Myles Kennedy: Difference between revisions
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'''Myles R. Kennedy''' (born November 27, 1969) is an [[United States|American]] [[singer]], [[songwriter]], and [[guitarist]] originally from [[Spokane, Washington]]. |
'''Myles R. Kennedy''' (born November 27, 1969) is an [[United States|American]] [[singer]], [[songwriter]], and [[guitarist]] originally from [[Spokane, Washington]]. Kennedy is a former guitar instructor in the Spokane area who has appeared as a guest of both live performances and recording sessions of numerous bands over the years. Since 2004, he has been the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist to [[Alter Bridge]], a United States rock band and the brainchild of former [[Creed (band)|Creed]] guitarist [[Mark Tremonti]]. Before that, between 1996 and 2002 he was lead guitarist and vocalist for [[The Mayfield Four]] and Citizen Swing (1993-1996). |
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Despite suffering from [[tinnitus]], Kennedy claims he has "the standard amount of hearing loss for someone who has been doing it (singing) as long as [he has]" and continues to "keep it in check."<ref name="Spokane 7"> |
Despite suffering from [[tinnitus]], Kennedy claims he has "the standard amount of hearing loss for someone who has been doing it (singing) as long as [he has]" and continues to "keep it in check."<ref name="Spokane 7"> |
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Revision as of 23:47, 5 January 2009
Myles Kennedy |
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Myles R. Kennedy (born November 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist originally from Spokane, Washington. Kennedy is a former guitar instructor in the Spokane area who has appeared as a guest of both live performances and recording sessions of numerous bands over the years. Since 2004, he has been the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist to Alter Bridge, a United States rock band and the brainchild of former Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti. Before that, between 1996 and 2002 he was lead guitarist and vocalist for The Mayfield Four and Citizen Swing (1993-1996).
Despite suffering from tinnitus, Kennedy claims he has "the standard amount of hearing loss for someone who has been doing it (singing) as long as [he has]" and continues to "keep it in check."[1]
Music career
Early years: 1990-1993
Kennedy began his career in a local Spokane band called Bittersweet. He played in other cover bands including Moment's Notice with Seattle jazz bassist Clipper Anderson.
Early in his career, Kennedy played guitar for a jazz fusion group called Cosmic Dust. Kennedy's guitar-work with Cosmic Dust was very advanced; using his knowledge of jazz theory in conjunction with his advanced technical abilities, Kennedy created the sound of traditional jazz guitar coupled with a more fusion-rock tone. He was not only able to imply chord changes on the fly (a difficult technique used in jazz) but also shred with speed and precision. When Anderson left Cosmic Dust and Moment's Notice to move to Seattle, he was replaced by Spokane bassist Dave Turner. Myles had been working on a new band that would be an outlet for his original material and they were in need of a bassist. Dave Turner joined Kennedy, guitarist Craig Johnson, trumpeteer Geoff Miller and drummer Mike Tschirgi to form Citizen Swing.
Citizen Swing: 1993-1996
Following his stint with Cosmic Dust, Kennedy provided vocals and played guitar for Citizen Swing. A MySpace page dedicated to the band provides full tracks of "Motor Mama" and "Can't Complain", two of the band's songs original songs (link). The band played their first gig in late 1993 at the Big Dipper, Spokane, WA and their last gig in June 1996. Kennedy had been collaborating with the future members of The Mayfield Four since summer 1995, and with the departure of Citizen Swing's bassist in late 1995 to pursue family and other interests, the door was opened for Citizen Swing to wind down and The Mayfield Four to rise.
The Mayfield Four: 1996-2002
By August 1996, Kennedy had become the lead singer/lead guitarist of The Mayfield Four, a rock band formed in 1996 with childhood friends Zia Uddin, Marty Meisner, and Craig Johnson (also of Citizen Swing). The Mayfield Four enjoyed a lot of success opening for bands like Creed, Fuel, and many others. Due to undisclosed reasons, Craig Johnson was fired in 1999 and the band continued on as a threesome, with a substitute rhythm guitarist but unofficial band member, up through their final gig. They released 2 full albums and 1 EP, Motion, Fallout, and Second Skin. Though popular, they never garnered enough exposure to break into the big time.
Alter Bridge: 2004-present
After The Mayfield Four officially split in 2002, Kennedy was asked by Slash to audition as lead singer of Velvet Revolver, but he declined the offer,[2] and two years later, he was called up by Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti asking to join a new band he was forming since Creed had recently broke up due to personal issues with singer Scott Stapp. Also composed of former Creed members Scott Phillips and Brian Marshall, the newly formed band Alter Bridge went on to release two albums, One Day Remains and Blackbird. The band, having recently concluded their Blackbird tour, is currently in the process of writing songs for an upcoming third release, and a live DVD will be released in February.
