Kirk Windstein

Kirk Windstein is an American sludge metal singer and guitarist for various bands such as Crowbar, Down, and Kingdom of Sorrow.

Kirk is the lead guitarist and vocalist for Crowbar and guitarist with Down. Previously he was also working, as a side project, with a band called Valume Nob as a bass player but resigned in 2006, citing he was unable to commit the time needed to give it full justice. In 2005, with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, they formed Kingdom of Sorrow. Their debut album, including guest artists, was released on the 19th of February 2008.

Crowbar

Crowbar was started in 1989 by Kirk and the band name references a NOLA (New Orleans, LA) organization. The band was originally signed to Pavement Records and released "Obedience Through Suffering" in 1991. Then childhood friend, Phil Anselmo (who at the time was in Pantera) produced their next effort 1993's self-titled. The album went on to achieve international success with songs such as "All I Had (I Gave)," "Existence is Punishment" and "No Quarter" (by Led Zeppelin). MTV's Headbanger's Ball began to play the music video "All I Had (I Gave)" and was even critiqued on Beavis and Butt-Head. Following that success, the band toured with Pantera and their parties became notorious. The products of the mayhem were filmed and appeared on Pantera's "Home Video 3" and Crowbar's "Like Broken" Home Video, in which Kirk dressed up as the incredible Hulk. Phil eventually took a break with Pantera and focused on Down, which was formed in 1991.

Down

Down released their debut album on Elektra Records in 1995 with Kirk on guitar and bass, Phil on vocals, Pepper Keenan on guitar, and Jimmy Bower (Crowbar, Superjoint Ritual, and Eyehategod) "NOLA" in 1995. The band played a 13 show tour with Todd Strange on bass, and the album was certified gold by the RIAA. Following the tour, each person went back to their respective bands. Crowbar recorded three albums until Down reunited to release "Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow" in 2002. Following the release the band toured on the second stage at Ozzfest, and then continued to tour on the "An Evening With... Down" tour. Once again the band members went back to their main projects (with the exception of Phil and Jimmy), thereby allowing Kirk to record Crowbar's "Life's Blood for the Downtrodden" with Rex Brown on bass, Craig Nunenmacher (Black Label Society and original Crowbar member) on drums and Down producer Warren Riker in spring 2005.

Kingdom of Sorrow

In 2005 Kirk teamed up with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed to form a new side venture called Kingdom of Sorrow. The band's self-titled debut album was released on February 19, 2008 by Relapse Records. It debuted at #131 on the U.S. Billboard charts and sold 6,000 records in it's first week of release. The album was recorded at Planet Z studios with producer Zeuss B. Held, known for his work with Shadows Fall. Kingdom of Sorrow is planned to include 13 tracks as well as a cover of Motörhead's "No Class." Jasta has also stated that it will include two surprise guest appearances.

Discography

Crowbar

Date of Release	Title	Label	US sales
September 26, 1991	Obedience Through Suffering	Pavement Records
October 12, 1993	Crowbar (Produced by Phil Anselmo)	Pavement Records	100,000
March 29, 1994	Live +1 (EP)	Pavement Records
May 23, 1995	Time Heals Nothing	Pavement Records
October 29, 1996	Broken Glass	Pavement Records
July 7, 1998	Odd Fellows Rest	Pavement Records
March 7, 2000	Equilibrium	Spitfire Records
August 8, 2001	Sonic Excess In Its Purest Form	Spitfire Records
February 8, 2005	Lifesblood for the Downtrodden (Produced by Warren Riker)	Candlelight Records

Down

Date of US Release	Title	Label	US Billboard Peak
September 19, 1995	NOLA	Elektra	57
March 26, 2002	Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow	Elektra	44
September 25, 2007	Down III: Over the Under	Roadrunner Records (Europe)	26

Kingdom of Sorrow

Date of US Release	Title	Label	US Billboard Peak
February 19, 2008	Kingdom of Sorrow	Relapse Records	131

Music videos

• 1993 Crowbar - "All I Had (I Gave)"
• 1993 Crowbar - "Existence Is Punishment"
• 1994 Down - "Stone the Crow"
• 1995 Crowbar - "Like Broken" (Full Length Home Video)
• 1995 Crowbar - "The Only Factor
• 1996 Crowbar - "Broken Glass"
• 1997 Pantera - "Home Video 3" (Full Length Home Video) (Kirk as The Incredible Hulk)
• 2002 Down - "Ghosts along the Mississippi"
• 2005 Crowbar - "Dead Sun" (Filmed in Miami, Florida around August 2004 and directed by John-Martin Vogel and Robert Lisman)
• 2005 Crowbar - "Lasting Dose"
• 2005 Crowbar - "Slave No More" (Filmed in Miami, Florida on June 21, 2005 and directed by John-Martin Vogel)
• 2007 Crowbar - "Live: With Full Force" (Full Length DVD)

Links & References

• Crowbar Official Webpage
• Down Official Webpage
• Valume Nob Official Webpage
• Kirk Windstein interview (Nov. 2007)
• Underground Music Scene in NOLA (New Orleans)