Was adopted as an infant by parents John and Nancy Phair.
Son, James Nicholas Staskausas was born on December 21, 1996.
Relocated to Los Angeles with her son after splitting with husband Jim Staskausus. Their divorce has yet to be finalized, and her ex lives right around the corner from her house.
Is a feminist, and kept her maiden name in marriage.
Ranked #94 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll
Grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Her song "Why Can't I?" was used in the movie _13 Going on 30 (2004)_ . Coincidentally, she shares a birthday with the star of the movie, Jennifer Garner.
Says she is even more of a feminist in 2004 than she was in the 1990s, and would like to pen a feminist handbook for young girls with friend, actor and fellow feminist Robin Tunney.
Liz Phair Detailed Biography
Liz Phair was born Elizabeth Clark Phair on April 17, 1967. She was adopted in infancy in New Haven Connecticut. Her father, John Phair, is an AIDS researcher and Chief of Infectious Diseases at Northwestern Hospital. her mother, Nancy Phair, is an art instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago. The Phairs later moved, first to Cincinnati, then to Winnetka, Illinois, where Liz grew up with her older brother.
Liz Phair attended New Trier High School (class of 1985). After graduating, Liz attended Oberlin College in Ohio. She majored in Art History/Studio Art. After graduating, she was urged by a friend who had heard her play to make a demo tape. Liz, taking his advice, she recorded a series of thirty songs on a four-track in her bedroom. These recordings were dubbed the infamous "Girlysound" tapes, and they were soon in wide circulation through the indie rock scene.
In 1992, the Girlysound tapes made their way to the fine folks at Matador Records (you know, the label Pavement are on). Impressed by Liz's alarmingly frank writing about sex, relationships and modern life, they signed her immediately. Her first album "Exile In Guyville" was released in 1993 to almost universal critical acclaim. "E.I.G" was a track-by-track response to the Rolling Stones classic "Exile On Main Street". It has been certified gold by the RIAA.
In 1994, we saw Liz's second album "Whipsmart" released. It has also been certified gold by the RIAA. Whipsmart certainly confirmed her reputation for offsetting searing subject matter with her own quirky and distinctive sound. In 1995, Liz got married to film editor Jim Staskausas, who worked on her videos, and with whom she had a child, Nick, in December 1996. They live with Jim's teenaged son Aidan in Illinois. In the summer of 1998, Liz did a few shows with Sarah Maclachlans "Lilith Fair", filling in for Sheryl Crow on a few dates. Liz's new album "Whitechocolatespaceegg" was released on August 11, 1998. Ms. Phair is also doing alot of tour dates.
