Jared Lloyd Champion (born February 27, 1983) is the drummer for American rock band Cage the Elephant.
Jared Champion | |
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| Born | February 27, 1983 Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States |
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| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | RCA Records |
Early life and career
editChampion was born and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In high school, Champion, with current bandmate Matt Shultz, were in a cover band called Liquid Twilight.[1] Champion needed a singer for the cover band, so Shultz agreed to do it. It is unknown when they broke up. However, Champion and Shultz left Liquid Twilight because they wanted to write original music.
After Liquid Twilight came to an end, Champion—along with Matt and Brad Shultz—were in a band that formed in 2001 called Perfect Confusion, which also included members Thomas Bullen (lead guitar)–who later joined Bowling Green band Sleeper Agent–and David Kem (bass).[2] Although the band broke up in 2005, the members occasionally have reunions and perform at Tidball's, a Bowling Green bar and local music venue.[3]
Career
editAfter Cage the Elephant formed in 2006, Champion, along with the rest of the band, moved to the United Kingdom to gain moderate success with their self-titled debut LP, releasing in Europe on June 23, 2008, and in the United States on March 24, 2009.[4]
Following the release of the band's second studio LP, Thank You, Happy Birthday, Champion's appendix burst during a concert while touring with Foo Fighters. Former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters' frontman, Dave Grohl, took Champion's place as the drummer for 3 shows during the tour while Champion was being hospitalized.[5] In 2014, while touring to promote Cage the Elephant's third studio LP, Melophobia, Champion took family leave. Kyle Davis, drummer for Nashville band Chrome Pony, took his place during the shows Champion missed.[6]
In March, 2014, Champion played drums on Juliette Lewis' EP, Future Deep, that was produced by bandmate Brad Shultz.[7]
From June 5 to 8, 2017, Champion played with The 8G Band on the late-night show Late Night with Seth Meyers.[8]
Champion is an endorser of Masters of Maple drums, using a custom made kit and Zildjian cymbals plus Promark sticks and Evans heads.
Personal life
editChampion holds eighteen swim team records at Greenwood High School in Bowling Green; 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley.[9]
Outside of Cage the Elephant, Champion composes instrumental and hip-hop pieces as a hobby. In late 2015 to early 2016, he scored a short film featured in the Nashville Film Festival.[10]
In November 2014, Champion's first daughter was born.[11] In June 2016, he proposed to his now wife, Alicia.[12] In July 2017, Champion and Alicia got married. In January 2019, the couple welcomed their second daughter.[13]
Champion is a keen soccer fan and an avid supporter of Arsenal F.C..[14]
Champion also has a musical act with his daughter called Castle Champ. It has an experimental feel with several genres mixed in.
References
edit- ^ Goodan, Allison. "Interview with Cage the Elephant's Matt Shultz". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
- ^ "Perfect Confusion". The Amplifier. Archived from the original on 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
- ^ Simmons, Natasha A. "Perfect Confusion Reunion". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
- ^ Rago, Resalin (2009-07-20). "Cage the Elephant Clears Up Hippie Commune Rumors". Archived from the original on 2009-07-20. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Dave Grohl drums for Cage The Elephant after sticksman Jared Champion falls ill – video - NME". NME. 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
- ^ "Chrome Pony – The Midwest Action Interview". Midwest Action!. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
- ^ "Hello reddit! It's Jared Champion (drummer of Cage the Elephant). I had so much fun with the last AMA that I have to do this again. This time I brought my friend Matt Shultz (singer of Cage the Elephant) to answer your questions with me. Ask us anything! • r/IAmA". reddit. 2 March 2014. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
- ^ "Not only is @CageTheElephant on #LNSM tonight, drummer @Jchampofficial sits in with the 8G Band all week!pic.twitter.com/tc6kQOjDfN". @LateNightSeth. 2017-06-05. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
- ^ Overstreet, Melinda J. (February 10, 1999). "Warren County swim team hopes to improve this year". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "On Tour: Cage the Elephant's Jared Champion | Modern Drummer Magazine". www.moderndrummer.com. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
- ^ "Cage The Elephant on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
- ^ "Cage The Elephant on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
- ^ CHAMPION, JARED [@Jchampofficial] (2019-01-29). "Tallulah Roux Champion 4:26 7.14lbs 18" Happy and healthy Dr. Jared on duty.pic.twitter.com/AOymJ4U8MH" (Tweet). Retrieved 2019-01-30 – via Twitter.
- ^ "The Men in Blazers Show Season Finale". Men in Blazers. May 7, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2021.