John Konesky

John Konesky
Background information
Birth name	John S. Konesky
Also known as	Kones
Born	(1980-11-19) November 19, 1980 Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Comedy Rock
Occupation(s)	Guitarist
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	2005 - Present
Labels	Columbia Records, SPV GmbH, Epic Records
Associated acts	Tenacious D, Trainwreck, Kyle Gass Band, Big Talk, The Haden Triplets, Carolina Liar
Website	www.johnkonesky.com

John S. Konesky is a Grammy Award winning American guitarist, producer and occasional actor.

Konesky is known primarily for his association with Tenacious D due to performing on their The Pick Of Destiny, Rize of the Fenix and The Complete Master Works 2 releases. He has toured North America, Europe, Australia and Asia with the band since 2006 and has featured on late night talk shows such as The David Letterman Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He also plays electric guitar for the Kyle Gass Band, John Carpenter and Big Talk. Konesky has provided guitar on many soundtracks and scores such as The Hangover Part II and The Runaways. He also starred in a guitar themed web show entitled "Guitarings".

Early life

Konesky graduated from Hilliard Davidson High School in 1999.^[1] He has played guitar for over 20 years; he started playing at the age of 9.^[1]

Career

On the local Ohio music circuit, Konesky and friend John Spiker played as the Spiker-Konesky Band. In December 2001, Tenacious D played a concert with Weezer and Jimmy Eat World in Value City Arena, where Kyle Gass befriended Erin Robinson, who described herself as a "huge D fan." Gass wanted to create a side-project after Jack Black's popularity in the film industry made him no-longer have as much time for Tenacious D. Gass was about to start a band and was looking for guitarists, and he discovered Konesky and Spiker after Robinson suggested them. Trainwreck was formed not too long after. Konesky moved to Los Angeles, where Trainwreck would then frequently play club shows.

In 2005, Konesky was made the lead electric guitarist for Tenacious D and co-wrote the song "The Metal" which would go on to be featured on Guitar Hero III and he also helped write the guitar solo for "Car Chase City". In 2006, Konesky featured on Tenacious D's Pick Of Destiny tour, supporting the film and album. Konesky dressed up as the 'Anti-Christ' - after a skit in the show caused Tenacious D to go to hell and meet Satan. Konesky's first gig with Tenacious D was at the House Of Blues in Las Vegas on the 11th of November. In 2007, Konesky started the band "Sea of Air". He can be seen on Tenacious D's 2008 concert video and documentary The Complete Master Works 2. Kones played the festivals, Reading and Leeds festivals in 2008, Outside Lands in 2009 and Bonnaroo in 2010. In 2011, Trainwreck split, which led to Konesky joining The Kyle Gass Band. In 2016, Konesky began performing for John Carpenter live.

Konesky also appears onscreen as composer Giorgio Moroder in the final episode of the Yacht Rock series in 2010.

Discography

• Trainwreck Live, Trainwreck (2004) - Guitar
• The Pick of Destiny, Tenacious D (2006) - Guitar; Composer of "Car Chase City" and "The Metal"
• Kones, John Konesky (2008) - Guitar
• The Wreckoning, Trainwreck (2009) - Guitar, Composer
• Rize of the Fenix, Tenacious D (2012) - Guitar
• Simply Jazz, Tenacious D (2012) - Guitar
• Kyle Gass Band, The Kyle Gass Band (2013) - Guitar
• Straight In No Kissin''', Big Talk (2015) - Guitar
• Tenacious D Live, Tenacious D (2015) - Guitar

TV Appearances

Music videos

• "POD", Tenacious D (2006)
• "Tim Blankenship", Trainwreck (2008)
• "Brodeo", Trainwreck (2010)
• "To Be the Best", Tenacious D (2012)
• "Rize of the Fenix", Tenacious D (2012)
• "Roadie", Tenacious D (2012)
• "Rock is Dead", Tenacious D (2012)
• "The Making of Simply Jazz", Tenacious D (2012)
• "Our Job to Rock", The Kyle Gass Band (2015)

References

External links

• Tenacious D Official Site
• Trainwreck Official Site
• Trainwreck on Myspace
• An interview with John Spiker and John Konesky (under the pseudonyms of Boy Johnny and John Bartholomew Shredman respectively)