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Brian Wecht

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Not to be confused with Brian Welch.

Brian Alexander Wecht,[1] also known by his character name Ninja Brian, is an American musician, Internet personality and theoretical physicist. He is best known as a member of comedy musical duo Ninja Sex Party and video game-based comedy music trio Starbomb. He has also been a past member of the affiliated Let's Play webseries Game Grumps, all three alongside Dan Avidan.

Brian Wecht
Wecht as his Ninja Brian character in 2012
Wecht as his Ninja Brian character in 2012
Background information
Birth nameBrian Alexander Wecht
Also known asNinja Brian
Born (1975-04-22) April 22, 1975 (age 49)
Pompton Plains, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresComedy rock, synth-pop, electronic
Occupation(s)Theoretical physicist, musician, songwriter, record producer, Internet personality
Instrument(s)Keyboards, piano, saxophone, clarinet, programming
Years active2009–present
Websiteninjasexparty.com
Scientific career
FieldsTheoretical physics
ThesisTopics in string theory and supersymmetry: a-maximization, nongeometric compactifications, and tachyon cosmology (2004)
Doctoral advisorKenneth A. Intriligator

Wecht originally worked as a theoretical physicist, and notably held research positions at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Institute for Advanced Study, the University of Michigan, and the Queen Mary University of London.[2][3] Specialized in particle physics, his work included research on string theory, supersymmetry, and quantum field theory.[4][5] He retired in 2015, choosing to join Game Grumps while focusing on his musical career.[6] He is also the co-creator of The Story Collider, a science-based story telling podcast recorded in front of a live audience.[7]

In Ninja Sex Party, Wecht plays the character of "Ninja Brian", an uncommunicative, homicidal masked ninja, in both live shows and music videos. He performed all instruments on early Ninja Sex Party albums, until TWRP started acting as their backing band in 2015. Since May 2018, Wecht also portrays Ninja Brian on his own live comedy show titled Ninja Brian's All-Star Variety Luau Spectacular.[8][9][10][non-primary source needed]

Career

Education

Wecht attended Williams College and the University of California, San Diego where he obtained his PhD in particle physics in 2004.[2] Wecht held research positions at Harvard University, the Center for Theoretical Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Institute for Advanced Study, and the University of Michigan, prior to becoming a faculty member at the Queen Mary University of London.[3] While there, Wecht worked on string theory, supersymmetry, and quantum field theory.[4][5]

Wecht has an extensive record of highly cited contributions.[11] He retired in 2015 to join Game Grumps and dedicate himself to his music career.[6]

Ninja Sex Party

Main article: Ninja Sex Party

Prior to meeting Dan Avidan, Wecht was the musical director of an improv comedy troupe in New York.[12] In 2009, Avidan, who had conceptualized Ninja Sex Party and was in search of a bandmate and/or producer, was introduced to Wecht by Julie Katz, a member of Wecht's comedy troupe (who would later be featured in Ninja Sex Party's music video "The Decision"), to whom Avidan had asked if she knew any musicians.[13]

Specializing in humorous songs, both on stage or in their music videos, the duo started by appearing on various film festivals.[14][15][16] They regularly published original songs on their YouTube channel, which progressively helped them in becoming popular, as well as studio albums on a regular basis. Although he only played keyboards on stage, Wecht performed all instruments on early Ninja Sex Party albums, including piano and drum machines, while Avidan was in charge of all vocals, except for occasional backing or spoken vocals by Wecht. Ultimately, the duo was joined by backing band Tupper Ware Remix Party in 2015, after which Wecht focused solely on keyboards for studio recordings.

Starbomb

Main article: Starbomb

Wecht's bandmate Dan Avidan had been the co-host of the Let's Play webseries Game Grumps since 2013. The same year, Wecht, Avidan, and Avidan's Game Grumps co-host Arin Hanson formed Starbomb.[17] This new comedy band followed the humorous style of Ninja Sex Party, but focused on video game parodies. The project was officially revealed on December 3, 2013.[18][19] It was quickly followed by a self-titled album on December 17.[20][21][22] A second album, Player Select, was released on December 16, 2014.

Starbomb's third album, The TryForce, was released on April 19, 2019.[23][24][25]

Game Grumps

Main article: Game Grumps

Wecht officially joined the Game Grumps team alongside Avidan and Hanson on November 5, 2015, becoming their new social media manager; he had occasionally appeared in their videos, mainly alongside Avidan to promote Ninja Sex Party.[6] The team officially introduced him via a humorous sketch featured at the beginning of their BurgerTime video, "revealing" him to be the secret mastermind behind Game Grumps all along.[26]

He is occasionally featured in some of their videos, mostly in Grumpcade and Steam Train, but also in several non-gameplay videos.[26][27][28] He was the co-writer, composer and puppeteer on their promotional short I Burgie Burgie, and its sequel All Hail Burgie.[29][30]

Others

Wecht appeared in an episode of Hot Pepper Game Review episode on September 16, 2013, "reviewing" the video game Dark under his Ninja Brian persona after eating a "very spicy" chili pepper; the episode is a joke, as Ninja Brian simply stares at the camera in silence for the entire episode, not blinking a single time in almost four minutes.[31] Although his mouth is not visible, Wecht confirmed that he did actually eat the pepper while filming.[32]

He also appeared in the fourth episode of the second season of Child Genius in 2014, having set questions about string theory for the participants, and reacting to their different answers.

He voiced the character of Quizzmaster Quinn in the video game Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator, a 2017 visual novel video game made by members of Game Grumps. He also appeared in two episodes of Good Game, a webseries starring Avidan and Hanson.

