Howard Jones (American musician)
Howard Jones (born July 20, 1970) is an American metalcore vocalist, best known as vocalist of the bands Killswitch Engage and Blood Has Been Shed, and as the current vocalist of Light the Torch, formerly known as Devil You Know.
Howard Jones | |
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Howard Jones live 2018 | |
Background information | |
Born | [1] | July 20, 1970
Origin | Columbus, Ohio[2] |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1997–present |
Labels | |
Associated acts |
Personal life
Howard Jones is an avid fisherman and owns property on the Red River of the North in Manitoba, Canada. He is a frequent guest on Jamey Jasta's podcast on the GaS Digital Network. Jones left Killswitch Engage in early 2012 to allow himself to manage his type 2 diabetes which was worsened by a hectic touring lifestyle.[3] In 2013, Jones stated that his diabetes put him in a coma for 3 days.[4]
In 2015, Jones revealed that he had struggled with anxiety and depression for a long time, which had been worsened by his rise to fame in Killswitch Engage. He revealed that he had come close to committing suicide in 2009, when he had aimed a .44 Magnum revolver at his head in his apartment in Connecticut, and that the police had intervened after being notified by a concerned neighbor.[5] In 2018, he teamed up with his former band to raise awareness for mental health;[6] the resulting song "The Signal Fire" appears on the 2019 album Atonement.[7]
Jones used to be straight edge.[8] Today, he shares a passion for medical cannabis with friend and fellow Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach.[6]
Career
Howard Jones started his career in music in Blood Has Been Shed from 1997 - 2004. In 2002, Jones joined Killswitch Engage as their new vocalist after Jesse Leach left the band. During his time with Killswitch Engage, they released two gold albums, The End of Heartache and As Daylight Dies.
Jones started a new band Devil You Know with guitarist Francesco Artusato (All Shall Perish) and drummer John Sankey (Devolved, Fear Factory and Divine Heresy). After Sankey's departure and his attempt to claim the copyright of the band's name, the rest of the band members started again with a fresh name, Light the Torch, with the addition of a new drummer.
Discography
- Blood Has Been Shed
- I Dwell on Thoughts of You (September 21, 1999, Ferret Records)
- Novella of Uriel (February 20, 2001, Ferret Records)
- Spirals (March 11, 2003, Ferret Records)
- Killswitch Engage
- The End of Heartache (May 11, 2004, Roadrunner Records)
- As Daylight Dies (November 21, 2006, Roadrunner Records)
- Killswitch Engage (June 30, 2009, Roadrunner Records)
- Light the Torch (formerly Devil You Know)
- The Beauty of Destruction (April 25, 2014, Nuclear Blast)[9]
- They Bleed Red (November 6, 2015, Nuclear Blast)
- Revival (March 30, 2018, Nuclear Blast)
Guest appearances
- Fragment – Answers ("Inertia") *First ever guest appearance
- 36 Crazyfists – Rest Inside the Flames ("Elysium")
- Demon Hunter – Summer of Darkness ("Our Faces Fall Apart")
- Eighteen Visions – Vanity ("One Hell of a Prize Fighter")
- Roadrunner United – All-Star Sessions ("The Dagger")
- Throwdown – Vendetta ("The World Behind")
- Ill Bill – The Hour of Reprisal ("Babylon")
- Every Time I Die – Last Night in Town ("Punch-Drunk Punk Rock Romance")
- Believer – Gabriel ("The Brave")
- Asking Alexandria – From Death to Destiny ("Until the End") *First guest appearance since leaving Killswitch Engage.
- Within Temptation – Hydra ("Dangerous")
- Jasta - The Lost Chapters ("Chasing Demons") Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta To Release New Jasta Set "The Lost Chapters"
- Violent New Breed - “Bury Me”[10]
- Killswitch Engage - Atonement ("The Signal Fire")
- Jasta - “The Lost Chapters Volume 2” (Heaven Gets What It Wants)
References
- "Free Birthday Database". www.birthdatabase.com.
- "Howard Jones - Metal Storm". www.metalstorm.net. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
- "Howard Jones Explains Killswitch Engage Departure". ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
- "Howard Jones Discusses his health". metalhammer.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- "Ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Singer HOWARD JONES Discusses Near-Suicide Attempt, Battle With Depression, Anxiety". July 8, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
- Nad Jankovic (April 18, 2018). "Killswitch Engage and Howard Jones team up for mental health". Archived from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
- "Watch JESSE LEACH And HOWARD JONES Face Off In KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's 'The Signal Fire' Video". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. August 20, 2019.
- Dario (September 22, 2006). "Interview mit Killswitch Engage". www.allschools.de (in German). Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
[...] Howard ist in vielen belangen ein eher gelassener Typ, der seine Meinung nicht unbedingt jedem aufbindet, dass wird auch sehr deutlich wenn man auf das Thema Straight Edge zu sprechen kommt: Ich denke, dass es für mich das Richtige ist, wenn es für jemanden anders aussieht, dann ist das in Ordnung. [...] (Howard is in many respects a rather serene guy who does not necessarily tie his opinion to anyone, that is also very clear when the topic of straight edge comes: I think it's the right thing for me, if it looks different for someone, it's all right).
- Robert Pasbani (February 14, 2014). "DEVIL YOU KNOW Announce New Album The Beauty of Destruction, Reveal Album Art & Release Date". metalinjection.net. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- "Hear Howard Jones Roar on Violent New Breed's High-Octane New Song "Bury Me"". Revolver. May 31, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.