Billy Howerdel

Last updated

Billy Howerdel
20180602 Nurnberg Rock im Park A Perfect Circle 0239.jpg
Howerdel in 2018
Background information
Birth nameWilliam L. Howerdel [1]
Born (1970-05-18) May 18, 1970 (age 54)
Origin New Jersey, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • vocals
  • keyboards
Years active1988–present
Member of A Perfect Circle
Website billyhowerdel.com

William L. Howerdel (born May 18, 1970) is an American musician, best known as a founding member, guitarist, backing vocalist, songwriter, and producer for the band A Perfect Circle, as well as for his former solo project, Ashes Divide. Howerdel has recorded six studio albums across his career: four with A Perfect Circle, one under the moniker Ashes Divide, and one under his own name.

Contents

Early life

Howerdel was born in New Jersey. He attended high school at West Milford High School, [2] [3] where he played sports, took an interest in a television production class, and was active in an extracurricular audio program.[ citation needed ] This program gave him the foundation for his post-high school audio-technical pursuits and eventually led to his high-profile guitar technician positions.[ citation needed ] Stephen Porcello, the high school teacher who was the adviser for this program, took Howerdel to New York City and helped him select his first electric guitar.[ citation needed ]

Howerdel spent several years sound engineering for New Jersey artists and further worked as a guitar technician for numerous others, which, before forming A Perfect Circle, included Faith No More, Fishbone, David Bowie, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Guns N' Roses, and Tool.

Recording career

Early work and A Perfect Circle

Howerdel functioned as a guitar technician for Tool during the tour and recording of Ænima , working with Maynard James Keenan, whom he met in 1992. During this time, Howerdel played Keenan some of his songs, and Keenan offered to sing if Howerdel ever decided to form a band. [4] Despite originally considering a female vocalist, Howerdel would eventually accept Keenan's offer. [5] In 1999, Howerdel founded A Perfect Circle and invited Keenan to join. The project was a success. Their debut album, Mer de Noms , released in May 2000, went platinum in the US, selling over one million copies by the end of the year. [6] However, complications arose: Keenan could not commit all of his time to the band, still fronting Tool, and over time, he began to be more and more involved in the creative process of the music, leading to disagreements on the musical direction for the second A Perfect Circle album, Thirteenth Step . The record, released in September 2003, was still a success, going platinum as well, though the two decided to take a break from the band, so that Keenan could return to Tool, and Howerdel could pursue solo work. [6]

Ashes Divide: 2003–2021

Ashes Divide
Billy Howerdel.jpg
Howerdel performing as Ashes Divide in 2008
Background information
OriginUnited States
Genres Alternative rock, hard rock, progressive rock
Years active2005–2021
Labels Island
Past membersBilly Howerdel
Website ashesdivide.com

Howerdel first began working on solo material during the writing sessions for Thirteenth Step, in 2003. [7] Rough versions of three or four songs were written during that era, including the track "Stripped Away", which was even played at soundchecks at A Perfect Circle (APC) concerts while supporting the album. [8] Additionally, the APC demo "Army" was eventually reworked into Howerdel's own "The Stone". [8] Shortly after Thirteenth Step, APC decided to quickly throw together a collection of anti-war cover songs just prior to the 2004 United States presidential election, entitled Emotive . [9] Keenan pushed Howerdel to sing lead vocals on a few of the songs, to "get people used to [his] voice", and to help Howerdel transition to the role of primary singer in his solo work. [10] Once Emotive was completed, APC went on hiatus, while Howerdel continued to write new material. [9]

Keep Telling Myself It's Alright

As he put together more songs, Howerdel named his project Ashes Divide (stylised as ASHES dIVIDE) and began recording an album. [9] He handled nearly all instruments in the studio, except drums, for which he recruited then-A Perfect Circle bandmate Josh Freese as a session musician. The project's first single, "The Stone", made its radio premiere on January 22, 2008, [11] and the full album, titled Keep Telling Myself It's Alright , followed on April 8. [12] [13] The record features a guest cello performance on the track "Sword" by Devo Keenan, Maynard's son. [14] In addition to Freese and Keenan, the record also includes contributions from drummer Dean Sainz, Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano, Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba, and former APC bassist Paz Lenchantin.

