Brandon Boyd
Boyd performing with Incubus in 2012
Boyd performing with Incubus in 2012
Background information
Birth nameBrandon Charles Boyd
Also known as
Born (1976-02-15) February 15, 1976
Van Nuys, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • musician
  • songwriter
Years active1990–present
Member ofIncubus

Brandon Charles Boyd (born February 15, 1976) is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Incubus, with whom he has recorded eight studio albums.

In addition to his work with Incubus, Boyd has released two solo albums – The Wild Trapeze (2010) and Echoes & Cocoons (2022) – and has collaborated with producer Brendan O'Brien under the name Sons of the Sea.

Early life

Boyd graduated from Calabasas High School in 1994 and attended Moorpark College for two years before committing to Incubus. Brandon grew up in Calabasas, California with Ricky Taylor who inspired him to write music. His parents, Priscilla "Dolly" Wiseman and Charles Boyd, both of whom had experience in entertainment, with his father being a former Marlboro Man, had nurtured his artistic side since he was a child.[1] Other notable family members include his younger brother, Jason Boyd, the former lead singer of the band Audiovent, his cousin Berto Boyd, an accomplished Flamenco guitarist and composer, as well as cousin Sam Boyd, a professional motocross rider. In an interview, Brandon explained that he had "yet to stumble across his best work" because he lacked the ability to read music.[2]

Career

Incubus

Boyd designed concert fliers that advertised Incubus' early performances.[3] He occasionally plays guitar during live performances and is known for bringing unusual instruments into his songs, such as the didgeridoo and djembe.[4][5]

Boyd's voice was part of what enticed Sony's Epic/Immortal Records, along with the self-released album Fungus Amongus. The band was signed in 1996. Boyd's singing style in Incubus has often been compared to Mike Patton, vocalist of Faith No More and several other projects.[6][7][8] Boyd has mentioned Patton as being an influence since he was an early teenager.[9] Incubus' first two releases on the label, Enjoy Incubus and S.C.I.E.N.C.E. went largely unnoticed in the mainstream but subsequent releases Make Yourself and Morning View were commercial successes. Boyd attracted a large number of female fans. In a 2001 interview, Spin wrote "Considering his androgynous beauty and sweet demeanor, plus Incubus' kid-tested/mother-approved guitar rock, it's no surprise he's MTV's newest weapon of mass heartbreak. Girls scream for him to take his shirt off at Incubus shows (he usually obliges) and Teen People recently voted him one of 'The Hottest Guys in Music.' His sensitive-guy appeal sets him apart from today's testosterone-drunk rock".[10] 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. In June 2009, Incubus released a greatest hits album titled Monuments and Melodies.

Boyd performing in 2004

In 2011, Incubus finished their seventh studio album If Not Now, When?, released on July 12, 2011, followed by a tour. It was their final release under Sony.

On December 13, 2014, they performed their upcoming single entitled "Trust Fall" at KROQ. They announced the release of two EP's in 2015 with the first, Trust Fall, released on March 24, 2015, through Island Records.[11] On February 5, 2015, the single "Absolution Calling" was released. Two years later, in February 2017, Boyd and Incubus teamed with Skrillex on a collaboration that was released under the title "8" in April 2017.[12]

Literature and fine art

Although Boyd had been drawing his entire life, between 2003 and 2008 he focused more seriously on creating fine art, specifically painting. During this time he participated in many different group and solo art shows, using his artwork as a means for environmental activism. September 8, 2008, marked the opening of his first solo show, "Ectoplasm," at Mr. Musichead Gallery in Los Angeles, California.[13]

In March 2020, Boyd had planned to debut a new large-scale solo exhibit, "Impossible Knots," at the Samuel Lynne Galleries in Dallas, Texas. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person exhibit had to be postponed. On April 18, 2020, his work debuted online via a virtual exhibition preview on Instagram LIVE.[14] This online debut will be followed by the in-person exhibition in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021.[15][16]

Boyd released a card-matching game called "Two Doors/Deux Portes," based on a series of his watercolor paintings.[17]

Boyd has written and curated three books, each of which comprise his personal illustrations, photography, song lyrics, and additional thoughts and writings. His books are White Fluffy Clouds (2003), From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss (2007), and So the Echo (2013),[18] all published under his book imprint, Endophasia Publications. So the Echo "visually weaves" the years that Boyd spent honing his craft and his talents, both in music and art.[19]

Solo career

On July 6, 2010, Boyd announced that his debut solo album, The Wild Trapeze was released.[20] 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.

