Pepper Keenan
Encyclopedia
Pepper J. Keenan is an American vocalist
and guitarist
, best known for his work with heavy metal
bands Corrosion of Conformity
and Down
. He joined Corrosion of Conformity in 1989, but did not become the lead singer until the recording of Deliverance
in 1994. In 1991 he formed Down with Phil Anselmo
of Pantera
, Jimmy Bower
of Eyehategod
, and Kirk Windstein
and Todd Strange
of Crowbar.
but now lives in New Orleans
, where he owns a bar named "Le Bon Temps Roule." His father, a former musician, is a local real estate appraiser in New Orleans. While developing his playing style in New Orleans, Pepper served as a member of local band Graveyard Rodeo, and met and became friends with Corrosion of Conformity during their frequent shows at the infamous Franklin Avenue VFW Hall in New Orleans. Keenan became the father of a daughter named Flannery Rose Keenan, with his long time girlfriend Anna Hrnjak on January 5, 2010.
in 1989. Corrosion of Conformity released their third album called Blind
with Keenan on rhythm guitar. After Karl Agell and Phil Swisher
left the band (Swisher being replaced by original bassist Mike Dean
), Keenan took over on cantado and guitar. Corrosion of Conformity have since released the albums Deliverance
, Wiseblood, America's Volume Dealer
, Live Volume
and In the Arms of God
. From 2006 to 2010, Corrosion of Conformity had been on hiatus. The band has since reunited and also Keenan has not left from the band. However, a possibility of Keenan re-joining C.O.C. remains, according to a message dated 15 May 2010 on the official C.O.C. website.
in 1991 with Phil Anselmo
of Pantera
, Jimmy Bower
of Eyehategod
, Kirk Windstein
and Todd Strange
of Crowbar. In 1995, Down released their debut album, NOLA
. Down went on hiatus in 1996 but returned three years later with Pantera bassist Rex Brown
replacing Todd Strange. In 2002, Down released their second album Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow
. Following a second hiatus, Down released their third album entitled Down III: Over the Under
in 2007. They are currently recording their fourth album to be released sometime in 2011.
's cover of the Lynyrd Skynyrd
song "Tuesday's Gone". He also recorded a number of other songs in the same session, but this was the only one given a general release (on the album Garage Inc.
), the others only being available as bootlegs
. Keenan is good friends with lead singer and guitarist James Hetfield
. Hetfield provided backing vocals on "Man or Ash" from Corrosion of Conformity
's Wiseblood album. Keenan auditioned for Metallica's vacant bass player position following Jason Newsted
's departure from the band but lost out to former Suicidal Tendencies
/Ozzy Osbourne
bassist Robert Trujillo
. Keenan's audition is shown in the Metallica documentary Some Kind of Monster
.
In addition to his contribution to the song 'Tuesdays Gone' Pepper also appeared with Metallica onstage at the Download Festival in Donington, England in 2006 along with Matt Heafy of Trivium
to provide additional vocals on the song "Die, Die My Darling
" (a Misfits cover). This song was played at the end of Metallica's headlining set and also appears on the album 'Garage Inc'.
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, best known for his work with heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands Corrosion of Conformity
Corrosion of Conformity
Corrosion of Conformity is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina formed in 1982. For almost the majority of its existence, the band has consisted of guitarist Woody Weatherman, bassist Mike Dean , drummer Reed Mullin and vocalist and rhythm...
and Down
Down (band)
Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...
. He joined Corrosion of Conformity in 1989, but did not become the lead singer until the recording of Deliverance
Deliverance (Corrosion of Conformity album)
Deliverance is the fourth album by Corrosion of Conformity, and the first on which Pepper Keenan was lead singer. By this album, the band had completely shed their punk and thrash influences, instead opting for Black Sabbath-inspired heavy metal style. "Clean My Wounds" was a radio hit. The UK's...
in 1994. In 1991 he formed Down with Phil Anselmo
Phil Anselmo
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....
of Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
, Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower is an American sludge/heavy metal guitarist and drummer who has played with six bands, most notably Eyehategod, Crowbar, Down, and Superjoint Ritual....
of Eyehategod
Eyehategod
Eyehategod is an American sludge metal band from New Orleans who formed in 1988. They have become one of the most well known bands to emerge from the NOLA metal scene...
