music
Danger Mouse
Brian Joseph Burton, better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, is an American artist and producer. Brian Burton was born in White Plains, New York; he spent much of his childhood in Spring Valley, New York and lived in Athens, Georgia for a long time where his electronica work was released under the name 'Pelican City'.
He also remixed work by several local artists, including Neutral Milk Hotel and DJ'd for University of Georgia radio station WUOG-FM. From 1998 to 2003 Burton also created a series of remix CDs and records under the stage name Danger Mouse.
He used to do sets in a mouse outfit because he was too shy to show his face, and took his name from the British cartoon series Danger Mouse. While in Athens, Burton took second place in a 1998 talent contest and was asked to open for a concert at the University of Georgia featuring OutKast and Goodie Mob.
Afterwards, Burton approached Cee-Lo, a member of Goodie Mob, and gave him an instrumental demo tape. It would be several years before the pair made contact again, but the two would eventually collaborate as Gnarls Barkley.
Burton moved to England for a couple of years, living in New Cross in London and working at the Rose pub near London Bridge. While he was in the U.K., he sent a demo to Lex Records, who signed him. Burton's first original releases under the name Danger Mouse were his collaborations with rapper Jemini, including the album 'Ghetto Pop Life,' released in 2003 on Lex Records.
While the Danger Mouse debut was well received by critics, he did not rise to fame until he created The Grey Album, mixing a cappella versions of Jay Z's The Black Album over beats crafted from samples of The Beatles' White Album.
The remix album, originally created just for his friends, spread over the Internet and became very popular with both the general audience and critics, with Rolling Stone calling it "the ultimate remix record" and Entertainment Weekly ranking it the best record of the year.
He discusses his feelings about any controversy the album may have created in the documentary Alternative Freedom. Danger Mouse was also named among the Men of the Year by GQ in 2004 and won a 2005 Wired Rave Award.