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.
Kevin Shields created a unique "glide guitar" sound. He did this by experimenting with his guitar's tremolo system. This special sound, along with his careful production, became a big part of My Bloody Valentine's music.
After My Bloody Valentine stopped making music in the late 1990s, Shields worked with many other artists. He was a guest musician, producer, and remixer 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. In 2008, he released a live album called The Coral Sea with singer Patti Smith.
My Bloody Valentine got back together in 2007. They released their third album, m b v, in February 2013. Shields wrote all the songs on this album. He has been listed among the greatest guitarists by magazines like Rolling Stone and Spin. Many musicians, including Billy Corgan, say he has influenced their music.
Growing Up
Early Life in America
Kevin Patrick Shields was born on 21 May 1963, in Queens, New York City. He was the oldest of five children. His parents were from Ireland and had moved to the United States in the 1950s.
Kevin went to a Catholic primary school. When he was four, his family moved to Commack, Long Island. They lived there until he was ten years old.
Moving to Ireland
In 1973, Kevin moved to Dublin, Ireland, with his family. They moved because of money reasons and to be closer to their relatives. Kevin grew up in Cabinteely, a suburb in Dublin.
He said moving to Ireland was a "culture shock." He felt like he went from the modern world to the past. But he also said that Ireland's music scene, with shows like Top of the Pops, really got him interested in music.
Music Journey
Starting Out (1979–1982)
Kevin Shields got his first electric guitar 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.
They added Ó Cíosóig's school friend, Liam Ó Maonlaí, as the lead singer. The band played a few shows, covering songs by bands like the Sex Pistols.
The Complex broke up when Ó Maonlaí left. Shields and Ó Cíosóig then formed a new band called A Life in the Day in 1981. This band had a post-punk sound, like Siouxsie and the Banshees. They recorded a demo tape and played small shows.
My Bloody Valentine Years (1983–1997)
Forming the Band
A Life in the Day ended in 1981. Shields and Ó Cíosóig then started My Bloody Valentine in early 1983. David Conway joined as the lead singer. Conway suggested the name My Bloody Valentine. Shields later said he didn't know it was also the name of a movie.
The band moved to the Netherlands in 1984. They lived there for nine months, sometimes staying in empty buildings. Shields even worked on a farm. They later moved to West Berlin, Germany, and recorded their first mini-album, This Is Your Bloody Valentine (1985). It didn't get much attention.
Finding Their Sound
In 1985, the band moved to London. They added bassist Debbie Googe. Their first release in London, Geek! (1985), also didn't get much notice. Shields thought about moving to New York.
Their next releases, The New Record by My Bloody Valentine (1986) and "Sunny Sundae Smile" (1987), had some success. They reached the top 10 on the UK Independent Charts. In March 1987, David Conway left the band.
Bilinda Butcher joined as a singer and guitarist. Shields also started singing more. The band wanted to change their name but couldn't agree on a new one, so they kept My Bloody Valentine.
Breakthrough Albums
They released more successful songs, like "Strawberry Wine" and the mini-album Ecstasy (1987). My Bloody Valentine 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 creating the shoegaze music style.
Making Loveless
My Bloody Valentine started recording their second album in February 1989. It took a very long time to make. Shields took charge of all the music and technical parts. He moved to 19 different studios and hired many engineers.
Because it was taking so long, they released two EPs, Glider (1990) and Tremolo (1991). The album, Loveless, finally came out in November 1991. It was rumored to have cost a lot of money.
Critics loved Loveless, but it didn't sell many copies. Soon after, Creation Records dropped My Bloody Valentine.
After Loveless
In 1992, My Bloody Valentine signed with Island Records. They used the money to build a home studio in London. But the studio had many problems. Shields was also said to be having trouble writing new songs.
Debbie Googe and Colm Ó Cíosóig left the band in 1995. Shields and Bilinda Butcher tried to record a third album. Shields said it would be out in 1998, but My Bloody Valentine broke up in 1997. Shields became very focused on his work, and some compared him to other musicians who became very private.
Fans thought there was a lot of unreleased music. Shields later said that at least one full album of "half-finished" songs was left behind. He felt it didn't have the right "spirit."
Working with Others (1997–2006)
After My Bloody Valentine broke up, Shields worked with many other artists. He played guitar for Experimental Audio Research and Dinosaur Jr. He also produced and mixed music for bands like Curve and Manic Street Preachers.
