Kirk Windstein

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Kirk Windstein

| image = Kirk Windstein Wacken Open Air Crowbar 2017 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Windstein performing with Crowbar in 2017

| birth_name = Kirk Michael Windstein

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|4|14}}

| birth_place = Unknown U.S. Air Force base{{cite web|last=Kirk Windstein|url=https://www.facebook.com/kirk.windstein/posts/10205365360159545 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/1415061443/10205365360159545 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Facebook post from January 7, 2016|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=January 20, 2019}}{{cbignore}}

| origin = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

| instrument = Guitar, vocals

| genre = Sludge metal, stoner metal, southern metal

| occupation = Musician, songwriter

| years_active = 1985–present

| label =

| current_member_of = Crowbar, Down, Kingdom of Sorrow

}}

Kirk Michael Windstein{{Cite web |last=Rosen |first=Steven |date=2012 |title=UG Special: Exclusive Interview With Phil Anselmo And 'Down' |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/ug_special_exclusive_interview_with_phil_anselmo_and_down.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Ultimate Guitar}} (born April 14, 1965) is an American musician. He is the frontman, vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and sole constant member of the sludge metal band Crowbar. He is also a founding member of the heavy metal supergroup Down, playing guitar with them from 1991 to 2013 and later rejoining the band in 2020. In 2005, Windstein formed Kingdom of Sorrow with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed. Their debut album was released in 2008. Windstein began his musical career in 1985 as a guitarist for a cover band called Victorian Blitz, and in 1988 joined a hardcore punk band called Shell Shock as a vocalist and guitarist.

Life and career

= Early work =

Windstein played guitar for the cover band Victorian Blitz in 1985,{{Cite web|last=Loudwire|author-link=Loudwire|date=August 13, 2014|title=Crowbar's Kirk Windstein – Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-Y3uxuC2Bo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/w-Y3uxuC2Bo |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2020|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} which performed renditions of songs by WASP and Judas Priest.{{cite book |last1=Anselmi |first1=JJ |title=Doomed to Fail: The Incredibly Loud History of Doom, Sludge and Post-Metal |date=February 11, 2020 |publisher=Rare Bird Books |page=184 }} Other members included Sid Montz (with whom Windstein would play again in Crowbar), Kevin Noonan, and Danny Theriot.

After leaving Victorian Blitz, Windstein joined the New Orleans hardcore punk band Shell Shock as their guitarist and vocalist. With Windstein in the band, they began to play more of a crossover thrash style rather than straightforward hardcore punk, as it better suited Windstein's vocal style and a two-guitarist lineup. The band's sound was described as "wedding the primitive attack of Cro-Mags with the blistering speed of Slayer".{{cite book |last1=Anselmi |first1=JJ |title=Doomed to Fail: The Incredibly Loud History of Doom, Sludge and Post-Metal |date=February 11, 2020 |publisher=Rare Bird Books |pages=184 }} After finishing the recording of a new album called No Tomorrow, guitarist Mike Hatch committed suicide.{{cite web|url=http://paranoizenola.com/thewayitwas/shellshock-notomorrow.html |title=Shellshock – No Tomorrow excerpts |publisher=Paranoizenola.com |accessdate=June 3, 2014}} Kevin Noonan replaced him for the final Shell Shock show in 1988, and the band became what is now Crowbar.{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/shellshocknola |title=Shell Shock | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's |publisher=Myspace.com |accessdate=April 2, 2013}}

= Crowbar =

After the collapse of Shell Shock in 1988 due to the suicide of Hatch, the band enlisted Kevin Noonan and carried on as Aftershock, which played a mixture of hardcore punk and doom metal. Under that name, they released a demo in mid-1989, but then renamed themselves Wrequiem when bassist Mike Savoie (who would later direct music videos for Crowbar, Down, and Pantera) left the band and was replaced by Todd Strange.

In 1990, they renamed themselves The Slugs, and after a demo in mid-1990, the band collapsed. Windstein considered becoming the guitarist for Exhorder but he and Strange reformed the band, with Craig Nunenmacher as the drummer and Kevin Noonan on guitar. The band renamed themselves to Crowbar in mid-1991.

