A sword is a bladed weapon (''edged weapon'') used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration. In the most narrow sense, a sword consists of a blade with two edges, a hilt, and a crossguard. But in some cases the term may also refer to weapons without crossguard, or with only a single edge (backsword).

The basic principles of swordsmanship have remained fairly constant through the centuries, but the actual techniques vary among cultures and periods as a result of the differences in blade design and purpose. The names given to many swords in mythology, literature, and history reflect the high prestige of the weapon and the wealth of the owner. As the sword has historically been a weapon of high prestige, it has become symbolic of warfare or state power.

Historically, the sword developed in the Bronze Age, evolving from the dagger; the earliest specimens date to ca. 1600 BC. The Iron Age sword remained fairly short and without a crossguard. The spatha as it developed in the Late Roman army became the predecessor of the European sword of the Middle Ages, at first adopted as the Migration period sword, and only in the High Middle Ages developed into the classical Arming sword with crossguard. In the Early Modern period, the sword developed into the rapier and eventually the smallsword, surviving into the 18th century only in the role of dueling weapon. By the 19th century, swords were reduced to the status of either ceremonial weapon or sport equipment in fencing.

Non-European weapons called "sword" include single-edged weapons such as the Middle Eastern saif, the Chinese dao and the related Japanese katana; these would more accurately be described as sabres or backswords, but their high prestige in their respective cultures favoured the use of "sword". The Chinese jian is an example of a non-European double-edged sword, like the European models derived from the double-edged Iron Age sword.

The word ''sword'' comes from the Old English ''sweord'', cognate to Old High German ''swert'', Old Norse ''sverð'', from a Proto-Indo-European root ''*swer-'' "to wound, to cut".

History

Ancient history

Bronze Age

The sword developed from the dagger when the construction of longer blades became possible, from the late 3rd millennium BC in the Middle East, first in arsenic copper, then in tin-bronze. The oldest sword-like weapons are found at Arslantepe, Turkey, and date to around 3300 BC. However, it is generally considered that these are longer daggers, and not the first ancestors of swords. Sword blades longer than were rare and not practical until the late Bronze Age because at longer lengths, the tensile strength of bronze starts to decrease radically, and consequently longer blades would bend easily. It was not until the development of stronger alloys such as steel, and improved heat treatment processes that longswords became practical for combat. They were also used as decorations.

The hilt, either from organic materials or bronze (the latter often highly decorated with spiral patterns, for example), at first simply allowed a firm grip and prevented the hand from slipping onto the blade when executing a thrust or the sword slipping out of the hand in a cut. Some of the early swords typically had small and slender blades intended for thrusting. Later swords were broader and were both cutting and thrusting weapons. A typical variant for European swords is the leaf-shaped blade, which was most common in North-West Europe at the end of the Bronze Age, in the British Isles and Ireland in particular. Robert Drews linked the Naue Type II Swords, which spread from Southern Europe into the Mediterranean, with the Late Bronze Age collapse.

Sword production in China is attested from the Bronze Age Shang Dynasty. The technology for bronze swords reached its high point during the Warring States period and Qin Dynasty. Amongst the Warring States period swords, some unique technologies were used, such as casting high tin edges over softer, lower tin cores, or the application of diamond shaped patterns on the blade (see sword of Goujian). Also unique for Chinese bronzes is the consistent use of high tin bronze (17–21% tin) which is very hard and breaks if stressed too far, whereas other cultures preferred lower tin bronze (usually 10%), which bends if stressed too far. Although iron swords were made alongside bronze, it was not until the early Han period that iron completely replaced bronze.

In South Asia earliest available Bronze age swords of copper were discovered in the Harappan sites, in present-day Pakistan, and date back to 2300 BC. Swords have been recovered in archaeological findings throughout the Ganges-Jamuna Doab region of Bangladesh, consisting of bronze but more commonly copper. Diverse specimens have been discovered in Fatehgarh, where there are several varieties of hilt. These swords have been variously dated to times between 1700–1400 BC, but were probably used more notably in the opening centuries of the 1st millennium BC.

Iron Age

Iron became increasingly common from the 13th century BC, mainly due to the collapse of the bronze producing Civilizations. The Hittites, the Egyptians and the Proto-Celtic Hallstatt culture (8th century BC) figured among the early users of iron swords. Iron has the advantage of mass-production due to the wider availability of the raw material. Early iron swords were not comparable to later steel blades. The iron was not quench-hardened although often containing sufficient carbon, but work-hardened like bronze by hammering. This made them comparable or only slightly better in terms of strength and hardness to bronze swords. They could still bend during use rather than spring back into shape. But the easier production, and the better availability of the raw material for the first time permitted the equipment of entire armies with metal weapons, though Bronze Age Egyptian armies were at times fully equipped with bronze weapons.

Greco-Roman Antiquity

By the time of Classical Antiquity and the Parthian and Sassanid Empires in Iran, iron swords were common. The Greek xiphos and the Roman gladius are typical examples of the type, measuring some . The late Roman Empire introduced the longer spatha (the term for its wielder, spatharius, became a court rank in Constantinople), and from this time, the term ''longsword'' is applied to swords comparatively long for their respective periods.

Swords were also used to administer various physical punishments, such as non-surgical amputation or capital punishment by decapitation. The use of a sword, an honorable weapon, was regarded in Europe since Roman times as a privilege reserved for the nobility and the upper classes.

The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea mentions swords of Indian iron and steel being exported from India to Greece. Sri Lankan and Indian Blades made of Damascus steel also found their way into Persia. The Chinese Dao (刀 pinyin dāo) is single-edged, sometimes translated as sabre or broadsword, and the Jian (劍or剑 pinyin jiàn) is double-edged.

Middle Ages

Europe and the Middle East

During the Middle Ages sword technology improved, and the sword became a very advanced weapon. It was frequently used by men in battle, particularly during an attack. The spatha type remained popular throughout the Migration period and well into the Middle Ages. Vendel Age spathas were decorated with Germanic artwork (not unlike the Germanic bracteates fashioned after Roman coins). The Viking Age saw again a more standardized production, but the basic design remained indebted to the spatha.

Around the 10th century, the use of properly quenched hardened and tempered steel started to become much more common than in previous periods. The Frankish 'Ulfberht' blades (the name of the maker inlaid in the blade) were of particularly consistent high quality. Charles the Bald tried to prohibit the export of these swords, as they were used by Vikings in raids against the Franks. Wootz steel which is also known as Damascus steel was a unique and highly prized steel developed on the Indian subcontinent as early as the 5th century BC. Its properties were unique due to the special smelting and reworking of the steel creating networks of iron carbides described as a globular cementite in a matrix of pearlite. The use of Damascus steel in swords became extremely popular in the 16th and 17th centuries.