Howerdel formed a band to promote the record, touring throughout 2008. [15] The lineup consisted of Jeff Friedl on drums, Matt McJunkins on bass, Jonathan Radtke on lead guitar, and Adam Monroe on keys. [16] [17]

The album debuted at number 36 in the U.S., selling 15,800 copies in its first week. [18] As of August 2010, Keep Telling Myself It's Alright had sold 61,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. [19]

Further activity and decline

Ashes Divide toured extensively in 2008 but pulled out of an opening slot for Puddle of Mudd at the end of the year, for undisclosed reasons, and fell out of the public eye. [20] Toward the end of 2008, Maynard James Keenan announced that he and Howerdel were working on music for APC, and rumors arose that Ashes Divide was splitting up. [21] [22]

In late summer of 2009, Twitter posts and Myspace blogs indicated that the band was still active, [23] and the group subsequently played a few live shows. Notably, they debuted a new song that Howerdel originally called "Untitled" but which has since been dubbed "Trafficking" by fans who attended Ashes Divide shows in late 2009 and early 2010. [24] [25] In April 2011, Howerdel mentioned that Ashes Divide would have released music in late 2010, had APC not reconvened for touring. [9]

In December 2012, Howerdel updated the status of the project's second album, stating, "right now, I'm focusing most of my energy on a new Ashes Divide record, which is under way with 11 songs. Still working on finishing vocals and writing lyrics, and hopefully [will] get that thing mixed in January or February." [26] Progress on the album was delayed, however, when Howerdel decided to redesignate a number of songs to APC instead. [27]

The band played their first live show in three years on May 8, 2013, at the Satellite in Los Angeles, for Pathology Brand's "Wednesday Society" fundraising event. [28] In April 2017, Howerdel commented that he still continued to work on new material, but that the sound had deviated so far from the project's first record, that he was contemplating whether or not he'd release it under the Ashes Divide name." [29] In April 2018, he reiterated his plans to release a second album, but that some songs he had been working on ended up on the fourth APC album, Eat the Elephant , instead, including "So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish". [30]

Revolver listed new Ashes Divide material as one of their most anticipated albums of 2020, despite it not having an official release date, [31] and then again in 2021. [32]

What Normal Was: 2022

In early 2022, Howerdel announced the name of his second studio album, What Normal Was , to be released on June 10, 2022, under his own name rather than the Ashes Divide moniker. [33] [34] Former A Perfect Circle contributors Danny Lohner and Josh Freese, in addition to current bassist Matt McJunkins, played on the album. Lohner and Freese would go on to play live dates in support of the album with Howerdel. [35]

Other projects

Howerdel has occasionally played live with the band Abandoned Pools.[ citation needed ] In 2005, he wrote and recorded music for the video game Jak X: Combat Racing , [36] [37] which also features remixes of Howerdel's songs by Danny Lohner and Dean Menta, as well as including contributions from Josh Freese, Troy Van Leeuwen, Atom Willard, Joey Castillo, ex-A Perfect Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin, and Wes Borland.[ citation needed ] Howerdel also worked on the Guns N' Roses album Chinese Democracy , specifically the song "There Was a Time".[ citation needed ]

Personal life

In a 2008 interview, Howerdel said he did not take drugs, drank only occasionally, and practiced Transcendental Meditation. [38]

Discography

with A Perfect Circle

as Ashes Divide

Albums

Singles

YearTitle US
Main.
[39] 		US
Mod.
[39] 		Album
2008"The Stone"710Keep Telling Myself It's Alright
"The Prey"——
"Enemies"——
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

as Billy Howerdel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Perfect Circle</span> American rock supergroup

A Perfect Circle is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. A Perfect Circle released three of their four studio albums in the early 2000s: their debut Mer de Noms in 2000, a follow-up, Thirteenth Step in 2003; and an album of radically re-worked cover songs, Emotive, in 2004. Shortly after Emotive's release, the band went on hiatus; Keenan returned to Tool and started up solo work under the band name Puscifer, while Howerdel released a solo album, Keep Telling Myself It's Alright, under the moniker Ashes Divide. Band activity was sporadic in the following years; the band reformed in 2010, and played live shows on and off between 2010 and 2013, but fell into inactivity after the release of their greatest hits album, Three Sixty, and a live album box set, A Perfect Circle Live: Featuring Stone and Echo in late 2013. The band reformed in 2017 to record a fourth album, Eat the Elephant, which was released in 2018. After spending the rest of the year touring in support of the album, the band fell into inactivity until 2024 for a brief tour and one-off song "Kindred".