, and Kirk Windstein
Kirk Windstein
Kirk Windstein is an English-American sludge metal singer and guitarist for the New Orleans bands Crowbar, Down, and Kingdom of Sorrow....
and Todd Strange
Todd Strange
Todd Strange is the bassist who played on the first Down album NOLA and with Crowbar. Forming Crowbar with Kirk Windstein , Matt Thomas and Craig Nunenmacher , they released the best-selling albums of the band's discography...
of Crowbar.
Personal life
Keenan was born in Oxford, MississippiOxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
but now lives in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, where he owns a bar named "Le Bon Temps Roule." His father, a former musician, is a local real estate appraiser in New Orleans. While developing his playing style in New Orleans, Pepper served as a member of local band Graveyard Rodeo, and met and became friends with Corrosion of Conformity during their frequent shows at the infamous Franklin Avenue VFW Hall in New Orleans. Keenan became the father of a daughter named Flannery Rose Keenan, with his long time girlfriend Anna Hrnjak on January 5, 2010.
Corrosion of Conformity
Keenan joined Corrosion of ConformityCorrosion of Conformity
Corrosion of Conformity is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina formed in 1982. For almost the majority of its existence, the band has consisted of guitarist Woody Weatherman, bassist Mike Dean , drummer Reed Mullin and vocalist and rhythm...
in 1989. Corrosion of Conformity released their third album called Blind
Blind (Corrosion of Conformity album)
Blind is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Corrosion of Conformity. It was released in 1991 on Relativity Records. This was the only COC album with Karl Agell and Phil Swisher....
with Keenan on rhythm guitar. After Karl Agell and Phil Swisher
Phil Swisher
Philip "Phil" Swisher is a former American bassist for hardcore punk/sludge metal band Corrosion of Conformity, and stoner rock band Leadfoot. He also played lead guitar for hardcore punk bands Unicef and Blood Bath.-Joining Corrosion of Conformity :In 1989, Swisher joined Corrosion of Conformity,...
left the band (Swisher being replaced by original bassist Mike Dean
Mike Dean (musician)
Mike Dean is the bassist for American metal band Corrosion of Conformity. He sang on the band's early recordings from their crossover thrash era before leaving the band in 1987. In 1989 Dean, along with C.O.C. guitarist Woody Weatherman and artist Brian Walsby on drums, released the Snake Nation...
), Keenan took over on cantado and guitar. Corrosion of Conformity have since released the albums Deliverance
Deliverance (Corrosion of Conformity album)
Deliverance is the fourth album by Corrosion of Conformity, and the first on which Pepper Keenan was lead singer. By this album, the band had completely shed their punk and thrash influences, instead opting for Black Sabbath-inspired heavy metal style. "Clean My Wounds" was a radio hit. The UK's...
, Wiseblood, America's Volume Dealer
America's Volume Dealer
America's Volume Dealer is the sixth album by Corrosion of Conformity and was released Sep 26, 2000. This was the last album to feature longtime drummer Reed Mullin for 9 years until his return in 2010.-Track listing:...
, Live Volume
Live Volume
Live Volume is a live album released by sludge metal band Corrosion of Conformity on August 7, 2001. It was recorded on April 20, 2001, at Harpo's in Detroit, MI.-Track listing:#These Shrouded Temples - 4:34#Diablo Blvd...
and In the Arms of God
In the Arms of God
In the Arms of God is the seventh studio album by Corrosion of Conformity and was released April 5, 2005. So far, it is the only Corrosion of Conformity album to not feature drummer Reed Mullin...
. From 2006 to 2010, Corrosion of Conformity had been on hiatus. The band has since reunited and also Keenan has not left from the band. However, a possibility of Keenan re-joining C.O.C. remains, according to a message dated 15 May 2010 on the official C.O.C. website.
Down
Keenan formed DownDown (band)
Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...
in 1991 with Phil Anselmo
Phil Anselmo
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....
of Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
, Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower is an American sludge/heavy metal guitarist and drummer who has played with six bands, most notably Eyehategod, Crowbar, Down, and Superjoint Ritual....
of Eyehategod
Eyehategod
Eyehategod is an American sludge metal band from New Orleans who formed in 1988. They have become one of the most well known bands to emerge from the NOLA metal scene...