Alongside fellow Game Grumps member Barry Kramer and Rooster Teeth writer Miles Luna, Wecht co-wrote the episode "Grey vs. Gray" of Red vs. Blue.[33][non-primary source needed]

Discography

Ninja Sex Party

Main article: Ninja Sex Party discography

Starbomb

Personal life

Wecht is married to Rachel Wecht (née Bitney). The couple have a daughter, Audrey, who was born in 2014; nicknamed "Ninja Audrey", she appeared on several special Grumpcade episodes in 2017 with her father to celebrate Father's Day.[34][35]

Wecht has a PhD and one of his inspirations for becoming a theoretical physicist was the television series Quantum Leap.[36] He has strongly negative views on being anti-vaccine, and towards the use of pseudoscience over scientifically-proven treatments for serious illnesses and diseases.[37]

Bibliography

Forewords

  • Wecht, Dr. Brian (2017). Foreword. You Suck at Piano: A Piano Method for Adults. By Pierson, Dr. Joel. Mascot Books. ISBN 978-0-9993936-0-4.

References

  1. ^ "Record #1020184". INSPIRE-HEP.
  2. ^ a b "Brian Wecht – Institute for Advanced Study". IAS.
  3. ^ a b "Brian Wecht – NECSS". NECSS.
  4. ^ a b "TALK NERDY". Stitcher.
  5. ^ a b "Brian Wecht – Perimeter Institute". Perimeter Institute.
  6. ^ a b c "Ninja Sex Party Tales of Strawberries and Cream". Living Myth Media. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014.
  7. ^ "Pratfalls of Parenting". Pratfalls of Parenting.
  8. ^ "Ninja Brian's All-Star Variety Luau Spectacular – Tickets – The Ballroom at Warehouse". Ticketfly. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  9. ^ "Ninja Brian's All-Star Variety Luau Spectacular". Hard Rock Hotel. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  10. ^ Wecht, Brian [@bwecht] (May 4, 2018). "Ninja Brian's All-Star Variety Luau Spectacular will be having its first-ever LA show at @theroxy on May 16th! Music! Comedy! Other weird stuff! With @SuperMegaShow @JPincorporated Sugar Rum Tantrum & more!" (Tweet). Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ [1] Google scholar
  12. ^ Augustborn, Nicolas (January 9, 2013). "Ninja Sex Party Interview" – via YouTube.
  13. ^ "Ninja Sex Party Interview". Double Down the Line. 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  14. ^ "SXSW Lineup: Friday, March 11". Sched.org. March 11, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  15. ^ "Music Videos". Dragon Con. September 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  16. ^ Garcia, Conrad (April 19, 2011). "Live Review: 3rd Annual L.A. Comedy Shorts Festival". Disarray Magazine. DisarrayMagazine.com. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  17. ^ Napierski, Steve (December 19, 2013). "Luigi's Ballad". Dueling Analogs. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  18. ^ "Egoraptor and NSP are STARBOMB!". Arin Hanson. Show You. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  19. ^ Herd, James. "Egoraptor and Ninja Sex Party announce their newest project: STARBOMB". Pixcelation Entertainment. WordPress. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  20. ^ "Starbomb Is Coming NEXT WEEK!". Ninja Sex Party. YouTube, Google. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  21. ^ "STARBOMB Debut Album Pre-Order – GET HYPED!!". Game Grumps. YouTube, Google. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  22. ^ "Starbomb drops TOMORROW!". Ninja Sex Party. YouTube, Google. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  23. ^ [2]
  24. ^ [3]
  25. ^ Egoraptor, REGRETROID – Starbomb 3D Animated Music Video (by Antony Manley), retrieved February 4, 2019
  26. ^ a b GameGrumps (November 5, 2015). "Burger Time – Grumpcade". Retrieved November 26, 2017 – via YouTube.
  27. ^ GameGrumps (November 17, 2015). "Elevator Action – Grumpcade". Retrieved November 26, 2017 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ GrumpOut (April 26, 2016). "The Ad Monster – GrumpOut". Retrieved November 26, 2017 – via YouTube.
  29. ^ GameGrumps (August 14, 2015). "I Burgie Burgie – NEW SHIRT!!". Retrieved November 26, 2017 – via YouTube.
  30. ^ GameGrumps (October 3, 2015). "All Hail Burgie – Spooky Halloween Shirt!". Retrieved November 26, 2017 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ Hot Pepper Gaming (September 16, 2013). "Dark – Hot Pepper Game Review feat. Ninja Brian". Retrieved November 26, 2017 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ Wecht, Brian [@bwecht] (June 26, 2015). "Yes, I ate the pepper. Yes, this is a single take with no cuts. No, it wasn't easy" (Tweet). Retrieved November 26, 2017 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ Wecht, Brian [@bwecht] (August 15, 2016). "I wrote an episode of Red vs Blue with @razzadoop & @TheMilesLuna! Check it out" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  34. ^ GameGrumps (April 22, 2014). "The Goonies II: The Last Goon – PART 7 – Game Grumps". Retrieved November 26, 2017 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ GameGrumps (June 18, 2017). "Robot Party with Ninja Audrey – Grumpcade". Retrieved November 26, 2017 – via YouTube.
  36. ^ GameGrumps (November 10, 2015). "Zelda Tri Force Heroes: Ultimate Lifeform – PART 1 – Grumpcade". Retrieved November 26, 2017 – via YouTube.
  37. ^ "Hey guys, it's Brian. I'm on a plane. Ask me stuff! • r/gamegrumps". reddit. January 15, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
 
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