It was only from the 11th century that Norman swords began to develop the quillons or crossguard. During the Crusades of the 12th to 13th century, this cruciform type of arming sword remained essentially stable, with variations mainly concerning the shape of the pommel. These swords were designed as cutting weapons, although effective points were becoming common to counter improvements in armour, especially the 14th century change from chain mail to plate armour.

It was during the 14th century, with the growing use of more advanced armor, that the Hand and a half sword, also known as a "bastard sword", came into being. It had an extended grip that meant it could be used with either one or two hands. Though these swords did not provide a full two-hand grip they allowed their wielders to hold a shield or parrying dagger in their off hand, or to use it as a two-handed sword for a more powerful blow.

The earliest evidence of curved swords, or scimitars (and other regional variants as the Arabian saif, the Persian shamshir and the Turkic kilij) is from the 9th century, when it was used among soldiers in the Khurasan region of Persia.

East Asia

As steel technology improved, single-edged weapons became popular throughout Asia. Derived from the Chinese Jian or dao, the Korean hwandudaedo are known from the early medieval Three Kingdoms. Production of the Japanese tachi, a precursor to the katana, is recorded from ca. 900 CE (see Japanese sword). Japan was famous for the swords it forged in the early 13th century for the class of warrior-nobility known as the samurai. A samurai's primary weapon was the katana, which was used for infantry. Other infantry swords included: wakizashi (shorter companion sword for katana), nodachi, kubikiri, tantō and hachiwara. Cavalry swords were the tachi and ancient tachi. Temple swords included the one-handed tachi and Chokutō. Anti-cavalry swords such as the extremely long Song Dynasty era zhanmadao (literally "horse chopping sword") and the Japanese Zanbatō also developed at the time.

The Japanese katana reached the height of its development in the 15th and 16th centuries, when samurai increasingly found a need for a sword to use in closer quarters, leading to the creation of the modern katana.

South and Southeast Asia

The swords manufactured in Indian workshops, such as the Khanda, find mention in the writing of Muhammad al-Idrisi. In Sri Lanka, a unique wind furnace was used to produce the high quality steel. This gave the blade a very hard cutting edge and beautiful patterns. For these reasons it became a very popular trading material.

The Talwar is a type of curved sword that was introduced to India in the 13th century by invading Muslim conquerors and was adopted by communities who favoured the sword as their main weapon, including the Rajputs, Marathas and Sikhs. It became more widespread under the Mughals who fought with curved swords from horseback. It was revered by the Rajputs as a symbol of the god shiva, and is still used today as the primary weapon of the Sikh martial art Gatka and also by South Asian Shiite Muslims for Tatbir.

The Firangi (; derived from the Arabic term for a Western European a "Frank") was a sword type which used blades manufactured in Western Europe and imported by the Portuguese, or made locally in imitation of European blades. Because of its length the firangi is usually regarded as primarily a cavalry weapon. The sword has been especially associated with the Marathas, who were famed for their cavalry. However, the firangi was widely used by the Mughals and those peoples who came under their rule, including Sikhs and Rajputs.

In Indonesia, the images of Indian style swords can be found in Hindu gods statues from ancient Java circa 8th to 10th century, which means swords already known in ancient Indonesia culture. However the native types of blade known as kris, parang, klewang and golok are popular to be used as weapon rather than sword. These daggers are shorter than sword but longer than common dagger.

In The Philippines a large swords known as the Kampilan and the Panabas were used in combat by the local Moro tribes in the southern island of Mindanao. A notable wielder of the ''kampílan'' was Datu Lapu-Lapu, the Muslim king of Mactan and his warriors who defeated the Spaniards and killed Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan at the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521.

Late Middle Ages and Renaissance

From around 1300 to 1500, in concert with improved armour, innovative sword designs evolved more and more rapidly. The main transition was the lengthening of the grip, allowing two-handed use, and a longer blade. By 1400, this type of sword, at the time called ''langes Schwert'' (longsword) or ''spadone'', was common, and a number of 15th and 16th century ''Fechtbücher'' offering instructions on their use survive. Another variant was the specialized armour-piercing swords of the estoc type. The longsword became popular due to its extreme reach and cutting and thrusting abilities.

The estoc became popular because of its ability to thrust into the gaps between plates of armour. The grip was sometimes wrapped in wire or coarse animal hide to provide a better grip and to make it harder to knock a sword out of the user's hand.

A number of manuscripts covering longsword combat and techniques dating from the 13th–16th centuries exist in German, Italian, and English, providing extensive information on longsword combatives as used throughout this period. Many of these are now readily available online.

In the 16th century, the large zweihander was used by the elite German mercenaries known as doppelsoldners. Zweihander, literally translated, means two-hander. The zweihander possesses a long, flambard blade, as well as a huge guard for protection. It is estimated that some zweihander swords were over long, with the one ascribed to Frisian warrior Pier Gerlofs Donia being long. The gigantic blade length was perfectly designed for manipulating and pushing away enemy pole-arms, which were major weapons around this time, in both Germany and Eastern Europe. Doppelsoldners also used katzbalgers, which means 'cat-gutter'. The katzbalger's S-shaped guard and blade made it perfect for bringing in when the fighting became too close to use a zweihander.

Civilian use of swords became increasingly common during the late Renaissance, with duels being a preferred way to honorably settle disputes. The practice of civilian dueling, with specifically designed civilian swords such as the Italian Cinquedea and Swiss Baselard, became so popular that according to one scholar: "In France during the reign of Henry IV (1589–1610), more than 4,000 French aristocrats were killed in duels in an eighteen-year period...During the reign of Louis XIII (1610–1643)...in a twenty-year period 8,000 pardons were issued for murders associated with duels...In the United States thousands of Southerners died protecting what they believed to be their honor."

The side-sword was a type of war sword used by infantry during the Renaissance of Europe. This sword was a direct descendant of the arming sword. Quite popular between the 16th and 17th centuries, they were ideal for handling the mix of armored and unarmored opponents of that time. A new technique of placing one's finger on the ricasso to improve the grip (a practice that would continue in the rapier) led to the production of hilts with a guard for the finger. This sword design eventually led to the development of the civilian rapier, but it was not replaced by it, and the side-sword continued to be used during the rapier's lifetime. As it could be used for both cutting and thrusting, the term ''cut and thrust'' sword is sometimes used interchangeably with side-sword. Also of note is that as rapiers became more popular, attempts were made to hybridize the blade, sacrificing the effectiveness found in each unique weapon design. These are still considered side-swords and are sometimes labeled ''sword rapier'' or ''cutting rapier'' by modern collectors.

Also of note, side-swords used in conjunction with bucklers became so popular that it caused the term swashbuckler to be coined. This word stems from the new fighting style of the side-sword and buckler which was filled with much "swashing and making a noise on the buckler".

