| Brandon Boyd | |
|---|---|
Boyd performing as a part of Incubus at 2007's Nova Rock Festival. |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brandon Charles Boyd |
| Also known as | The Invisible Floating Torso Man (Make Yourself) Happy Knappy (Fungus Amongus) Brandon of the Jungle (Enjoy Incubus) Cornelius (S.C.I.E.N.C.E.) |
| Born | February 15, 1976 Van Nuys, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, percussion, didjeridoo, djembe |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | Epic Records Immortal Records Sony Records |
| Associated acts | Incubus |
Brandon Charles Boyd (born February 15, 1976, in Van Nuys, California) is an American musician, author, and visual artist. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the American rock band Incubus.
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Boyd graduated from Calabasas High School with Mike Einziger and Jose Pasillas in 1994 and attended Moorpark College for two years before committing to Incubus. Brandon grew up in Calabasas, CA with Ricky Taylor who inspired him to write music. His parents, Dolly and Charles Boyd, both of whom had experience in entertainment, had nurtured his artistic side since he was a child.[1] Other musical family members include his younger brother, Jason Boyd, the former lead singer of the band Audiovent, cousin Sam Boyd, a songwriter and touring musician, as well as cousin Robert "Berto Chico" Boyd, an accomplished Flamenco guitarist. In an interview, Boyd explained that he had "yet to stumble across his best work" because he lacked the ability to read music.[2]
Boyd designed concert fliers advertising their early performances. At first, Boyd had copied several drawings from a sex education book that Einziger's mother had given them, but he decided to stop using it after several prospective fans had been confused by their fliers ("What kind of band is this?").[3] Boyd is also known for playing several instruments such as the didgeridoo and djembe. He also has some guitar parts during live performances.
His voice was part of what enticed Sony's Epic/Immortal Records, and the band was signed in 1996. The band's first two releases on the label, Enjoy Incubus and S.C.I.E.N.C.E. went largely unnoticed, but subsequent releases Make Yourself and Morning View were commercial successes. The band's 2004 release A Crow Left of the Murder... has continued their success, nominating the band for Best Hard Rock Performance in the 2005 Grammy Awards. On November 28, 2006, the band released Light Grenades. On June 16, 2009, Incubus released a greatest hits album titled Monuments and Melodies.
In 2011 Incubus finished their 7th studio album If Not Now, When?, which was released on July 12, 2011, followed then by a tour.
Brandon Boyd has written two books. The first, written in 2003, was White Fluffy Clouds: Found Inspiration Moving Forward. It was published by Endophasia Publications and mainly consists of his artwork, photography, song lyrics from Incubus, and additional writings and thoughts. His more recent publication, From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss, was also published by Endophasia in 2007.
In recent years, Brandon Boyd has focused on making fine art, specifically painting, and on September 8, 2008 celebrated the opening of his first solo show,[4] titled "Ectoplasm," at Mr. Musichead Gallery in Los Angeles, California.
On July 6, 2010, Boyd announced that his debut solo album, The Wild Trapeze was released.[5] On June 21, 2010, a music video for Boyd's first single from The Wild Trapeze, entitled "Runaway Train," was released online. A second music video was released for the album, for the song "Last Night a Passenger" in October 2010.
Brandon Boyd is known for being in Incubus, and he also designed his own tattoos. On his forearms he carries the widely known Buddhist mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, referring to the qualities of generosity, ethics, patience, diligence, renunciation and wisdom. Underneath that is a koi fish in red ink designed by friend and fellow bandmate, José Pasillas II. On the inside of his right arm he has several tattoos, one once again incorporating the Tibetan mantra and another designed after Sarah Kerrigan. Following the release of their album "A Crow Left of the Murder," he got an elaborate back tattoo featuring the common image of the All Seeing-Eye embedded in a pyramid.[6] He also has a tattoo of the Eye of Horus on his right ankle. Other tattoos include his parents' names (Priscila and Charles) on his forearms, an owl on his back, one tear drop on his index finger on both hands, and a picture inspired by Aubrey Beardsley famous art, "The Peacock Skirt" on his left arm.
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