Kirk Windstein

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Kirk Windstein


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Background = solo_singer
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Born = Birth date and age|1965|4|14|mf=y
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Instrument = Vocals, guitar, bass
Genre = Doom metal, Sludge metal, hardcore punk
Occupation = Musician, Songwriter
Years_active = 1987–present
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Associated_acts = Down, Crowbar, Valume Nob, Kingdom of Sorrow
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Kirk Windstein (born April 14, 1965 in Middlesex, England)is an American sludge metal singer and guitarist for various bands such as Crowbar, Down, and Kingdom of Sorrow.

Kirk is the vocalist and guitarist 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 February 2005, with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, they formed Kingdom of Sorrow. Their debut album, including guest artists, was released on the 19 February 2008. He started off as a guitarist in 1987 for a Judas PriestIron Maiden cover band Victorian Blitz and then in 1988 moved to a hardcore punk band Shell Shock as a vocalist and guitarist.

Victorian Blitz

Kirk was in a Judas PriestIron Maiden cover band Victorian Blitz as their guiatrist in 1987. Not much is known of the band, except that their drummer was Sid Montz, with who Kirk would play again in Crowbar and Valume Nob, and Kevin Noonan, who would be Crowbar's guitarist from 1989 to 1993 and their founding member. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbXXfe_olCM&feature=user]

hell Shock

Having left Victorian Blitz, Kirk joined the premiere hardcore punkband Shell Shock at the time in New Orleans, as their guitarist and vocalist. With Kirk in the band they began to play more of a crossover thrash style rather than straight-forward hardcore punk, as it suited Kirks vocals better, and with Kirk in the band there were two guitarists instead of just one. When the band was recording a new album called "No Tomorrow", their guitarist Mike Hatch commited suicide. [http://paranoizenola.com/thewayitwas/shellshock-notomorrow.html] With Kevin Noonan replacing Hatch for the final Shell Shock show in 1988, the band carried on and turned into what now is Crowbar. [http://www.myspace.com/shellshocknola]

Crowbar

The band originates back to 1988, when Kirk Windstein joined the premiere hardcore punk band Shell Shock at the time in New Orleans. He met Jimmy Bower, who was their drummer, and both quickly became friends. The band collapsed, when Mike Hatch, their guitarist commited suicide in late 1988. The band, replacing Hatch with Kevin Noonan, carried on as Aftershock, where Windstein and Bower began to play low-tuned hardcore punk mixed with doom metal. Under that name they released a demo in mid-1989, and then renamed themselves into WREQIUEM, with Mike Savoie, their bassist leaving the band (He went on to direct music videos for Crowbar, Down, and Pantera), and Todd Strange joined them. Then in 1990 they renamed themselves to The Slugs, and having released the demo in mid-1990, the band collapsed. Kirk considered becoming the guitarist for Exhorder. But Kirk and Todd reformed the band, with Craig Nunenmacher as the drummer, and Kevin Noonan again on guitar. The band renamed themselves into Crowbar in mid-1991.

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. With Down having released their debut album in 1995, Crowbar bagan releasing albums almost every year. In 2001, Crowbar was on hiatus, as Kirk was busy with other bands, as it was uncommon to be a member of a few bands at the same time in the New Orleans underground scene. Having returned, Crowbar released their latest album, Lifesblood for the Downtrodden in 2005, and 2 years later they released a live DVD called "Live:With Full Force". Because 2009 will be the 20th anniversary for Crowbar, Windstein claims he's going to do a lot of touring and a new album.

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 "" 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. In 2007, Down released their latest album .

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 its 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

Music videos

* 1991 Crowbar - "Subversion"
* 1993 Crowbar - "All I Had (I Gave)"
* 1993 Crowbar - "Existence Is Punishment"
* 1994 Down - "Stone the Crow"
* 1995 Crowbar - "The Only Factor
* 1996 Crowbar - "Broken Glass"
* 1997 Crowbar - "Like Broken" (Full Length Home Video)
* 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)
* 2007 Down - "On March the Saints"
* 2008 Kingdom of Sorrow - "Lead into Demise"

Links & References

* [http://www.crowbarmusic.com Crowbar Official Webpage]
* [http://www.down-nola.com Down Official Webpage]
* [http://www.valumenob.com Valume Nob Official Webpage]
* [http://www.lambgoat.com/features/interviews/down.aspx Kirk Windstein interview (Nov. 2007)]