Jim Ward (musician)

While in At the Drive-In, Ward played guitar and sang backup vocals, as well as playing piano and keyboards on select songs. He performed lead vocals on two tracks, "Hourglass" and "Ursa Minor", as well as singing 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 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 was happy with the break-up, and that he started the band when he was 17 and felt like he was always 17 while in the band.

At the Drive-In reformed for touring in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/breaking_news_at_the_drive_in_to_reunite |title= BREAKING NEWS: At The Drive-In to reunite |publisher=Alternative Press |date=January 9, 2012 |access-date=January 9, 2012}} Days before the subsequent 2016 reunion tour, ATDI announced that Ward would no longer be part of the group, writing, "As our ship prepares for voyage, we announce that Jim Ward will not be joining us on future journeys. We wish him well and are excited to see you soon."{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ATDImusic/posts/854429451345859 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/208317689290375/854429451345859 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Facebook page: At The Drive In|website=Facebook }}{{cbignore}}

Following the split of At the Drive-In, Ward joined with Tony Hajjar and Paul Hinojos as the lead vocalist and guitar player for a new musical project; Matt Miller was later recruited to play the bass guitar.{{cite web|title=Sparta – Hope, Politics and Freedom |url=http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/interviews/sparta_hope_politics_and_freedom |work=thedwarf.com.au |access-date=June 9, 2012 |author=honeycombroadmap |date=July 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080823081344/http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/interviews/sparta_hope_politics_and_freedom |archive-date=August 23, 2008 }} The band, Sparta, 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 songwriting during this period, which led to Ward incorporating more piano in Sparta (despite his informal knowledge of the instrument).{{cite web|title=SPARTA: IT'S HARD AS SHIT TO SING IN KEY, MAN!|url=http://www.kindamuzik.net/interview/sparta/sparta-it-s-hard-as-shit-to-sing-in-key-man|work=KindaMuzik|access-date=June 9, 2012|author=Martÿn ter Haar|language=nl, en|date=November 23, 2002}}

Sparta eventually signed a record contract with Geffen and released its debut album, Wiretap Scars, in 2002.

On June 11, 2021, Ward's solo album Daggers was released by Dine Alone Records.{{cite web|title=News: Jim Ward Announces New Album 'Daggers' with First Single 'Paper Fish'|url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/news-jim-ward-announces-new-album-daggers-with-first-single-paper-fish|publisher=New Noise|access-date=June 7, 2021|author=Frankie Torok|language=en, en|date=April 16, 2021}}{{Cite web |title=Daggers, by Jim Ward |url=https://jimward.bandcamp.com/album/daggers |access-date=March 7, 2022 |website=Jim Ward |language=en}}

Ward was born in El Paso, Texas. He is a 1994 graduate of El Paso High School. He is the cousin of musician Jeremy Ward.

• Quiet in the Valley, On the Shores the End Begins (2011)
• Daggers (2021)

• Quiet (2007)
• In the Valley, On the Shores (2009)
• The End Begins (2011)

• My Favorite Song Writers (compilation – 2004)

:- Contributed the song "These Years"

• Paupers, Peasants, Princes & Kings (compilation – 2006)

:- Contributed a cover of the Bob Dylan song "Lay Lady Lay"

{{Main|At the Drive-In discography}}

• Acrobatic Tenement (1997)
• In/Casino/Out (1998)
• Relationship of Command (2000)

{{Main|Sparta_(band)#Discography|l1=Sparta discography}}

• Wiretap Scars (2002)
• Porcelain (2004)
• Threes (2006)
• Trust The River (2020)
• Sparta (2022)

• How Will We Know When We're Dead? (2006)

• West Texas (LP, 2008)
• Breathe And Count (EP, 2015)

While he was a member of At the Drive-In, Ward used different guitars and amps, as well as several keyboards. The following is a list of some of the equipment Ward performed with during this era:

Guitars

• Gibson Melody Maker
• Epiphone SG Special 1961 50th Anniversary (used at the 2012 Coachella Festival with At the Drive-In)
• Tokai SG-60
• Gibson SG Jr