Within the Ottoman Empire, the use of a curved sabre called the Yatagan started in the mid-16th century. It would become the weapon of choice for many in Turkey and the Balkans.

The sword in this time period was the most personal weapon, the most prestigious, and the most versatile for close combat, but it came to decline in military use as technology, such as the crossbow and firearms changed warfare. However, it maintained a key role in civilian self-defense.

Early Modern period

The rapier is believed to have evolved either from the Spanish ''espada ropera'' or from the swords of the Italian nobility somewhere in the later part of the 16th century. The rapier differed from most earlier swords in that it was not a military weapon but a primarily civilian sword. Both the rapier and the Italian schiavona developed the crossguard into a basket-shaped guard for hand protection. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the shorter smallsword became an essential fashion accessory in European countries and the New World, though in some places such as the Scottish Highlands large swords as the Claymore were preferred, and most wealthy men and military officers carried one slung from a belt. Both the smallsword and the rapier remained popular dueling swords well into the 18th century.

As the wearing of swords fell out of fashion, canes took their place in a gentleman's wardrobe. This developed to the gentlemen in the Victorian era to use the umbrella. Some examples of canes—those known as sword canes or swordsticks—incorporate a concealed blade. The French martial art ''la canne'' developed to fight with canes and swordsticks and has now evolved into a sport. The English martial art singlestick is very similar.

Modern history

Towards the end of its useful life, the sword served more as a weapon of self-defense than for use on the battlefield, and the military importance of swords steadily decreased during the Modern Age. Even as a personal sidearm, the sword began to lose its preeminence in the early 19th century, paralleling the development of reliable handguns.

However, swords were still used in combat, especially in Colonial Wars between native populations and Colonial Empires. For example, during the Aceh War the Acehnese Klewangs, a sword similar to the machete, proved very effective in close quarters combat with Dutch troops, leading the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army to adopt a heavy cutlass, also called klewang (very similar in appearance to the US Navy Model 1917 Cutlass) to counter it. Mobile troops armed with carbines and klewangs succeeded in suppressing Aceh resistance where traditional infantry with rifle and bayonet had failed. From that time on until the 1950s the Royal Dutch East Indies Army, Royal Dutch Army, Royal Dutch Navy and Dutch police used these cutlasses called Klewang.

Swords continued in use, but were increasingly limited to military commissioned officers' and non-commissioned officers' ceremonial uniforms, although most armies retained heavy cavalry until well after World War I. For example, the British Army formally adopted a completely new design of cavalry sword in 1908, almost the last change in British Army weapons before the outbreak of the war. At the outbreak of World War I, in August 1914, infantry officers in all combatant armies still carried swords as part of their field equipment. The high visibility and limited practical use of the weapon however led to it being abandoned within weeks, although most mounted cavalry continued to carry sabres throughout the War. In China troops used the long anti-cavalry Miao dao well into the Second Sino-Japanese War. The last units of British heavy cavalry switched to using armoured vehicles as late as 1938. Swords and other dedicated melee weapons were used occasionally by many countries during World War II, but typically as a secondary weapon as they were outclassed by coexisting firearms.

The production of replicas of historical swords originates with 19th century historicism. Contemporary replicas can range from cheap factory produced look-alikes to exact recreations of individual artifacts, including an approximation of the historical production methods.

Some kinds of swords are still commonly used today as weapons, as a side arm for military infantry. The Japanese katana, wakizashi and tanto are carried by some infantry and officers in Japan and other parts of Asia and the kukri is the official melee weapon for India. Other swords in use today are the sabre, the scimitar, the shortsword and the machete.

In the 2011 Libyan Uprising, some rebels have been seen armed with swords as either primary or secondary weapons.

Ceremonial use

Swords are commonly worn as a ceremonial item in many military and naval services throughout the world. Occasions to wear swords include any event in dress uniforms where the rank-and-file carry arms: parades, reviews, tattoos, and changes of command. They are also commonly worn for officers' weddings, and when wearing dress uniforms to church—although they are rarely actually worn in the church itself.

In the British forces they are also worn for any appearance at Court. In the United States, every Naval officer at or above the rank of Lieutenant Commander is required to own a sword, which can be prescribed for any formal outdoor ceremonial occasion; they are normally worn for changes of command and parades. For some Navy parades, cutlasses are issued to Petty Officers and Chief Petty Officers.

In the U.S. Marine Corps every officer must own a sword, which are prescribed for formal parades and other ceremonies where dress uniforms are worn and the rank-and-file are under arms. On these occasions depending on their billet, Marine Staff Non-Commissioned Officers (E-6 and above) may also be required to carry swords, which have hilts of a pattern similar to U.S. Naval officers' swords but are actually sabres. The USMC Model 1859 NCO Sword is the longest continuously-issued edged weapon in the U.S. inventory

The Marine officer swords are of the Mameluke pattern which was adopted in 1825 in recognition of the Marines' key role in the capture of the Tripolitan city of Derna during the First Barbary War. Taken out of issue for approximately 20 years from 1855 go 1875, it was restored to service in the year of the Corps' centennial and has remained in issue since.

Morphology

The sword consists of the blade and the hilt. The term ''scabbard'' applies to the cover for the sword blade when not in use.

Blade

Double-edged blades

The blade may have grooves known as fullers for lightening the blade while allowing it to retain its strength and stiffness, similar to the effect produced by a steel I-beam used in construction. The blade may taper more or less sharply towards a point, used for thrusting. The part of the blade between the Center of Percussion (CoP) and the point is called the ''foible'' (weak) of the blade, and that between the Center of Balance (CoB) and the hilt is the ''forte'' (strong). The section in between the CoP and the CoB is the ''middle''. The ''ricasso'' or ''shoulder'' identifies a short section of blade immediately forward of the guard that is left completely unsharpened, and can be gripped with a finger to increase tip control. Many swords have no ricasso. On some large weapons, such as the German ''Zweihänder'', a metal cover surrounded the ricasso, and a swordsman might grip it in one hand to wield the weapon more easily in close-quarter combat. The ricasso normally bears the maker's mark.

Tang

In the case of a rat-tail tang, the maker welds a thin rod to the end of the blade at the crossguard; this rod goes through the grip (in 20th century and later construction). This occurs most commonly in decorative replicas, or cheap sword replicas. Traditional sword-making does not use this construction method, which does not serve for traditional sword usage as the sword can easily break at the welding point. In traditional construction, the swordsmith forged the tang as a part of the sword rather than welding it on. Traditional tangs go through the grip: this gives much more durability than a rat-tail tang. Swordsmiths peened such tangs over the end of the pommel, or occasionally welded the hilt furniture to the tang and threaded the end for screwing on a pommel. This style is often referred to as a "narrow" or "hidden" tang. Modern, less traditional, replicas often feature a threaded pommel or a pommel nut which holds the hilt together and allows dismantling. In a "full" tang (most commonly used in knives and machetes), the tang has about the same width as the blade, and is generally the same shape as the grip. In European or Asian swords sold today, many advertised "full" tangs may actually involve a forged rat-tail tang.

