Myles Kennedy

Myles Kennedy

Myles Richard Kennedy (born November 27, 1969) is an American musician and singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Alter Bridge and for his extensive collaborations with Slash. A former guitar instructor from the Spokane, Washington area, Kennedy has played in several other bands including The Mayfield Four and has done work with many artists over the years as a session musician and songwriter, making both studio and live appearances. His debut solo album scheduled for an early 2011 release. In 2001, he made an appearance in the film Rock Star starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston.

Personal life

Kennedy was born on November 27, 1969 in Boston, Massachusetts and subsequently lived in Northern Idaho. As a child, he moved to Spokane, Washington, where he grew up on a farm, spending a lot of time in the summer with his family on Lake Coeur d'Alene. According to his profile on the Internet Movie Database, his father, Richard, died when he was four years old and his mother subsequently went on to marry a minister. He attended Mead High School and, finding musical inspiration from Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder, began playing trumpet at the age of ten and guitar at fifteen. He played guitar in the school's jazz band and trumpet in the marching band. After graduating in 1989, he enrolled in Spokane Falls Community College. He has been married to his wife, Selena, with whom he currently resides in Spokane, since May 27, 2003.

The topic of Kennedy's spiritual beliefs has become common in discussions amongst fans as it served as the inspiration for the general theme of Alter Bridge's 2010 album, AB III. According to Alter Bridge's lead guitarist, Mark Tremonti, Kennedy does not believe in a God, although in an article titled Losing My Religion from a November 2010 issue of Kerrang! magazine, Kennedy said that he places himself "somewhere in the middle" between being a Christian and an atheist. In an interview on the Blairing Out with Eric Blair Show at NAMM 2009, Kennedy mentioned that despite being raised in a Christian household, he is not a religious person and he does not believe in any organized religion.

In late 2002, he was diagnosed with a hearing disorder called tinnitus, which developed after he spent so many hours in his home studio recording songs and listening to them at loud volumes through headphones. Kennedy first noticed his newly developed hearing impairment, according to an article in the November 26, 2002 edition of The Spokesman-Review, when he woke up one morning and realized that there was a ringing sound (which he has described as a sound "similar to the tone emitted by a television when it is first turned on") even though the air conditioner was turned off. He said that most nights he leaves the air conditioner on and that it drowns out the ringing sound at night.

Kennedy has been identified as an avid reader and he says that he especially enjoys the work of John Irving, describing Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany as one of his favorite novels.

Music career

Early career (1990–1995)

Main articles: Cosmic Dust (band) and Citizen Swing

Upon graduating from high school in 1989, Kennedy enrolled in a Commercial Music/Jazz Studies program at Spokane Falls Community College. Using the skills he learned from this course, in 1990 he began playing guitar for a jazz group called the Cosmic Dust Fusion Band, which was formed by keyboardist Jim Templeton in 1980. Kennedy's guitar work with Cosmic Dust was very advanced; using his knowledge of jazz theory in conjunction with his advanced technical abilities, interweaving difficult techniques such as chord changes on impulse and precise shredding with rock music, he became a well respected guitarist among local musicians. Cosmic Dust's first album, Journey, was released in 1991. The album was well-received by critics. In 1993, the song "Spiritus" was awarded the Washington State Artist Trust Grant for $5,000.

After the release of Journey, Kennedy left Cosmic Dust to begin working on a new band that would become Citizen Swing, for which Kennedy provided both lead vocals and lead guitar. They were described as "a band that combined the sounds of funk, soul, R&B, blues and alternative into a unique and cohesive sound" and as "Stevie Ray Vaughn^[sic] meets Stevie Wonder and them some." They released their first album, Cure Me with the Groove, in 1993. This album featured Kennedy (who helped produce the album), rhythm guitarist Craig Johnson, bassist Dave Turner (also of Cosmic Dust), drummer/percussionist Mike Tschirgi, and trumpeter Geoff Miller. Citizen Swing's second and final album was called Deep Down and was released in 1995. The band disbanded the same year. All the music and lyrics on that album were written by Kennedy. Journey, Cure Me with the Groove, and Deep Down are all very rare albums and are highly sought after by fans.

The Mayfield Four (1996–2002)

Main article: The Mayfield Four

In 1995, Kennedy started teaching guitar in a store called Rock City Music. By August 1996, he became the lead vocalist and lead guitarist of The Mayfield Four, a rock band he formed with his childhood friends Zia Uddin, Marty Meisner, and Craig Johnson (also of Citizen Swing). They signed a contract with Epic Records thanks to a critically acclaimed demo called Thirty Two Point Five Hours that the band recorded in 1996, followed by a live extended play called Motion in 1997. The Mayfield Four's debut album, Fallout, was supported with a fifteen-month tour with bands such as Creed, Big Wreck, and Stabbing Westward. The album was praised by critics, but it failed to chart, and ultimately became the only album by the band to feature rhythm guitarist Craig Johnson, who was fired from the band due to undisclosed reasons. Following the release of the album, Kennedy scored a small acting part in the 2001 film Rock Star, and The Mayfield Four's second and final album, Second Skin, was released in June 2001. Kennedy has since said that it is one of the most personal records he has made. The album has been critically acclaimed and Kennedy has commented on how it and Fallout are much more popular now than when they were released.

