Will Lee Announces Exit from The Fab Faux After Nearly Three Decades
Will Lee has accomplished a great deal in his career. Many recognize him for his many years holding down the low end during The Late Show with David Letterman, but he’s also been a sought-after session musician for decades. (Check out our Stories Behind the Songs interview with him for more on that.)
Another crucial aspect of his career has been with the world-class Beatles tribute band The Fab Faux, but that chapter is coming to a close. Lee has announced that after their “Psychedelia!” show at the Easton State Theater on November 8th, he’ll be leaving the band after 27 years.
“My own professional schedule has gotten so that I can’t give enough time to the band so that they may work as freely and often as The Fab Faux needs to!” he wrote on his website. “I love the guys like brothers, and in no way are we severing any ties, either professional or friendship-wise, I just need to free up my time for some other musical pursuits.”
The Fab Faux has recreated the music of the Beatles to exacting standards. They’ve performed internationally and even recorded at Abbey Road Studios with Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick. However, Lee is focusing on his own songwriting for the future. His last full-length album was 2013’s Love, Gratitude, & Other Distractions, though he released a single called “It’s All Too Much” early last year.
“My lifelong dream has always been to write songs,” he explains. “But when I met Rich Pagano, I got very excited about forming a band to honor the Beatles’ recordings and put my songwriting goals on hold, and, along with Jimmy, Jack & Frank, we proceeded to dig into that magic feeling of the Beatles’ records and get into the science of what makes them so magical. The fun part is performing them for you, the audience, and for me, it has indeed been a blast! With my schedule a bit freer, I will now have the opportunity to explore becoming a better songwriter and hopefully write something meaningful (to at least some of you out there), which is something very exciting to us who have been, and continue to be, inspired by the Beatles.”
Lee ended his statement by saying he’d like to play with the group again in some capacity in the future, but current Fab Faux member Jim Boggia will be stepping into the bass role upon his departure.
Congrats to Will Lee on a great run with a great band!
Until we get some new solo music, let’s revisit Lee’s incredible performance of “Sun King” through “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” from the Abbey Road Medley.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
