Atom Ellis

Atom Ellis
Atom Ellis with The New Cars (2006)
Background information
Born	(1966-04-08) April 8, 1966
Instruments	Bass guitar, vocals

Atom Ellis (born April 8, 1966) is a bass guitarist from San Francisco, California.

Musical career

Atom was a founding member of the Thrash Funk band Psychefunkapus from 1986 to 1992 and a member of the San Francisco band Dieselhed from 1993 to 2000. During and after his tenure with Dieselhed he also performed as a regular sideman for Link Wray from 1996 to 2003.

For shorter stints Atom performed and recorded with World Entertainment War, The Pop-o-pies, Linda Perry, Virgil Shaw, Richard Thompson, Carl Hancock Rux, Neil Hamburger, Chuck Prophet, and Todd Rundgren & The New Cars .

Ellis has performed as a sub for Rick Anderson in The Tubes since 2010 and has - since Rick's passing in 2022 - been "keeping the seat warm" ever since. Ellis cites Rick as a major bass influence since childhood.

Atom also now tours and records with The Flamin' Groovies

Selected discography

• Psychefunkapus-"Psychefunkapus" (1990- Atlantic #82063, credits: Bass/Vocals)
• Psychefunkapus-"Skin" (1991- Atlantic #82331, credits: Bass/Vocals)
• World Entertainment War (1991-Popular Metaphysics/MCA #10137, credits: Backing Vocals)
• Pop-o-Pies- "In Frisco" (1993- Amarillo #581, credits: Bass Guitar)
• Dieselhed- "Dieselhed" (1995- Amarillo #590, credits: Bass/Backing Vocals)
• Dieselhed- "Tales of a Brown Dragon" (1996- Amarillo #601, credits: Bass/Backing Vocals)
• Dieselhed- "Shallow Water Blackout" (1997- Amarillo #608, credits: Bass/Backing Vocals)
• Dieselhed- "Elephant Rest Home" (1999- Bongload BOOOOODFHN, credits: Bass/Backing Vocals)
• Richard Thompson- "Mock Tudor" (1999- Capitol #98860, credits: Electric Bass Guitar)
• Carl Hancock Rux- "Rux Review" (1999- Sony #69644, credits: Bass Guitar)
• Dieselhed- "Chico and the Flute" (2001- Bongload, credits: Bass/Backing Vocals)
• Richard Thompson- "Action Packed, The Capitol Years" (2001- Capitol #31051, credits: Electric Bass Guitar)
• Virgil Shaw- "Still Falling" (2003- Future Farmer BOOOO83MGL, credits: Bass Guitar)
• Chuck Prophet- "Age of Miracles" (2004- New West Records BOOO2UJKQS, credits: Bass guitar)
• Brittany Shane- "Brittany Shane" (2007- Brittany Shane #275569, credits: Bass Guitar)
• Neil Hamburger - "Sings Country Winners" (2008- Drag City Records DC363, credits: Bass/Ukulele)
• Neil Hamburger - "First of Dismay" (2014- Drag City Records DC599, credits: Bass)
• Sonny & The Sunsets - "Hairdressers From Heaven" (2019- Rocks In Your Head, credits: Electric Bass Guitar/Piano)
• Neil Hamburger - "Seasonal Depression Suite" (2023- Drag City Records DC894, credits: Bass)
• Flamin Groovies - "Revolution" (2025 Cleopatra Records, credits Bass, backup vocals)

External links

• Atom Ellis interview on RundgrenRadio.com