, Kirk Windstein
Kirk Windstein
Kirk Windstein is an English-American sludge metal singer and guitarist for the New Orleans bands Crowbar, Down, and Kingdom of Sorrow....
and Todd Strange
Todd Strange
Todd Strange is the bassist who played on the first Down album NOLA and with Crowbar. Forming Crowbar with Kirk Windstein , Matt Thomas and Craig Nunenmacher , they released the best-selling albums of the band's discography...
of Crowbar. In 1995, Down released their debut album, NOLA
NOLA (album)
- Band members :* Phil Anselmo - vocals, guitar on "Pray for the Locust", mandolin on "Jail"* Pepper Keenan - guitar* Kirk Windstein - guitar, bass* Jimmy Bower - drums- Guest musicians :...
. Down went on hiatus in 1996 but returned three years later with Pantera bassist Rex Brown
Rex Brown
Rex Robert Brown is an American heavy metal bassist. A former member of Down, he is most famous as the longtime bassist for the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling band Pantera.-Pantera:...
replacing Todd Strange. In 2002, Down released their second album Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow
Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow
*The song "Ghosts Along The Mississippi" takes its title from a book by photographer Clarence John Laughlin, whose photographs were used extensively in the booklet art for NOLA....
. Following a second hiatus, Down released their third album entitled Down III: Over the Under
Down III: Over the Under
-Notes:*Track 13 is a bonus track included with the UK version of the album. On the packaging of the UK album, however, the song is not mentioned, and is thus effectively a hidden track. It was also available on the Japanese pressing through Roadrunner Records Japan....
in 2007. They are currently recording their fourth album to be released sometime in 2011.
Metallica
Keenan plays guitar and sings a part of the second verse on MetallicaMetallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
's cover of the Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
song "Tuesday's Gone". He also recorded a number of other songs in the same session, but this was the only one given a general release (on the album Garage Inc.
Garage Inc.
-Disc two:These tracks are a collection of B-sides from artists Metallica were inspired by, throughout the early years of the band.-Personnel:* James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar on "Whiskey In the Jar"...
), the others only being available as bootlegs
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
. Keenan is good friends with lead singer and guitarist James Hetfield
James Hetfield
James Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,...
. Hetfield provided backing vocals on "Man or Ash" from Corrosion of Conformity
Corrosion of Conformity
Corrosion of Conformity is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina formed in 1982. For almost the majority of its existence, the band has consisted of guitarist Woody Weatherman, bassist Mike Dean , drummer Reed Mullin and vocalist and rhythm...
's Wiseblood album. Keenan auditioned for Metallica's vacant bass player position following Jason Newsted
Jason Newsted
Jason Curtis Newsted is an American bassist known for his work with Metallica, Voivod and Flotsam and Jetsam. Joining Metallica in 1986 after Cliff Burton's death, Newsted remained a member until 2001, making him the band's longest-serving bassist...
's departure from the band but lost out to former Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
/Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
bassist Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo is an American bassist who currently plays bass in Metallica. He has also played in Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society, and with Jerry Cantrell and Ozzy Osbourne.-Career:...
. Keenan's audition is shown in the Metallica documentary Some Kind of Monster
Some Kind of Monster (film)
Some Kind of Monster is a 2004 documentary film featuring the American heavy metal band Metallica. It shares its name with the song "Some Kind of Monster" from Metallica's 2003 album St. Anger....
.
In addition to his contribution to the song 'Tuesdays Gone' Pepper also appeared with Metallica onstage at the Download Festival in Donington, England in 2006 along with Matt Heafy of Trivium
Trivium (band)
Trivium is an American heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has released five studio albums, eleven singles, and twelve music videos...
to provide additional vocals on the song "Die, Die My Darling
Die, Die My Darling
-Band:* Glenn Danzig - vocals* Doyle - guitar* Jerry Only - bass guitar* Arthur Googy - drums on "Die, Die My Darling"* Robo - drums on "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?" and "We Bite"-Metallica version:...