Though popular, The Mayfield Four never garnered enough exposure to break into the mainstream. In 2002, the future of the band began to look unlikely, and Kennedy began recording new music, which he described as "Daniel Lanois meets Massive Attack." The band went on hiatus that year, and would ultimately disband. In an interview with Pulse Weekly in 2004, Kennedy cited the reason as being "burned out with the whole rock industry at that point." However, three previously unreleased songs appeared on a fan-run Myspace page dedicated to and approved by The Mayfield Four in early 2010, causing rumors of a possible reunion to begin circulating. However, when asked about this during an interview, Kennedy replied that he does not see it happening for the time being.

Hiatus (2002–2004)

After The Mayfield Four's unforeseen breakup, and due to a hearing disorder called tinnitus that developed because of listening to music that he was recording at earsplitting volumes, Kennedy fell into depression in 2002. He said about music, "I can't do it any more. My ears won't let me." He said that he had grown "disillusioned with music and the music business," so he took a musical hiatus and went back to teaching guitar. However, in 2002, he was reached out to by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, who was looking for a vocalist for a band he was forming (Velvet Revolver), but Kennedy declined the offer. Other sources state that Kennedy had sent in a demo tape but still ultimately declined an invitation to audition after being approached by Matt Sorum. Kennedy recalls, "They had reached out to me in 2002 when they were just getting together. They had sent me a demo tape, and I kind of sat on it for a month, and I didn't really follow up on it."

Alter Bridge (2004–present)

Main article: Alter Bridge

Kennedy (right center) with his Alter Bridge band mates in 2008.

Kennedy is most notably the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the American hard rock band Alter Bridge. That band's origins lie in late 2003 when Kennedy was contacted by then-former Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti, who was interested in having Kennedy lay down vocal tracks for some songs he had recently written. Tremonti and drummer Scott Phillips had reunited with former bassist Brian Marshall who had left Creed in 2000 to form a new band. The band, taking its name from an actual bridge that used to be located near Tremonti's home in Detroit, was officially formed in early 2004. Coinciding with the official announcement of Alter Bridge's formation was an announcement regarding their debut album, One Day Remains, along with the release of that album's lead single, "Open Your Eyes." One Day Remains was released in 2004 on Wind-up Records. It received generally mixed to positive reviews and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

Kennedy (left) performing with Alter Bridge in 2008.

Following a successful tour in support of the album, Alter Bridge announced plans for a second release. The album, Blackbird, was released in 2007 on Universal Republic Records. Unlike One Day Remains, which was largely written by Tremonti, Blackbird featured Kennedy's guitar playing as well as more of his songwriting contributions. It received positive reviews and is often considered the band's best album. The band toured in support of Blackbird throughout 2007 and 2008. Alter Bridge took a temporary break in early 2009 with its members began working on other projects but continued writing music throughout the year. They regrouped later that year to begin work on their third album, AB III, which was released in 2010 on Roadrunner Records worldwide, except for North America where the album was self-released. For the album, Kennedy chose to write lyrics based on his own personal experiences with faith and believing. Lyrically, it is the band's darkest album. While it initially received generally mixed reviews from fans, AB III has been critically acclaimed by many websites, including Music Radar and most notably, Artistdirect, who called it a "masterpiece."

Having joined Alter Bridge primarily as lead vocalist, Kennedy began to play rhythm guitar during live performances following the release of One Day Remains. He has since played rhythm guitar on the band's subsequent studio releases, and also played lead tracks on a number of songs and often during live performances.

Led Zeppelin reunion rumor (2008)

Further information: Led Zeppelin § Reunion tour reports (2008–2010)

I was just flattered beyond all belief to be in the same room with those guys. I mean, everything I ever learned about rock, I learned from Led Zeppelin. Just being near Jimmy Page was unbelievable.

—Myles Kennedy, on his experiences with Led Zeppelin.

Kennedy's name received a great amount of press coverage in late 2008 regarding a rumor that he was going to be joining Led Zeppelin. After Led Zeppelin's one-off reunion in 2007, guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones reportedly felt as if the band "still had something to offer." As reported by BBC News, Page and Jones were in the studio with Jason Bonham writing and recording new material that was reportedly going to be used for a new Led Zeppelin album. However, according to Bonham, singer Robert Plant was not involved in the recording sessions. As a result, Page, Jones, and Bonham were auditioning new singers to replace Plant on tour, and according to several sources, they had their eye on Myles Kennedy as their new singer. Plant responded to this by confirming that he would not be involved with the reunion and that if Page, Jones, and Bonham find another singer, the resulting band would not be Led Zeppelin. The rumors continued when it was reported that Page, Jones, and Bonham had attended an Alter Bridge concert.