:- Ward has used two of these guitars—a green SG with a white pearl pickguard and a sticker of the Texan flag,{{cite web|title=photos|url=http://rolodex.free.fr/photos/jim_omar.jpg|work=at the drive-in – rolodex propaganda|publisher=DR{{!}}eN|access-date=June 9, 2012|author=Drien|language=fr, en|year=2001–2002}} and a white version with a tortoise pickguard and a sticker of the Welsh flag.{{cite web|title=Buy Jim Ward's at the Drive in Guitars on eBay|url=http://synthesis.net/2008/07/08/buy-jim-wards-at-the-drive-in-guitars-on-ebay/|work=Synthesis|publisher=Synthesis.net|access-date=June 9, 2012|author=Daniel Taylor|date=July 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010012509/http://synthesis.net/2008/07/08/buy-jim-wards-at-the-drive-in-guitars-on-ebay/|archive-date=October 10, 2012|url-status=dead}} It is difficult to associate a production year with this pair of guitars; whilst both might have been produced before 1965, due to the smaller pick-guard, the guitars also consisted of customized pick-guards (all SG Jr's originally came with black pick-guards) and, therefore, it is possible that they are later models.

• Fernandes Monterey X (custom)

:- Ward owned two Monterey X model guitars, one of which had a sticker of the Welsh flag below the bridge.{{cite web|title=photos|url=http://rolodex.free.fr/photos/jim_paul01.jpg|work=at the drive-in – rolodex propaganda|publisher=DR{{!}}eN|access-date=June 9, 2012|author=Drien|language=fr, en|year=2001–2002}}

Amplifiers

• Marshall Cabinet and Head
• Mesa Boogie Head

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

• Custom Fender Esquire

:- Ward employs two of these, one yellow with a black pickguard, and one black with a white pickguard (50's Series Re-Issue with a Seymour Duncan Alnico 2 Pickup in the bridge)

• Epiphone SG Special 1961 50th Anniversary
• Ibanez Jetking{{cite web|title=Jim Ward of Sparta|url=http://media.photobucket.com/image/jim%20ward/jacks1984/jim.jpg?o=24|work=Photobucket: Jim Ward Photos|publisher=Photobucket Corporation|access-date=June 10, 2012|author=jacks1984|format=Image file|date=September 29, 2006}}
• Rickenbacker 330{{cite web|title=My Photos: Sparta at Pukkelpop Festival |url=http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=1102874&albumID=22840&imageID=23913577 |work=Myspace |publisher=Myspace LLC |access-date=June 10, 2012 |author=Lou |year=2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911230433/http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage |archive-date=September 11, 2009 }}
• Gibson ES-335 (Ebony finish){{citation needed|date=June 2012}}

:- Bridge pickup was later replaced for a Gibson P-94.{{cite web|title=Sparta- David Letterman|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG7XBKZuY-g |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/WG7XBKZuY-g| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|work=YouTube|access-date=June 10, 2012|author=Sk8terboiy333|format=Video upload|date=December 17, 2006}}{{cbignore}} This guitar was recently stolen from the band's storage facility in Los Angeles.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}

• '72 Fender Telecaster Deluxe

:- Neck pickup, tone and control dials for neck pickup, and pickup selector removed. Ward employs two of these, one with a black pickguard,{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} and one with a tortoise shell pickguard.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} However, Ward may have replaced the pickguard at some point, therefore only owning one rather than two.

• Gibson SG
• Gibson Melody Maker

Amplifiers

• Vox AC30
• Marshall Cabinet and Head
• Mesaboogie Head
• Park Head

• BOSS DD-3 Delay
• BOSS TR-2 Tremolo
• Line 6 DL-4
• BOSS Chromatic Tuner
• Guyatone MD-3
• BOSS GE-7
• Klon Centaur
• Electro-Harmonix Big Muff (Sovtek)
• BOSS DD-3
• Ernie Ball Volume Pedals (2)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.sparta.band/ Sparta's Official Site]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070602165729/http://www.voxamps.co.uk/artists/Jim_Ward.asp Jim Ward's page on Vox Amps]
• [http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2020267530/ Jim's Five Favorite Songs off Dischord Records]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111002004847/http://www.latenightwallflower.com/site/2008/06/25/interview-with-jim-ward-of-sleepercarsparta/ Interview with Jim on Late Night Wallflower 2008]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20151017221316/http://stereokill.net/2009/01/04/interview-jim-ward/ Stereokill Interview: January 4th 2009]

{{Sparta}}

{{At the Drive-In}}

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Category:Musicians from El Paso, Texas

Category:Sparta (band) members

Category:At the Drive-In members

Category:Living people

Category:American rock guitarists

Category:American male guitarists

Category:American male singers

Category:American pianists

Category:1976 births

Category:American people of Welsh descent

Category:American male pianists

Category:21st-century American singers