" (a Misfits cover). This song was played at the end of Metallica's headlining set and also appears on the album 'Garage Inc'.
Guitars
- ESP Custom Shop Vipers
- ESP Custom Shop Baritone Viper
- Gibson ES-335
- Gibson Firebird Custom (Download Festival 2009)
- Gibson SG Deluxe model
- Gibson Flying V (used in Stone Breaker music video)
- Gibson Les Paul Gold Top (2008 Down Tour)
- Fender Stratocaster Custom Shop
- Fender Telecaster (used in Stone The Crow Music Video)
Pedalboard
- Sony wireless system
- Electro Harmonix POG
- Electro Harmonix Big Muff
- Electro Harmonix Holy Grail
- Electro Harmonix Small Stone
- Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer
- Custom Audio Electronics RS-10
- CAE midi Controller
- Rocktron Intellifex Multieffect
- MXR Phase 90
- MXR Stereo Flanger
- MXR 10 band Equalizer
- T-Rex Delay
- Boss OD-1
- Korg Tuner Pedal
- Dunlop Crybaby
- Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2
Amplifiers
- Mesa Boogie 50 Caliber Heads
- Mesa Boogie 4x12 Cabinets
- Marshall JCM800 2203 Heads
- Marshall 4x12 Cabinets
- Orange Rockerverb 100
Corrosion of Conformity albums
| Date of release | Title | Label | Chart positions | US sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 17, 1991 | Blind Blind (Corrosion of Conformity album) Blind is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Corrosion of Conformity. It was released in 1991 on Relativity Records. This was the only COC album with Karl Agell and Phil Swisher.... |
Relativity Records | ||
| November 27, 1994 | Deliverance Deliverance (Corrosion of Conformity album) Deliverance is the fourth album by Corrosion of Conformity, and the first on which Pepper Keenan was lead singer. By this album, the band had completely shed their punk and thrash influences, instead opting for Black Sabbath-inspired heavy metal style. "Clean My Wounds" was a radio hit. The UK's... |
Columbia Records Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
155 | |
| October 12, 1996 | Wiseblood | 104 | ||
| October 10, 2000 | America's Volume Dealer America's Volume Dealer America's Volume Dealer is the sixth album by Corrosion of Conformity and was released Sep 26, 2000. This was the last album to feature longtime drummer Reed Mullin for 9 years until his return in 2010.-Track listing:... (Available as Dualdisc DualDisc DualDisc was a type of double-sided optical disc product developed by a group of record companies including EMI Music, Universal Music Group, Sony/BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and 5.1 Entertainment Group and later under the aegis of the Recording Industry Association of America... ) |
Sanctuary Records Sanctuary Records Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world... |
||
| August 7, 2001 | Live Volume Live Volume Live Volume is a live album released by sludge metal band Corrosion of Conformity on August 7, 2001. It was recorded on April 20, 2001, at Harpo's in Detroit, MI.-Track listing:#These Shrouded Temples - 4:34#Diablo Blvd... CD, DVD and DVDA |
|||
| April 5, 2005 | In the Arms of God In the Arms of God In the Arms of God is the seventh studio album by Corrosion of Conformity and was released April 5, 2005. So far, it is the only Corrosion of Conformity album to not feature drummer Reed Mullin... |
108 |
Down albums
| Date of release | Title | Label | US Billboard peak | US sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 19, 1995 | NOLA NOLA (album) - Band members :* Phil Anselmo - vocals, guitar on "Pray for the Locust", mandolin on "Jail"* Pepper Keenan - guitar* Kirk Windstein - guitar, bass* Jimmy Bower - drums- Guest musicians :... |
Elektra Elektra Records Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... |
57 | |
| March 26, 2002 | Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow *The song "Ghosts Along The Mississippi" takes its title from a book by photographer Clarence John Laughlin, whose photographs were used extensively in the booklet art for NOLA.... |
44 | ||
| September 25, 2007 | Down III: Over the Under Down III: Over the Under -Notes:*Track 13 is a bonus track included with the UK version of the album. On the packaging of the UK album, however, the song is not mentioned, and is thus effectively a hidden track. It was also available on the Japanese pressing through Roadrunner Records Japan.... |
Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies... |
26 | |
| TBA | Down IV |