From 1998 to 2006, Shields often worked with Primal Scream. He played guitar, produced, and mixed songs on their albums XTRMNTR (2000) and Evil Heat (2002). Primal Scream's singer, Bobby Gillespie, said Shields brings a unique sound.
Music for Film
In 2003, Shields wrote four songs for the film Lost in Translation. He started working on the music after being contacted by the film's music coordinator. He created ambient pieces like "Goodbye" and "Ikebana."
His work on the soundtrack earned him nominations for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award and an Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) award.
In 2008, Shields released a live album with American musician Patti Smith called The Coral Sea. It featured Smith reading her book over Shields' music.
My Bloody Valentine Returns (2007–Present)
In August 2007, news came out that My Bloody Valentine would reunite for the 2008 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Shields confirmed this and said their third album was almost done.
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 October 2011, Shields started his own record label, Pickpocket. In May 2012, remastered versions of Isn't Anything and Loveless were released. A collection of their EPs and singles, EP's 1988–1991, also came out.
New Album m b v
In November 2012, Shields said My Bloody Valentine's third album would be released online soon. The album, m b v, was finally released on 2 February 2013. So many people tried to download it that their website crashed!
Critics praised m b v, and the band started a new world tour. Shields has said he plans to release more new music from My Bloody Valentine in the future.
In April 2018, Shields released a song called The Weight Of History / Only Once Away My Son with Brian Eno. In June 2023, he helped create the Fender Shields Blender, a guitar effect pedal.
His Artistry
Music Influences
Shields has said The Beatles and the Ramones are his favorite bands. When he moved to Ireland, he liked the energy of glam rock. He said Johnny Ramone inspired him to play guitar, seeing him as a "noise generator."
Other guitarists he admired include Keith Levene from Public Image Ltd and Geordie Walker from Killing Joke. He was also influenced by hip hop music, especially Public Enemy. Later, he admired The Beach Boys and modern artists like Tame Impala.
Guitar Sound and Techniques
Shields' guitar sound is very unique and a key part of My Bloody Valentine's music. He uses "texture more than technique" to create rich soundscapes. He is considered one of the greatest guitarists.
He changed his Fender Jaguar and Jazzmaster guitars. He made the tremolo arm longer and looser. This allowed him to bend notes a lot while strumming, creating a "strange warping effect."
One of his famous effects is digital reverse reverb. With his tremolo use and distortion, he created the "glide guitar" technique. His setup includes many effects pedals and amplifiers set to high volume.
During live shows, especially for the song "You Made Me Realise," Shields creates a loud blend of white noise. It can last for half an hour and be very loud, sometimes reaching 130 decibels. He said they liked seeing the audience react to the intense sound.
Impact on Music
Shields' sound and performances have influenced many musicians. Billy Corgan, J Mascis, and Greg Puciato have all said he inspired them.
Living Colour's Vernon Reid said, "Kevin Shields achieved something on Loveless that only the great guitarists achieve: he created his own sound."
Personal Life
Health Notes
Kevin Shields has mild dyslexia. He also has "mild to extreme" tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears. He got tinnitus while mixing the album Loveless in 1991. He has learned to live with it, saying it helps filter unwanted sounds.
He also has tendonitis in his left hand since 1988. He says the discomfort goes away when he gets lost in the music.
Views on the Music Business
Shields has often spoken about problems in the music industry. He said that Sony Music Entertainment tried to hide My Bloody Valentine's original recordings. He believes they did this to delay the release of EP's 1988–1991 (2012). He even threatened to involve the police, and then the tapes "magically" reappeared.
He thinks the record industry needs to change. Because of this, My Bloody Valentine's third album, m b v (2013), was released by the band themselves. He said it was great to release it without big companies, but it made the album a bit expensive.
In 2013, he said the Mercury Prize organizers "banned" m b v from their awards list. He believed it was because the album wasn't available on major digital stores like Amazon or iTunes. He felt that because it was independent, they were told it wasn't a "real record."
Family Life
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Shields and Bilinda Butcher were in a relationship. His brother Jimi was a drummer for the band Rollerskate Skinny. His sister Ann Marie has worked in the music industry, managing tours for My Bloody Valentine. His youngest sister, Eileen, is a shoe designer.
Discography
- Kevin Shields
- The Coral Sea (with Patti Smith) (2008)
- My Bloody Valentine
- Isn't Anything (1988)
- Loveless (1991)
- m b v (2013)