On Japanese blades, the maker's mark appears on the tang under the grip.

Single-edged blades

Single-edged blades do not fall under the term "sword" in the narrow sense (see sabre, scimitar), but are often included in a more loose meaning of the term. These blades often have a secondary "false edge" near the tip.

From the 18th century onwards, swords intended for slashing, i.e., with blades ground to a sharpened edge, have been curved with the radius of curvature equal to the distance from the swordman's body at which it was to be used. This allowed the blade to have a sawing effect rather than simply delivering a heavy cut. European swords, intended for use at arm's length, had a radius of curvature of around a meter. Middle Eastern swords, intended for use with the arm bent, had a smaller radius.

Hilt

The hilt is the collective term for the parts allowing for the handling and control of the blade; these consist of the grip, the pommel, and a simple or elaborate guard, which in post-Viking Age swords could consist of only a crossguard (called a cruciform hilt or quillons). In addition to improving the sword's balance and grip, the pommel can also be used as a blunt instrument at close range. It may also have a ''sword knot'' or ''tassel''. By the 17th century, with the growing use of firearms and the accompanying decline in the use of armour, many rapiers and dueling swords had developed elaborate basket hilts, which protect the palm of the wielder and rendered the gauntlet obsolete.

The tang consists of the extension of the blade structure through the hilt.

Sword scabbards and suspension

Common accessories to the sword include the scabbard, as well as the ''sword belt''.

Scabbard: The scabbard, also known as the Sheath, is a protective cover often provided for the sword blade. Over the millennia, scabbards have been made of many materials, including leather, wood, and metals such as brass or steel. The metal fitting where the blade enters the leather or metal scabbard is called the throat, which is often part of a larger scabbard mount, or locket, that bears a carrying ring or stud to facilitate wearing the sword. The blade's point in leather scabbards is usually protected by a metal tip, or chape, which on both leather and metal scabbards is often given further protection from wear by an extension called a drag, or shoe.

Sword belt: The sword belt is a belt with an attachment for the sword, used to carry it when not in use. It is usually fixed to the scabbard of the sword, providing a fast means of drawing the sword in battle. Examples of sword belts include the Balteus used by the Roman legionary.

Typology

Swords can fall into categories of varying scope. The main distinguishing characteristics include blade shape (cross-section, taper, and length), shape and size of the hilt and pommel, age, and place of origin.

The relatively comprehensive Oakeshott typology was created by historian and illustrator Ewart Oakeshott as a way to define and catalogue swords based on physical form, though a rough sense of chronology is apparent. However, this typology does not set forth a prototypical definition for the longsword. Instead, it divides the broad field of weaponry into many exclusive types based on their predominant physical characteristics, including blade shape and hilt configuration. The typology also focuses on the smaller, and in some cases contemporary, single-handed swords such as the arming sword.

For any other type than listed below, and even for uses other than as a weapon, see the article Sword-like object.

Single and double-edged

As noted above, the terms longsword, broad sword, great sword, and Gaelic claymore are used relative to the era under consideration, and each term designates a particular type of sword.

In most Asian countries, a sword (jian 劍, geom (검), ken/tsurugi (剣), pedang) is a double-edged straight-bladed weapon, while a knife or saber (dāo 刀, do (도), to/katana (刀), pisau, golok) refers to a single-edged object. In Sikh history, the sword is held in very high esteem. A single-edged sword is called a kirpan, and its double-edged counterpart a khanda or tega.

Europeans also frequently refer to their own single-edged weapons as swords—generically backswords, including sabers. Other terms include falchion, scimitar, cutlass, dussack, Messer or mortuary sword. Many of these refer to essentially identical weapons, and the varying names may relate to their use in different countries at different times. A machete as a tool resembles such a single-edged sword is used to cut through thick vegetation, and many of the terms listed above describe battlefield weapons that originated as farmers' tools.

Two-handed

A two-handed sword generally refers to any sword that usually requires two hands to wield. Throughout history two-handed swords have generally been less common than their one-handed counterparts, one exception being their common use in Japan.

Hand and a half sword

A Hand and a half sword, colloquially known as a "bastard sword", was a sword with an extended grip that could be used with either one or two hands. These swords did not provide a full two-hand grip but they allowed its wielders to hold a shield or parrying dagger in their off hand, or to use it as a two-handed sword for a more powerful blow.

See also

List of swords

Japanese swords

Chinese swords

Korean swords

Swordsmanship

Types of swords

Oakeshott typology

Sword making

List of sword manufacturers

Sword replica

Waster

References

;Footnotes ;Citations ;Bibliography

Allchin, F.R. in ''South Asian Archaeology 1975: Papers from The Third International Conference of The Association of South Asian Archaeologists In Western Europe, Held In Paris'' (December 1979) edited by J.E.van Lohuizen-de Leeuw. Brill Academic Publishers, Incorporated. 106–118. ISBN 9004059962.

Prasad, Prakash Chandra (2003). ''Foreign Trade and Commerce In Ancient India''. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 8170170532.

Edgerton; et al. (2002). ''Indian and Oriental Arms and Armour''. Courier Dover Publications. ISBN 0486422291.

Withers, Harvey J S;(2006). ''World Swords 1400–1945''. Studio Jupiter Military Publishing . ISBN 0954591014.

Naish, Camille (1991). ''Death Comes to The Maiden: Sex and Execution, 1431–1933''. Taylor & Francis Publishing. ISBN 0415055857.

Burton, Richard F (2008).''The Book of The Sword''. Cosimo, Inc. ISBN 1605204366.

Wertime, Theodore and Muhly, J. D.(1980) eds.''The Coming of The Age of Iron''. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300024258 .

Kirkland, J.Michael (2006). ''Stage Combat Resource Materials: A Selected and Annotated Bibliography''. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0313307105.

Green, Thomas A. (2001). ''Martial Arts of The World: An Encyclopedia''.V.1. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1576071502.

Smith‏, William (1843). ''A dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities''. Michigan University Press.

External links

* Category:Blade weapons

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Name	Andrew Stockdale
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Andrew Stockdale
Born	July 20, 1976Australia
Genre	Hard rock, neo-psychedelia, stoner rock, heavy metal
Years active	2000–present
Instrument	Guitar, vocals, bass guitar, keyboards
Label	Modular, Universal, Interscope, Island
Associated acts	Wolfmother, Beck,Slash (musician)
Website	http://www.wolfmother.com}}

Andrew James Stockdale (born 20 July 1976) is an Australian musician best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist and the only constant member of Wolfmother.

