Neal Tiemann (born December 22, 1982) is an American musician, currently the lead guitarist and songwriter of the rock band the
Midwest Kings
Midwest Kings (aka MWK) is a touring band based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, whose most notable member is David Cook, winner of the seventh season of American Idol. Described as a "regional touring band", the Midwest Kings play throughout the midwest, inc ...
(MWK). He is a former rhythm guitarist for
heavy metal band
DevilDriver
DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002, consisting of vocalist Dez Fafara, lead guitarist Mike Spreitzer, drummer Davier Pérez, bassist Jon Miller and rhythm guitarist Alex Lee. The band was ...
, and served as the lead guitarist for
David Cook David Cook may refer to:
Entertainment
* David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR
* David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol''
* David Cook (writer) (1940–2015), Briti ...
's band The Anthemic from 2008 to 2011. He spent most of 2009 on the
Declaration Tour with Cook and served as the tour's music director. Tiemann played guitar on Cook's major label debut album ''
David Cook David Cook may refer to:
Entertainment
* David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR
* David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol''
* David Cook (writer) (1940–2015), Briti ...
'' (2008) as well as his independently released ''
Analog Heart
''Analog Heart'' is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter David Cook. All songs on the album were written by him. Though originally released as an independent record on May 6, 2006, ''Analog Heart'' sales jumped during Cook's a ...
'' (2006). He has also played on
Burn Halo
Burn Halo is an American hard rock band originating from Orange County, California and Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was formed by James Hart, lead singer of Orange County metalcore band Eighteen Visions although he left in 2016 and rejoined Eighteen Vis ...
's 2009 ''
self-titled album'' and Bryan Jewett's album ''A Brief Look at the New You''. Tiemann and the rest of The Anthemic worked on Cook's second album, ''
This Loud Morning
''This Loud Morning'' is the second major-label studio album, third overall by American singer-songwriter David Cook. It was released on June 28, 2011, by RCA Records. Executive produced by Matt Serletic, the album featured tracks written and co ...
'' (2011). In January 2020, he was recruited as a touring lead guitarist for premiere
deathcore
Deathcore is an extreme metal subgenre that combines death metal with metalcore. The genre consists of death metal guitar riffs, blast beats, and metalcore breakdowns. While there are some precursors to the concept of death metal fused with met ...
band
Carnifex,
later officially joining in 2022.
Early career: 2001–2008
*
Midwest Kings
Midwest Kings (aka MWK) is a touring band based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, whose most notable member is David Cook, winner of the seventh season of American Idol. Described as a "regional touring band", the Midwest Kings play throughout the midwest, inc ...
*
David Cook David Cook may refer to:
Entertainment
* David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR
* David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol''
* David Cook (writer) (1940–2015), Briti ...
– ''
Analog Heart
''Analog Heart'' is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter David Cook. All songs on the album were written by him. Though originally released as an independent record on May 6, 2006, ''Analog Heart'' sales jumped during Cook's a ...
''
*Bryan Jewett – ''A Brief Look at the New You''
2008–present
*Midwest Kings
*To Have Heroes
*
Caroline's Spine
Caroline's Spine is an alternative rock band based in Phoenix, Arizona. The group's touring schedule in the mid-1990s landed them a record deal with Hollywood Records. They have released several studio albums and shared billings with such band ...
– ''
Work It Out''
*David Cook – ''
David Cook David Cook may refer to:
Entertainment
* David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR
* David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol''
* David Cook (writer) (1940–2015), Briti ...
'', ''
This Loud Morning
''This Loud Morning'' is the second major-label studio album, third overall by American singer-songwriter David Cook. It was released on June 28, 2011, by RCA Records. Executive produced by Matt Serletic, the album featured tracks written and co ...
''
*
Burn Halo
Burn Halo is an American hard rock band originating from Orange County, California and Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was formed by James Hart, lead singer of Orange County metalcore band Eighteen Visions although he left in 2016 and rejoined Eighteen Vis ...
– ''
Burn Halo
Burn Halo is an American hard rock band originating from Orange County, California and Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was formed by James Hart, lead singer of Orange County metalcore band Eighteen Visions although he left in 2016 and rejoined Eighteen Vis ...
''
*
Uncle Kracker
Matthew Shafer (born June 6, 1974), also known by his stage name Uncle Kracker, is an American singer and musician. He was previously a turntablist for Kid Rock's backing group Twisted Brown Trucker and since 1999 has recorded as a solo artist. ...
