Jim Adkins | |
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 Adkins performing in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Christopher Adkins |
| Born | November 10, 1975 |
| Origin | Mesa, Arizona, U.S. |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | c.1989–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Jimmy Eat World |
| Website | jimadkins |
James Christopher Adkins (born November 10, 1975) is an American musician who is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter of the rock band Jimmy Eat World.
Adkins grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and had been playing guitar since the age of two. [1] He has cited Def Leppard's song Photograph as an early influence that sparked his desire to become a guitarist, [2] and had also learned songs by hair metal bands such as Mötley Crüe. [1] Although he had an early preference for virtuosic guitar players, he broadened his horizons after being introduced to Fugazi by a cousin in Nebraska, where his family comes from. [2] Adkins has also stated that Drive Like Jehu is his favorite guitar-based band, [2] and his love of the band inspired him to seek out drummer Mark Trombino to produce 1996's Static Prevails . [1] To date, Trombino has produced four of Jimmy Eat World's records.
While attending Mountain View High School, Adkins formed a band named Sonic Pudding which later changed its name, first to I Ate The Sandbox and then to Schon Theory. This band's style leaned towards West Coast alternative rock bands such as Drive Like Jehu and Rocket from the Crypt. Adkins co-formed Jimmy Eat World in 1993 after being invited by drummer Zach Lind, who Adkins had known since preschool, to form a band with him. [1] [3] Around this time, Adkins teamed up with Joel Leibow to help promote Mesa as a touring spot for musicians in order to build up a local scene. [1] The band released their self-titled debut in 1994, with Adkins primarily on guitar and contributing lead vocals on only a single track, with his other vocal work being backing vocals. Adkins later attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff for a time until he was pursued by an agent from Capitol Records. [1] Their second album Static Prevails saw guitarist Tom Linton and Adkins trading spots as the lead vocalist from track to track, and their album Clarity saw Adkins taking over lead vocals for all but one of the tracks.
As a result of the runaway critical success of Clarity and the things that surrounded it, Adkins was quoted a few months after its release as saying he had "grown up a little bit," and also said of himself that "I didn't know quite as much as I thought I did when I was 18." [4] Reflecting on the critical and commercial success of Jimmy Eat World's 2001 album Bleed American almost two decades after its release, Adkins claimed that his songwriting in the early days of Jimmy Eat World was "100 percent" unconscious (that is, spontaneous), but that over time he developed a conscious need to make sure each of Jimmy Eat World's records stand up on their own by having a reason for their creation. [5]
Around 2013, Adkins had become sober and has credited his sobriety with enhancing his enjoyment of songwriting. [5]
In 2015, Adkins announced he would be doing his first solo tour following the release of his debut solo EP I Will Go that same year. In 2020, Adkins started a podcast named Pass-Through Frequencies wherein he interviews other musicians.
Adkins has three children with his wife Amy. The family resides in Phoenix, Arizona. [6]
Jimmy Eat World is an American rock band formed in 1993 in Mesa, Arizona. The band is composed of lead vocalist and lead guitarist Jim Adkins, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch, and drummer Zach Lind. They have released ten studio albums, the last nine featuring the current line-up.
The music of Arizona began with Indigenous music of North America made by Indigenous peoples of Arizona. In the 20th century, Mexican immigrants popularized Banda, corridos, mariachi and conjunto. Other major influences come from styles popular throughout the rest of the United States.
Chris Bratton is an American drummer involved in the hardcore punk scene since 1983. He has drummed in several influential bands including Justice League, No For An Answer, Chain Of Strength, Inside Out, Statue, Drive Like Jehu and Wool.
Drive Like Jehu was an American post-hardcore band from San Diego active from 1990 to 1995. It was formed by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rick Froberg and lead guitarist John Reis, ex-members of Pitchfork, along with bassist Mike Kennedy and drummer Mark Trombino, both from Night Soil Man, after their two bands disbanded in 1990. Drive Like Jehu's music was characterized by passionate singing, unusual song structure, indirect melodic themes, intricate guitar playing, and calculated use of tension, resulting in a distinctive sound amongst other post-hardcore acts and helped to catalyze the evolution of hardcore punk into emo.
Futures is the fifth studio album by American rock band Jimmy Eat World, released on October 19, 2004, through Interscope Records. After touring in support of Bleed American (2001) for two years, the band returned home and began working on new material by mid-2003. Following fruitless sessions with producer Mark Trombino, the band re-grouped and recorded with Gil Norton. The sessions lasted from February to May 2004 and were held at various studios in California and Arizona. Described as encompassing several rock styles, Futures included more solos and complex guitar parts than past releases, intended to expand on the atmosphere of their third studio album Clarity (1999). The songs on the album were compared to the work of Jets to Brazil and Maritime, while some of the guitar parts echoed the sound of Fugazi and Hüsker Dü.
Bleed American is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Jimmy Eat World, released on July 24, 2001, by DreamWorks Records. The album was re-released as Jimmy Eat World following the September 11 attacks; that name remained until 2008, when it was re-released with its original title returned.
