Howard Jones (American singer)

Howard Jones (born July 20, 1970) is an American metalcore vocalist best known as the former lead singer of Killswitch Engage and Blood Has Been Shed. He is the current vocalist of Light the Torch, formerly known as Devil You Know, and SION with YouTuber/guitarist Jared Dines.

Howard Jones
Jones in 2018
Jones in 2018
Background information
Born (1970-07-20) July 20, 1970[1]
OriginColumbus, Ohio, U.S.[2]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
Years active1996–present
Labels
Member of
Formerly of

Career

Jones started making music in the underground band Driven in 1996, releasing a single album. He later performed with Blood Has Been Shed from 1997 to 2004. In 2002, he joined Killswitch Engage as their new vocalist after Jesse Leach left the band. During his time with Killswitch Engage, they released two gold-certified albums, The End of Heartache and As Daylight Dies, as well as a second self-titled album. Jones left the band after nearly ten years in 2012, but remained a close friend. He would go on to collaborate with them again for the single "The Signal Fire" from their album Atonement. His later band Light the Torch would also tour with Killswitch Engage, and he would appear with the band onstage to perform the song, as well as other songs from his time with them, often as a duet alongside Leach.

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.

In March 2021, Jones joined with heavy metal YouTuber Jared Dines and producer Hiram Hernandez to release "The Blade" as part of a new project named Sion.[3]

Personal life

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.[4] In 2013, Jones stated that his diabetes put him in a coma for three days.[5]

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.[6] In 2018, he teamed up with his former band to raise awareness for mental health;[7] the resulting song "The Signal Fire" appears on the 2019 album Atonement.[8]

Jones used to be straight edge.[9] Today, he shares a passion for medical cannabis with friend and fellow Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach.[7]

Discography
Jones in 2005
Blood Has Been Shed
Killswitch Engage
Light the Torch (formerly Devil You Know)
SION
  • SION (November 26, 2021, Independent)[11]

Guest appearances

References
  1. "Free Birthday Database". birthdatabase.com.
  2. "Howard Jones - Metal Storm". metalstorm.net. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  3. Childers, Chad (March 11, 2021). "Sion, Featuring Howard Jones + Jared Dines, Release First Song". Loudwire. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  4. "Howard Jones Explains Killswitch Engage Departure". ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  5. "Howard Jones Discusses his health". metalhammer.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  6. "Ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Singer HOWARD JONES Discusses Near-Suicide Attempt, Battle With Depression, Anxiety". July 8, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  7. 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.
  8. "Watch JESSE LEACH And HOWARD JONES Face Off In KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's 'The Signal Fire' Video". Blabbermouth.net. August 20, 2019.
  9. 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).
  10. 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.
  11. "Self titled, by SION".
  12. "Hear Howard Jones Roar on Violent New Breed's High-Octane New Song "Bury Me"". Revolver. May 31, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  13. Childers, Chad (April 30, 2021). "Crobot Ride Sinister Groove With Howard Jones on 'Kiss It Goodbye'". Loudwire. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  14. "Hear Howard Jones Guest On New Eyes Set To Kill Track "Face The Rain"". ThePRP. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  15. "ONI Launch New Single "Aura" Featuring Howard Jones (Light The Torch) & Josh Gilbert (Spiritbox)". ThePRP. August 24, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
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