Early life

Stockdale was educated in Brisbane, Australia, at Ashgrove State School, Wimbeldon Middle School, The Gap State High School and Kelvin Grove State High School, and lived in Ashgrove and Wimbledon Village, London as a child.

Styles and method

Stockdale's influences are most commonly cieted among late-sixties and early-seventies hard rock and heavy metal guitarists. Vocally compared to a "cross between Robert Plant and Ozzy Osbourne" by Allmusic, his guitar antics and stage persona are commonly traced to Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, while his style can often be compared to progressive rockers like Pink Floyd.

Equipment

Stockdale plays Gibson guitars, primarily a 1972 SG standard with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece in vintage sunburst. He has also been seen using a 1961 Reissue Gibson SG. Other times he uses a Gibson Dot Studio ES-335, a white Gibson Flying V and an alpine white Gibson EDS-1275 with golden hardware. For the recording of the Wolfmother album he used a borrowed Gibson ES-355 through a 1960s Marshall. When playing live, he uses a Vox AC30 and a Marshall JMP. In the past Stockdale has been noted to use Orange amplifiers and cabinets. Stockdale also states to use a Fender Stratocaster, though he prefers the Gibson guitars. In recent times he has also started using a Hohner Blues Master Harmonica microphone for some vocals.

Stockdale's current pedalboard consists of a Boss TU-2, Radial Tone Bone, Fulltone Clyde wah, a Fulltone Supa-Trem, an Electro-Harmonix Microsynth, an Electro-Harmonix Small Stone phaser, an AC booster, and a Digitech Whammy I (locked into place and set for a high octave.) All are patched into a true bypass looper/switcher array and are powered by a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2+.

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). |- |rowspan="2"| 2007 || Andrew Stockdale, Myles Heskett, Chris Ross || Songwriters of the Year || |- | "Joker & the Thief" – Stockdale, Heskett, Ross || Song of the Year ||

Discography

Wolfmother

''Wolfmother'' EP

''Wolfmother''

''Dimensions'' EP

''Cosmic Egg''

Guest appearances

Slash — ''Slash'' on "By the Sword".

Beck's Record Club — ''Songs of Leonard Cohen''

RocKwiz, shown on SBS on 3 October 2009. He played the Wolfmother song "New Moon Rising", then the Stevie Nicks/Don Henley song, "Leather and Lace" as a duet with Holiday Sidewinder from Bridezilla.

References

# Browne, Sally, "On Wolf Patrol", ''The Courier Mail'', 23 April 2006.

External links

Andrew Stockdale's photography website

Wolfmother official website

Wolfmother label page

Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:Australian male singers Category:Australian rock guitarists Category:Australian rock singers Category:Lead guitarists Category:RMIT University alumni Category:Wolfmother members

cs:Andrew Stockdale es:Andrew Stockdale it:Andrew Stockdale no:Andrew Stockdale pt:Andrew Stockdale sv:Andrew Stockdale

{{infobox musical artist | name

Myles Kennedy | image MylesKennedy.jpg | caption Myles Kennedy performing with Alter Bridge in Barcelona in 2008. | background solo_singer | birth_name Myles Richard Bass | Born November 27, 1969Boston, Massachusetts,United States | origin Spokane, Washington,United States | instrument Vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano, bass, trumpet, violin | genre Alternative metal, blues rock, hard rock, heavy metal, jazz, post-grunge | occupation Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, actor | years_active 1990–2002, 2004–present | label Epic, Wind-up, Universal Republic, Roadrunner, EMI | associated_acts Alter Bridge, Slash, The Mayfield Four, Citizen Swing, Cosmic Dust | website }}

Myles Richard Kennedy (born Myles Richard Bass; November 27, 1969) is an American musician and singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Alter Bridge, and as the touring vocalist of Slash's current solo project. A former guitar instructor originally from the Spokane, Washington area, Kennedy is known for his ability as both a guitarist and a vocalist, possessing a tenor vocal range that spans four octaves. He has worked as a session musician and songwriter, making both studio and live appearances with several artists over the years and having been involved with several projects throughout his career. Most notably, Kennedy rehearsed and collaborated with former members of Led Zeppelin for an unreleased project featuring Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham in 2008, and more recently, he has become known for his contributions to Slash's debut solo album, ''Slash''.

Kennedy was raised in Spokane, Washington, where he attended Spokane Falls Community College to study music theory. He began his music career in 1990 as the lead guitarist of the instrumental jazz ensemble Cosmic Dust, with which he released one studio album. His second band, Citizen Swing, released two studio albums before disbanding in 1995. He then became the lead vocalist and lead guitarist of the Spokane-based rock band The Mayfield Four in 1996, releasing two studio albums with the band, of which he was a founding member. While he was in the band, he made an appearance in the drama film ''Rock Star'' starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. The Mayfield Four disbanded a year later in 2002. After declining an offer to audition as the lead vocalist of Velvet Revolver, he was asked to join Alter Bridge by former Creed members. He has released three studio albums with Alter Bridge: ''One Day Remains'', ''Blackbird'', and the band's most recent, ''AB III'', which debuted at #17 on the ''Billboard'' 200. Kennedy has been touring since 2010, switching between tours with his two main projects, Alter Bridge and Slash. He also has a solo album with a tentative 2012 release, as well as a collaboration album with Slash to be released also in the future.

Early life

Kennedy was born as Myles Richard Bass on November 27, 1969 in Boston, Massachusetts and subsequently lived in Northern Idaho. As a child, he moved to Spokane, Washington, where he grew up in a Christian family on a farm. His father, Richard Bass, died when he was four years old and his mother subsequently went on to marry a minister, and the family took the surname Kennedy. Kennedy attended Mead High School and, finding musical inspiration from Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder, began playing trumpet at the age of ten and guitar at fifteen, copying the playing style of Jimmy Page. He found his singing voice by listening to his parents' Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder records, and also states that he was influenced by Robert Plant. He played guitar in the school's jazz band and trumpet in the school's marching band. He also spent some time playing in a local heavy metal band called Bittersweet with some of his fellow classmates. After graduating in 1988, he enrolled in Spokane Falls Community College to study music.

Career

1990–1995: Early years and local success

Upon graduating from high school in 1988, Kennedy enrolled in a Commercial Music/Jazz Studies program at Spokane Falls Community College. Using the skills he learned from this course, in 1990 he began playing guitar for a jazz group called the Cosmic Dust Fusion Band, which was formed by keyboardist Jim Templeton in 1980. Kennedy's guitar work with Cosmic Dust was very advanced; using his knowledge of jazz theory in conjunction with his advanced technical abilities, interweaving difficult techniques such as chord changes on impulse and precise shredding with rock music, he became a well-respected guitarist among local musicians. Cosmic Dust's first album, ''Journey'', was released in 1991. The album was well-received by critics. In 1993, the song "Spiritus" was awarded the Washington State Artist Trust Grant for $5,000.

