John Flansburgh

Categories: 1960 births | Songwriters | United States musicians | They Might Be Giants

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Flansburgh often takes on the role of his band's spokesperson.

John Conant Flansburgh (born May 6, 1960), actor and musician, is primarly known as half the core duo of They Might Be Giants, longstanding alternative rock act from Brooklyn, New York. Flansburgh co-founded the group in 1982 with high school friend and musical collaborator John Linnell. The two share singing and songwriting duties, with Flansbugh as lead guitarist, in addition to performing a variety of instruments when the need arises.

An energetic and commanding stage presence, he is known to chat up bandmates and the audience at live performances. As a songwriter, Flansburgh enjoys absurdist and satirical lyrics, though he often breaks for more earnest and romantic material as well.

While Linnell's singles carried the group to early stardom, with hits like "Don't Let's Start" and "Birdhouse in Your Soul", Flansburgh penned (and sang) their first Grammy-award winning effort, "Boss of Me", which charted in Europe and serves as theme song to the hit television series Malcolm in the Middle. He can also claim responsibility for some of the band's best-known singles and album tracks, such as "(She Was A) Hotel Detective," "Twisting," "The Guitar," and "Meet James Ensor".

Self-described as "manic depressive, without the depression," he also keeps extremely busy, with side-projects such as:

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Commonly referred to by the nickname "Flans", he is married to writer/singer/puppeteer Robin Goldwasser, with whom he sometimes performs.

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