However, Kennedy later denied that he would performing with or fronting a group with them, saying, "I am not singing in Led Zeppelin or any offshoot of Led Zeppelin, but I did have a great opportunity and it was something that I'm very grateful for. But Alter Bridge will go on, and that's that." He later confirmed, however, that he had actually written songs and rehearsed with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham. He also said that it was Bonham who "got the ball rolling" since the two had met on the set of the 2001 film Rock Star.

Solo career (2009–present)

In early 2009, Kennedy announced that he is working on a solo side project. He described the material as "dreamy" and "[not] aggressive," saving those songs for Alter Bridge. He also said, "It's more singer/songwriter based. I will say it's going to be interesting." He later posted on his Myspace page that he is working with some "great people" and that he has details coming at a future date. Slash announced via Facebook on February 1, 2010 that he would be appearing on Kennedy's solo record, and Kennedy confirmed this via Myspace. Kennedy had originally hoped that his album would be in early 2010, digitally first and then on CD, but he has since put its release on hold. However, he recently said that he wants to release it on December 12, 2012 as a joke, referencing the 2012 phenomenon.

Collaborations with Slash (2009–present)

Myles Kennedy is very well known for his recent collaborations with current Velvet Revolver and former Guns N' Roses lead guitarist Slash. When Slash said on Twitter that he was in the studio with Kennedy, it was reported that they would be working together on Slash's solo album, Slash. Slash wrote: "In the studio with Myles Kennedy, Steve Farrone^[sic] & Chris Chaney, fuckin' rocking." Slash later confirmed that Kennedy was chosen to sing the final song, "Starlight," on his album. According to MusicRadar, Slash was so impressed with Kennedy's performance on "Starlight" that he asked him to record another song, "Back from Cali," which was added to the album at the last minute. The album was released in April 2010. Recently announced was Slash's second solo album, which will again feature Myles Kennedy, this time as the sole vocalist.

On February 3, 2010, Slash announced that Kennedy was to be the lead vocalist for his band on tour. With Slash on the 2010 World Tour, Kennedy performs a number of songs found throughout Slash's catalog. Slash and Kennedy will be the supporting act for Ozzy Osbourne's tour in early 2011. A live album titled Live in Manchester was released on July 3, 2010.

Other work

Myles Kennedy is well known for his session work, having worked with several artists. In 2001, he appeared on the album Striped Suit: Lo-Fi by the jazz-rock band Mulligan, playing guitar solos on the songs "Faron" and "Make It Three." In that same year, he provided backing vocals to the song "Breakthrough" by Big Wreck from The Pleasure and the Greed. He also worked with the Spokane based nu-metal band Five Foot Thick on their 2003 album Blood Puddle, providing backing vocals to the song "Ducked Out," as well as "Nameless Faceless" by Fozzy from All That Remains in 2005. In 2008, he sang a duet with Sevendust lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon on Sevendust's song "Sorrow" from Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow. In 2009, he appeared on Slash's self-titled album, singing lead vocals on the songs "Back from Cali" and "Starlight." On Mark Tremonti's guitar instructional DVD, Kennedy made a guest appearance on Mark Tremonti's guitar instructional DVD The Sound & the Story, to which Kennedy provided an in-depth lesson on how to play his guitar solo on the Alter Bridge song "Blackbird." In addition, he has made live appearances with Sevendust and Gov't Mule.

He has also worked as a producer. In 1996, he produced an EP called Want by Push on Junior, and in 2003 had a role as an audio engineer for Mark Mallman's Live from First Avenue, Minneapolis.

Style and influences

Kennedy's earliest influence was Led Zeppelin. His favorite singers include Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Jeff Buckley, Robert Plant, Bon Scott, Chris Whitley, and k.d. lang. When asked to describe his vocal style, he said, "I wanted to fuse together my favorite elements of rock and soul singers into something I could call my own. The inflections of Stevie Wonder with the soaring qualities of someone like [Jeff] Buckley." He states that Jeff Buckley's "emotional intensity" was one of the most inspirational things for him when it came to singing. When asked what his number one secret was when it came to singing, he replied, "Dig deep into your soul and sing as if your life depends on it. Leave your mark. People react to emotion more than technique." He also said that while he did not at first consider himself a singer, he found it easier to sing himself. He is often praised for his vocal ability by many musicians including Slash, who has called him "fucking amazing." Many critics, including Eddie Trunk, have praised his ability to sing songs on tour with Slash that were originally sung by several different vocalists all with different vocal styles. He is a tenor and is often compared to Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell.