<i>Thirteenth Step</i> 2003 studio album by A Perfect Circle

Thirteenth Step is the second studio album by American rock band A Perfect Circle, released on September 16, 2003. The album sold well, charting at the number 2 position on the Billboard 200 in its premiere week, selling over 231,000 copies and staying on the charts for 78 weeks. The album went on to be certified as gold on November 4, 2003, and as platinum on March 24, 2006, by the RIAA. Three singles were released from the album, "Weak and Powerless", which topped both the Mainstream Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks, followed by "The Outsider" and "Blue", which also charted on the respective charts.

<i>Emotive</i> (album) 2004 studio album by A Perfect Circle

Emotive is the third studio album by American rock band A Perfect Circle. The album is primarily a collection of anti-war cover songs. It was released on November 2, 2004, via Virgin Records to coincide with the US presidential election. Two singles were released in support of the album; a cover of John Lennon's "Imagine", and "Passive", a previously unreleased song originating from the defunct Tapeworm project. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, though the band would not tour in support of the album, later entering a hiatus. It would be the band's last studio release until 2018's Eat the Elephant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paz Lenchantin</span> Argentine-American musician (born 1973)

Paz Lenchantin is an Argentine-American musician. She is best known as the former bass guitarist and backing vocalist of the alternative rock band Pixies. Lenchantin joined the band in 2014, following the departure of founding member Kim Deal, and recorded three studio albums before leaving in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tapeworm (band)</span> Nine Inch Nails-associated side project

Tapeworm was an American side project of Nine Inch Nails which existed in various forms from 1995 to roughly 2004. Tapeworm never released any recordings, but was frequently referenced in interviews. The band started as a side-project between Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and live-band members Danny Lohner and Charlie Clouser. Through the years the group expanded and evolved numerous times to include artists such as Maynard James Keenan, Atticus Ross, and Alan Moulder, effectively turning the project into a supergroup. After many years of rumors and expected release dates, Reznor announced the end of the project in 2004.

Daniel Patrick Lohner, frequently known as Renholdër, is an American musician and record producer best known for his work with Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle. In 2020, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Nine Inch Nails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3 Libras</span> 2001 single by A Perfect Circle

"3 Libras" is a song by alternative rock band A Perfect Circle. The song was the second single from their debut album Mer de Noms. The song was well received both critically and commercially, with it peaking at number 12 on both the US Billboard Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts in 2000.

<i>Keep Telling Myself Its Alright</i> 2008 studio album by Ashes Divide

Keep Telling Myself It's Alright is the debut studio album by American rock band Ashes Divide, the solo-project by A Perfect Circle guitarist Billy Howerdel. While efforts towards a Howerdel solo album were started even back in his time in A Perfect Circle during touring in support of their 2003 album Thirteenth Step, commitments to A Perfect Circle and other projects, along with some difficult recording sessions, pushed the album's US release out to April 8, 2008. It was released in Australia on April 19. Its first single, "The Stone", entered radio circulation in January of that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">By and Down</span> 2013 single by A Perfect Circle

"By and Down" is a single by alternative rock band A Perfect Circle in 2013. The track represented the first studio material from the band in almost a decade's time. The studio version appears on the band's greatest hits album, Three Sixty, while a live version appears on their live box-set A Perfect Circle Live: Featuring Stone and Echo, both released in 2013. The song peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. An alternate version of the song, titled "By and Down the River", was later released on the band's fourth studio album, Eat the Elephant.

