Billy Howerdel


Biography

Billy Howerdel

      When you take Billy Howerdel into question and ask who he is and what he does, no word is qualified enough to describe both his musicial talents and his presence in the music atmosphere. Howerdel grew up in New Jersey and then moved to Los Angeles, California to persue a music career.

      Having mostly taught himself to learn the notes and chords of a guitar, Billy found his nitch as a musician. Having been taught the mechanical side of a guitar, Howerdel found himself being a guitar techincian for such bands as, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins and among others, Tool.

     Having already writting various songs, Howerdel began to create more music numbers that he thought could be used for movie soundtracks. They were usually long and intricate peices, having toped the 30 minute mark. Having always invisioned these songs to be sung by a female, Billy never thought of having a male vocalist. At the time however, the thought of a male vocalist was far from his mind.

     Over the years, Howerdel began creating more and more music but still, had no voice to fill the void and make the music come alive. He gained much wisdom about guitar teching and was already an extreamly talented guitar player as well as a guitar technician.

     In the year 1996, Tool began working on their third record, AEnima. During this time, Howerdel had came to a decision. Ater years of teching for Tool, he no longer wanted to be the guitar technician for the band and asked if he could set up his recording equipment in the back of the studio. The band, having been given this revelation, decieded to let him have his own little space in the back of the studio.

     Having heard some of Billy's music, Maynard brought up the thought of him being the vocalist for the songs. Billy wasn't ready to give Maynard his verdict just yet. He always wanted a female vocalist, but Billy had already heard what Maynard could do and figured a voice that melodious could not be found anywhere. Billy decieded to give Maynard the responisibillty of vocalist and lyricist.

     Maynard was given some of Billy's material to work with and he wasn't disapointed with the result. Maynard had not only gave the music lyrics, but also gave it vocal melodies. Billy had never seen someone as deep as Maynard. Maynard's lyrics were so outspoken and so full of feeling, it was almost as if you could relate to tha particular feeling he was experiencing while singing the lyrics. His voice was powerful but at the same time, soft and soothing, it was full of versatillity, which Howerdel admired greatly.

     Billy Howerdel was the producer and composer of the bands first record,"Mer De Noms" (sea of names in english)and it was, suprisngly, recorded in his garage. This band came as a total suprise to him. Here were songs that, when he wrote them, were still in their infancy and through the combined efforts of Maynard James Keenan, Troy Van Leeuwen, Josh Freese, Paz Lenchantin and himself, the songs had matured into a soul and took the world by storm. Billy had never expected the songs to be that heartfelt and deep that they would move the person to tears. He's proud of this fact and continues to write music for the bands second record.

(Please read the band background for more information about how the band came together and what they are doing at this moment.)

Billy Howerdel(guitarist and producer)

Back To The Circle...


Check out Maynard's Biography!