and adjunct college professor based in Missoula, Montana.
Wicks is a founder of the band Fitz and the Tantrums and has co-written many of their songs. More Than Just a Dream, the group's 2013 album, included the hit songs "The Walker" and "Out of My League", which each climbed to No. 1 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart. Fitz and the Tantrums, the band's self-titled studio album, features the hit song "HandClap".
Wicks has also written for and appeared on Bruno Mars' album Doo-Wops & Hooligans and CeeLo Green's The Lady Killer and Heart Blanche albums. In addition, he has recorded and/or played live with an incredibly diverse group of artists as B.o.B, George Clinton, David Byrne, Meshell Ndegeocello, Chocolate Genius, Money Mark, Teddybears (band), RZA, and Mose Allison, among others.
As of Fall semester 2022, Wicks is an adjunct professor at the University of Montana. He also composed the soundtrack to the TV show Under the Banner of Heaven with Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament and multi-instrumentalist Josh Klinghoffer. Up until Oct 16, 2022 Wicks continued to tour, compose and record with Fitz and the Tantrums, but has now left the band after 13+ years to focus on family, his job at U. Montana and to "reinvent and upgrade his drumming." He recently wrote songs and recorded drums for the upcoming Fitz and The Tantrums record entitled "Let Yourself Free" and is finishing a new recording with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam, as a duo group called Deaf Charlie.
Wicks endorses Gretsch Drums, Remo Drumheads,Vater Drumsticks, and Istanbul Agop cymbals.
Recordings
Fitz and the Tantrums "Let Yourself Free" (Elektra Records) 2022
Fitz and the Tantrums "All the Feels" (Elektra Records) 2019
Fitz and the Tantrums "Fitz and the Tantrums" (Elektra Records) 2016
Fitz and the Tantrums "More Than Just a Dream" (Elektra Records) 2013
Bruno Mars Doo-Wops & Hooligans (Elektra Records) 2010 co-wrote and played on "The Other Side" Fitz and the Tantrums "Pickin' Up the Pieces" (Dangerbird Records) 2010 Bruno Mars with Cee Lo & B.o.B It's Better If You Don't Understand EP (Elektra Records) 2010 Cee Lo Green "Heart Blanche" (Elektra Records) 2015 Chocolate Genius Swan Songs 2010 Cee Lo Green "Lady Killer" (Elektra Records) 2010 Peter Adams Spotlight Floodlight 2010 Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet Live at The Triple Door (Royal Potato Family) 2010 Soundtrack to Holy Rollers First Independent Pictures 2010 Soundtrack to Adventures of Power 2010 Heather Porcaro The Heartstring Symphony produced by Tony Berg 2009 Henry Gummer "Stop the Train" on the soundtrack to Julie & Julia (Columbia Pictures) 2009 N.A.S.A. (ANTI-/Epitaph/Spectrophonic Sound) 2008 with RZA, David Byrne, Chali 2na and George Clinton Donavon Frankenreiter Pass It Around (Wrasse Records) 2008 Alana Sweetwater 2008 Jean Mazzei produced by Ronan Chris Murphy Whitton produced by Ronan Chris Murphy Ashton Zyer produced by David Rosa 2007 Soundtrack to Beautiful Losers composed by Money Mark 2007 Jessica Fichot Le Chemin April 2007 Tina Tohsakul 2007 Money Mark Brand New by Tomorrow produced by Mario Caldato Jr. (Brushfire/Universal) 2007 Soccermom 2007 Donavon Frankenreiter "Lovely Day" on Snakes on a Plane soundtrack (New Line Cinema) 2006 Iggy Pop with Teddybears "Punk Rocker" Squeak E Clean remix (Atlantic) 2006 Soundtrack to the surf film The Kill Seven with Soccermom 2006 Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet Husky (Hyena) 2006 - #1 on CMJ Jazz Charts Swampdweller (Freetone Records) 2005 Longboard Magazine DVD with Dylan Cooper and Heather Porcaro 2005 Skip Heller "Fakebook" (Hyena) 2004 Spirit Tuck 2004 Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet (Ropeadope/WEA) 2003 The Hit Shermer, Illinois (Cydonia) 2003 Skip Heller The Battle in Seattle (Jewbilee) 2003 Joe Doria The Place to Be 2003 Samo Hard G Coach (NCM East) 2001 Nikol Kollars Cream of the Drop: Seattle Downbeat Hip Hop Compilation (360BPM) 2000 Bebop and Destruction Heavy Machinery (My Own Planet) 1998 Dan Heck Trio Go to Work! (Trio) 1998 Ryan Burns This Is The Ryan Burns Trio (Trio) 1997 The Marriott Jazz Quintet produced by Delfeayo Marsalis (Red Raspus) 1997 Robert Strauss "Children" Demo (WEA) 1997 Bebop and Destruction Day After 1996