<i>A Perfect Circle Live: Featuring Stone and Echo</i> 2013 box set by A Perfect Circle

A Perfect Circle Live: Featuring Stone and Echo is a live box set by American rock supergroup, A Perfect Circle. It was released via the band's own label, A Perfect Circle Entertainment, on November 26, 2013, a week after the release of the band's greatest hits album, Three Sixty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt McJunkins</span> American musician (born 1983)

Matt McJunkins is an American musician and photographer best known for touring and recording with the American rock band A Perfect Circle. He is a former touring bassist for Eagles of Death Metal. He is one of the founding members of The Beta Machine, a rock band formed with Jeff Friedl. McJunkins has also worked with Thirty Seconds to Mars, Ashes Divide, Puscifer, Poppy and Socadia.

"Blue" is a song by American rock band A Perfect Circle. It was the third single from the band's second studio album, Thirteenth Step, behind the releases of the singles "Weak and Powerless" and "The Outsider". While not as successful as the prior two singles, which crossed over into the Billboard Hot 100 charts and hit the top 5 of the Mainstream Rock charts, the song was still a moderate success, peaking at number 19 on the latter chart. A remix version, "Blue ", was created by guitarist James Iha and released on the band's compilation album Amotion as well, and also received radio airplay.

<i>Eat the Elephant</i> 2018 studio album by A Perfect Circle

Eat the Elephant is the fourth studio album by American rock band A Perfect Circle. It is their first album release in fourteen years since 2004's Emotive. While early work on new material traces back to as early as 2008, years of slow progress would ensue due to conflict between the band's chief music writers, frontman Maynard James Keenan and guitarist Billy Howerdel, largely stemming from their commitments to other projects and inability to come to an agreement on the direction to take the band. Renewed focus, alongside assistance from music producer Dave Sardy, helped propel the band into much more productive sessions across 2017, with the album being completed in early 2018. Thematically, the album covers a variety of Keenan's views on modern societal, religious, and political issues, focusing on his perceived lack of accountability in humanity. Musically, the album was viewed as an extension and maturation of their rock sound, adding more piano and electronic elements into songs for a more mellow sound than prior albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Doomed</span> 2017 single by A Perfect Circle

"The Doomed" is a song by American rock band A Perfect Circle. The song was first released as a single on October 16, 2017. It is the band's first single since 2013's "By and Down" for their greatest hits album Three Sixty, and was the lead single for their fourth studio album, Eat the Elephant. It peaked at number 16 on the Billboard US Mainstream Rock Songs chart in November 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (A Perfect Circle song)</span> Single by A Perfect Circle

"So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish" is a song by American rock band A Perfect Circle. It was released on April 15, 2018, as their fourth single off their album Eat the Elephant. The song's title is taken from the Douglas Adams book So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish, the fourth book in his The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, which in turn comes from a quote from the first book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

<i>Mer de Noms</i> 2000 studio album by A Perfect Circle

Mer de Noms is the debut studio album by American rock band A Perfect Circle. The album was released on May 23, 2000, and entered the Billboard 200 at No. 4, making it the highest ever Billboard 200 debut for a rock band's first album. It sold over 188,000 copies in the first week, and was certified platinum by the RIAA later that same year. Three singles were released in promotion of the album, "Judith", "3 Libras", and "The Hollow", all of which hit the top 20 of both the Billboard US Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts.

"Poison Flowers" is a song by American rock musician Billy Howerdel. It is the debut single from his solo album What Normal Was. The song is the first new solo music from Howerdel's since Keep Telling Myself Its Alright, released under the moniker Ashes Divide, in 2008.

<i>What Normal Was</i> 2022 studio album by Billy Howerdel

What Normal Was is a solo studio album by Billy Howerdel, guitarist of A Perfect Circle. The album is his first to be directly released under his own name, and his second solo album overall, after releasing his prior album, Keep Telling Myself It's Alright (2008), under the pseudonym Ashes Divide 14 years prior.

"Kindred" is a song by American rock band A Perfect Circle. The song was the band's first new release of music in six years, following the release of Eat the Elephant (2018).