After the release of ''Journey'', Kennedy left Cosmic Dust to begin working on a new band that would become Citizen Swing, for which Kennedy provided both lead vocals and lead guitar. They were described as "a band that combined the sounds of funk, soul, R&B;, blues and alternative into a unique and cohesive sound" and as "Stevie Ray Vaughn^[sic] meets Stevie Wonder and them some." They released their first album, ''Cure Me with the Groove'', in 1993. This album featured Kennedy (who helped produce the album), rhythm guitarist Craig Johnson, bassist Dave Turner (also of Cosmic Dust), drummer/percussionist Mike Tschirgi, and trumpeter Geoff Miller. Citizen Swing's second and final album was called ''Deep Down'' and was released in 1995. The band disbanded the same year. All the music and lyrics on that album were written by Kennedy. ''Journey'', ''Cure Me with the Groove'', and ''Deep Down'' are all very rare albums and are highly sought after by fans.

1996–2002: The Mayfield Four and ''Rock Star'' appearance

In 1995, Kennedy started teaching guitar in a store called Rock City Music. By August 1996, he became the lead vocalist and lead guitarist of The Mayfield Four, a rock band he formed with his childhood friends Zia Uddin, Marty Meisner, and Craig Johnson (also of Citizen Swing). They signed a contract with Epic Records thanks to a critically acclaimed demo called ''Thirty Two Point Five Hours'' that the band recorded in 1996, followed by a live extended play called ''Motion'' in 1997. The Mayfield Four's debut album, ''Fallout'', was supported with a fifteen-month tour with bands such as Creed, Big Wreck, and Stabbing Westward. The album was praised by critics, but it failed to chart, and ultimately became the only album by the band to feature rhythm guitarist Craig Johnson, who was fired from the band due to undisclosed reasons.

Following the ''Fallout'' tour, Kennedy made an appearance in the 2001 drama film ''Rock Star'' starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. He said that he got a call from his manager telling him that the filmmakers needed someone who could sing high and that his name was suggested. On the set of the film, he met Wahlberg along with Zakk Wylde and Jason Bonham, who also appeared in the movie alongside several other notable musicians. Kennedy was the only actor in the movie whose actual singing voice was used. In the movie, directly paralleling a scene at the beginning of the film, Kennedy's character (Mike, also known as "Thor") is noticed by Wahlberg's character, Chris "Izzy" Cole, the lead singer of Thor's favorite band, Steel Dragon. Izzy pulls Thor onstage and sings the rest of the song with him, eventually telling him to finish the rest of the band's concert. The film was met with mostly mixed reviews, garnering a 52% "Rotten" score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Mayfield Four's second and final album, ''Second Skin'', was released in June 2001. Kennedy has since said that it is one of the most personal records he has made. The album has been critically acclaimed and Kennedy has commented on how it and ''Fallout'' are much more popular now than when they were released.

Though popular, The Mayfield Four never garnered enough exposure to break into the mainstream. In 2002, the future of the band began to look unlikely, and Kennedy began recording new music, which he described as "Daniel Lanois meets Massive Attack." The band went on hiatus that year, and would ultimately disband. In an interview with ''Pulse Weekly'' in 2004, Kennedy said that it was because he was "burned out with the whole rock industry at that point." However, three previously unreleased songs appeared on a fan-run Myspace page dedicated to and approved by The Mayfield Four in early 2010, causing rumors of a possible reunion to begin circulating. However, when asked about this during an interview, Kennedy replied that he does not see it happening for the time being.

2002–2003: Hiatus and Velvet Revolver audition offer

After The Mayfield Four's unforeseen breakup, and due to a hearing disorder called tinnitus that he developed because of listening to music that he was recording at earsplitting volumes, Kennedy fell into depression in 2002. He said about music, "I can't do it any more. My ears won't let me." He said that he had grown "disillusioned with music and the music business," so he took a musical hiatus and went back to teaching guitar. However, in 2002, he was contacted by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, who was looking for a vocalist for a band he was forming (Velvet Revolver), but Kennedy declined the offer. Other sources state that Kennedy had sent in a demo tape but still ultimately declined an invitation to audition after being approached by Matt Sorum. Kennedy recalls, "They had reached out to me in 2002 when they were just getting together. They had sent me a demo tape, and I kind of sat on it for a month, and I didn't really follow up on it." ''One Day Remains'' was released in 2004 on Wind-up Records. It received generally mixed to negative reviews and was certified Gold by the RIAA. Two other singles were released: "Find the Real" and "Broken Wings." ''One Day Remains'' is the only album by a band with Kennedy as an official member that does not feature his guitar playing.

Following a successful tour in support of the album, Alter Bridge announced plans for a second release. The album, ''Blackbird'', was released in 2007 on Universal Republic. Unlike ''One Day Remains'', which was largely written by Tremonti, ''Blackbird'' featured Kennedy's guitar playing as well as more of his songwriting contributions. It received positive reviews and is generally considered the band's best album. Alter Bridge toured in support of ''Blackbird'' throughout 2007 and 2008, recording a concert film titled ''Live from Amsterdam'' and releasing it via Amazon.com. It would later be released in stores in early 2011 after several delays.

Alter Bridge took a temporary break in early 2009 with its members began working on other projects but continued writing music throughout the year. The band regrouped later that year to begin work on their third album, ''AB III'', which was released in 2010 on Roadrunner Records worldwide, except for North America where the album was self-released on Alter Bridge Recordings via EMI. For the album, Kennedy chose to write lyrics based on his own personal experiences with faith and believing. As such, it is lyrically the band's darkest album, with Kennedy calling it the most personal album he had made since The Mayfield Four's ''Second Skin''. ''AB III'' has been met with critical acclaim.

Having joined Alter Bridge primarily as lead vocalist, Kennedy began to play rhythm guitar during live performances following the release of ''One Day Remains''. He has since played rhythm guitar on the band's subsequent studio releases, and also played lead tracks on a number of songs and during live performances.

2008–2009: Reports of joining Led Zeppelin

Kennedy's name received a great amount of press coverage in late 2008 regarding a rumor that he was going to be joining Led Zeppelin, although it later turned out to be an audition for a different project featuring members of Led Zeppelin. After Led Zeppelin's one-off reunion in 2007, guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones reportedly felt as if Led Zeppelin "still had something to offer." As reported by BBC News, Page and Jones were in the studio with Jason Bonham writing and recording new material that was reportedly going to be used for a new Led Zeppelin album. However, according to Bonham, singer Robert Plant was not involved in the recording sessions. Page, Jones, and Bonham were auditioning new singers to replace Plant on tour as a result, and according to several sources, Myles Kennedy was the leading candidate for Plant's replacement. Plant responded to this by confirming that he would not be involved with the reunion and that if Page, Jones, and Bonham find another singer, the resulting band would not be Led Zeppelin.

