Kent James

Kent James
Kent James on stage in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Kent Bradley James
Also known as	Nick Name
Born	April 30, 1964 (1964-04-30) (age 47) Ogden, Utah, U.S.
Origin	Logan, Utah, U.S.
Genres	Alternative, Hard Rock, Indie Rock, Metal, Punk, Queercore
Occupations	Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Actor, Activist
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar
Associated acts	Nick Name & The Normals

Kent Bradley James (born April 30, 1964 in Ogden, Utah) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and activist. He is also known as Nick Name.

Early life

Raised in Logan, Utah, James grew up performing for audiences throughout the state. He attended Utah State University on a music scholarship.

1990s

In the 90's, James performed his original song "Out of Control" on the popular TV show Star Search and won the first round of competition. He acted in the TV series Emmanuelle in Space, Erotic Confessions, and Women: Stories of Passion. He also acted in the music video "Silent Scream" by Richard Marx and directed by Kiefer Sutherland.

2000-2005: Nick Name

In 2000, James began performing as his gay punk rock alter ego "Nick Name". In 2001, Name performed his original songs "Head Rush" and "I Fucked Your Boyfriend"^[1] on the "Tolerance" episode of MTV's Flipped.^[2]

In 2002, Name toured the U.S. West Coast. He was featured in an interview in Unzipped Magazine. In 2003, Portland's Willamette Week proclaimed "If Kurt Cobain had stayed around long enough to come out of the closet, he would have sounded just like Nick Name".^[3] Name was featured in an article in Australia's Blue Magazine, in an interview in New York City's Next Magazine, and in a cover story in London's QX Magazine. Name released a cover version of "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John. He performed at the Sunset Junction Street Fair.

In 2004, a documentary film titled Nick Name and The Normals^[4] premiered in London, England.^[5] The film also screened in New York City, Portugal, Brazil, Spain, Dallas, and Providence, Rhode Island. Name made a cameo appearance in the movie Hellbent in which he performed his original songs "Porno Di Giorno" and "Who's Your Daddy?". He was featured in an article in Mandate Magazine. In 2005, Blue Boys, the 10th anniversary issue of Australia's Blue Magazine, proclaimed Nick Name to be one of the "10 Hottest Men" in Blue. Name's final performance was on QTN's On Q Live.^[6]

2006-2010

In 2006, James was featured in an interview in Germany's Gab Magazine. In 2007, a "best of" album titled Decade of Dirt (1997-2007) was released.^[7] Decade of Dirt is the top-selling album in the Queercore genre.^[8] In 2008, James performed at The San Francisco Pride Festival where he shared the stage with Lady Gaga.^[9] He was featured in an interview in Australia's DNA Magazine.^[10] In 2009, James was featured in the French magazine Têtu^[11] and was interviewed for Brazil's O Caralho do Rock.^[12] In 2010, James performed at the Folsom Street Fair.^[13]

Recent activity

In 2011, James was featured in an article in BARtab Magazine,^[14] was a guest host for 2 weeks on KOFY-TV, and was interviewed on 10 Percent on the Comcast Hometown Network.^[15]

Discography

Albums and EPs

• 1997: Paperback Romeo
• 1999: Guilty Pleasures
• 2001: Nick Name
• 2002: Nick Name: POW!
• 2010: Heavy Liquid

Compilations

• "Baby, Let's Play Catch" and "Mangy Little Star" (recorded with Flappy Curtain on Flappy Curtain: Greatest Hit) (1999)
• "I Fucked Your Boyfriend" on The Freak Show: Year One (2001)
• Nick Name and The Normals (Nick Name & Nick Name: POW! re-mastered and combined) (2003)
• "Physical" on Import Sound + Vision, Promo Only: Alternative Club, and Screenplay VJ Pro-Series (2003 & 2004)
• "Porno Di Giorno" and "Who's Your Daddy?" on the Hellbent movie soundtrack (2004)
• Decade of Dirt (1997-2007) (2007)

References

1. ^ Listen Up Punk! Is This the New Gay Anthem?, CarnalNation.com, http://sf.carnalnation.com/content/12677/4/listen-punk-it-new-gay-anthem, retrieved 2009-07-19 
2. ^ MTV's Flipped, mtv.com, http://www.mtv.com/onair/flipped/index2.jhtml, retrieved 2010-08-19 
3. ^ "Heavy-Metal Homos", Willamette Week, http://www.wweek.com/editorial/2923/3810/, retrieved 2003-04-09 .
4. ^ Angry Young Queer, CinemaQueer.com, http://www.cinemaqueer.com/review%20pages%202/nickname.html, retrieved 2008-07-01 
5. ^ Nick Name and The Normals, imdb.com, http://imdb.com/title/tt0401684/releaseinfo, retrieved 2007-10-16 .
6. ^ Homo Punk Rocker Nick Name Re-Surfaces, LavenderLounge.com, http://www.lavenderlounge.com/blog/2007/02/homo_punk_rocker_nick_name_res.html, retrieved 2007-02-02 
7. ^ "Kent's State", Bay Area Reporter, http://www.ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=music&article=284, retrieved 2007-02-01 .
8. ^ Top-Selling album, CDbaby.com, http://cdbaby.com/top/677, retrieved 2009-06-19 
9. ^ Main Stage Performer, SFpride.org, http://www.sfpride.org/celeb/performers/kentjames.html, retrieved 2008-07-01 
10. ^ "Punk'd", DNA Magazine, http://www.dnamagazine.com.au/default.asp?section_id=369, retrieved 2008-12-31 .
11. ^ ""I Fucked Your Boyfriend", un hymne gay et punk!", Têtu, http://www.tetu.com/actualites/culture/i-fucked-your-boyfriend-un-hymne-gay-et-punk-15104, retrieved 2009-07-19 .
12. ^ Kent James a.k.a. Nick Name, cdorock.blogspot.com, http://cdorock.blogspot.com/2009/07/kent-james-aka-nick-name.html, retrieved 2009-10-02 
13. ^ Folsom Street Fair, FolsomStreetFair.org, http://www.folsomstreetfair.org/entertainment/actinfo.php?timeslot=3663, retrieved 2010-08-16 
14. ^ Kent James fronts local rock band, bartabsf.com, http://www.bartabsf.com/2010/12/music-heavy-liquid/, retrieved 2011-01-01 
15. ^ David Perry interviews Kent James, youtube.com, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5ESOSyTnJ8, retrieved 2011-05-03 

External links

• Kent James at Facebook
• Kent James at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	James, Kent
Alternative names	James, Kent Bradley
Short description	Singer-songwriter, Musician
Date of birth	April 30, 1964
Place of birth	Ogden, Utah, United States
Date of death
Place of death