Crowbar was originally signed by Mark Nawara to Pavement Music and released their debut album, Obedience thru Suffering, in 1991. Windstein's childhood friend Phil Anselmo (who at the time was with Pantera) produced their next effort, a self-titled album released in 1993. The album went on to achieve international success with songs such as "All I Had (I Gave)", "Existence Is Punishment", and a cover of Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter". MTV's Headbangers Ball began to play the music video for "Existence Is Punishment", which was also featured on Beavis and Butt-Head. Following that success, the band toured with Pantera. Together, they partied heavily, and footage of these events appears on Pantera's third home video and Crowbar's "Like Broken" video, in which Windstein dressed up as Hulk.

In 2001, Crowbar went on hiatus because Windstein concentrated on other bands. Upon Windstein's return, Crowbar released Lifesblood for the Downtrodden in 2005, and two years later released a live DVD called Live: With Full Force. The band went on to release Sever the Wicked Hand in 2011, Symmetry in Black in 2014, The Serpent Only Lies in 2016, and their latest, Zero and Below, in March 2022.

= Down =

File:Down 19.jpg performing with Down in 2009]]

Down released their debut album NOLA via Elektra Records in 1995 with Windstein on guitar and bass, Anselmo on vocals, Pepper Keenan on guitar, and Jimmy Bower (Crowbar, Superjoint Ritual, Eyehategod) on drums. The band played a 13-show tour with Todd Strange on bass, and the album was certified gold by the RIAA. Following the tour, each member returned to their respective bands.

Crowbar recorded three albums before Down reunited to release Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow in 2002. Following its release, Down toured on the second stage at Ozzfest, and then continued to tour on the "An Evening with... Down" tour. Afterward, both Windstein and Keenan returned to their main bands, thereby allowing Windstein to record Crowbar's Lifesblood for the Downtrodden with Rex Brown on bass, Craig Nunenmacher (Black Label Society and original Crowbar member) on drums and Down producer Warren Riker in early 2005.

In 2007, Down released the album Down III: Over the Under. They released an EP titled Down IV – Part I in September 2012. In late 2013, Windstein announced that he is leaving Down to concentrate on Crowbar full-time because of the band's 25th anniversary in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/kirk-windstein-why-i-left-down/ |title=Kirk Windstein: Why I Left Down |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=October 14, 2013 |accessdate=June 3, 2014}} In 2020, he rejoined Down.

= Kingdom of Sorrow =

In 2005, Windstein teamed up with vocalist Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed to form a new side venture called Kingdom of Sorrow. The band's self-titled debut album was released on February 19, 2008, through Relapse Records. It debuted at No. 131 on the US Billboard charts and sold 6,000 records in its first week of release. The album was recorded at Planet Z with producer Zeuss, known for his work with Shadows Fall and many others.

= Solo work =

In January 2020, Windstein released his first solo album, Dream in Motion.{{Cite web|date=November 8, 2019|title=Crowbar's Kirk Windstein Debuts Title Track From First Solo Album|url=https://loudwire.com/crowbar-kirk-windstein-solo-album-dream-motion-song-lyrics/|access-date=December 3, 2020|website=Loudwire}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-crowbars-kirk-windstein-go-solo-sludgy-soulful-new-dream-motion|title=Hear Crowbar's Kirk Windstein Go Solo With Sludgy, Soulful New "Dream in Motion"|date=November 8, 2019|website=Revolver}}

Personal life

Windstein married Robin Windstein in 2013 and has a daughter from a previous marriage.{{Cite web|date=May 21, 2020|title=Crowbar's Kirk Windstein: "Your friends have been calling and freaking out, you've been on some cartoon called Beavis And Butt-Head"|url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/crowbars-kirk-windstein-your-friends-have-been-calling-and-freaking-out-youve-been-on-some-cartoon-called-beavis-and-butt-head/|access-date=May 11, 2021|website=Kerrang!}} He is a Christian.{{cite web|url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/interview-crowbars-kirk-windstein-talks-album-love-family-relationship-3/|title=Interview: Crowbar's Kirk Windstein talks about the new album, love for his family and relationship with Down|publisher=New Noise Magazine|author=Shrum|date=July 1, 2014|accessdate=November 18, 2016}}

Equipment

File:KirkWindstein.jpg 2009]]

