Sean Kelly (Canadian musician)

Sean Kelly
Genres	Hard rock, Pop music, Classical music, World music
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Electric guitar, Bass guitar, Classical guitar
Associated acts	Nelly Furtado, Helix, Crash Kelly

Sean Kelly is a Canadian musician, currently playing guitar in the band with Nelly Furtado. He founded the Toronto-based glam rock band Crash Kelly, and is the band's lead singer and guitarist.^[1][2] Kelly was a member of Canadian rock band Helix, playing bass guitar. He stayed with them for most of 2009 at which time joined Furtado's band on guitar.^[3] He is also guitarist for the Toronto rock group 69 Duster, which he co-founded with the ex-singer for Images in Vogue, Dale Martindale.^[4] He has done session guitar work for other bands as well, including Neil Leyton's 2003 album, Midnight Sun,^[5] and was a member of Jeff Pearce's band Rye.^[6] Kelly has also collaborated with Gilby Clarke, Rough Trade, Rudy Sarzo, Coney Hatch, and The Canadian Brass.^[7]

Career

Crash Kelly signed a multi-album deal with Liquor and Poker Music in 2004.^[2] They have toured internationally with Backyard Babies in the US and Quireboys in the UK.

The group name, Crash Kelly, is a reference to the nickname of an uncle,^[8] who acquired it as an AHL player hockey all over the northern states (including a long stint in Pennsylvania). “Crash” Kelly was known as a tough player, and an enforcer on the ice. The film Slap Shot was based loosely on the antics of this league. Sean's uncle's team the Johnstown Jets was said to have been an inspiration for some of the movie which was partly filmed on location in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Crash Kelly have opened for artists such as The Black Crowes^[9] and Alice Cooper,^[10] and have had their songs featured on Bam Margera's MTV program Unholy Union.^[11]

Sean Kelly, as one of the producers of Crash Kelly's album Penny Pills, was a finalist for Best Album at the 2004 Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards.^[12]

He has received formal training in classical guitar from Eli Kassner, and has worked as a music teacher in the Toronto Catholic District School Board and received his Bachelor of Education degree from Nipissing University.^[13] His influences include classic Kiss, Cheap Trick, and T.Rex.^[14] In addition to his musical career, Sean is a regular participant in the Blatt Comedy Troupe which tours locally around Toronto.

With Helix

In February 2009, Kelly joined London, Ontario based rock band Helix. Kelly joined as their new bass player, alongside original vocalist Brian Vollmer, and longtime guitarist Brent Doerner. Kelly co-wrote and co-produced the 2009 Helix album Vagabond Bones ^[15] He stayed with Helix until fall 2009 when he joined Nelly Furtado on guitar for his first show in Mexico City.^[3] The departure was amicable according to Vollmer: "I give Sean my blessings, no worries. As long as we continue to write together, I am happy."^[16] Since departing Helix, Kelly has co-produced and played on their 2010 release, Smash Hits...Unplugged!.^[17]

With Nelly Furtado

Sean Kelly's first show with Furtado in Mexico was attended by 165,000 fans. It was followed by an appearance on the The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in Los Angeles. Kelly then headed to Europe for a series of acoustic shows.^[18] He has continued to tour with Furtado through 2010.

Discography

Solo

• 2007: The #1 Classical Guitar Album (Universal Music Group)
• 2008: Christmas Guitar (Universal Music Group)

With Crash Kelly

• 2003: Penny Pills
• 2005: Electric Satisfaction
• 2008: One more heart attack

With Helix

• 2009: Vagabond Bones^[19]
• 2010: Smash Hits...Unplugged!

References

1. ^ CBC Radio 3 - New Music Canada - Artist - Crash Kelly
2. ^ ^{a b} no byline (Sept–Oct 2004). "Crash Kelly sign worldwide record deal", Canadian Musician, 26 (5): 18.
3. ^ ^{a b} HELIX Part Ways With SEAN KELLY
4. ^ CBC Radio 3 - New Music Canada - Artist - 69 Duster
5. ^ Matte, Andrew. "Revolver on target", Regina Leader-Post, 2005-02-05, p. A8.
6. ^ Bliss, Karen (May–June 2004). "Rye", Canadian Musician, 26 (3): 78.
7. ^ amptweaker - Sean Kelly - Guitarist with Nelly Furtado
8. ^ "Crash Kelly". Artist of the Day ([[Spin (magazine)|]]). 2006-08-07. http://www.spin.com/articles/crash-kelly. Retrieved 2008-10-18. 
9. ^ CRASH KELLY To Open For THE BLACK CROWES, THE HEADPINS
10. ^ CRASH KELLY To Open For ALICE COOPER This Fall
11. ^ CRASH KELLY Songs On Bam's Unholy Union
12. ^ St. Pierre, Denis. "Family dominates northern awards", Sudbury Star, 2004-09-20, p. A3.
13. ^ no byline (Jan–Feb 2004). "Artists speak: CM asked two musicians who are also educators to offer their imput on music education: Chuck Dailey, bassist for The Salads, and Sean Kelly, guitarist for Crash Kelly", Canadian Musician, 26 (1): 50.
14. ^ Pizzola, Thomas. "New on disc: Crash Kelly: Electric Satisfaction", The Hartford Courant, 2006-08-17, p. 6.
15. ^ Bravewords - Crash Kelly frontman on joining Helix
16. ^ RockMusicStar.com: Interview with Brian Vollmer 04/17/2010
17. ^ HELIX - More Smash Hits Unplugged Details Revealed
18. ^ CRASH KELLY Frontman Joins NELLY FURTADO
19. ^ HELIX - Tentative Title Of Reunion Album Revealed

External links

• Sean Kelly at Allmusic
• Crash Kelly at Allmusic
• Helix at Allmusic
• Nelly Furtado at Allmusic

Persondata
Name	Kelly, Sean
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death