Miles Nielsen performs at Monk's Bar & Grill in Lake Delton, Wisconsin during the Stampede Music Festival, April 12, 2025.
Miles Spence Nielsen (born July 20, 1975) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter based in Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A.[2] He is a member of the rock band The Nielsen Trust[3] as well as the front man and principal founder of the rock group Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts.[4]
From 1997 to 2004 Nielsen was a member of the rock group Harmony Riley.[5] The band took their name from Riley Harmony Road[6] which crosses Interstate 90 near the town of Marengo, IL.[citation needed]
On August 28, 1999 the rock band Cheap Trick celebrated their 25th anniversary with a concert at Davis Park in Rockford, Illinois. This performance would eventually be released on compact disc on February 27, 2001, and later on DVD (October 9, 2001) under the title, "Cheap Trick - Silver." Miles Nielsen joined Cheap Trick during this anniversary performance for the song "Losing You" by John Lennon; a song that his father, Rick Nielsen, recorded with Lennon himself on August 12, 1980 during the Double Fantasy sessions, just months before the former Beatle was murdered. In addition, Miles Nielsen played acoustic guitar during the Silver performance for the Robin Zander penned song "Time Will Let You Know."[13]
Judgement Day - The Songs of Robert Johnson
In 2004 Miles Nielsen appeared on the album "Judgement Day - The Songs of Robert Johnson."[14] Nielsen's contribution to the album is a rendition of the legendary bluesman's 1937 composition "Hellhound On My Trail."
In 2009 Nielsen collaborated with musicians Daniel McMahon, Darren Garvey, Adam Plamann, Jim Westin, Andy Scarpaci, Kelly Steward and others to produce an album of twelve self-penned tracks. Titled simply "Miles," the self-released album was engineered and produced by both Miles Nielsen and Daniel McMahon. Other musicians contributing to this album include Bun. E. Carlos and Daxx Nielsen.[17]
Miles Nielsen Bonus Tracks
"Miles Nielsen Bonus Tracks[18]" was a CDr formatted EP self-released in March 2009. Included on the disc are the tracks "Walk Straight," "Good Heart Sway (Fast)," "Strangers," "Slo" and "Silver Spoon (Demo)." This collection of songs was intended to be a bonus disc for those who purchased the compact disc "Miles,"(released in 2009) and was made available at Kool Kat Music's[19] website.
Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts
Formed in 2011, Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts[20] has been Nielsen's primary musical endeavor. Since its inception, Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts have toured and performed continuously throughout the United States, much of western Europe, and in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico at the Circus Mexicus music festival.
Dave McClellan replaced original bassist Andy Scarpaci in February 2012. In January 2013 Jeff Werckle joined The Rusted Hearts as the group's drummer, replacing Darren Garvey. Guitarist Daniel James McMahon passed away on September 19, 2024 leading to keyboardist Jim Westin and singer/songwriterKelly Steward joining the band shortly thereafter. Kelly Steward is Miles Nielsen's wife.[27] Jim Westin contributed keyboards to Nielsen's 2009 effort, "Miles"[28] and is the keyboardist for Kelly Steward & The Restless Kind.[29]
In 2012 the documentary film "Undefeated," which featured original music scored and performed by Miles Nielsen and fellow Rusted Hearts guitarist Daniel McMahon, was awarded an Academy Award for "Best Documentary Feature."[45] The soundtrack for the movie was released on February 17, 2012, with eleven of its seventeen tracks composed and performed by Miles Nielsen and Daniel McMahon.[46]
Weep & Willow
Miles Nielsen & Kelly Steward performing in Rockford, IL, July 4, 2017.
Miles Nielsen and his wife, Kelly Steward, released a four-song EP titled "Weep & Willow"[47] in 2016. The couple frequently duet on stage performing songs from this release.[48]
Daniel McMahon (1982–2024)
Guitarist Daniel James McMahon performing with Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts.
On September 19, 2024 Nielsen's fellow collaborator, guitarist and co-founding member of The Rusted Hearts, Daniel James McMahon passed away[49] at the age of 41 due to cancer.
In an August 22, 2024 interview with The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Nielsen was quoted as saying, “That’s been a real huge curveball for us, since I’ve been making music with Dan for 18 years...We’re missing a huge piece of our puzzle. We’ve just been trying to keep the train on the tracks and not do him a disservice.”[50] McMahon was on hiatus from the band at the time due to receiving treatment for esophageal cancer.
A celebration of life was held for McMahon on November 24, 2024 at the Coronado Theater in downtown Rockford, IL. During the ceremony, keyboardist Jim Westin and Nielsen's wife, singer/songwriter Kelly Steward, joined Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts on stage to perform McMahon's original composition "I Make Mistakes.[51]" The late musician released the song on July 25, 2024,[52] less than two months prior to his passing.[53] Steward and Westin had been performing with the band during McMahon's convalescence and would ultimately go on to fill the void created by McMahon's death by becoming permanent members of The Rusted Hearts.[citation needed]
McMahon was a close companion to Nielsen as well as a trusted creative partner. He was a central creative figure for The Rusted Hearts, and his talents contributed greatly to nearly all aspects of the group's arrangements, recordings and trademark sound. McMahon's loss was enormously impactful to Nielsen, his bandmates, and the greater Rockford community at large.
The Nielsen Trust
The Nielsen Trust performing in Lake Delton, Wisconsin.
Miles Nielsen is a member of the rock group The Nielsen Trust.[54] Formed in 2019 and billed as a family band, its members include Nielsen's father, Rick Nielsen; his brother, Daxx Nielsen; and his wife, Kelly Steward.[55] The band was formed at the suggestion of Nielsen's mother, Karen Nielsen.[56]Rick Nielsen and Daxx Nielsen[57] are both members of the rock band Cheap Trick. Rounding out the rest of the line up are fellow Rusted Hearts bandmates Dave McClellan (bass guitar) and Adam Plamann (keyboards, clarinet & saxophone).
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