Jedson Louis Simon (born February 27, 1964) is a Canadian musician. He was a member of supergroup Scar the Martyr and has been a member of numerous
metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
bands, including
Front Line Assembly
Front Line Assembly (FLA) is a Canadian electro-industrial band formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. FLA has developed its own sound incorporating elements of electronic body music and electro-industrial. The band's members ...
,
Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, '' Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing ...
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. The ...
. He gained attention in the metal community with his third
speed metal
Speed metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) roots.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' (Berg Publishers, 2007), , p. 31. It ...
band Armoros, which was founded in 1985. Armoros disbanded in 1989 after two successful demos and an album.
Simon's next band was Caustic Thought, when his career with
Byron Stroud
Byron Stroud (born February 12, 1969) is a Canadian bassist. He is the former bassist for metal bands Fear Factory, Imonolith and Strapping Young Lad, current bassist for metal bands City of Fire and Zimmers Hole, and studio bassist for 3 In ...
began. Simon did three demos with Caustic Thought, and when he left them, he gave the job to
Devin Townsend
Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He founded extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad and was its primary songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist from 1994 to 2007. He has also ...
. After Caustic Thought, Simon briefly worked with Townsend on his Noisescapes project, who then left for
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
to play with
Steve Vai
Steven Siro Vai (; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist f ...
. In 1995, Townsend asked Simon to join his latest project,
Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, '' Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing ...
(aka SYL), and Jed was a part of SYL until the band's split in 2007. Simon contributed guitars to ''
Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
''Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing'' is the debut studio album by Canadian extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad. It was released on April 4, 1995. Century Media Europe released a remastered version of the album on June 12, 2006, which includes the ...
'' and also performed as a live member for the tour of the album. Simon also appears in the video for ''S.Y.L.'' from the same album.
In 1996, Simon joined
Front Line Assembly
Front Line Assembly (FLA) is a Canadian electro-industrial band formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. FLA has developed its own sound incorporating elements of electronic body music and electro-industrial. The band's members ...
(FLA for short) on their Hard Wired tour as a touring guitarist (and also percussionist on Plasticity and Gun f.ex.). There was a live album and video done from the tour, which became known as ''Live Wired'' (1996). After that, Simon returned with SYL, who achieved even greater success with their second album ''
City
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
'' (1997).
When Front Line Assembly went on to perform the Re-Wind tour in late 1998, Simon was on board again. In 1999, he also contributed guitars to FLA's studio album ''Implode''. Simon's last tour with FLA was the Implosion tour in the spring of 1999. In 2000, Simon worked on Townsend's
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe.
Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate cau ...
project, which is composed of all four members of SYL, but was considered "too light" by Devin to be an SYL album.
In 2002, SYL released their self-titled album, on which Simon plays virtually all the guitar tracks, giving the album a distinctive, slightly warmer sound than any of Strapping Young Lad's other albums. In 2005 they released ''Alien'', and their final recording, ''The New Black,'' was released on July 11, 2006.
He is also the guitarist of Zimmers Hole, which includes fellow Strapping bandmates, Stroud and
Gene Hoglan
Eugene Victor Hoglan II (born August 31, 1967) is an American drummer, acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including use of abstract devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms. Though his pla ...
Century Media
A century is a period of 100 years. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c.
A centennial or ...
records on March 11, 2008.
His solo project is Tenet, whose first album, ''Sovereign'', was released on
Century Media
A century is a period of 100 years. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c.
A centennial or ...
records in summer 2009. ''Sovereign'' was written by Simon over the years leading up to the recording of the album, and features Simon on guitar and his old band mates Stroud on bass and Hoglan on drums, along with Steve Souza ( Exodus) on vocals, and Glen Alvelais ( Forbidden, Testament, LD50) on lead guitar. In 2010, Simon was the touring guitarist with the band City of Fire, which includes Stroud and
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1989. Throughout the band's career, they have released ten full-length albums and have evolved through a succession of sounds, all in their main style of industrial metal. ...
lead vocalist Burton C. Bell.
On October 27, 2012, Simon joined Townsend on stage at his Retinal Circus event, held at the Camden Roundhouse in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, where they played the SYL songs "Detox" and "Love?", as well as the
Devin Townsend Project
Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He founded extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad and was its primary songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist from 1994 to 2007. He has also h ...
songs "Bend it like Bender!" and "Little Pig". From 2013 to 2016, Simon was a member of Scar the Martyr, a new project of Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison, as full time lead guitarist alongside Kris Norris. In 2016 the band folded and reformed at Vimic.
In March 2018, Simon was announced as a member of a new band Imonolith featuring former
Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, '' Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing ...
bandmate
Byron Stroud
Byron Stroud (born February 12, 1969) is a Canadian bassist. He is the former bassist for metal bands Fear Factory, Imonolith and Strapping Young Lad, current bassist for metal bands City of Fire and Zimmers Hole, and studio bassist for 3 In ...