– ''
Happy Hour''
Equipment
Tiemann is seen playing
Gibson
Gibson may refer to:
People
* Gibson (surname)
Businesses
* Gibson Brands, Inc., an American manufacturer of guitars, other musical instruments, and audio equipment
* Gibson Technology, and English automotive and motorsport company based
* Gi ...
guitars exclusively. He can be seen playing
Gibson RD
The Gibson RD series solid body electric guitars were launched in 1977. Distinguished by its active electronics (RD is the abbreviation for "research and development"), they were designed to appeal to those interested in synthesizers as well as gu ...
guitars such as an ebony with
EMG pickups, a natural, and a silverburst. He also uses
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul is a solid body electric guitar that was first sold by the Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1952. The guitar was designed by factory manager John Huis and his team with input from and endorsement by guitarist Les Paul. Its typi ...
guitars such as a sunburst and an ebony with 3 pickups and with gold hardware. He can also be seen with a black
Gibson Explorer
The Gibson Explorer is a type of electric guitar model by Gibson guitars, released in 1958. The Explorer offered a radical, "futuristic" body design, much like its siblings: the Flying V, which was released the same year, and the Moderne, which ...
with EMG pickups and a Gibson Hummingbird in heritage cherry sunburst finish.
Appearances
On Tour
From January 18–25, 2009,
Tiemann traveled with bandmates
David Cook David Cook may refer to:
Entertainment
* David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR
* David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol''
* David Cook (writer) (1940–2015), Briti ...
(guitar and lead vocals),
Andy Skib
Andy Skib (born November 9, 1985, San Diego, California) is the lead singer of the rock band Midwest Kings (MWK). He spent most of 2009 on the Declaration Tour with ''American Idol'' season seven winner David Cook. Skib has previously co-writ ...
(rhythm guitar, keyboards, backup vocals), Kyle Peek (drums, backing vocals), and Joey Clement (bass guitar) to the Middle East to complete a
USO
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...
Tour.
The band visited seven bases on their trip to Kuwait and Iraq and played songs from ''
David Cook David Cook may refer to:
Entertainment
* David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR
* David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol''
* David Cook (writer) (1940–2015), Briti ...
'' as well as crowd-pleasing covers including
Tenacious D
Tenacious D is an American comedy rock duo formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. It was founded by actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass, who were members of The Actors' Gang theater company at the time. The duo's name is derived from "tenacio ...
's
Fuck Her Gently
"Fuck Her Gently" is a 2001 Tenacious D song. It is the sixth track on their self-titled album.
Synopsis
The vulgarity of the lyrics is contrasted by the low-key acoustic ballad style of the song. The singer contends that he is speaking "for ...
and
Van Halen
Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. Credited with "restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene", Van Halen was known for its energetic live shows and for the virtuosity of its lead gu ...
's "
Hot for Teacher
"Hot for Teacher" is a song by the American rock band Van Halen, taken from their sixth studio album, ''1984''. The song was written by band members Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, and produced by Ted Temple ...
".
In mid-February 2009, Tiemann embarked on a nationwide tour serving as Musical Director and Lead guitarist for
The Declaration Tour to support the platinum-selling,
major-label debut
David Cook David Cook may refer to:
Entertainment
* David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR
* David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol''
* David Cook (writer) (1940–2015), Briti ...
. The tour began at Club Downunder in Tallahassee, Florida on February 13, 2009 and was originally set to end in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 25, 2009.
The tour was extended through the fall and came to a close on December 1, 2009 at The Fillmore in Charlotte, North Carolina after 154 shows.
In mid-May 2009, Tiemann and bandmates took a short break from the North American leg of the
Declaration Tour to travel to
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
in the Philippines. Tiemann made numerous appearances on Filipino television with
David Cook David Cook may refer to:
Entertainment
* David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR
* David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol''
* David Cook (writer) (1940–2015), Briti ...
leading up to a one night concert playing to upwards of 40,000 attendees at the
SM Mall of Asia
SM Mall of Asia, also abbreviated as SM MoA, or simply Mall of Asia or MoA, is a large shopping mall in the Philippines, located at Bay City, Pasay, Philippines, within the SM Central Business Park, a reclaimed area within Manila Bay, and the ...
in
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
on May 16, 2009.
Music videos
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
Songwriting
* *Co-Written with
Andy Skib
Andy Skib (born November 9, 1985, San Diego, California) is the lead singer of the rock band Midwest Kings (MWK). He spent most of 2009 on the Declaration Tour with ''American Idol'' season seven winner David Cook. Skib has previously co-writ ...
* **Co-Written with Justin Briggs
* ***Co-Written with Zac Maloy
* ^ Co-Written with
David Cook David Cook may refer to:
Entertainment
* David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR
* David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol''
* David Cook (writer) (1940–2015), Briti ...
* ^^ Co-Written with
James Hart
References
External links
NealTiemann.comTour Dates (via Official David Cook website)MWK MyspaceGibson Guitars
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tiemann, Neal
1982 births
Living people
American alternative rock musicians
American rock guitarists
American male guitarists
American rock songwriters
American rock singers
Singer-songwriters from Texas
People from Dallas
Musicians from Tulsa, Oklahoma
Singer-songwriters from California
Singer-songwriters from Oklahoma
Guitarists from Los Angeles
Guitarists from Oklahoma
Guitarists from Texas
21st-century American male singers
21st-century American singers
21st-century American guitarists
American male singer-songwriters