Jim Ward (musician)

Jim Ward
Jim Ward in 2006
Background information
Birth name	James David Ward
Born	September 19, 1976 (1976-09-19)
Origin	El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock, Post-hardcore, Art punk, Indie rock, Alternative country
Occupations	Musician, Vocalist, Guitarist
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar, Piano/Keyboards
Years active	1993–present
Associated acts	Sparta Sleepercar At the Drive-In

James David Ward (born September 19, 1976) is an American musician. A self-taught guitarist and pianist, he was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the band Sparta; he is also the co-founder of the seminal post-hardcore band At the Drive-In, which he formed in 1993 when he was 17 years old.

At the Drive-In

While in At the Drive-In, Ward played rhythm guitar and sang backup vocals, as well as playing piano and keyboards on select songs. He performed lead vocals on one track, entitled "Hourglass", and sang co-lead with lead vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala on a number of tracks. Using the money from his college savings, he created the label "Western Breed Records" specifically to release Hell Paso and Alfaro Vive, Carajo!, At the Drive-in's first two releases. After the demise of At the Drive-In, Ward has stated that he is happy with the break-up, that he started the band when he was 17, and felt like he was always 17 while in the band. On January 9, 2012, it was announced that At the Drive-In were reforming, possibly to tour and record new material.

Sparta

After the fall of At the Drive-In, Ward did not have the intentions of starting Sparta. His first plans included going back to college and enjoying himself in his new marriage. Eventually, former At the Drive-In members Tony Hajjar and Paul Hinojos asked Ward if he would like to be a part of their new project. Ward joined the group as the lead vocalist and guitar player. The band wrote nearly nine songs in their first week of rehearsal, with all members incorporating ideas and lyrics. Ward cites Radiohead and Billy Joel as influences for his song-writing during this period, which led to Ward incorporating more piano in Sparta (despite his informal knowledge of the instrument).

Personal life

Ward was born in El Paso, Texas. He is a 1994 graduate of El Paso High School and has been married to his wife Kristine since March 2001.

Discography

With At the Drive-In

• Hell Paso (1994)
• Alfaro Vive, Carajo! (1995)
• Acrobatic Tenement (1996)
• In/Casino/Out (1998)
• Vaya (1999)
• Relationship of Command (2000)
• This Station Is Non-Operational (2005)

With Sparta

• Austere (2002)
• Wiretap Scars (2002)
• Live at La Zona Rosa 3.19.04 (2004)
• Porcelain (2004)
• Threes (2006)

With Bobby Byrd

• How Will We Know When We're Dead? (2006)

Solo

• My Favorite Song Writers (Compilation - 2004)

- Contributed the song "These Years"

• Paupers, Peasants, Princes & Kings (Compilation - 2006)

- Contributed the song "Lay Lady Lay"

• Quiet (EP) (2007)
• In The Valley, On The Shores (EP) (2009)
• The End Begins (EP) (2011)
• Quiet In The Valley, On The Shores The End Begins (2011)

With Sleepercar

• West Texas (2008)

Equipment

With At the Drive-In

During the years spent with At the Drive-In, Ward has used different guitars and amps, and several keyboards. The following list collects some of the equipment Ward has performed with in At the Drive-In.

Guitars

• Gibson Melody Maker
• Tokai SG-60
• Gibson SG Jr

- Ward has used two of these guitars, a green SG with a white pearl pickguard and the Texas sticker and a white one with a tortoise pickguard and a Wales sticker, both probably pre-'65, having the smaller pickguard although they could be newer seeing as both of the guitars had unoriginal pickguards (all SG Jr's originally came with black pickguards).

• Fernandes Monterey X (custom)

- He had two of these, one of which had the Wales sticker below the bridge

Amplifiers

• Marshall Cabinet and Head
• Mesa Boogie Head

With Sparta

Ward uses several different guitars and amplifiers while performing with Sparta. Since the equipment Ward uses changes from tour to tour, the following is a list of some of the equipment he has been seen using.

Guitars

• Custom Fender Esquire

- Ward employs two of these, one yellow with a black pickguard, and one black with a white pickguard (50's Series Re-Issue with a Seymour Duncan Alnico 2 Pickup in the bridge)

• Ibanez Jetking
• Rickenbacker 330
• Gibson ES-335 (Ebony finish)

- Bridge pickup was later replaced for a Gibson P-94. This guitar was recently stolen from the band's storage facility in Los Angeles

• '72 Fender Telecaster Deluxe

- Neck pickup, tone and control dials for neck pickup, and pickup selector removed. Ward employs two of these, one with a black pickguard, and one with a tortoise shell pickguard. However, Ward may have replaced the pickguard at some point, therefore only owning one rather than two.

• Gibson SG
• Gibson Melody Maker

Amplifiers

• Vox AC30
• Marshall Cabinet and Head
• Mesaboogie Head
• Park Head

Effects

• BOSS DM-3 Delay
• BOSS TR-2 Tremolo
• Line 6 DL-4
• BOSS Chromatic Tuner
• Guyatone MD-3
• BOSS GE-7
• Klon Centaur
• Electro-Harmonix Big Muff (Sovtek)
• BOSS DD-3
• Ernie Ball Volume Pedals (2)

Side projects

He has an alternative country sideproject called Sleepercar, where he also plays guitar and sings lead vocals.

Ward also writes for the El Paso weekly alternative magazine What's Up, in a column entitled "From the End of this Pen".

Ward now co-owns a bar in El Paso, TX which he opened in 2009. It is called Hope and Anchor.

Ward's main outlet for news is his co-owned, newly improved website, Tembloroso. The website was redesigned, and reopened on February 14, 2011. It also features his new blog.

External links

• Sparta's Official Site
• Sparta on Myspace
• Bobby Byrd & Jim Ward on Myspace
• Sleepercar on Myspace
• Jim Ward's page on Vox Amps
• Jim's Five Favorite Songs off Dischord Records
• Interview with Jim on Late Night Wallflower 2008
• Stereokill Interview: January 4th 2009