Windstein has used various guitars in his career, including ESP Guitars, Gibson and Solar.{{cite web|url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/50570 |title=News : Kirk Windstein of DOWN/CROWBAR Selling Guitar |publisher=Bravewords.com |accessdate=April 2, 2013}} Solar released a Windstein signature model in 2024.{{cite web |url=https://geargods.net/news/solar-guitars-unveils-new-kirk-windstein-signature-model/ |website=Gear Gods |title=SOLAR GUITARS Unveils New KIRK WINDSTEIN Signature Model |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |date=November 4, 2024 |access-date=January 3, 2025}} Windstein endorsed Orange Amps in 2010 along with Pepper Keenan.[http://www.orangeampstore.com/news/4/Gear-Interview%3A-Pepper-and-Kirk-of-DOWN-Discuss-Their-Love-For-The-Thunderverb-50.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830150148/http://www.orangeampstore.com/news/4/Gear-Interview%3A-Pepper-and-Kirk-of-DOWN-Discuss-Their-Love-For-The-Thunderverb-50.html|date=August 30, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNV0U_6Yc6Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/VNV0U_6Yc6Q |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Orange Amplifiers – DOWN |publisher=YouTube |date=February 25, 2010 |accessdate=April 2, 2013}}{{cbignore}} In 2007, Windstein's tour rig for Down was described by The Guitar Magazine as based on four Marshall Amplification 1960B 4×12 cabinets loaded with Celestion speakers, all driven by one Marshall JCM800 2203X 100-watt head. For this tour, Windstein played several ESP Viper guitars through a pedalboard containing overdrive, wah pedal, chorus and phaser units made by Boss, Dunlop, MXR and others. His guitars at this time were always tuned 1{{frac|1|2}} steps down from normal, meaning that his "standard" tuning from low string to high was C♯–F♯–B–E–G♯–C♯, while his "drop B" tuning was B–F♯–B–E–G♯–C♯.{{cite magazine |url=https://guitar.com/rig-diagrams/rig-diagram-kirk-windstein-down-2007/ |title=Rig Diagram: Kirk Windstein, Down (2007) |date=2007 |magazine=The Guitar Magazine |author=Staff |access-date=January 3, 2025}}

Discography

= Crowbar =

class="wikitable"
Date of release !Title !Label
September 26, 1991 \|Obedience thru Suffering \|rowspan="6"\|Pavement Music
October 12, 1993 \|Crowbar
March 29, 1994 \|Live +1 (EP)
May 23, 1995 \|Time Heals Nothing
October 29, 1996 \|Broken Glass
July 7, 1998 \|Odd Fellows Rest
March 7, 2000 \|Equilibrium \|rowspan="2"\|Spitfire Records
August 8, 2001 \|Sonic Excess in Its Purest Form
February 9, 2005 \|Lifesblood for the Downtrodden \|Candlelight Records
February 8, 2011 \|Sever the Wicked Hand \|Housecore Records
May 27, 2014 \|Symmetry in Black \|rowspan="2"\|E1 Music
October 28, 2016 \|The Serpent Only Lies
March 4, 2022 \|Zero and Below \|MNRK Heavy

class="wikitable"

Date of release

!Title

!Label

September 26, 1991

|Obedience thru Suffering

|rowspan="6"|Pavement Music

October 12, 1993

|Crowbar

March 29, 1994

|Live +1 (EP)

May 23, 1995

|Time Heals Nothing

October 29, 1996

|Broken Glass

July 7, 1998

|Odd Fellows Rest

March 7, 2000

|Equilibrium

|rowspan="2"|Spitfire Records

August 8, 2001

|Sonic Excess in Its Purest Form

February 9, 2005

|Lifesblood for the Downtrodden

|Candlelight Records

February 8, 2011

|Sever the Wicked Hand

|Housecore Records

May 27, 2014

|Symmetry in Black

|rowspan="2"|E1 Music

October 28, 2016

|The Serpent Only Lies

March 4, 2022

|Zero and Below

|MNRK Heavy

= Down =

class="wikitable"
Date of US release !Title !Label !US Billboard peak{{cite magazine\|title=Down Chart History – Billboard 200\|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/down\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012004458/https://www.billboard.com/music/down\|archive-date=October 12, 2017\|magazine=Billboard}}
September 19, 1995 \|NOLA \|rowspan="2"\|Elektra \| style="text-align:center;"\|57
March 26, 2002 \|Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow \| style="text-align:center;"\|44
September 25, 2007 \|Down III: Over the Under \|rowspan="2"\|Roadrunner Records (Europe) \| style="text-align:center;"\|26
September 18, 2012 \|Down IV – Part I (The Purple EP) \| style="text-align:center;"\|35

class="wikitable"

