Jason Everman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jason Everman
Everman serving with the U.S. Army Special Forces in Afghanistan (from 2013 NYT article)
Background information
Birth name	Jason Mark Everman
Born	(1967-10-16) October 16, 1967 (age 57) Ouzinkie (then-part of Kodiak), Alaska, U.S.
Origin	Poulsbo, Washington, U.S.
Genres	Alternative metal, grunge, heavy metal, death metal, grindcore, hardcore punk
Occupation(s)	Musician, soldier
Instruments	Guitar, bass
Years active	1989–1994, 2017–present
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1994–2006
Rank	Sergeant First Class
Unit	2nd Ranger Battalion 3rd Special Forces Group
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War

Jason Mark Everman (born October 16, 1967) is an American musician and soldier. He played guitar in famous bands like Nirvana and Mind Funk. He also played bass in Soundgarden and OLD. Later, Jason joined the U.S. Army. He served as an Army Ranger and a Green Beret in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since 2017, Everman plays guitar in a band called Silence & Light, which is made up of military veterans.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Jason Everman was born on October 16, 1967. He believes he was born in Ouzinkie, a small village. His parents lived in a simple cabin there. When he was very young, his mother moved with him to Washington. They eventually settled in Poulsbo.

Growing up, Jason learned to be independent. He started playing guitar during therapy sessions. His therapist had guitars in the office, and playing music helped Jason express himself. He played in several bands during high school. He also worked on a fishing boat in Alaska with his biological father. Before joining Nirvana, he played guitar in a band called Stonecrow.

Early Musical Career Highlights

Jason Everman joined Nirvana in February 1989 as a second guitarist. He is listed on their album Bleach and appears on the cover. However, he didn't actually play on any of the songs. The band's leader, Kurt Cobain, said it was a way to thank Jason for paying the recording fee for the album.

Jason toured with Nirvana in the summer of 1989. You can hear him playing guitar on some live recordings from that time. He sometimes used Fender guitars, especially the Fender Telecaster. Nirvana decided to let Jason go after the tour.

Two songs featuring Jason on guitar were released later. A Kiss cover called "Do You Love Me?" came out in 1990. The song "Dive" was released in 2004 on the album With the Lights Out. Both songs were recorded in June 1989.

After Nirvana, Jason joined Soundgarden in 1990 as a temporary bass player. He played on their cover of The Beatles' "Come Together". This song was on an EP called Loudest Love. Jason also appeared in Soundgarden's Louder Than Live video. He left Soundgarden in mid-1990. He then played bass for the band OLD (Old Lady Drivers). Later, in 1993, he played guitar in Mind Funk.

Life After Music: Soldier and Student

In September 1994, Jason Everman decided to leave Mind Funk. He wanted to try something different and joined the United States Army. He was inspired by the idea that a person could be an artist, a warrior, and a thinker. He served with the Army's 2nd Ranger Battalion. Later, he joined the Special Forces, also known as Green Berets. He served in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

After his military service, Jason took a break. He lived in New York City for a short time. He also traveled to Tibet and studied in a Buddhist monastery. He then returned to the Army to join the Special Forces again.

Jason left the Army in 2006. He then went to Columbia University School of General Studies and earned a degree in philosophy in 2013. A high-ranking general, Stanley A. McChrystal, even wrote a letter to help him get into the university.

In 2013, The New York Times wrote an article about Jason's interesting life. It included interviews with him, his family, former bandmates, and soldiers. In 2014, another interview mentioned that Jason was invited to Nirvana's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. He also works as a consultant for the military overseas.

Jason is currently studying for a Master's degree in Military History at Norwich University.

In 2017, Jason started a new band called Silence & Light with fellow military veteran Brad Thomas. The band is made up of military veterans, and Jason plays guitar. They recorded an album in 2019. The band donates its profits to help members of the Special Operations Community, the Military, and First Responders. They describe their music as modern rock.

Discography

With Nirvana

• Bleach (1989) (Credited but does not play)
• Hard to Believe: A Kiss Covers Compilation (1990)
• With the Lights Out (2004)

With Soundgarden

• Loudest Love (1990)
• Louder Than Live (1990)

With OLD

• Lo Flux Tube (1991)
• Masters of Misery – Black Sabbath: An Earache Tribute (1992)

With Mind Funk

• Dropped (1993)

With Silence & Light

• Volume One (2019)
• Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda… (2023)

Awards and Decorations

Jason Everman has received several awards for his service in the U.S. Army. These include:

• The Combat Infantryman Badge
• The Army Good Conduct Medal
• The National Defense Service Medal
• The Afghanistan Campaign Medal
• The Iraq Campaign Medal
• The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
• The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• The Army Service Ribbon
• The Army Overseas Service Ribbon
• The Special Forces Tab
• The Master Parachutist Badge
• The Expert Marksmanship badge
• The Ranger tab

Images for kids

• 

  Combat Infantryman Badge

• 

  Special Forces Badge

• 

  Ranger Tab

See also

• List of pre-fame band departures