Multi-instrumentalist/composer/improviser born 1972 in Rockford, Illinois, probably best known to the general public as being a very fast, high-energy percussionist fusing free jazz and black/death/speed metal approaches. Weasel Walter (first name, last name) moved to Chicago in 1990 and founded the mercurial and long-running jazz/punk/noise/metal/prog project the Flying Luttenbachers in late 1991 with Hal Russell. In its various incarnations the group has recorded 14 full-length albums and toured the United States and Europe extensively. During the early-to-mid '90s Mr. Walter proved to be a significant catalyst in the Chicago underground rock and improvised music scenes, forging strong connections between the two camps. Walter founded the weekly (and still extant) Myopic Books Improvised Music Workshop in early 1994 and performed improvised music with dozens of musicians including Kevin Drumm, Ken Vandermark, Jeb Bishop, Jim Baker, Gene Coleman, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Jim O'Rourke, Mars Williams, Jeff Parker and Michael Zerang. Mr. Walter has performed and recorded with scores of bands like the Flying Luttenbachers, Lake Of Dracula, Hatewave, 7000 Dying Rats, Bobby Conn, Cock ESP, To Live and Shave in L.A. 1 and 2, Murder Murder, Contradiction, Erase Errata, XBXRX and Curse of the Birthmark. Weasel Walter relocated to Oakland, California in 2003. In 2005 after a long sabbatical from improvising, Walter established a shape-shifting free jazz ensemble under his own name which has featured various combinations of musicians like Henry Kaiser, Damon Smith, William Winant, Randy Hunt and Josh Allen. Since so many people seem to place importance on lists of names, it can be said that Mr. Walter has also performed with Marco Eneidi, Liz Albee, Harry Pussy, Burton Greene, Mick Barr (Orthrelm/Octis), Axel Dorner, Total Shutdown, Greg Kelley, Quintron, Bhob Rainey, YBO2, Anthony Braxton Orchestra, Cheer-Accident, Sam Hillmer (Zs), the members of Nautical Almanac and many others. Mr. Walter holds a Bachelor's degree in music composition. His major icons are Iannis Xenakis, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Groucho Marx, Jack Kirby and Cecil Taylor.