Jason Cruz

Jason Alexander Cruz (born February 6, 1974) is the lead singer and lyricist of punk band, Strung Out, which formed in 1989 when he was 15 years old. He is also an artist, and a poet and fronts his roots Americana band 'Jason Cruz and Howl'. His personal website showcases his various forms of original artwork (paintings as well as graphic design and photography).

Early life

Cruz grew up in and around Los Angeles. He focused his energies on art and creative writing in school and began playing with Strung Out in 1991 in Southern California.

Jason's major influences include classic artists such as Tom Waits, Jimi Hendrix, Hank Williams Sr,William Burroughs Charles Bukowski and Bob Dylan and visual artists Robert Mcginnis and Jean-Michel Basquiat. He has said that he was influenced by the desert, dirt road swap meets and the melancholy music that his mother used to listen to when he was growing up, The first concert he ever went to was Depeche Mode in 1986 when he was 12 years old then graduated to punk rock shows and skateboarding.