Beck's Real Name: Beck Hansen

Quick answer: The musician is known mononymously as Beck. Encyclopaedia Britannica gives his birth date as July 8, 1970, in Los Angeles, and lists Beck David Hansen as a name he is also known by. AllMusic independently says he adopted the Hansen surname after his father left. Britannica records an original name of Beck David Campbell, but a Library of Congress name record spells the birth form Bek David Campbell.

Real name and early life

Britannica says Beck was born on July 8, 1970, in Los Angeles. It names his mother as Bibbe Hansen, who had ties to Andy Warhol's Factory, his father as the musician David Campbell, and his grandfather as Al Hansen of the Fluxus art movement. AllMusic independently identifies his parents as string arranger and conductor David Campbell and Bibbe Hansen, and says Beck took the Hansen surname after his father left.

The sources agree that Campbell was his father's surname, but they do not agree on spelling. Britannica gives "original name: Beck David Campbell," while the Library of Congress authority file cites a book's publication data for "Bek David Campbell." That spelling differs between the sources, while both Britannica and AllMusic support Beck Hansen.

AllMusic says he grew up in Los Angeles, left school in the tenth grade to busk, and spent time on the edges of New York's anti-folk scene. Britannica likewise describes a stint in the East Village anti-folk scene before he returned to Los Angeles to play coffeehouses in Silver Lake.

Career highlights

Both sources say "Loser" began as a low-budget recording for the independent Bong Load label and became a hit after he signed with Geffen (Britannica names the DGC imprint). Both say his deal let him keep releasing on independent labels, and both date the major-label debut Mellow Gold to 1994. AllMusic says it appeared in March that year.

Both sources say Odelay (1996) was produced with the Dust Brothers and included "Where It's At," which won a Grammy. Britannica follows the later albums Mutations (1998), Midnite Vultures (1999), Sea Change (2002), Guero (2005), The Information (2006), and Modern Guilt (2008). Both sources say Morning Phase (2014) won the Grammy for album of the year. Britannica adds Colors (2017) and Hyperspace (2019), made with Pharrell Williams, and both sources list the 2026 album Ride Lonesome; AllMusic says Nigel Godrich produced it.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Beck, Beck Hansen, Beck David Hansen, or Beck David Campbell are looking for the same American musician. Bek David Campbell is a spelling found in a library record.