The rumors continued when it was reported that Page, Jones, and Bonham had attended an Alter Bridge concert. It was also supposedly confirmed by Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, who said that Page, Jones, and Bonham were offering Kennedy to join Led Zeppelin in order to persuade Plant to reconsider. Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti also addressed the rumors, saying that Kennedy "deserves" to play with Led Zeppelin. Kennedy remained silent about the rumors for the most part until January 2009. He denied that he would be performing with or fronting a group with them, saying, "I am not singing in Led Zeppelin or any offshoot of Led Zeppelin, but I did have a great opportunity and it was something that I'm very grateful for. But Alter Bridge will go on, and that's that." He later confirmed, however, that he had actually written songs and rehearsed with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham. He also said that it was Bonham who "got the ball rolling" since the two had met on the set of the 2001 film ''Rock Star''. It is unconfirmed if the songs he wrote with Page, Jones, and Bonham will ever be released.

2009–present: Solo career

In early 2009, Kennedy announced a solo side project. He described the material as "dreamy" and "[not] aggressive," saving those songs for Alter Bridge. He also said, "It's more singer/songwriter based. I will say it's going to be interesting." He later posted on his Myspace page that he is working with some "great people" and that he has details coming at a future date. Slash announced via Facebook on February 1, 2010 that he would be appearing on Kennedy's solo record, and Kennedy confirmed this via Myspace. Kennedy had originally hoped that his album would be released in early 2010, digitally first and then on CD, but he has since put its release on hold. However, he recently said that he is still too busy to release the album as he states that he would like to tour to promote it, but he wants to release it on December 21, 2012 as a joke, although a firm release date has not yet been announced.

When asked if the record would be a departure from his previous work, he replied that it is different and again referred to the singer-songwriter approach that would be featured on it and that it would not be a hard rock album. He also said that "it was maybe the most difficult thing I've ever done in the sense that I didn't have a band." He also said that the music is very intimate and that it features piano as well. In an interview with ''Guitarist'' UK magazine, he said that some of the songs will feature jazz, blues, and R&B; influences, while others still "get quite atmospheric and ethereal," comparing the sound to Daniel Lanois and Massive Attack, while assuring fans that the rock style will still be present. In the same ''Guitarist'' interview, he confirmed the titles of three songs that will appear on his record: "The Light of Day," "Complicated Man," and "The Bar Fly." Most recently, he confirmed that another song will be titled "Love Rain Down." He said in an interview with CraveOnline that "Love Rain Down" differs from anything else he has ever written. It is unknown if this album has anything to do with the project he was working on in 2002.

Kennedy has performed two solo benefit concerts: one hosted by Paul Reed Smith and PRS Guitars to benefit cancer patients, and another to benefit abused children. The latter was called Bofest 2009 and was headlined by Kennedy on October 17, 2009.

2009–present: Collaborations with Slash

thumb|250px|right|Kennedy with [[Slash (musician)|Slash in 2011.]]Kennedy has become very well known for his collaborations with current Velvet Revolver and former Guns N' Roses lead guitarist Slash. In late 2009, it was reported that they would be working together on Slash's solo album, ''Slash''. Slash later confirmed that Kennedy was chosen to sing the final song, "Starlight," on his album. According to MusicRadar, Slash asked him to record another song, "Back from Cali," which was added to the album at the last minute. The album was released in April 2010. Recently announced was Slash's second solo album, which will again feature Myles Kennedy, this time as the sole vocalist. In an interview with MusicRadar, Slash confirmed that it will be less of an actual solo album and more of a collaboration album with Kennedy, and that he is not sure if the album will be billed as Slash or a new name entirely.

On February 3, 2010, Slash announced that Kennedy would be the lead vocalist for his band on tour. On tour, Kennedy performs a number of songs found throughout Slash's catalog. Slash and Kennedy are the supporting act on Ozzy Osbourne's current tour. The other members of Slash's band, in addition Slash himself, are rhythm guitarist Bobby Schneck, bassist Todd Kerns (formerly of Age of Electric), and drummer Brent Fitz (formerly of Theory of a Deadman).

In late 2010, Kennedy and Slash appeared on ''That Metal Show'', a talk show on VH1 Classic.

Other session work

Kennedy is well further known for his work as a session musician and songwriter, having collaborated with several artists. In 2001, he appeared on the album ''Striped Suit: Lo-Fi'' by the jazz-rock band Mulligan, playing guitar solos on the songs "Faron" and "Make It Three." In that same year, he provided backing vocals to the song "Breakthrough" by Big Wreck from ''The Pleasure and the Greed''. He also worked with the Spokane based nu-metal band Five Foot Thick on their 2003 album ''Blood Puddle'', providing backing vocals to the song "Ducked Out." In 2005, he sang the chorus of "Nameless Faceless" by Fozzy with Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho from their album ''All That Remains''. In 2008, he sang a duet with Sevendust lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon on Sevendust's song "Sorrow" from ''Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow''. Also in 2008, Kennedy made a guest appearance on Mark Tremonti's guitar instructional DVD ''The Sound & the Story'', to which Kennedy provided an in-depth lesson on how to play his guitar solo on the Alter Bridge song "Blackbird." In 2009, he appeared on Slash's self-titled album, co-writing and singing lead vocals on the songs "Back from Cali" and "Starlight." In addition, he has made live appearances with Sevendust and Gov't Mule. He will also be appearing on a tribute album to Tommy Bolin in 2011.

Style and influences

Kennedy is influenced by a wide range of artists of several genres. His earliest influence was Led Zeppelin, although he drew his singing influences from jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, and soul artists when he discovered Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye albums in his parents' record collection. He said about jazz music, "A lot of people kind of equate that with elevator music. I think they're missing the point. [...] It's just incredible music. So, I definitely tried to absorb as much of that as I could at one point." He also stated that he owned Stevie Wonder's 1982 compilation album ''Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I'', which was one of his earliest inspirations as a singer. From there, he discovered ''Songs in the Key of Life'', which he has since stated is one of his favorite albums, and today cites Stevie Wonder as a major influence on his singing. In a 2004 interview with MTV, he said that while he started off as a rock guitar player, he began listening to R&B; exclusively when grunge became popular in his home state of Washington in the early 1990s. He said that he gravitated back towards ''Songs in the Key of Life''. In addition to that record, "I had a friend who turned me on to Marvin Gaye's ''What's Going On'', and that's where I really cut my teeth," he said. "I just listened to them constantly and absorbed them as best I could. I didn't listen to rock for a few years. I was basically just an R&B; guy." He has also cited John Coltrane, Al Green, Mike Stern, Miles Davis, Otis Redding, Frank Gambale, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, and Curtis Mayfield, as early influences. He has also said that he loves blues music: "I’ve always been a big fan of Robert Johnson, Sunhouse, a lot of the Delta blues, pre-World War II blues when it was just a guy and a guitar. I love that. I’m very intrigued by that." Additional influences include Guns N' Roses, U2, Blue Murder, Mastodon, and Radiohead.

