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Howard Jones (American singer)

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Howard Jones
Jones in 2018
Jones in 2018
Background information
Born (1970-07-20) July 20, 1970 (age 55)[1]
OriginColumbus, Ohio, U.S.[2]
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1996–present
Member of
Formerly of

Howard Jones (born July 20, 1970) is an American heavy metal and metalcore vocalist best known as the former lead singer of Killswitch Engage and Blood Has Been Shed. He is the current vocalist of Light the Torch, formerly known as Devil You Know, and SION with YouTuber/guitarist Jared Dines.

Jones' vocal performances have been described as "emotive and strident", and he has been referred to as "one of metalcore's finest singers".[3]

Career

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Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970, Jones was metalhead growing up. With his classmates viewing him as an outcast but was cool by friends. He often searched for underground bands to invest in. During his school days he was always listening to something while walking down the halls. If someone approached Jones, he would discuss music until he shared what was on his mind. His exploration of music eventually led him to the band Driven in 1996.[4]

Jones started making music in the underground band Driven in 1996, releasing a single album. He later performed with Blood Has Been Shed from 1997 to 2004. During this time Jones began to masters his growls while discovering his impressive singing abilities. In 2002, he joined Killswitch Engage as their new vocalist after Jesse Leach left the band. During his time with Killswitch Engage, they released two gold-certified albums, The End of Heartache and As Daylight Dies, as well as a second self-titled album. (As Daylight Dies has since been certified Platinum in 2021) These albums really showed Jones full ability of his singing. Using his colossal voice alongside his blistering screams. Jones left the band after nearly ten years in 2012, but remained a close friend. He would go on to collaborate with them again for the single "The Signal Fire" from their album Atonement. His later band Light the Torch would also tour with Killswitch Engage, and he would appear with the band onstage to perform the song, as well as other songs from his time with them, often as a duet alongside Leach.

Jones still makes sporadic appearances when Kill Switch Engage goes on tour. With him surprising crowds and singing alongside Leach.[5]

Jones started a new band Devil You Know with guitarist Francesco Artusato (All Shall Perish) and drummer John Sankey (Devolved, Fear Factory and Divine Heresy). After Sankey's departure and his attempt to claim the copyright of the band's name, the rest of the band members started again with a fresh name, Light the Torch, with the addition of a new drummer. So far the band has released 4 studio albums with their most recent coming being released in 2021.

In 2020 Jones released a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s song Simple man once again showing his vocal capacity. Jones rendition of the song was met with high praise from fans and critics alike.[6][7]

In March 2021, Jones joined with heavy metal YouTuber Jared Dines and producer Hiram Hernandez to release "The Blade" as part of a new project named Sion.[8]

On December 3, 2024, Jones via his Instagram confirmed that He and former Killswitch Engage bandmate Adam Dutkiewicz were almost finished mixing a Debut Album for their new band called Burn Eternal.[9] In July of 2025 Jones stated that he started working on a Solo album.[10]

Personal life

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Jones is an avid fisherman and owns property on the Red River of the North in Manitoba, Canada. He is a frequent guest on Jamey Jasta's podcast on the GaS Digital Network. Jones left Killswitch Engage in early 2012 to allow himself to manage his type 2 diabetes, which was worsened by a hectic touring lifestyle.[11] In 2014, Jones stated that his diabetes put him in a coma for three days.[12]

Jones later stated “I was going insane. It never occurred to me to get help. For years, I just tried to fight through it and I was driving those guys berserk. My anxiety was building and building, and near the end, there were a lot of times I’d sit in the back of the bus or lie in my bunk for hours on end without speaking to anyone.”

In 2015, Jones revealed that he had struggled with anxiety and depression for a long time, which had been worsened by his rise to fame in Killswitch Engage. He revealed that he had come close to committing suicide in 2009, when he had aimed a .44 Magnum revolver at his head in his apartment in Connecticut, and that the police had intervened after being notified by a concerned neighbor.[13] In 2018, he teamed up with his former band to raise awareness for mental health;[14] the resulting song "The Signal Fire" appears on the 2019 album Atonement.[15]

Although formerly straight edge,[16] Jones now shares a passion for medical cannabis with friend and fellow Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach.[14]

Discography

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Jones in 2005
Blood Has Been Shed
Killswitch Engage
Light the Torch (formerly Devil You Know)
SION
  • SION (November 26, 2021, Independent)[18]

Guest appearances

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Accomplishments

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During Jones tenure with Killswitch engage the band won a hand full of awards. With The End of Heartache winning best album at the 2004 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards along with the band being nominated for the best international act. The song The End of Heartache was also nominated for best metal performance at the Grammys in 2005.[26][27]

