Kevin Shields facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Shields
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Shields performing at Coachella Festival in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kevin Patrick Shields |
| Born | 21 May 1963 Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
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Kevin Patrick Shields (born 21 May 1963) is an Irish musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He became famous as the lead singer and guitarist for the band My Bloody Valentine. Their albums Isn't Anything (1988) and Loveless (1991) made him a key figure in the shoegaze music style. Shoegaze music uses lots of guitar effects to create a "wall of sound."
Kevin Shields is known for his unique guitar sound. He used special techniques with his guitar's tremolo system to create the "glide guitar" sound. This sound became a big part of My Bloody Valentine's music. He also used very careful ways of producing his music.
After My Bloody Valentine stopped making music in the late 1990s, Shields worked with many other artists. He played music, produced songs, and remixed tracks for bands like Yo La Tengo and Mogwai. In 1998, he joined Primal Scream for their tours. Shields also wrote music for the 2003 film Lost in Translation. This work earned him nominations for important awards like the BAFTA. In 2008, he released a live album called The Coral Sea with the musician Patti Smith.
My Bloody Valentine got back together in 2007. They released their third album, m b v, in 2013. Shields wrote all the songs on this album, which he had been working on since the late 1990s. Kevin Shields is often listed among the greatest guitarists of all time by magazines like Rolling Stone and Spin. Many musicians, including Billy Corgan, say he has influenced their music.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to Ireland
Kevin Patrick Shields was born on 21 May 1963, in Queens, New York City, USA. He is the oldest of five children. His parents were from Ireland and moved to the US in the 1950s. Kevin went to a Catholic primary school, which he described as very strict.
When Kevin was four, his family moved to Commack, Long Island. Then, in 1973, when he was ten, they moved to Dublin, Ireland. They moved because of money reasons and to be closer to their family.
Shields found moving to Ireland a big change. He said it felt like going from the modern world to the past. He noticed a big difference in how people thought about music. In Ireland, music was more easily available and important for teenagers, which helped him get deeply into music.
Music Career Beginnings
First Bands (1979–1982)
Kevin Shields got his first electric guitar, a Hondo SG, as a Christmas gift in 1979. In 1978, he met drummer Colm Ó Cíosóig in Dublin. They formed a punk rock band called The Complex with a 12-year-old musician and singer Liam Ó Maonlaí. Shields said they formed the band because they were "nerds and weirdos" who loved music. The Complex played a few shows, covering songs by bands like the Sex Pistols.
The Complex broke up when Liam Ó Maonlaí left. Shields and Ó Cíosóig then started a new band called A Life in the Day in 1981. This band played a post-punk style of music, inspired by bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees. They recorded a demo tape and played small shows.
Forming My Bloody Valentine (1983–1997)
After A Life in the Day ended, Shields and Ó Cíosóig formed My Bloody Valentine in 1983. They added David Conway as the lead singer. Conway suggested the name, and Shields later said he didn't know it was also the title of a 1981 horror movie.
The band moved to the Netherlands and then to West Berlin, Germany. They recorded their first mini-album, This Is Your Bloody Valentine (1985), but it didn't get much attention. They eventually settled in London in 1985.
My Bloody Valentine added bassist Debbie Googe and released their first extended play Geek! in 1985. Their next releases, The New Record by My Bloody Valentine (1986) and "Sunny Sundae Smile" (1987), had some success in the UK. In 1987, David Conway left the band. Bilinda Butcher joined as a singer and guitarist, often sharing vocals with Shields.
The band then released successful songs like "Strawberry Wine" and the mini-album Ecstasy (1987). They then signed with Creation Records. Their first release with Creation was the EP You Made Me Realise (1988). This was followed by their very important first album, Isn't Anything (1988). This album is seen as a key work that helped create the shoegaze music style.
My Bloody Valentine started recording their second album in 1989. Shields took charge of the music and recording process, which took a very long time. The album, Loveless, was finally released in November 1991. It was rumored to have cost a lot of money to make. Critics loved Loveless, but it didn't sell a lot of copies. After its release, Creation Records dropped the band.
In 1992, My Bloody Valentine signed with Island Records. They built their own studio, but had many technical problems. Shields was also rumored to be struggling to write new music. Debbie Googe and Colm Ó Cíosóig left the band in 1995. Shields and Bilinda Butcher tried to record a third album, but My Bloody Valentine broke up in 1997. Shields later said he had a lot of unfinished music from this time.
Working with Other Artists (1997–2006)
After My Bloody Valentine broke up, Kevin Shields worked with many other musicians. He played guitar, produced, mixed, and remixed songs for different artists. He worked with bands like Dinosaur Jr and Mogwai. He also played live with bands like The Charlatans.