Kennedy's favorite singers also include Jeff Buckley, Robert Plant, Bon Scott, Chris Whitley, and k.d. lang. He has stated on several occasions that Jeff Buckley was, and is, a major influence on him as a singer. When asked to describe his vocal style, he said, "I wanted to fuse together my favorite elements of rock and soul singers into something I could call my own. The inflections of Stevie Wonder with the soaring qualities of someone like Buckley." He states that Buckley's "emotional intensity" was one of the most inspirational things for him when it came to singing, and that it made him accept and embrace the fact that he is a tenor. He often performs Buckley's famous cover of "Hallelujah" (originally by Leonard Cohen) during acoustic performances. At one point, he received lessons from Ron Anderson, a bel canto vocal coach who has worked with a wide range of singers, including Axl Rose, Shania Twain, Enrique Iglesias, Chris Cornell, Ozzy Osbourne, Eddie Vedder, Kelly Clarkson, and several others. When asked about his number one secret when it came to singing, Kennedy replied, "Dig deep into your soul and sing as if your life depends on it. Leave your mark. People react to emotion more than technique." Kennedy, who possesses a four-octave vocal range, has been praised for his ability as a singer. Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash, whose touring band consists of Kennedy, has called him "fucking amazing," calling his style "surreal." About Kennedy's ability to recreate Guns N' Roses songs on tour, Slash said, "Myles is fucking amazing. It's very surreal how he handles the stuff he sings. I'm doing GN'R songs I've never done solo before, and Myles manages to own them without changing the style or trajectory of the song. Which is a fantastic fucking ability." He was also listed as the 86th greatest male rock vocalist of all time by Digital Dream Door.

Kennedy, a former guitar instructor, is also recognized as an accomplished guitarist. He began learning how to play the guitar by listening to Led Zeppelin records and mimicking Jimmy Page's guitar parts. He said in an interview, "I started off strictly as a lead guitar player. When I first started playing 25 years ago, that was all I’d do is sit in my room and learn solos." He also recalled being inspired by Eddie Van Halen: "When I was in my early teens, I heard 'Eruption' one day and was like, 'That is the most incredible thing I’ve ever heard,' and I begged my mother to give me an advance on my allowance for the next month and go buy that record." Over the next few years, and throughout the 1990s, Kennedy played primarily lead guitar. His early work with Cosmic Dust and Citizen Swing featured a jazz-influenced rock flavor, combining several advanced techniques used in jazz. He would later join Alter Bridge primarily as a lead vocalist, but began playing rhythm guitar on the band's first tour. Mark Tremonti said, "We knew Myles was an amazing singer, that’s why we hired him. What we found out when we toured the first record was that he’s also an incredibly gifted guitar player and songwriter, as well as a vocalist." In an interview with Ultimate Guitar Archive, Tremonti said:

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Kennedy played rhythm guitar on ''Blackbird'' and has since played co-lead on several Alter Bridge tracks. Doug Clark, a writer for ''The Spokesman-Review'' and one of Kennedy's former guitar students, wrote that "his six-string skills are pyrotechnically brilliant." Kennedy notes that his job as a guitar player, especially recently with Alter Bridge, is to add texture and colors to the music. ''Second Skin'' is also the only album to feature lyrics written by Kennedy that contain profanity.

Personal life

Kennedy currently resides in Spokane, Washington with his wife, Selena, whom he married on May 27, 2003. He is diagnosed with tinnitus.

The topic of Kennedy's spiritual beliefs has become common in discussions amongst fans as it served as the inspiration for the general theme of Alter Bridge's 2010 album, ''AB III''. According to Alter Bridge's lead guitarist, Mark Tremonti, Kennedy does not believe in a God, although in an article titled ''Losing My Religion'' from a November 2010 issue of ''Kerrang!'' magazine, Kennedy said that he is agnostic, placing himself "somewhere in the middle" between being a Christian and an atheist. In an interview on the ''Blairing Out with Eric Blair Show'' at NAMM 2009, Kennedy mentioned that despite being raised in a Christian household, he is not a religious person and he does not believe in any organized religion. In an interview with CraveOnline, he said: "I would consider myself a part of the growing segment of people who question authority and scrutinize concepts that no longer seem as logical as they once did. [...] I don't find peace in the same concepts that many hold as truth. Believe me, I tried. It's not like I didn't spend most of my life submersed in the bosom of doctrine or dogma."

Kennedy has been identified as an avid reader and he says that he especially enjoys the work of John Irving, describing Irving's ''A Prayer for Owen Meany'' as one of his favorite novels. When asked about his hobbies, he replied: "I guess I have been pretty fortunate since I have turned what was a hobby into a living. Music pretty much consumes me. If I’m not writing, performing or listening I am probably trying to learn more about its history. I’m kind of a geek at the end of the day." He also joked, "Oh, I also like Curious George."

Discography

rowspan="2"

style="background:#dde; width:50px;"	Year	Artist	Album
1991	Cosmic Dust (band)>Cosmic Dust	''Journey''
1993	Citizen Swing
1995		''Deep Down''
1998	The Mayfield Four ||''Fallout''
2001	Second Skin (album)>Second Skin''
2004	Alter Bridge
2007		Blackbird (album)>Blackbird''
2010		''AB III''

Filmography

Films
Year	Film	Role	! Notes
2001		Mike	Minor role
Television appearances
! Year	! Title	! Role	! Notes
2005	''WWE Raw''	Himself	1 episode; guest appearance

References

External links

;Official

Official Alter Bridge website

;Unofficial

Myles-Kennedy.com

The Alter Bridge Nation

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:People from Spokane, Washington Category:American musicians of Irish descent Category:Singers with a four octave vocal range Category:Rhythm guitarists Category:Musicians from Washington (state) Category:American heavy metal singers Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:Roadrunner Records artists Category:American agnostics

cs:Myles Kennedy de:Myles Kennedy es:Myles Kennedy fr:Myles Kennedy gl:Myles Kennedy ko:마일즈 케네디 it:Myles Kennedy hu:Myles Kennedy nl:Myles Kennedy pl:Myles Kennedy pt:Myles Kennedy ru:Кеннеди, Майлз fi:Myles Kennedy sv:Myles Kennedy