In 2007 Jones and Killswitch would win best international band at that years Metal Hammer Golden God Awards.[28] That same year Killswitch would win both most Outstanding Metal/Hardcore Band of the Year and Act of the Year at the Boston Music Awards. Along with their album As Daylight Dies being nominated for album of the year. Individually Jones was nominated for the National Male Vocalist of the Year.[29]

In 2014 Jones and his new band Devil you know (now known as Light the Torch) won the Best New Band award at that year’s Metal Hammer Golden God awards.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Free Birthday Database". birthdatabase.com.
  2. ^ "Howard Jones - Metal Storm". metalstorm.net. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  3. ^ DiVita, Joe (November 2, 2023). "Metalcore's 10 Best Clean Singers + 10 Best Bands Who Don't (or Barely) Use Clean Vocals". Loudwire. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  4. ^ Razin, Alexander (February 12, 2022). "Howard Jones Shakes The Metal Scene With His Monstrous Voice". The Riff. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  5. ^ Aldersladepublished, Merlin (September 23, 2024). "Watch Killswitch Engage reunite with ex-singer Howard Jones at emotional homecoming show in Massachusetts". Louder. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  6. ^ ParagonCollective (December 1, 2020). Howard Jones - Simple Man (Official Video). Retrieved August 6, 2025 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Blabbermouth (June 13, 2021). "Ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Singer HOWARD JONES Didn't Know His Version Of LYNYRD SKYNYRD's 'Simple Man' Would Be Received The Way It Was". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  8. ^ Childers, Chad (March 11, 2021). "Sion, Featuring Howard Jones + Jared Dines, Release First Song". Loudwire. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "Instagram".
  10. ^ Blabbermouth (July 19, 2025). "Former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Singer HOWARD JONES Begins Recording His Debut Solo Album". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  11. ^ "Howard Jones Explains Killswitch Engage Departure". ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  12. ^ "Howard Jones Discusses his health". metalhammer.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  13. ^ "Ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Singer HOWARD JONES Discusses Near-Suicide Attempt, Battle With Depression, Anxiety". July 8, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  14. ^ a b Nad Jankovic (April 18, 2018). "Killswitch Engage and Howard Jones team up for mental health". Archived from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  15. ^ "Watch JESSE LEACH And HOWARD JONES Face Off In KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's 'The Signal Fire' Video". Blabbermouth.net. August 20, 2019.
  16. ^ Dario (September 22, 2006). "Interview mit Killswitch Engage". www.allschools.de (in German). Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2017. [...] Howard ist in vielen belangen ein eher gelassener Typ, der seine Meinung nicht unbedingt jedem aufbindet, dass wird auch sehr deutlich wenn man auf das Thema Straight Edge zu sprechen kommt: Ich denke, dass es für mich das Richtige ist, wenn es für jemanden anders aussieht, dann ist das in Ordnung. [...] (Howard is in many respects a rather serene guy who does not necessarily tie his opinion to anyone, that is also very clear when the topic of straight edge comes: I think it's the right thing for me, if it looks different for someone, it's all right).
  17. ^ Robert Pasbani (February 14, 2014). "DEVIL YOU KNOW Announce New Album The Beauty of Destruction, Reveal Album Art & Release Date". metalinjection.net. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  18. ^ "Self titled, by SION".
  19. ^ Journal of Data Science Theory and Application. 2 (1). April 12, 2023. doi:10.32639/jasta.v2i1. ISSN 2829-4858 https://doi.org/10.32639/jasta.v2i1. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ^ "Hear Howard Jones Roar on Violent New Breed's High-Octane New Song "Bury Me"". Revolver. May 31, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  21. ^ Childers, Chad (April 30, 2021). "Crobot Ride Sinister Groove With Howard Jones on 'Kiss It Goodbye'". Loudwire. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  22. ^ "Hear Howard Jones Guest On New Eyes Set To Kill Track "Face The Rain"". ThePRP. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  23. ^ "OV SULFUR Streams "Wide Open" Featuring HOWARD JONES". Metal Injection. March 26, 2023.
  24. ^ "ONI Launch New Single "Aura" Featuring Howard Jones (Light The Torch) & Josh Gilbert (Spiritbox)". ThePRP. August 24, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  25. ^ "Crobot Launch Music Video for "Obsidian", A Song Co-Written by Howard Jones". July 19, 2024.
  26. ^ "Rock On The Net: 47th Annual Grammy Awards - 2005". www.rockonthenet.com. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  27. ^ Team, Editorial (June 9, 2004). "Metal Hammer Awards Announced, Madness Ensues". BraveWords - Where Music Lives. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  28. ^ Blabbermouth (June 12, 2007). "BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE Booed At METAL HAMMER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  29. ^ "Boston Music Awards 2007". Boston Music Awards. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  30. ^ TeamRock. "Orange Amplification Presents The Metal Hammer Golden God Awards 2014 in Association with World of Tanks". goldengods.metalhammer.co.uk. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
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