Other work
During his current stint with Alter Bridge, Kennedy appeared on Fozzy's 2005 album All That Remains as a guest vocalist on the song "Nameless Faceless", and also appears as a backing vocalist on the Sevendust song "Sorrow" from their 2008 album Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow. His Alter Bridge band mate Mark Tremonti also appears on both the aforementoined albums, performing guitar solos on the song "Hope" from the Sevendust record and Fozzy's song "The Way I Am."
Led Zeppelin rumor
According to Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, Kennedy is strongly rumored to have been selected as the touring vocalist for Led Zeppelin for their upcoming reunion tour[3], though this rumor was discontinued by Kennedy himself recently. Robert Plant had denied any speculation that he will be participating in the tour, and has mentioned that he will not tour again for another two years. Because of this, it is rumored that Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham had been rehearsing and possibly recording with Kennedy while trying to persuade Plant to join them. Regarding Page, Jones, and Bonham, Snider said:
They're saying [to Robert], "We're all rehearsed, we're ready to go. Here's a gazillion dollars on the table. If you don't do it, we're going out with this kid. And he can sing the shit out of Zeppelin." And they're gonna hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, "Okay," and step in before having the lead singer of Alter Bridge out with John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Jason Bonham.
This had fueled speculation that Kennedy will be forming a new band with the members of Led Zeppelin, and regarding this, during an interview with Kerrang! magazine, Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti said:
If something like that were to happen it'd be a great opportunity and would definitely not be the end of Alter Bridge. Myles is a hard worker and as long as we can find the time to get into the studio next year as planned, we could keep flowing like nothing ever happened. Zeppelin are probably the greatest rock band of all time, so to have rumors about your singer singing with them isn't a bad thing! It's a positive thing for us, on an exposure level. So it could work out as a good thing for everybody!
Equipment
Guitars
- Paul Reed Smith Guitars (uses SC 245, SC 250, Modern Eagle, McCarty, and Hollowbody models. These are his primary guitars)
- Dean Guitars; a Resonator used for his Robert Jonhson cover live.
- Taylor Guitars; Myles can be seen using Taylor electro/acoustics, most notably when he performs "Hallelujah".
Amplifiers
- Mesa Boogie (uses a Mark IV head. Uses exclusively Mesa Boogie cabinets)
- Diezel (A Herbert head. Myles has said this is his favorite amplifier and uses it for nearly all his distorted tones)
Effects
- Fulltone Clyde Wah pedal
- Line 6 DL4 Delay
- Line 6 Modulation Modeler
- Fulltone Deja Vibe Uni Vibe Clone
- Fulltone Octaver
- Boss Chromomatic Tuner
- TC Electronics Effects processor (for reverb only)
- Radial Switchbone
- More info about Myles' rig and guitars can be found at http://www.myles-kennedy.com
Acting career
In addition to playing the role of glam metal character "Thor" in the 2001 film Rock Star, Kennedy has appeared along with the rest of Alter Bridge on an August 29, 2005 episode of WWE Raw with WWE superstar Edge.
Influences
Myles is very influenced by a wide range of artists, including Led Zeppelin, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Robert Johnson, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, U2, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. His top five favorite albums are Appetite For Destruction by Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth album, Highway to Hell by AC/DC, What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, and Jeff Buckley's Grace.
Discography
With Cosmic Dust
- (1991) Journey
With Citizen Swing
- (1993) Cure Me With the Groove
- (1995) Deep Down
With The Mayfield Four
- (1997) Motion (Sony Music)
- (1998) Fallout (Sony Music)
- (2001) Second Skin (Sony Music)
With Alter Bridge
- (August 10, 2004) One Day Remains (Wind-Up Records)
- (October 9, 2007) Blackbird (Universal Republic Records)
References
- ^ "7 questions with Myles Kennedy"
- ^ VH1 Interview
- ^ Led Zep are going for Myles - The Sun, 11 Oct 2008
- Danton, Eric R. "Post-Creed pressure for Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy", Associated Press, February 9, 2005. Accessed January 29, 2006
http://www.mesaboogie.com/Reviews/CustTestimonials/2007-Bracewell-Roadster/Bracewell-Roadster.html http://www.deanguitars.com/myles_kennedy.php