From 1998 to 2006, Shields often worked with the band Primal Scream. He played guitar and helped produce their albums XTRMNTR (2000) and Evil Heat (2002). Primal Scream's singer, Bobby Gillespie, said that Shields brings a unique sound that no one else can.
In 2003, Shields wrote four original songs for the movie Lost in Translation. He started working on the music after being contacted by the film's music coordinator. His songs for the soundtrack, like "City Girl," were mostly calm, ambient pieces. His work on the film earned him nominations for important awards.
In 2008, Shields released a live album called The Coral Sea with American musician Patti Smith. On this album, Patti Smith reads from her book while Shields plays instrumental music.
My Bloody Valentine Returns (2007–Present)
In August 2007, news spread that My Bloody Valentine would reunite for the 2008 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Shields confirmed this and also announced that the band's third album was almost finished. In June 2008, My Bloody Valentine played their first public shows in 16 years in London. They then went on a big world tour.
In 2011, Shields started his own record label called Pickpocket. In 2012, remastered versions of My Bloody Valentine's albums Isn't Anything and Loveless were released. They also released a collection of their earlier EPs and singles.
In November 2012, Shields said the new My Bloody Valentine album would be released online soon. The album, m b v, was released on 2 February 2013, through the band's official website. The website crashed because so many people tried to access it at once! Critics praised m b v, and the band started another world tour.
Shields has since mentioned plans to release more new music from My Bloody Valentine. In 2018, he released a song called The Weight Of History / Only Once Away My Son with Brian Eno. In 2023, he helped create a new guitar pedal called the Fender Shields Blender.
Artistry and Guitar Sound
Musical Influences
Shields has said that The Beatles and the Ramones are his favorite bands. When he moved to Ireland, he became a fan of glam rock music. He said that Johnny Ramone from the Ramones inspired him to play guitar. Shields felt that Johnny Ramone wasn't just playing notes, but creating a unique sound. Other guitarists he admired include Keith Levene and Geordie Walker.
His early influences also included punk bands like DC Nien and The Birthday Party. In the mid-to-late 1980s, he was influenced by bands like The Byrds, Hüsker Dü, Dinosaur Jr, and Sonic Youth. He was also influenced by hip hop music, especially Public Enemy. Later, he admired The Beach Boys and modern artists like Tame Impala.
Shields' way of producing music was also influenced by different artists. He didn't like the "wet" sound of 1980s music. Instead, he preferred the "dry" and direct sound used by bands like Dinosaur Jr. Shields often records in mono (one channel of sound) instead of stereo. This was inspired by producers like Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and Phil Spector.
Unique Guitar Sound
Kevin Shields' guitar sound is one of the most famous parts of My Bloody Valentine's music. His sound uses "texture more than technique" to create rich soundscapes. He is often listed as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
In the late 1980s, Shields started changing the tremolo systems on his Fender Jaguar and Jazzmaster guitars. He made the tremolo arm longer and looser. This allowed him to bend the pitch of the notes a lot while strumming chords. He also used different guitar tunings. These techniques created a "strange warping effect" that made the music sound like it was moving in and out of focus.
One of Shields' key effects is a digital reverse reverb sound. Combined with his tremolo use and distortion, he created his famous "glide guitar" technique. His setup includes many effects pedals, but he usually only uses a few at a time. He connects his guitar to many amplifiers, often set to maximum volume to make the sound last longer.
During live shows, especially during the song "You Made Me Realise," Shields creates a loud blend of white noise. This can last for half an hour and be very loud, sometimes reaching 130 decibels. He said they liked seeing how the audience reacted to the intense sound.
Musical Legacy
Shields' sound and performances have greatly influenced many musicians. Artists like Billy Corgan and J Mascis have said he influenced them.
Living Colour's Vernon Reid said, "Kevin Shields achieved something on Loveless that only the great guitarists achieve: he achieved a wholeness and a unity. He created his own sound." This shows how unique and important his musical contributions are.
Personal Life
Health Notes
Kevin Shields has mild dyslexia, which means he sometimes has difficulty with reading. He also has "mild to extreme" tinnitus, which is a ringing sound in his ears. He got tinnitus while mixing the album Loveless in 1991. Even though it was worrying at first, Shields says he now sees it as a "friend" that helps filter unwanted sounds. He also has tendonitis (soreness) in his left hand since 1988, but he says it goes away when he gets lost in the music.
Family Connections
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Shields and Bilinda Butcher were in a relationship. His brother, Jimi, was a drummer in the band Rollerskate Skinny. Jimi has since formed another band called Wounded Knees. Kevin's sister, Ann Marie, has worked in the music industry, managing tours for My Bloody Valentine. His youngest sister, Eileen, is a shoe designer who has created shoes for famous people like Bono.
Discography
- Kevin Shields
- The Coral Sea (with Patti Smith) (2008)
- My Bloody Valentine
- Isn't Anything (1988)
- Loveless (1991)
- m b v (2013)
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