James Kennedy (musician)
Welsh musician, author and podcaster
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Kennedy (born 15 March 1980) is a Welsh rock solo artist, author and podcaster.[1] He was formerly the singer and guitarist in the alternative rock band Kyshera[2] until they disbanded in 2018[3] and now fronts the band James Kennedy & The Underdogs.[4] He is a multi-instrumentalist and often plays all of the instruments on his recordings.[5] He has released eight albums since 2010, including three with Kyshera and five solo releases[6] with his latest being Make Anger Great Again, released in 2020 by Konic Records.[7] Also in 2020, Kennedy's autobiography Noise Damage was published by Eye Lightning Books[8] which peaked at number one on Amazon.[9] His 2nd book, 'Loud Medicine: Dispatches From the Music Industry Underworld' was published in 2025.[10]
James Kennedy | |
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| Born | 15 March 1980 Cardiff, Wales |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
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| Formerly of | Kyshera |
| Website | jameskennedyofficial |
In 2022, Kennedy began hosting The James Kennedy Podcast, a weekly podcast where he interviews musicians, activists, politicians and authors.[11] Previous guests include Steven Donziger, Frank Turner, Sarah Wilson, Bob Roth, Rou Reynolds, Stella Assange, Nadia Whittome and George Monbiot among others.
Kennedy was included in a poll of the Top 50 Sexiest Men in Wales along with Tom Ellis, Kelly Jones and Jamie Roberts.[12]
In March 2026 it was announced that 'James Kennedy and The Underdogs' had signed a deal with Combat Records for the release of their forthcoming album[13]
Personal life
At the age of ten, Kennedy was diagnosed with advanced bilateral cholesteatoma, a destructive expanding growth in both of his middle ears which required three major ear operations. As a result of the surgery, he lost 40% of his hearing in both ears and developed constant white noise Tinnitus in his left ear.[14]
Kennedy frequently receives online trolling from people mistaking him for James Kennedy from the US reality show Vanderpump Rules.[15] He was one of several artists who gave evidence at a 2022 hearing at the House of Lords about the difficulties for UK artists to tour in Europe post-Brexit.[16] In November 2022, Kennedy alleged that he was physically assaulted by three plain-clothed police officers whilst sitting in his car, resulting in an ongoing investigation which the South Wales Police have said they are taking "extremely seriously".[17]
In 2013, he won a court case against the record label Rising Records over the release of the Kyshera album Made in China.[18]
Discography
- With Kyshera
- Paradigm (2010)
- Made in China (2012)
- Circle (2015)
- As James Kennedy
- 9.i.P (2012)
- The National Health Service (2013)
- Cover Songs Vol 1 (2016)
- Home (2017)
- With James Kennedy and The Underdogs
- Make Anger Great Again (2020)
- Make Acoustic Great Again EP (2023)
Bibliography
- Noise Damage : My Life as a Rock'n'Roll Underdog (2020)
- Loud Medicine : Dispatches from the Music Industry Underworld (2025)[19]