Jim Ward | |
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![]() Jim Ward in 2006 |
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Background information | |
Birth name | James David Ward |
Born | September 19, 1976 |
Origin | El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
Genres | Alternative rock, Post-hardcore, Art punk, Indie rock, Alternative country |
Occupations | Musician, Vocalist, Guitarist |
Instruments | Vocals, Guitar, Piano/Keyboards |
Years active | 1993–present |
Associated acts | Sparta Sleepercar At the Drive-In |
James David Ward (born September 19, 1976) is an American musician. A self-taught guitarist and pianist, he was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the band Sparta; he is also the co-founder of the seminal post-hardcore band At the Drive-In, which he formed in 1993 when he was 17 years old.
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While in At the Drive-In, Ward played rhythm guitar and sang backup vocals, as well as playing piano and keyboards on select songs. He performed lead vocals on one track, entitled "Hourglass", and sang co-lead with lead vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala on a number of tracks. Using the money from his college savings, he created the label "Western Breed Records" specifically to release Hell Paso and Alfaro Vive, Carajo!, At the Drive-in's first two releases. After the demise of At the Drive-In, Ward has stated that he is happy with the break-up, that he started the band when he was 17, and felt like he was always 17 while in the band. On January 9, 2012, it was announced that At the Drive-In were reforming.[1]
After the fall of At the Drive-In, Ward did not have the intentions of starting Sparta. His first plans included going back to college[2] and enjoying himself in his new marriage. Eventually, former At the Drive-In members Tony Hajjar and Paul Hinojos asked Ward if he would like to be a part of their new project. Ward joined the group as the lead vocalist and guitar player. The band wrote nearly nine songs in their first week of rehearsal, with all members incorporating ideas and lyrics. Ward cites Radiohead and Billy Joel as influences for his song-writing during this period, which led to Ward incorporating more piano in Sparta (despite his informal knowledge of the instrument).[3]
Ward was born in El Paso, Texas. He is a 1994 graduate of El Paso High School and has been married to his wife Kristine since March 2001.
During the years spent with At the Drive-In, Ward has used different guitars and amps, and several keyboards. The following list collects some of the equipment Ward has performed with in At the Drive-In.
Guitars
Amplifiers
Ward uses several different guitars and amplifiers while performing with Sparta. Since the equipment Ward uses changes from tour to tour, the following is a list of some of the equipment he has been seen using.
Guitars
Amplifiers
He has an alternative country sideproject called Sleepercar, where he also plays guitar and sings lead vocals.
Ward also wrote for the El Paso weekly alternative magazine What's Up, in a column entitled "From the End of this Pen".
Ward now co-owns a bar in El Paso, TX which he opened in 2009. It is called Hope and Anchor.
Ward's main outlet for news is his co-owned, newly improved website, Tembloroso. The website was redesigned, and reopened on February 14, 2011. It also features his new blog.
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James Ward may refer to:
James M. Ward (born May 23, 1951), is an American game designer and fantasy author. He is most well known for his game development and writing work for TSR, Inc., where he worked for more than 20 years.
James Ward married his wife Janean in the early 1970s, and they have three sons together, Breck, James, and Theon.
James "Jim" Ward (March 2, 1855 – June 4, 1886) was a Major League Baseball player. Ward played for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1876.
Ward was born and died in Boston, Massachusetts.
He was one of the first five Boston natives to play Major League Baseball. This included John Morrill (1876), George Fair (1876), Ward (1876), John Bergh (1876), and Chub Sullivan (1877).