James Kennedy (musician)
James Kennedy | |
|---|---|
Progressive Rock | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Konic Records |
| Website | jameskennedystuff |
James Kennedy (born 15 March 1980) is a Welsh rock solo artist, author and podcaster.[1] He was formerly the singer & guitarist in the Alternative Rock band Kyshera[2] until they disbanded in 2018[3] and now fronts the band James Kennedy & The Underdogs.[4] Kennedy has released eight albums since 2010, including three with Kyshera and five solo releases[5] with his latest being 'Make Anger Great Again', released in 2020 by Konic Records.[6] Also in 2020, Kennedy's autobiography 'Noise Damage' was published by Eye Lightning Books[7] which peaked at Number One on Amazon.[8]
In 2022, Kennedy began hosting The James Kennedy Podcast, a weekly podcast where he interviews musicians, activists, politicians and authors. among others.
At the age of ten, Kennedy was diagnosed with advanced bilateral cholesteatoma, a destructive expanding growth in both of his middle ears which required 3 major ear operations. As a result of the surgery, Kennedy lost 40% of his hearing in both ears and developed constant white noise Tinnitus in his left ear.[10] Kennedy was included in a poll of the Top 50 Sexiest Men in Wales along with Tom Ellis, Kelly Jones and Jamie Roberts.[11] In 2013 he won a court case against the record label 'Rising Records' over the release of the Kyshera album 'Made in China'.[12] He frequently receives online trolling from people mistaking him for James Kennedy from the US reality show Vanderpump Rules.[13] He was one of several artists who gave evidence at a 2022 hearing at the House of Lords about the difficulties for UK artists to tour in Europe post-Brexit.[14] and in November 2022, he alleges that he was physically assaulted by three plain-clothed police officers whilst sitting in his car, resulting in an ongoing investigation which the South Wales Police have said they are taking "extremely seriously".[15]
Discography
- With Kyshera
- Paradigm (2010)
- Made in China (2012)
- Circle (2015)
- As James Kennedy
- 9.i.P (2012)
- The National Health Service (2013)
- Cover Songs Vol 1 (2016)
- Home (2017)
- Make Anger Great Again (2020)
- Make Acoustic Great Again EP (2023)
Bibliography
- Noise Damage : My Life as a Rock'n'Roll Underdog (2020)
References
- ^ Trendell, Andrew (September 23, 2022). "Brexit: UK government warned musicians and crew "could find themselves unemployed en masse"". NME.
- ^ Team, Flavourmag (June 22, 2010). "Kyshera – Paradigm review".
- ^ Roberts, Samuel (February 5, 2021). "James Kennedy on his love/hate relationship with life as an unsigned musician".
- ^ "Touring and loneliness: Musicians discuss the impacts of a life on the road". www.prsformusic.com.
- ^ "Konic Records". Discogs.
- ^ "James Kennedy / 'Make Anger Great Again' is pretty relevant for right now | MetalTalk". September 23, 2020.
- ^ "Noise Damage by James Kennedy | Eye Books". www.eye-books.com.
- ^ "JAMES KENNEDY's "Noise Damage: My Life As A Rock 'N' Roll Underdog" Book Now Available In North America". bravewords.com.
- ^ "#1 - James Kennedy by The James Kennedy Podcast". Anchor.
- ^ "It's totally not cool - Plugem". plugem.co.uk.
- ^ "Wales' sexiest men". Western Mail. 4 December 2010.
- ^ "The Unbelievable Story Of Threatin: Heavy Metal's Fyre Festival Moment". Kerrang!. 29 October 2019.
- ^ "UK Singer James Kennedy Hilariously Begs 'Vanderpump Rules' Fans to Realize He's Not DJ James Kennedy, Doesn't Want His 'Hate Mail'". US Weekly. 12 December 2018.
- ^ "Brexit: UK government warned musicians and crew "could find themselves unemployed en masse"". NME. 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Singer claims police got into his car in Cardiff and punched him". Wales Online. December 2022.