References

  1. ↑ "A Stranger". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Happy Birthday to West Milford's Billy Howerdel". dailyvoice.com. May 18, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ Makin, Robert. "Album Reviews", Courier-News , June 1, 2000. Accessed October 25, 2015. "Keenan formed the band with West Milford-raised guitarist Billy Howerdel, who performed on 'Aenima.'"
  4. ↑ Summers, Jodi (2004). Making and Marketing Music. Allworth Communications, Inc. p. 16. ISBN   1-58115-387-2.
  5. ↑ "ASHES dIVIDE official website @ IslandRecords.com – Home". Island Records. Archived from the original on July 3, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  6. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  7. ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (March 26, 2004). "A Perfect Circle Prepare for Hibernation – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Billy Howerdel of Ashes Divide (Part 2) @ Antiquiet". Antiquiet.com. March 15, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "An Interview with Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle – April 14th, 2011". Lithium Magazine. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Ashes Divide/A Perfect Circle – Billy Howerdel (2008)". The Culture Shock. May 9, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Afternoon Fix: Celebrity Birthdays, the 'First Sunday' Movie Minute, the latest news, and more". MTV News . January 9, 2008. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Ashes Divide". billboard.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  13. ↑ "A Perfect Circle's Billy Howerdel Goes Solo as Ashes Divide". Chartattack. January 3, 2008. Archived from the original on January 12, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ↑ "A Perfect Circle Guitarist Eager to Launch New Project". Blabbermouth.net. January 9, 2008. Archived from the original on February 11, 2008. Retrieved January 25, 2008.
  15. ↑ "ASHES dIVIDE official website @ IslandRecords.com – Tour". IslandRecords.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Billy Howerdel discusses new band lineup". Thegauntlet.com. March 20, 2008. Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
  17. ↑ "ASHES dIVIDE Video Interviews". IGN. 28 January 2008. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2008.
  18. ↑ "Simon Cowell-Mentored Leona Lewis Tops Billboard Chart With Spirit". MTV News. April 16, 2008. Archived from the original on April 23, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
  19. ↑ "Week Ending Aug. 8, 2008: Taylor Swift Returns – Chart Watch". Archived from the original on October 24, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Ashes Divide Split? - Blabbermouth.net". Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  21. ↑ "aSHES dIVIDE Break Up?". SMNnews.com. November 21, 2008. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Blabbermouth.Net - New Music from A Perfect Circle on the Way?". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  23. ↑ ""Judith" on Guitar Hero 5 van ASHES dIVIDE op Myspace". Blogs.myspace.com. September 5, 2009. Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  24. ↑ Patrick Doyle (June 10, 2010). "Tool Weigh Unleashing New Tracks on Summer Tour | Music News". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 26, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  25. ↑ "A Perfect Circle (@aperfectcircle) op Twitter". Twitter.com. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  26. ↑ A PERFECT CIRCLE Guitarist 'Would Love to' Release New Studio Album. Blabbermouth.Net (December 28, 2012). Retrieved on August 25, 2013.
  27. ↑ "You are being redirected". Alternativenation.net. Archived from the original on November 21, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Ashes Divide - Facebook". Facebook . Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  29. ↑ "A Perfect Circle's Billy Howerdel talks Maynard, living in the moment and raw art – Las Vegas Weekly". Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  30. ↑ "A Perfect Circle: "Ich bin Maynards Dienstleister" – laut.de – Interview". Laut.de. April 13, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  31. ↑ "45 Most Anticipated Albums of 2020". January 2019.
  32. ↑ "55 Most Anticipated Albums of 2021". January 2021.
  33. ↑ "Billy Howerdel announces debut solo album, What Normal Was". April 27, 2022.
  34. ↑ "A Perfect Circle's Billy Howerdel Announces Debut Solo Album, What Normal Was". Blabbermouth.net. April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  35. ↑ "A Perfect Circle's Billy Howerdel Announces Solo Album & Solo Show". Metal Injection. February 17, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Billy Howerdel Q&A". JAKX Racing.
  37. ↑ "Guitar Interactive Magazine".
  38. ↑ "Howerdel Exposes Ashes Divide". UltimateGuitar.com. June 5, 2008. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014. I recently got turned onto this Transcendental Meditation and I would say that it is more along the lines of what I do.
  39. 1 2 "Billboard Music Charts". Billboard charts . Retrieved March 27, 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.