David Freel, singer, primary songwriter, co-founder, of Swell passed away April 12, 2022. David was a true original. The songs he developed and the lyrics he wrote are like no one else’s. His unique approach to life informed everything he did and affected everything he touched.In April 2023, the four original members united for a European Tribute Tour for David and the formative years of the band. They will be doing a short West Coast Tour in December 2023 playing favorite songs from the first 4 albums.
Swell’s current line-up is co-founder Sean Kirkpatrick on drums, Monte Vallier on bass, Niko Wenner on lead guitar, and John Dettman-Lytle, the original guitarist, stepping up to play acoustic guitar and take on the majority of the singing.
Sean Kirkpatrick
Sean Kirkpatrick, drummer, started the collaboration with David in 1989 that led to the recording of the first album “Swell”. Sean’s unique drumming can be heard on all the albums through the 4<th album “Too Many Days Without thinking”. Sean collaborated with David again in 2003 for the 7th album “Whenever You’re ready”.
Sean is currently a celebrated visual artist living in Santa Barbara, California, and released a debut album in 2022 with his band The World is Haunted.
Monte Vallier
Monte Vallier joined as press and radio publicist for David’s pSycho-sPecific Records release of the first album. When the need arose for the recording project to become a live band, Monte joined as bass player. He played on some tracks for the CD release of the first album “Swell” and continued writing, co-producing, and touring on all the albums until 2000’s Everybody Wants to Know, but left the band before that album was finished. Monte is a producer and recording/mix engineer with hundreds of album credits currently living in Seattle.
Niko Wenner
Niko Wenner is the longest playing electric guitarist with the band, touring as the lead guitarist from 1993 through 2003. Niko is the primary songwriter and guitarist in the art-rock band Oxbow with 8 albums including the newest Love’s Holiday, which he produced with Joe Chiccarelli, out summer 2023 on Ipecac Records. Niko lives with his wife and children in San Francisco.
John Dettman-Lytle
John Dettman-Lytle acquired much of the “Freel/Swell” strumming technique as loft mates at 41 Turk Street in San Francisco’s tenderloin. He was there while Sean and David wrote the songs that would become the first album. David asked John to join as guitarist for the first live shows and the recording of the 2nd album “…Well?”. Back then, John was assistant Art Director at Thrasher Magazine and team captain of Independent Truck Company. After moving back to Santa Barbara, CA, where he met originally met Sean, he became a pioneer web developer in the dot-com era. Currently residing in downtown Las Vegas, he has been remixing famous 60s hits as Dj Something Good, and is a consultant in the footwear industry. Some of his personal recordings can be heard on Bandcamp. John is the proud father of two daughters.
For more biography information and discography, consult the Swell WIKI.