On January 18, 2013, Brandon announced his band, Sons of the Sea. With Incubus on hiatus, Sons of the Sea toured in 2013 and 2014. On May 29, 2013, Brandon released a teaser video announcing the name of the album, Sons of the Sea. That same year, he embarked on a book-signing tour of the Northeast to coincide with his latest publication "So The Echo," as well as the release of "Sons of the Sea"'s eponymous record.

On March 11, 2022, Brandon released his first solo album in 12 years, Echoes & Cocoons, produced by John Congleton.


In 2022 and 2023, Brandon made cameos as “White Jesus” in seasons 2 and 3 of the critically acclaimed series, Reservation Dogs.

Personal life

A man singing, his arm tattoos visible
A man singing, his back tattoo visible
Boyd has a wide variety of tattoos

In the spring of 2011, Boyd made a large mural at the Hurley Space Gallery in order to raise awareness about single use plastics and their harmful effects on the world's oceans.[21] Boyd is involved with many organizations and charitable causes and in 2003, along with his Incubus bandmates, he founded the 501(c)(3) non-profit The Make Yourself Foundation, which has raised over $1.4 million for various philanthropic causes locally and globally.[22] The organization has awarded grant funding to over 60 nonprofit organizations.[23]

Boyd is known for his wide variety of tattoos. On his forearms he carries the widely known 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 by Lars Johansson. On the inside of his right arm he has several tattoos, one once again incorporating the Tibetan mantra. 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.[24] He also has a tattoo of the Eye of Horus on his right ankle. Other tattoos include his parents' names (Priscilla and Charles) on his forearms, an owl on his back, one teardrop on his index finger on both hands, and a picture inspired by Aubrey Beardsley's famous piece, The Peacock Skirt, on his left arm.

Discography

With Incubus
Solo
With Sons of the Sea
Guest Appearances

References

  1. ↑ "CNN Programs - Showbiz Today". CNN.
  2. ↑ "A Pivotal Point: Interview with Brandon Boyd of Incubus". SF Critic. September 28, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Incubus Band History". Incubus-online-view.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Brandon Boyd". Jango Radio. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  5. ↑ "13 Bands Who've Made Use of Unusual Instruments". Kerrang.com. Wasted Talent Ltd. July 14, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Incubus Make Yourself | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca.
  7. ↑ Foreman, Jon (December 7, 2006). "Incubus – Light Grenades".
  8. ↑ Sciarretto, Amy (November 19, 2001). "CMJ New Music Report". CMJ Network, Inc. – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ "Brandon Boyd of Incubus: 'Jeff Buckley to me was my first experience of a Western male singer'". Music-News.com.
  10. ↑ SPIN Nov 2001, Vol. 17, No. 11
  11. ↑ "Incubus premieres new single "Absolution Calling" — listen". consequence.net. February 5, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  12. ↑ SKRILLEX [@Skrillex] (February 27, 2017). "Been so rad working with @IncubusBand 🙌" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ Broadley, Erin (September 18, 2008). "Ectoplasm: In the Art Studio with Incubus' Brandon Boyd". LA Weekly. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Brandon Boyd videos". Samuel Lynne Galleries. Squarespace. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  15. ↑ "About Brandon Boyd". Brandon Boyd. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Impossible Knots by Brandon Boyd". Samuel Lynne Galleries. Squarespace. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  17. ↑ Paul, Arielle (April 6, 2019). "Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd finds peace in his yurt". LA Times. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  18. ↑ "So The Echo - About". Brandonboyd.me. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Book Review: So the Echo x Brandon Boyd". The Manifold. The Manifold Magazine. 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Brandon Boyd: The Wild Trapeze". CraveOnline. July 12, 2010. Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Art Duet » Brandon Boyd Bio". artduet.net. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Art Duet » Brandon Boyd Bio". artduet.net. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Join Incubus at Empire Music Festival & Explore the Ancient Mayan Ruins". The Make Yourself Foundation. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  24. ↑ "ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs". Img148.imageshack.us. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
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