John Stirratt

Although best known as the bassist supporting frontman Jeff Tweedy in the much-acclaimed Wilco, John Stirratt also led his own bands, most notably roots rock cult favorites the Hilltops and classicist pop combo the Autumn Defense. Born in New Orleans in November 1967, Stirratt was raised in Mandeville, LA. The son of a Dixieland banjo player, he first picked up the banjo as well but quickly moved to guitar, forming his first group, a U2 covers trio called Fallout, for a high-school battle-of-the-bands competition. A subsequent covers band, Rain, was a local favorite, and while...