6/14/2023 0 Comments A perfect circle![]() Howerdel formed a band to promote the record, touring throughout 2008. In addition to Freese and Keenan, the record also includes contributions from drummer Dean Sainz, Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano, Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba, and former APC bassist Paz Lenchantin. The record features a guest cello performance on the track "Sword" by Devo Keenan, Maynard's son. The project's first single, " The Stone", made its radio premiere on January 22, 2008, and the full album, titled Keep Telling Myself It's Alright, followed on April 8. He handled nearly all instruments in the studio, except drums, for which he recruited session musician Josh Freese. Keep Telling Myself It's Alright Īs he put together more songs, Howerdel named his project Ashes Divide (stylised as ASHES dIVIDE) and began recording an album. ![]() Once Emotive was completed, APC went on hiatus, while Howerdel continued to write new material. Keenan pushed Howerdel to sing lead vocals on a few of the songs, to "get people used to voice", and to help Howerdel transition to the role of primary singer in his solo work. Shortly after Thirteenth Step, APC decided to quickly throw together a collection of anti-war cover songs just prior to the 2004 United States presidential election, entitled Emotive. Additionally, the APC demo "Army" was eventually reworked into Howerdel's own "The Stone". Rough versions of three or four songs were written during that era, including the track "Stripped Away", which was even played at soundchecks at A Perfect Circle (APC) concerts while supporting the album. ![]() Howerdel first began working on solo material during the writing sessions for Thirteenth Step, in 2003. Howerdel performing as Ashes Divide in 2008Īlternative rock, hard rock, progressive rock The record, released in September 2003, was still a success, going platinum as well, though the two decided to take a break from the band, so that Keenan could return to Tool, and Howerdel could pursue solo work. However, complications arose: Keenan could not commit all of his time to the band, still fronting Tool, and over time, he began to be more and more involved in the creative process of the music, leading to disagreements on the musical direction for the second A Perfect Circle album, Thirteenth Step. ![]() Their debut album, Mer de Noms, released in May 2000, went platinum in the US, selling over one million copies by the end of the year. In 1999, Howerdel founded A Perfect Circle and invited Keenan to join. Despite originally considering a female vocalist, Howerdel would eventually accept Keenan's offer. During this time, Howerdel played Keenan some of his songs, and Keenan offered to sing if Howerdel ever decided to form a band. Howerdel functioned as a guitar technician for Tool during the tour and recording of Ænima, working with Maynard James Keenan, whom he met in 1992. Recording career Early work and A Perfect Circle Howerdel spent several years sound engineering for New Jersey artists and further worked as a guitar technician for numerous others, which, before forming A Perfect Circle, included Faith No More, Fishbone, David Bowie, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Guns N' Roses, and Tool. Stephen Porcello, the high school teacher who was the adviser for this program, took Howerdel to New York City and helped him select his first electric guitar. This program gave him the foundation for his post-high school audio-technical pursuits and eventually led to his high-profile guitar technician positions. He attended high school at West Milford High School, where he played sports, took an interest in a television production class, and was active in an extracurricular audio program. Howerdel has recorded six studio albums across his career: four with A Perfect Circle, one under the moniker Ashes Divide, and one under his own name. Billy Howerdel (born May 18, 1970) is an American musician, best known as a founding member, guitarist, backing vocalist, songwriter, and producer for the band A Perfect Circle, as well as for his former solo project, Ashes Divide.
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