Jared James Nichols

Last updated
Jared James Nichols
ImaniGivertz JJNStudio-65.jpg
Background information
Born (1989-03-14) March 14, 1989 (age 35)
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Genres
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active2013–present
Labels Listenable Records
  • Black Hill Records
Website jaredjamesnichols.com

Jared James Nichols (born March 14, 1989) is an American blues-rock guitarist and singer from East Troy, Wisconsin, [1] [2] best known for his high-energy "pick-less" electric guitar playing technique. He is rarely seen playing without his signature single-pickup Epiphone Les Paul [3] [4] Custom P90 nick-named Old Glory [5] or his vintage original 1953 Gibson Les Paul nick-named Ole Red. He fronts a power trio under his name, rooted in the early 1970s hard-rock vein of Cream and Mountain. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

Contents

Career

Nichols moved to Los Angeles in 2010. [6] He won the Gibson Les Paul Tribute Contest as well as the Musicians Institute Most Outstanding Player Award. [7] He formed his own trio shortly thereafter and released a 3-song EP Live at the Viper Room.

After this release, Nichols toured America and played various clubs/festivals including Sturgis Buffalo Chip, SXSW, Freakout Festival, Summerfest, and more. It was during this time he opened for Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top. In Spring 2014, he embarked on a 2-month European Tour which proved to be successful, resulting in 2015 full-length release Old Glory & The Wild Revival recorded with producers Warren Huart and the legendary Eddie Kramer.

In early 2016, Music Radar named Jared as one of the "Top Upcoming Guitar Players in the World". Around the same time, Nichols was featured in a "mini-doc" series UNCHARTED by Honda and UPROXX about his guitar playing and determination to further himself in the music industry. The documentary went viral online, resulting in over seven million views within one month of its premier.

He has also recorded at historic studios such as Abbey Road, EastWest Studios, La Fabrique, Dave Grohl's Studio 606, Sunset Sound, and Swinghouse.

Nichols has toured across America and Europe with acts including Blue Öyster Cult, Fozzy, Glenn Hughes, John 5 and the Creatures, [8] L.A. Guns, Living Colour, Saxon, Walter Trout, UFO, and Zakk Wylde. [9]

Nichols has performed with many of his musical heroes including Joe Bonamassa, Peter Frampton, Billy Gibbons, Slash, Steve Vai, Leslie West, and Zakk Wylde.

His second full-length album Black Magic [10] was released in January 2018.

In July 2019, Nichols released the single "Nails in the Coffin". The single premiered on BBC Radio 2 as well as heavy A-List Rotation on the UK's Planet Rock Radio.

March 2020 saw Nichols release the single "Threw Me To The Wolves" in conjunction with his debut headline European tour. The single received rave reviews in the industry, touting the single as his best work to date. Premiering on BBC Radio 2 on the "Radio 2 Rock Show" in England, as well as "Pirate Rock Radio" in Sweden.

Nichols was named as a global ambassador [11] for Gibson Guitars in June 2021. Jared is one of four guitarists to now be given this title, the other three being Lzzy Hale, Slash, and Dave Mustaine

In 2021 Nichols released his new single “Skin ‘n Bone” [12] on June 7 as well as a music video [13] for it and announced that he would be releasing his EP [14] Shadow Dancer on September 17, 2021. [15] [16]

Equipment

Nichols is endorsed by Gibson/Epiphone, Seymour Duncan, [17] Blackstar Amplification, [18] and DR strings. Jared primarily plays his signature Les Paul nicknamed "Old Glory" fitted with a single Seymour Duncan P-90 in the bridge position. In January 2019, Nichols unveiled his signature Epiphone "Old Glory" Les Paul. In 2021, Epiphone released a new iteration of the "Old Glory" Les Paul called "Gold Glory," featuring a gold sparkle finish.

Nichols is known for his use of P90 pickups. He prefers vintage Gibson P90s, or new reproductions by Seymour Duncan.

In January 2019, Jared collaborated with British company Blackstar Amplification to develop a signature amplifier, the JJN20.

Band members

Discography

YearArtistTitleNotes
2015Jared James NicholsOld Glory & The Wild Revival
2016Jared James NicholsHighwaymanEP
2018Jared James NicholsBlack Magic
2019Jared James Nichols"Nails in the Coffin"Single
2020Jared James Nichols"Threw Me to The Wolves"Single
2021Jared James Nichols"Skin 'n Bone"Single
2021Jared James Nichols"Bad Roots"Single
2021Jared James NicholsShadow DancerEP
2023Jared James NicholsJared James Nichols (self-titled)

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
Main.

[19]
"Down the Drain"202234Jared James Nichols

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References

  1. Start me up: Jared James Nichols", "Musicradar.com", Oct. 7, 2015
  2. From Zero To Guitar Hero, Meet The Small-Town Musician Who's Well On His Way", "Uproxx.com", Feb 4, 2016
  3. Rig Rundown: Jared James Nichols", "Premierguitar.com", Feb 26, 2020
  4. “I DON’T EVEN HAVE A TUNER!” JARED JAMES NICHOLS ON HIS STRIPPED-DOWN APPROACH TO ROCKING THE BLUES", "Guitar.com", Mar. 30, 2020
  5. Jared James Nichols: why I love my Epiphone Old Glory Les Paul", "Guitarworld.com", Oct. 21, 2019
  6. Rocking out until he literally bleeds, Jared James Nichols' pain is paying off", "Jsonline.com", April 5, 2017
  7. THALIA MEETS JARED JAMES NICHOLS PART 2", "Thaliacapos.com", Aug 26, 2019
  8. John 5 The Creatures announce new Invasion tour dates starting in October 2019", "John-5.com", August 7, 2019
  9. JARED JAMES NICHOLS: MEET ZAKK WYLDE, JOHN 5–BACKED HEAVY BLUES-ROCK GUITARIST", "Revolvermag.com", May 8, 2019
  10. Allmusic Credits", "Allmusic.com"
  11. John 5 And Jared James Nichols Facebook Live Event", "Sidestagemagazine.com", June 21, 2021
  12. Jared James Nichols announces new EP Shadow Dancer, shares gritty first single Skin 'n Bone", "Guitarworld.com", June 10, 2021
  13. Jared James Nichols releases “Skin ‘n Bone” video", "Bluesrockreview.com", June 23, 2021
  14. Jared James Nichols Reflects Upon Quarantine In ‘Behind The Mic’", "Americansongwriter.com", June 2021
  15. JARED JAMES NICHOLS DETAILS NEW EP SHADOW DANCER: HEAR FIRST SINGLE SKIN ‘N BONE", "Guitar.com", June 11, 2021
  16. Jared James Nichols shares hard-rocking new single, Skin 'N Bone, and announces new EP", "Musicradar.com", June 11, 2021
  17. Jared James Nichols", "Seymourduncan.com"
  18. ABOUT JARED JAMES NICHOLS", "Blackstaramps.com"
  19. "Mainstream Rock Airplay: Week of April 22, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2023.