Static Prevails is the second studio album by American rock band Jimmy Eat World, released on July 23, 1996, through Capitol Records. Following the release of the band's self-titled debut album (1994), they signed to Capitol in mid-1995 for further releases. Carrier member Rick Burch replaced bassist Mitch Porter, who left to become a Mormon missionary. Recorded at Sound City in Los Angeles, California, and at Big Fish, in Encinitas, California, Wes Kidd, Mark Trombino, and Jimmy Eat World acted as producers for the album.
Clarity is the third studio album by American rock band Jimmy Eat World. It was released on February 23, 1999, through Capitol Records, with which Jimmy Eat World clashed several times while recording their second studio album Static Prevails (1996). The band recorded a follow-up with producer Mark Trombino in May and June 1998, and were free to make it however they wanted without interference from Capitol. The recording sessions began at Sound City in Van Nuys, California, before moving to Clear Lake Audio in North Hollywood, California. Clarity, which is described as an emo, pop punk, and punk rock release, marked the beginning of frontman Jim Adkins' tenure as the band's main vocalist, taking over from guitarist Tom Linton.
Singles is a compilation album of previously unreleased songs and B-sides by Jimmy Eat World. After being planned for release in July 2000, it was eventually released on August 8, 2000. After leaving Capitol Records, the compilation was released as a means of self-funding the recording sessions for their next album Bleed American.
John Reis, also known by the pseudonyms Speedo, Slasher, and the Swami is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which he formed and fronted for the entirety of its career from 1990 to 2005.
Jimmy Eat World is the debut studio album by the American rock band of the same name, released in December 1994 on Wooden Blue Records, limited to 2,000 copies. The album displays their early sound with guitarist and eventual backing vocalist Tom Linton singing lead on most of the songs on this album. The one song on this album that is sung by current primary vocalist Jim Adkins is the track "Usery". The album also marks the only appearance of former bass guitarist Mitch Porter.
"The Middle" is a song by American rock band Jimmy Eat World. It was released in October 2001 as the second single of their fourth album, Bleed American (2001). It was a number-five hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2002 and reached the top 50 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The song was a breakthrough hit for Jimmy Eat World, who had self-financed the recording of the Bleed American album after being dropped by Capitol Records in 1999. It is considered the band's signature song.
Stay on My Side Tonight is a five-track EP released by American rock band Jimmy Eat World through downloads on September 13, 2005 and physically released on October 4, 2005. It consists of three unreleased songs, a cover of the Heatmiser song "Half Right", and a remix of the Futures track "Drugs or Me". The title of the album is taken from a line in the song "Disintegration", the EP's opening track.
"Lucky Denver Mint" is a song by American rock band Jimmy Eat World from their third studio album Clarity, which was released on February 23, 1999. The song was also formally released as a promotional single in early 1999.
Yank Crime is the second and final album by the San Diego, California post-hardcore band Drive Like Jehu, released on April 26, 1994 by Interscope Records. It was the band's major-label debut and its artwork was created by singer/guitarist Rick Froberg. The band toured in support of the album but then quietly disbanded the following year as the members moved off to pursue other interests.
Invented is the seventh studio album by American rock band Jimmy Eat World. Following the release of Chase This Light (2007), frontman Jim Adkins began a writing exercise that involved writing about photographs, which would serve as the lyrical basis for their next album. Recorded primarily at the band's home-based studio, the sessions were co-produced by Mark Trombino. Described as a power pop album, it featured guest vocals from Courtney Marie Andrews and Rachel Haden. Several of the songs earned comparisons to Foo Fighters, the Offspring, and Rites of Spring, among others.
"Coffee and Cigarettes" is the second single from Jimmy Eat World's seventh studio album, Invented. The song was played on the radio on November 23, 2010. This is one of the five Invented tracks where singer-songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews provides guest vocals.
Integrity Blues is the ninth studio album by American rock band Jimmy Eat World. It released on October 21, 2016, by RCA and Exotic Location Recordings. After touring in support of Damage (2013), the band members took a break. They reconvened and began writing with producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen, with recording beginning in late 2015. Sessions were held at Sunset Sound, Chez JMJ, and Unit 2. Described as an alternative rock, emo and pop rock album, Integrity Blues was compared to Silversun Pickups and late period Death Cab for Cutie.
Surviving is the tenth studio album by American rock band Jimmy Eat World. The album was released on October 18, 2019, through RCA and Exotic Location Recordings. After touring in support of Integrity Blues (2016) concluded in mid-2017, the band began writing new material. Following various tours throughout 2018 and early 2019, the band recorded their next album in their home studio in Arizona, with co-producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen. Described as an alternative rock, arena rock, emo, pop rock, and pop punk record, Surviving was compared to the band's earlier albums Chase This Light (2007) and Damage (2013).
"Something Loud" is a song by American rock band, Jimmy Eat World. It was released on June 10, 2022 as the band's first independent single on their label, Exotic Location.
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