Sean Kinney

Sean Kinney
File:Sean Kinney publicity photo.jpg Sean Kinney posing for Sabian in 2002.
Background information
Birth name	Sean Howard Kinney
Born	(1966-05-27) May 27, 1966 Renton, Washington, US
Genres	Alternative metal, grunge, heavy metal, hard rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Drums, piano, percussion
Years active	1976–present
Labels	Virgin, EMI
Associated acts	Alice in Chains, Jerry Cantrell, Spys4Darwin

Sean Howard Kinney (born May 27, 1966) is an American musician best known for being the drummer of the rock band Alice in Chains.

Kinney's interest in music was developed at an early age. He got his first drum kit when he was 5. By the age of 9, he was keeping the beat for his grandfather's band, The Cross Cats, and traveling the Northwest playing small venues. Kinney grew up in Renton, Washington, where he attended Liberty Senior High School in the Issaquah School District.

Alice in Chains

Main article: Alice in Chains

Sean Kinney met up with Alice in Chains when he was dating the sister of bassist Mike Starr. Through Starr, he was introduced to Jerry Cantrell who introduced them both to Layne Staley. Since the band's inception, Kinney has been the only drummer. He also sang chorus vocals through a megaphone on the hidden song from Sap entitled "Love Song". The album was named after a dream Kinney had about the band recording some light acoustic songs for an album they name Sap, because it's "sappy." Sean plays a large role in the presentation of the band, having helped design artwork and stage setups for most of the band's albums and tours.

Other projects

During the decline in grunge popularity during the mid-nineties, Kinney was a member of a Willie Nelson tribute band that also included Johnny Cash, Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, and Krist Novoselic from Nirvana. Kinney also played drums for his Alice in Chains band mate Jerry Cantrell's solo album, Boggy Depot. Four years later, he founded the short-lived project Spys4Darwin with friend and fellow Seattle musician Chris DeGarmo of Queensrÿche fame. Joined by Mike Inez (AIC's bassist since 1993) and Vinnie Dombrowski, they recorded and released the 6-track EP, microfish, in May 2001.

Alice in Chains rebirth

In 2005, Kinney reunited with the other two surviving members of Alice in Chains—performing at a benefit concert for the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. On March 6, 2006, they again performed together at VH1's Decades Rock Live concert, honoring fellow Seattle musicians Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson of Heart. That night they played "Rooster" with Comes with the Fall vocalist William DuVall and Ann Wilson. DuVall joined Alice in Chains as lead singer shortly thereafter. Since that time, Kinney has drummed for AIC at numerous events and concerts. From May 16–17, 2009, Alice in Chains was part of the annual rock festival, Rock on the Range at the Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The album Black Gives Way to Blue was released September 29, 2009.

Artwork

In 1995, Alice in Chains was contemplating making a third studio album. When it was official, Kinney drew out artwork for the cover and liner notes. The cover features a three-legged dog, reason being, according to band lore, "there was a dog with three legs that always used to chase Sean around when he was doing his paper routes, it creeped him out!" In the music video for "Grind", it shows a three legged dog (similar to the one that allegedly used to chase Kinney) walking up a stairway with an elderly man. The dog used in the video belongs to Jerry Cantrell, named Sunshine, after the Alice in Chains song.

Gear

Kit

• DW Drums
  • 7x14 Edge Snare Drum
  • 18x22 Bass Drum
  • 9x13 Rack Tom
  • 14x16 Floor Tom
  • 16x18 Floor Tom
  • 13x15 Floor Tom (left side)
  • 8x7 Rack Tom (left side)
• DW 5000 Single Bass Pedal
• DW Snare and Cymbal Stands
• Remo Drumheads

Cymbals

• Sabian cymbals (from left to right on kit)
  • 15" AA Sizzle Hats
  • 19" AA Rock Crash
  • 20" AA Rock Crash
  • 24" Vault Liquid Ride
  • 21" AA Medium Thin Crash
  • 19" Paragon China
  • 20" AAX O-Zone Crash

Sticks

• Vater VHSKW Sean Kinney Signature Series Drumsticks

Discography

Alice in Chains

Main article: Alice in Chains discography

Other appearances

Title	Release	Label	Band
Boggy Depot	1998	Columbia	Jerry Cantrell
Microfish	2001	Pied Viper Records	Spys4Darwin