Sean Kelly (Canadian musician)
Encyclopedia
Sean Kelly is a Canadian musician, currently playing guitar
in the band with Nelly Furtado
. He founded the Toronto
-based glam rock
band Crash Kelly, and is the band's lead singer and guitarist. Kelly was a member of Canadian rock band Helix
, playing bass guitar
. He stayed with them for most of 2009 at which time joined Furtado's band on guitar. He is also guitarist for the Toronto rock group 69 Duster, which he co-founded with the ex-singer for Images in Vogue
, Dale Martindale
. He has done session guitar work for other bands as well, including Neil Leyton
's 2003 album, Midnight Sun, and was a member of Jeff Pearce
's band Rye. Kelly has also collaborated with Gilby Clarke
, Rough Trade
, Rudy Sarzo
, Coney Hatch
, and The Canadian Brass.
in the US and Quireboys in the UK.
The group name, Crash Kelly, is a reference to the nickname of an uncle, who acquired it as an AHL
player hockey all over the northern states (including a long stint in Pennsylvania). “Crash” Kelly was known as a tough player, and an enforcer on the ice. The film Slap Shot
was based loosely on the antics of this league. Sean's uncle's team the Johnstown Jets
was said to have been an inspiration for some of the movie which was partly filmed on location in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
. Crash Kelly have opened for artists such as The Black Crowes
and Alice Cooper
, and have had their songs featured on Bam Margera
's MTV
program Unholy Union
.
Sean Kelly, as one of the producers of Crash Kelly's album Penny Pills, was a finalist for Best Album at the 2004 Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards.
He has received formal training in classical guitar from Eli Kassner
, and has worked as a music teacher in the Toronto Catholic District School Board
and received his Bachelor of Education degree from Nipissing University. His influences include classic Kiss
, Cheap Trick
, and T.Rex. In addition to his musical career, Sean is a regular participant in the Blatt Comedy Troupe which tours locally around Toronto.
. Kelly joined as their new bass player, alongside original vocalist Brian Vollmer, and longtime guitarist Brent Doerner. Kelly co-wrote and co-produced the 2009 Helix album Vagabond Bones
He stayed with Helix until fall 2009 when he joined Nelly Furtado
on guitar for his first show in Mexico City
. The departure was amicable according to Vollmer: "I give Sean my blessings, no worries. As long as we continue to write together, I am happy." Since departing Helix, Kelly has co-produced and played on their 2010 release, Smash Hits...Unplugged!
.
was attended by 165,000 fans. It was followed by an appearance on the The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
in Los Angeles
. Kelly then headed to Europe
for a series of acoustic shows. He has continued to tour with Furtado through 2010.
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
in the band with Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
. He founded the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-based glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band Crash Kelly, and is the band's lead singer and guitarist. Kelly was a member of Canadian rock band Helix
Helix (band)
Helix are a Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don...
, playing bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. He stayed with them for most of 2009 at which time joined Furtado's band on guitar. He is also guitarist for the Toronto rock group 69 Duster, which he co-founded with the ex-singer for Images in Vogue
Images in Vogue
Images in Vogue was a Canadian New Wave group in the 1980s.The band was formed in 1981 in Vancouver, and originally consisted of vocalist Dale Martindale, guitarist Don Gordon , synth players Joe Vizvary and Glen Nelson, bassist Gary Smith and percussionist Kevin Crompton...
, Dale Martindale
Dale Martindale
Dale Martindale , is a Canadian born vocalist best known as the lead singer for the New Wave music band Images in Vogue. In addition to his work with Images in vogue, Dale Martindale has had several side projects, including 69 Duster and Primary as well as Pretty Volume and numerous solo...
. He has done session guitar work for other bands as well, including Neil Leyton
Neil Leyton
Neil Leyton is a Portuguese-Canadian singer and guitarist born in Lisbon. He has lived and played music in Toronto, London, and Stockholm.He was a founding member and songwriter in Canadian art-glam indie project The Conscience Pilate from 1995–1998, beginning a solo career in 1999. He is also the...
's 2003 album, Midnight Sun, and was a member of Jeff Pearce
Jeff Pearce
Jeff Pearce is a Canadian musician. He is best known as the bassist of the 90s group Moist, and as the singer/guitarist of the group Rye.He is currently regional director of Rock the Stars, a Toronto-based team building company....
's band Rye. Kelly has also collaborated with Gilby Clarke
Gilby Clarke
Gilbert "Gilby" Clarke is an American guitarist and record producer best known for a 3-year tenure as the rhythm guitarist of Guns N' Roses, replacing Izzy Stradlin in 1991 during the Use Your Illusion Tour...
, Rough Trade
Rough Trade
Rough Trade may refer to:*Rough Trade Records, a record label*Rough Trade , linked but independent London record stores*Rough Trade , a Canadian new wave rock band*Rough Trade , an episode of American Dad!...
