Jason Hook facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jason Hook
Hook in 2023
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Jason Grinstead
Born	1970/1971 (age 54–55) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Groove metal alternative metal hard rock
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter
Instruments	Guitar

Jason Hook (born Thomas Jason Grinstead) is a talented Canadian guitarist. He is most famous for being the lead guitarist of the American heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch. After leaving that band, he started a new heavy metal and hard rock band called Flat Black.

Early Life

Jason Hook was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Music Career

Starting Out and Solo Work (1994–2009)

Jason spent many years in Canada learning and improving his guitar skills. He eventually signed with Elektra Records with his band, No Love Lost. They recorded an album, but it was never released.

After that, Jason moved to Los Angeles. He became a session musician, which means he played guitar for many different artists. He also played in the hard rock band BulletBoys. In 2000, pop singer Hilary Duff hired him to play guitar in her live band. He also recorded music for her. Jason also toured with Mandy Moore in 2001. He became a very popular guitarist in Los Angeles. He went on to tour and record with famous musicians like the Vince Neil Band and Alice Cooper.

In 2007, Jason released his first solo album, an instrumental hard rock and metal album called Safety Dunce. He recorded his second solo album, American Justice, in 2009. This album featured special guest appearances from Alice Cooper and members of Five Finger Death Punch.

Joining Five Finger Death Punch (2009–2020)

In early 2009, it was announced that Jason Hook was joining the heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch. He took the place of their previous guitarist, Darrell Roberts. On September 22, 2009, Jason and his bandmates released their album War Is the Answer. This album was very popular, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.

Five Finger Death Punch had a lot of success in the years that followed. They had 14 songs reach number one on the charts. They also sold a total of 12 million albums around the world. Jason helped write some of the band's most popular songs. These include "Inside Out", "Sham Pain", "Lift Me Up", "Battle Born", "A Little Bit Off", "Wash It All Away", "Coming Down", and "Remember Everything".

In 2019, Jason had emergency surgery on his gallbladder. Because of this, he missed the rest of Five Finger Death Punch's European tour. Another guitarist, Andy James, filled in for him during that time.

Jason Hook left Five Finger Death Punch in February 2020. The band officially announced his departure in October of that year. Andy James then became the band's permanent guitarist. In an interview in 2021, Jason explained why he left. He said there wasn't just one reason. He felt he had done all he could with the band. He felt it was time to move on to new challenges.

Flat Black and Other Projects (2020–present)

During the pandemic, Jason Hook worked on several different music projects. He was featured on Cory Marks's 2021 song "Blame It on the Double". He also worked with Dorothy on the song "A Beautiful Life". This song is from her album Gifts from the Holy Ghost.

In 2023, Jason's new heavy metal band, Flat Black, started working with new management. In July 2023, the band signed with Concord Music Group and Fearless Records. Flat Black's first album, Dark Side of the Brain, was released on July 19, 2024. Jason helped produce this album.

TV and Film Appearances

Jason Hook has appeared on television shows and in a documentary.

Television Shows

He appeared on the History Channel show Counting Cars on July 9, 2013. In the episode, his motorcycle broke down. The show's star, Danny "The Count" Koker, helped him get it running again. Jason later appeared in the same episode getting an Ace Frehley tattoo at Koker's tattoo shop.

Jason also appeared in an episode of My Cat from Hell.

Documentary Film

Jason Hook was featured in the documentary film Hired Gun, which came out in 2016. This film is about musicians who play for famous artists but are not always in the spotlight.

Discography

Here are some of the albums Jason Hook has played on or released:

Monkeyhead

• 2001: Monkeyhead

Bulletboys

• 2003: Sophie

Solo

• 2007: Safety Dunce

Five Finger Death Punch

• 2009: War Is the Answer
• 2011: American Capitalist
• 2013: The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1
• 2013: The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 2
• 2015: Got Your Six
• 2018: And Justice for None
• 2020: F8

Flat Black

• 2024: Dark Side of the Brain

As featured artist

• 2020: Cory Marks & Tyler Connolly – "Blame It on the Double"
• 2022: Ra & Keith Wallen – "Incomplete"
• 2022: Art of Dying – "Long Shot"

See also

In Spanish: Jason Hook para niños