John West (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John West
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West performing with Royal Hunt in 2006
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| Background information | |
| Born | October 29, 1964 Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Hard rock, heavy metal, progressive metal, neoclassical metal, blues rock |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Shrapnel, Frontiers |
| Associated acts | Diamond, Sage's Recital, Mythodea, Artlantica, Forces United, Emir Hot, Destiny, Feinstein, Badlands, Sun Red Sun, Cozy Powell, Artension, Michael Lee Firkins, Lynch Mob, Royal Hunt, Uli Jon Roth |
John Michael West is an American singer who was born on October 29, 1964. He is well-known for being the main singer for the bands Artension and Royal Hunt. John West has also released several albums on his own. He has worked with many other musicians and bands throughout his career.
Contents
John West's Early Music Career
Before joining the band Royal Hunt in 1998, John West sang for many different music projects. His journey in music began in 1986 as the singer for a band called Diamond. Later, he sang for a group named Destiny. They released a four-song demo called Side By Side in 1989.
In the mid-1990s, he briefly filled in as a singer for bands like Badlands and Sun Red Sun. During this time, he also lent his voice to Cozy Powell's last solo album, Especially For You. John West also sang one song on Marc Ferrari's solo album Guest List in 1995. He also handled singing duties for albums by Many Moons and Rider in 1996.
John West and Artension
In 1996, John West joined a band called Artension. This group played a style of music known as neoclassical power/progressive metal. They released their first album, Into The Eye of the Storm, in the same year.
Artension went on to release seven studio albums between 1996 and 2004. Their second album, Phoenix Rising, is especially famous for John West's amazing singing. In 2016, John West and the band got back together. They planned to release a new album.
John West's Time with Royal Hunt
In 1998, John West became the new lead singer for the band Royal Hunt. He took over from their previous singer, D.C. Cooper. John West stayed with Royal Hunt until 2007.
During his time with the band, he recorded four studio albums. He also recorded one live album and one EP (a shorter music release). John West was the singer for Royal Hunt for ten years. This was the longest time any singer had stayed with the band without a break in their 25-year history.
John West's Solo Music
John West has released four albums under his own name. Many different musicians helped him create these albums. His first two solo albums were Mind Journey (1997) and Permanent Mark (1998). These albums had a neoclassical metal style. They featured many long parts where only instruments played.
After focusing on Royal Hunt for a few years, John West released Earth Maker in 2002. This was a concept album, meaning all the songs told a story. It showed a more song-focused writing style. However, it still kept much of his earlier sound. In 2006, John West released Long Time No Sing. This album was more of a blues-rock style. On this album, John West not only sang but also played the guitar.
John West's Projects After Royal Hunt
Since leaving Royal Hunt in 2007, John West has continued to sing for many different music projects. In 2008, he was the lead singer for Bosnian guitarist Emir Hot's first album, Sevdah Metal. In 2010, he sang on keyboardist Mistheria's solo album, "Dragon Fire".
In 2012, he sang on the first album by the symphonic metal band Mythodea. In 2013, he worked with Roger Staffelbach. Roger was a guitarist from his old band Artension. They formed a new band called Artlantica. This band played music similar to Artension. They released an album called Across The Seven Seas.
John West also sang on the fifth album by the Chilean progpower band Delta. The album was called The End of Philosophy. He sang a duet with the band's regular singer, Felipe del Valle, on a song called "Bringers of Rain". After Felipe del Valle left the band in 2014, John West recorded new versions of Delta's songs "New Philosophy" and "Regrets". He also performed with the band on a music cruise called Progressive Nation at Sea.
John West has also toured as the singer for Uli Jon Roth's band. He also sang for Black Knights Rising, a tribute band that honored Ronnie James Dio and Ritchie Blackmore. He worked with Danish guitar player Niels Vejlyt on a project called Sage's Recital. They released their first album in 2013 and a follow-up album, The Winter Symphony, in 2016.
John West's Music Albums
Solo Albums
- Mind Journey (1997)
- Permanent Mark (1998)
- Earth Maker (2002)
- Long Time... No Sing (2006)
- Johnny and Lonnie – "Greatest Misses" (2006)
- Days of Destiny (2022)
Albums with Bands and Other Projects
- With Artension
- Into the Eye of the Storm (1996)
- Phoenix Rising (1997)
- Forces of Nature (1999)
- Machine (2000)
- Sacred Pathways (2001)
- New Discovery (2002)
- Future World (2004)
- With Rider
- Rider (1996)
- With Royal Hunt
- Fear (1999)
- Intervention (2001)
- The Watchers (2001)
- The Mission (2001)
- On The Mission 2002 (2002)
- Eyewitness (2003)
- Paper Blood (2005)
- 2006 Live (2006)
- Royal Hunt 2006 (DVD; 2006)
- With Ten Man Push
- Ten Man Push (2007)
- Playin' In The Dirt (2009)
- Branded (2013)
- With Cozy Powell
- Especially For You (1999)
- With Feinstein
- Third Wish (2004)
- With Emir Hot
- Sevdah Metal (2008)
- With Mythodea
- Mythodea (2012)
- With Sage's Recital
- Sage's Recital (2013)
- The Winter Symphony (2016)
- With Artlantica
- Across The Seven Seas (2013)
- Guest Appearances
- Marc Ferrari – Guest List (1995)
- Sun Red Sun – Sun Red Sun (1994)
- Marilyn Manson — Mechanical Animals (1998)
- James Murphy – Feeding The Machine (1999)
- Iron Maiden Tribute – Slave To The Power (2000)
- Savatage – Poets and Madmen (2001)
- Roger Staffelbach's Angel of Eden – "The End of Never" (2007)
- Mistheria – "Dragon Fire" (2010)
- Delta – "The End of Philosophy" (2013)
- American Mafia – "Rock 'N' Roll Hit Machine" (2014)
- Forces United – II (2015)
- Crimson Cry – Lost Reality (2017)
- Other Releases
- Many Moons – "Many Moons" (1996)