, Rudy Sarzo
Rudy Sarzo
Rudy Sarzo is a Cuban American hard rock/heavy metal bassist. Sarzo has played with many well known heavy metal acts including Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Manic Eden, Dio and Blue Öyster Cult.-Early life:...
, Coney Hatch
Coney Hatch
Coney Hatch is a Canadian hard rock band who released 3 albums in the 1980s. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Carl Dixon who would also go on to play with April Wine and a Burton Cummings-less Guess Who for several years, as well as touring solo and releasing...
, and The Canadian Brass.
Career
Crash Kelly signed a multi-album deal with Liquor and Poker Music in 2004. They have toured internationally with Backyard BabiesBackyard Babies
Backyard Babies are a rock band, from Nässjö, Sweden. The band was formed in 1987 and over the years they have released five studio albums and won a Swedish Grammy. The band is now located in Stockholm, Sweden....
in the US and Quireboys in the UK.
The group name, Crash Kelly, is a reference to the nickname of an uncle, who acquired it as an AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
player hockey all over the northern states (including a long stint in Pennsylvania). “Crash” Kelly was known as a tough player, and an enforcer on the ice. The film Slap Shot
Slap Shot (film)
Slap Shot is a 1977 film comedy starring Paul Newman and Michael Ontkean directed by George Roy Hill. It depicts a minor league hockey team that resorts to violent play to gain popularity in a declining factory town.- Plot :...
was based loosely on the antics of this league. Sean's uncle's team the Johnstown Jets
Johnstown Jets
The Johnstown Jets were a professional ice hockey team from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The Jets were founded in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League for the 1950–51 season, playing at the newly constructed Cambria County War Memorial Arena...
was said to have been an inspiration for some of the movie which was partly filmed on location in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
. Crash Kelly have opened for artists such as The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
and Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, and have had their songs featured on Bam Margera
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
's MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
program Unholy Union
Bam's Unholy Union
Bam's Unholy Union is an American reality series that aired on MTV and MTV Canada. It follows Bam Margera and his fiancee Missy Rothstein as they plan their wedding...
.
Sean Kelly, as one of the producers of Crash Kelly's album Penny Pills, was a finalist for Best Album at the 2004 Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards.
He has received formal training in classical guitar from Eli Kassner
Eli Kassner
Eli Kassner is a Canadian guitar teacher and musician.Eli Kassner studied guitar in Vienna and Israel prior to moving to Canada in 1951. He performed until 1967....
, and has worked as a music teacher in the Toronto Catholic District School Board
Toronto Catholic District School Board
The Toronto Catholic District School Board is the publicly-funded Catholic school board for Toronto, Ontario, Canada, headquartered in North York. It is one of the two English boards of education in the City of Toronto, serving the former municipalities of Scarborough, North York, York, East York,...
and received his Bachelor of Education degree from Nipissing University. His influences include classic Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
, and T.Rex. In addition to his musical career, Sean is a regular participant in the Blatt Comedy Troupe which tours locally around Toronto.
With Helix
In February 2009, Kelly joined London, Ontario based rock band HelixHelix (band)
Helix are a Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don...
. Kelly joined as their new bass player, alongside original vocalist Brian Vollmer, and longtime guitarist Brent Doerner. Kelly co-wrote and co-produced the 2009 Helix album Vagabond Bones
Vagabond Bones
Vagabond Bones is a studio album by heavy metal band Helix, released on November 17, 2009. It is Helix' 12th full length studio album and 21st album released overall. It contains performances from members of the 80's Helix lineup: Brian Vollmer, Brent Doerner, Daryl Gray, and Greg Hinz, as well...
He stayed with Helix until fall 2009 when he joined Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
on guitar for his first show in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. The departure was amicable according to Vollmer: "I give Sean my blessings, no worries. As long as we continue to write together, I am happy." Since departing Helix, Kelly has co-produced and played on their 2010 release, Smash Hits...Unplugged!
Smash Hits...Unplugged!
Smash Hits...Unplugged! is an acoustic studio album by the heavy metal band Helix. It was released in November 2010 via the band's official site and at shows, with a wider release via EMI in January 2011. It is composed of acoustic versions of Helix hits from albums past as well as a new cover...
.
With Nelly Furtado
Sean Kelly's first show with Furtado in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
was attended by 165,000 fans. It was followed by an appearance on the The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show that featured Conan O'Brien as host from June 1, 2009 to January 22, 2010 as part of NBC's long-running Tonight Show franchise...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Kelly then headed to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for a series of acoustic shows. He has continued to tour with Furtado through 2010.
Solo
- 2007: The #1 Classical Guitar Album (Universal Music GroupUniversal Music GroupUniversal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
) - 2008: Christmas Guitar (Universal Music Group)
With Crash Kelly
- 2003: Penny Pills
- 2005: Electric Satisfaction
- 2008: One more heart attack