Jesse F. Keeler
Jesse F. Keeler | |
---|---|
Performing in 2009 at Wellington Square | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Jesse Frederick Keeler |
Born |
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | November 11, 1976
Genres | Rock, dance-punk, electro house |
Instruments | Bass guitar, guitar, synthesizer, vocals, drums, saxophone |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels | Teenage Riot, Ache, Sound Virus, Last Gang, Vice, 679 |
Associated acts | Death from Above 1979, MSTRKRFT, Black Cat #13, Femme Fatale, Casino Steel, Standing 8 |
Notable instruments | |
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Lucite |
Jesse Frederick Keeler (born November 11, 1976) is a Canadian musician. He is known as the bassist of Canadian dance-punk duo Death from Above 1979 and one half of the electronic music duo MSTRKRFT. In addition to singing, Keeler plays drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, and saxophone, as well as work as a producer, lending to music of a variety of styles over the course of his career, including punk, hardcore, rock, house, and electro.[1]
Biography
Keeler started off playing in a number of different Toronto-based pop punk outfits, his best known early project being Black Cat #13. They toured with The Locust and released several, now collectible, 7" records. Once Black Cat split, he formed his own 7-piece music project, Femme Fatale. Keeler recorded all 3 of the released EPs himself, which were produced by longtime friend Al Puodziukas, with whom he would later go on to form MSTRKRFT.
In 2001, Keeler had recorded three bass and drum instrumental demos which he showed roommate Sebastien Grainger, who then expressed a desire to sing on them. After trying to find a drummer with no luck, Grainger tried singing and drumming at the same time, the result of which became Death from Above 1979.
After touring extensively for 4 years with Death From Above 1979, the band took time off. In this time Keeler finished building MSTRKRFT studios in Moss Park, Toronto, and started MSTRKRFT alongside producer Al-P. On August 4, 2006, Keeler officially announced Death From Above 1979's breakup via their website, at which point he admitted the breakup had actually happened a year prior. MSTRKRFT as well as solo production and DJing as JFK were Keeler's full-time occupation until Death From Above 1979 reformed in 2011.
Working with more indie and disco influenced ideas on their first album The Looks, MSTRKRFT gradually introduced more Hip Hop and R&B influence leading to the Fist of God LP. They have performed at many major music festivals around the world, and have amassed a dedicated group of hardcore fans.
On February 5, 2011, it was officially announced via the Death From Above 1979 website that the band would be reforming. Their second album, The Physical World, was released on September 9, 2014.
In 2011, Keeler produced and composed tracks for the Mortal Kombat reboot.
Discography
Femme Fatale
- 2002 As You Sow, So Shall You Reap (EP)
- 2002 Fire Baptism (EP)
- 2004 From the Abundance of the Heart, the Mouth Speaks (EP)
Death from Above 1979
- 2002 Heads Up (EP)
- 2004 Romantic Rights EP (EP)
- 2004 You're a Woman, I'm a Machine (LP)
- 2005 Romance Bloody Romance: Remixes & B-Sides (EP)
- 2014 The Physical World (LP)
MSTRKRFT
- 2006 "Easy Love" (single)
- 2006 "Work on You" (single)
- 2006 "Street Justice" (single)
- 2006 The Looks (LP)
- 2008 Bounce/VUVUVU (EP)
- 2009 Fist of God (LP)
- 2009 "Heartbreaker" (single)
- 2011 "Beards Again" (single)
- 2011 "Back in the USSA" (single)
- 2016 "Little Red Hen" (single)
- 2016 "Party Line" (single)
- 2016 OPERATOR (LP)
Solo (as JFK)
- TBA Baby Techno (EP)
JFK and St. Mandrew
References
- ↑ "Jesse F. Keeler". Last.fm. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
External links
- Video Interview with Jesse F Keeler
- Keeler's Twitter Account
- MSTRKRFT Official Website
- MSTRKRFT MySpace Profile
- Death from Above 1979 Official Website
- Death from Above 1979 MySpace Profile