Date of US release

!Title

!Label

!US Billboard peak{{cite magazine|title=Down Chart History – Billboard 200|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/down|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012004458/https://www.billboard.com/music/down|archive-date=October 12, 2017|magazine=Billboard}}

September 19, 1995

|NOLA

|rowspan="2"|Elektra

| style="text-align:center;"|57

March 26, 2002

|Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow

| style="text-align:center;"|44

September 25, 2007

|Down III: Over the Under

|rowspan="2"|Roadrunner Records (Europe)

| style="text-align:center;"|26

September 18, 2012

|Down IV – Part I (The Purple EP)

| style="text-align:center;"|35

= Kingdom of Sorrow =

class="wikitable"
Date of US release !Title !Label !US Billboard peak
February 19, 2008 \|Kingdom of Sorrow \|rowspan="2"\|Relapse Records \| style="text-align:center;"\|131
June 8, 2010 \|Behind the Blackest Tears \| style="text-align:center;"\|N/A

class="wikitable"

Date of US release

!Title

!Label

!US Billboard peak

February 19, 2008

|Kingdom of Sorrow

|rowspan="2"|Relapse Records

| style="text-align:center;"|131

June 8, 2010

|Behind the Blackest Tears

| style="text-align:center;"|N/A

= Solo =

class="wikitable"
Date of US release !Title !Label !US Billboard peak
January 24, 2020 \|Dream in Motion \|rowspan="2"\|eOne Music \| style="text-align:center;"\|N/A

class="wikitable"

Date of US release

!Title

!Label

!US Billboard peak

January 24, 2020

|Dream in Motion

|rowspan="2"|eOne Music

| style="text-align:center;"|N/A

Music videos

1991: Crowbar – "Subversion"
1993: Crowbar – "All I Had (I Gave)"
1993: Crowbar – "Existence Is Punishment"
1994: Down – "Stone the Crow"
1995: Crowbar – "The Only Factor
1996: Crowbar – "Broken Glass"
1997: Crowbar – "Like Broken" (full-length home video)
1997: Pantera – "3 Watch It Go" (full-length home video) (Windstein as The Incredible Hulk)
2000: Crowbar – "I Feel the Burning Sun"
2002: Down – "Ghosts along the Mississippi"
2005: Crowbar – "Dead Sun" (filmed in Miami, Florida, around August 2004 and directed by John-Martin Vogel and Robert Lisman)
2005: Crowbar – "Lasting Dose"
2005: Crowbar – "Slave No More" (filmed in Miami, Florida, on June 21, 2005, and directed by John-Martin Vogel)
2007: Crowbar – "Live: With Full Force" (full-length DVD)
2007: Down – "On March the Saints"
2008: Kingdom of Sorrow – "Lead into Demise"
2008: Kingdom of Sorrow – "Lead the Ghosts Astray"
2011: Crowbar – "Cemetery Angels"
2012: Down – "Witchtripper"
2014: Crowbar – "Walk with Knowledge Wisely"
2014: Crowbar – "Symmetry in White"
2016: Crowbar – "Falling While Rising"
2019: Kirk Windstein – "Dream in Motion"
2021: Crowbar – "Chemical Godz"
2022: Crowbar – "Bleeding from Every Hole"
2023: Sun Don't Shine – "Dreams Always Die with the Sun"
2023: Sun Don't Shine – "Cryptomnesia"
2025: Sun Don't Shine – "The Promise Song"

References

External links

[http://www.crowbarnola.com/ Crowbar official webpage]
[http://www.down-nola.com/ Down official webpage]
[http://www.lambgoat.com/features/interviews/down.aspx Kirk Windstein interview (November 2007)]

Category:1965 births

Category:American Christians

Category:American heavy metal guitarists

Category:American heavy metal singers

Category:American male guitarists

Category:American rock songwriters

Category:Guitarists from Louisiana

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from New Orleans

Category:American rhythm guitarists

Category:20th-century American guitarists

Category:Crowbar (American band) members

Category:Down (band) members

Category:Kingdom of Sorrow members

Category:American baritones

Category:Singers from New Orleans