Brian Viglione has been the driving rhythmic force behind The Dresden Dolls since 2000. The band has traveled throughout North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia to critical acclaim, as well as being handpicked to tour alongside Nine Inch Nails in 2005 and Cyndi Lauper in 2007. In December 2007, Brian collaborated with Trent Reznor on the Nine Inch Nails album, Ghosts: I-IV, where he appears on tracks 19 and 22. Brian has also been featured in several theatrical settings including the film score ensemble for Neovoxer by director Michael Pope, and starred in The Onion Cellar, a stage production hosted by The American Repertory Theater.
In 2008, Viglione gave a series of drum clinics at several schools around New England including Harvard University, where he spoke about his approach to drumming, performance, and encouraging the development of self-expression on the drum kit. Also a multi-instrumentalist, Brian plays guitars, bass, keyboard, percussion, and sings on The Dresden Dolls recordings and in concert.
During live performance, Viglione is truly in his element. His highly energetic, musical, and dynamic approach to the drums is always focused on how to compliment the other musicians in the group while deepening the energy of the songs. His strong, eclectic, whisper-to-roar style stems from his deepest influences of classic punk and metal acts ala Black Flag, Black Sabbath, Slayer, and SWANS, and also a deep alignment with innovative and powerful jazz drummers like Elvin Jones, Jack DeJohnette, and Art Blakey. At age eleven, Brian was first exposed to the passionate and emotive playing of Elvin Jones while seated in the first row at a concert in Boston, which left an indelible impression. Since then, the ideals of using the instrument to express a unique voice, listen attentively, and perform with power, sensitivity, and showmanship have been the core foundation of Viglione's strengths as a drummer.
From May 2008 - November 2009, Brian was the band leader and drummer for Brooklyn's punk-orchestra, The WORLD/INFERNO Friendship Society, touring in 16 countries and recording a new studio album with the Dresden Dolls production team of Sean Slade, Paul Q. Kolderie, Adam Taylor, and Benny Grotto. He also starred in the band's theatrical production, Addicted to Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre's 20th Century, in the US, Canada, Netherlands, and Finland. Viglione's final performance with the group was a sold-out performance at The Grand Ball Room, NYC, for the annual HALLOWMAS 2009 gala.
During this period, Brian also produced two albums, first for New York chanteuse, Emilyn Brodsky (Greatest Tits, 2008) and later for the classic dark-wave act, Black Tape For A Blue Girl (10 Neurotics, 2009) with founding member Sam Rosenthal. Viglione has appeared on over 30 albums since 2008, most notably Nine Inch Nails' Ghosts I-IV, which was nominated for two Grammy Awards under the categories Best Rock Instrumental performance for the track "34 Ghosts IV" and Best Boxed Set or Limited Edition Package, which sold over 750,000 copies.
In September 2010, Viglione released his latest hard-hitting album titled, "Face of the Sun", which he produced and co-wrote with guitarist Ron Arra. The songs for "Face of the Sun" were not composed in a conventional way, but rather written over a series of live drum improvisations. In order to evoke different moods and textures, Arra would describe a mood or specific imagery and Viglione would improvise a drum piece with this concept in mind, with Arra accompanying on guitar. The result is a uniquely heavy mix of melody and sheer sonic brute force, echoing The Melvins, Slayer, Ministry, and Faith No More.
October 2011 brought an opportunity for Viglione to co-produce and perform on Phillip Boa & The Voodooclub's new album, Loyalty. Touring through Europe and recording a new album with gypsy-punk trio, Gentlemen & Associates, followed in November 2011. In December of the same year, Viglione gave a series of drum clinics via Skype in conjunction with Sound Central to an audience of drummers from Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Turkey, and the United States. In January 2012, tours in Australia and New Zealand with The Dresden Dolls were sold-out. A performance of The Violent Femmes debut album with their bassist Brian Ritchie, Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds), and John Parish (PJ Harvey) at the MONA FOMA Festival in Hobart, Tasmania rounded out the month for Viglione. In the spring of 2012, Viglione starred in a production of "The Master and Margarita" at Theater Dortmund in Germany, and recorded and toured on the corresponding soundtrack album, "What Do You Believe In" with Botanica. Viglione also worked on new albums for Voltaire, Anthony Da Costa, Annna Vogelzang, and Black Fortress of Opium.