, former
Devin Townsend Project
Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He founded extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad and was its primary songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist from 1994 to 2007. He has also h ...
Ryan Van Poederooyen
Ryan Joost Van Poederooyen (; born November 13, 1972), often referred to by his initials RVP, is a Canadian drummer. He gained international recognitionSharpe-Young, Garry (2005). ''New Wave of American Heavy Metal''. p. 157. New Plymouth: Zonda ...
, and
Threat Signal
Threat Signal is a Canadian heavy metal band from Hamilton, Ontario. The band has had numerous lineup changes, with only Jon Howard remaining from the original incarnation. Their music is often classified as metalcore, melodic death metal, groo ...
vocalist Jon Howard. Simon would go on to leave Imonolith in October of the same year.
Gear
Simon has used ESP guitars for many years. Both he and his Strapping Young Lad bandmate
Devin Townsend
Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He founded extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad and was its primary songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist from 1994 to 2007. He has also ...
were endorsed by ESP, until ESP stopped endorsing Townsend. Simon was also endorsed by Bernie Rico Jr. guitars, but he later switched to
Jackson Guitars
Jackson is a manufacturer of electric guitars and electric bass guitars that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson. The company was acquired by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 2002, which manufactures Jackson-branded guita ...
. As of breaking out with Vimic he returned to using ESP.
Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, '' Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing ...
;Studio albums
*''
Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
''Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing'' is the debut studio album by Canadian extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad. It was released on April 4, 1995. Century Media Europe released a remastered version of the album on June 12, 2006, which includes the ...
'' (1995) - guitars on "Critic" and "Skin Me"
*''
City
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
'' (1997)
*''
Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, '' Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing ...
The New Black
''The New Black'' is the fifth and final studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Strapping Young Lad. It was released on July 11, 2006, debuting at No. 200 on the ''Billboard'' charts. A music video was shot for the album's sole single ...
1994–2006 Chaos Years
''1994–2006 Chaos Years'' is a retrospective compilation album from the heavy metal band Strapping Young Lad. The album contains tracks from all of the band's studio albums, as well as a DVD with live footage and music videos. The album had a Eu ...
'' (2008)
*''The Complete Works (Box Set)'' (2013)
With
Devin Townsend
Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He founded extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad and was its primary songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist from 1994 to 2007. He has also ...
*''
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe.
Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate cau ...
'' (2000)
*''
The Retinal Circus
''The Retinal Circus'' is a live album by Canadian musician Devin Townsend. It was released on September 30, 2013, in Europe,Tenet
*''Demo 2003'' (2003)
*''Sovereign'' (2009)
Legion of Flames
''Legion of Flames'' is the second album by Zimmers Hole. This album is noticeably more successful than their first effort, '' Bound by Fire'', and has received many better reviews.
Track listing
#"The Hole Is the Law"
#"Death To The Dodgers of ...
Front Line Assembly
Front Line Assembly (FLA) is a Canadian electro-industrial band formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. FLA has developed its own sound incorporating elements of electronic body music and electro-industrial. The band's members ...
;Studio albums
*'' Implode'' (1999)
;Live albums
*'' Live Wired'' (1996)
Guest appearances
*1996: Punky Brüster - '' Cooked on Phonics'' (additional vocals (as Ace Longback))
*2009: Sacrifice - ''The Ones I Condemn'' (guitars on "The Devil's Martyr")
*2013: Memorain - '' Seven Sacrifices'' (guitars on "Trust and Blood")
*2014: The Haunted - ''
Exit Wounds
''Exit Wounds'' is a 2001 American action film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, and starring Steven Seagal and DMX. The film is based on the book of the same name by John Westermann. The book takes place on Long Island, while the film is set in D ...
'' (guitars on "Trend Killer")
*2015:
Krisiun
Krisiun is a Brazilian death metal band, founded by brothers Alex Camargo (bass, vocals) (Born March 11, 1972), Moyses Kolesne (guitars) (Born August 11, 1973) and Max Kolesne (drums) (Born June 12, 1974). Since its formation in 1990, the gro ...
- '' Forged in Fury'' (guitars on "Scars of Hatred")
*2015: Nihilate - ''Damnation (single)'' (guitar solo)
References
* Profile: Jed Simon " ''Zimmers Hole'' (official site).
* Gibson, Doug (June 26, 2005). Interview with Strapping Young Lad's Jed Simon " ''Metal Underground''.
* Rademacher, Brian (August 11, 2005). " ''Rock Eyes''.
* Barkinge, Chris (September 4, 2006). " ''
Ultimate Guitar
Ultimate Guitar (Ultimate Guitar USA LLC), which is also known as Ultimate-Guitar.com or simply UG, is an online platform for guitarists and musicians. Its website and mobile application provides guitar tablature catalogues and chord sheets. U ...