A former guitar instructor, Kennedy has had his guitar playing also praised. Alter Bridge lead guitarist Mark Tremonti has praised Kennedy's ability as a guitarist several times, calling him a "world class guitar player" and his style "pure class." Kennedy's early work with the Cosmic Dust Fusion Band and Citizen Swing featured a jazz-influenced rock flavor, combining several techniques used in jazz. In an article about Kennedy as a guitarist on Lemon Squeezings, writer Steve Sauer noted his dexterity and steady rhythm playing. Doug Clark, a writer for The Spokesman-Review and one of Kennedy's former guitar students, wrote that "his six-string skills are pyrotechnically brilliant." Kennedy notes that his job as a guitar player, especially recently with Alter Bridge, is to add texture and colors to the music. His guitar influences include Jimmy Page and John Sykes.

Kennedy is the primary lyricist of Alter Bridge and his previous band, The Mayfield Four. His lyrics, which are usually fairly straightforward stylistically, often touch on dark subjects such as death and addiction. On Alter Bridge's first two albums, the lyrics are about "hope and perseverance in the face of adversity." However, he has been known to write darker lyrics, as heard most notably on Alter Bridge's third album, AB III, which is a loose concept album based on his own personal struggles with faith and spirituality. Similarly, the lyrical themes of The Mayfield Four's second album, Second Skin, touch on struggling with love. Second Skin is also the only album to feature lyrics written by Kennedy that contain profanity.

Acting career

Kennedy is often recognized for his appearance in the 2001 film Rock Star starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. Before the release of The Mayfield Four's second album, Second Skin, in 2002, Kennedy said that he got a call from his manager telling him that they (the filmmakers) needed someone who could sing high and that his name was suggested. He passed the audition, and on the set of the film, he met Zakk Wylde and Jason Bonham. In the movie, paralleling a scene at the beginning of the movie, Kennedy's character (Mike, also known as "Thor") is noticed by Wahlberg's character, Chris "Izzy" Cole, the lead singer of Thor's favorite band, Steel Dragon. Izzy pulls Thor onstage and sings the rest of the song with him, eventually telling him to finish out the rest of the band's concert. The film was met with mostly mixed reviews, garnering a 52% "Rotten" score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Television appearances

In addition to his appearance on Rock Star, Kennedy appeared along with the rest of Alter Bridge in a short backstage segment on an August 29, 2005 episode of WWE Raw with WWE superstar Edge. With Slash, Kennedy appeared on an April 12, 2010 episode of Lopez Tonight, as well as a December 4, 2010 episode of That Metal Show on VH1 Classic.

Charity work

Kennedy has a charity foundation to aid musicians without insurance, for which folk rock singer Mason Jennings played a benefit show on January 17, 2009. Kennedy has also performed a couple of benefit concerts: one hosted by Paul Reed Smith and PRS Guitars to benefit cancer patients, and another to benefit abused children. The latter was called Bofest 2009 and was headlined by Kennedy on October 17, 2009.

Discography

Early career

Cosmic Dust Fusion Band

• Journey (1991)

Citizen Swing

• Cure Me with the Groove (1993)
• Deep Down (1995)

The Mayfield Four

• Thirty Two Point Five Hours (1996)
• Motion (1997)
• Fallout (1998)
• Second Skin (2001)

Alter Bridge

For a more comprehensive list, see Alter Bridge discography.

• One Day Remains (2004)
• Blackbird (2007)
• Live from Amsterdam (2009)
• AB III (2010)

Slash

• Live in Manchester (2010)

Other works

Year	Artist	Album	Track(s)	Position
1996	Push on Junior	Want	—	Producer
2001	Mulligan	Striped Suit: Lo-Fi	"Faron", "Make It Three"	Lead guitar
2001	Big Wreck	The Pleasure and the Greed	"Breakthrough"	Backing vocalist
2003	Five Foot Thick	Blood Puddle	"Ducked Out"	Backing vocalist
2003	Mark Mallman	Live from First Avenue, Minneapolis	—	Audio engineer
2004	Fozzy	All That Remains	"Nameless Faceless"	Vocalist
2008	Sevendust	Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow	"Sorrow"	Vocalist
2009	Slash	Slash	"Back from Cali", "Starlight"	Vocalist, songwriter
"—" denotes an album that did not feature Myles Kennedy performing.

Notes:

• Kennedy performs lead vocals and rhythm guitar on acoustic versions of "Back from Cali," "Fall to Pieces," and "Sweet Child o' Mine" and lead vocals on a live version of "Nightrain," all of which can be found as bonus tracks on the deluxe version of Slash.

Filmography

• Rock Star (2001)

External links

• Official Alter Bridge website
• Template:Myspace
• Myles Kennedy on Twitter
• Myles Kennedy on Facebook
• Myles Kennedy at IMDb