Mina Caputo

Mina Caputo^[1] (born 4 December 1973 as Keith Caputo) is an American singer best known as the lead singer and a founding member of the New York heavy metal band Life of Agony.^[1][2]

Career

Caputo started Life of Agony in 1989 with guitarist Joey Z and bassist Alan Robert. Drummer Sal Abruscato was recruited soon afterwards. After signing with Roadrunner Records, they debuted with the 1993 album River Runs Red. Shortly after the release of a third album in 1997, Caputo claimed that her heart was no longer in the type of music they performed and left the group.

After leaving the group, Caputo formed with Absolute Bloom, but that band broke up in July 1998. Later, Caputo helped to re-form the Brazilian band Freax, which had broken up over ten years earlier. They developed a self-titled album in 2003.

Caputo also worked extensively on a solo career in the 1990s and released two studio albums.

The original line-up of Life of Agony reunited for two sold-out shows at New York's Irving Plaza on January 3 and 4, 2003. The reunion resulted in several more shows and appearances on European festivals, as well as the recording of Broken Valley (2005), the band's first new material since 1997.

In 2003, Caputo formed a group consisting of New York musicians Mike Shaw (Bass) and Dan Platt (guitars) along with Dutch musicians Jochem Van Rooijen (drums) and Jack Pisters (lead guitars) that toured and recorded what became the album Live Monsters (2004).

In 2005, Caputo provided vocals for the song "Tired N' Lonely" on the Roadrunner United: The All-Star Sessions album.

On May 1, 2006, Caputo released her third solo album Hearts Blood On Your Dawn which was only sold at her live shows, via mailorder through her website, and in the iTunes Store.

In 2007, Caputo recorded a fourth solo album, A Fondness For Hometown Scars, which includes a guest appearance by Flea (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) on trumpet, amongst others. In 2008, she toured in support of this release, with a band composed of Dutch musicians Ryan Oldcastle (guitars), Axel van Oort (bass guitar), and Jochem van Rooijen (drums). The album was produced by Martyn LeNoble and was released in Europe in April 2008 by Dutch label Suburban Records. Caputo participated as a guest singer on Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation's track "What Have You Done", the first single (and second track) from their 2007 album, The Heart of Everything.

Caputo also guested on the track "Free Speech (Will Cost You)" on the album Memory Rendered Visible by the band Both Worlds released on Roadrunner Records.

In 2011, Caputo formed a side project with Ryan Oldcastle and Michael Shaw called The Neptune Darlings, and released an album on September 15, 2011 called Chestnuts & Fireflies.^[1] The style of this CD has been called "geek rock" by The Advocate magazine.^[1]

Personal life

In July 2011, after performing for more than twenty years as a man, Caputo announced plans to transition from male to female and began referring to herself with female pronouns.^[1][3] For a while, her legal name was Keith Mina Caputo.^[4] Now known as Mina Caputo, she does not mind when fans continue to refer to her as Keith.^[1]

Discography

With Life of Agony

Albums

• River Runs Red (1993)
• Ugly (1995)
• Soul Searching Sun (1997)
• 1989-1999 (1999)
• Unplugged at the Lowlands Festival '97 (2000)
• The Best of Life of Agony (2003)
• River Runs Again: Live (CD/DVD) (2003) (Live)
• Broken Valley (2005)

With Absolute Bloom

Albums

• Demo (1998)

As a solo artist

Albums

• Died Laughing (1999/2000)
• Died Laughing Pure (2000) (acoustic versions)
• Perfect Little Monsters (2003)
• Live Monsters (2004) (Live performances)
• Heart's Blood On Your Dawn (2006)
• A Fondness For Hometown Scars (2008)
• Dass-Berdache / Essential Rarities and Demo Cuts (2008)
• Cheat (EP) (2009)

Singles

• "Selfish" (1999)
• "New York City" (2000)
• "Why" (2001)

With Freax

Albums

• Freax (2002)

With The Neptune Darlings

Albums

• Chestnuts & Fireflies (2011)

Guest appearances

• "Free Speech (Will Cost You)" (with Both Worlds) (1998)
• "Tired 'n Lonely" - Roadrunner United (Vocals and Piano) (2005)
• "What Have You Done" & Blue Eyes (with Within Temptation) (2007)
• Additional Vocals on A Pale Horse Named Death's debut album, And Hell Will Follow Me, a project by fellow LOA-member Sal Abruscato

References

External links

• Official website