Joel Kosche
Encyclopedia
Joel Sefton Kosche is the current lead guitarist for Collective Soul
. He has also just released a full length solo album, Fight Years (June 22, 2010).
Starting as tour tech back in 1996, Joel Kosche made a welcome transition when Collective Soul offered him the role of lead guitarist. Kosche stepped into the spotlight with bandmates Ed Roland (vocals), Dean Roland (guitar), Will Turpin (bass) and Shane Evans (drums) in the multi-platinum rock group.
Kosche, in a rare departure from Collective Soul's formula, wrote and sang "I Don't Need Anymore Friends" on the band's 2007 effort Afterwords
. The only other song in Collective Soul's repertoire that was not written and sung by Ed Roland
was "Dandy Life" on Dosage
, which was original guitarist Ross Childress
' sole lead vocal.
Joel was trained in classical guitar at a young age. Later he co-founded the band Rhapsody based in Atlanta, GA. In 1994 along with other members of Rhapsody, he created the progressive rock band Jovian Storm
which achieved local success with the CD "Magic Show" (now out of print). During this time, Joel showed his progressive rock influences by specially in authoring and co-authoring several epic pieces in the tradition of his favorite bands such as Queen
, Kansas
, Yes
.
Several years later with the dissolution of Jovian Storm, Joel fronted the band Steep in which he sang lead vocals and embraced a leaner "American rock" style. Steep members also included Bryan Smith (a.k.a. Smitty), on guitar. The Steep years overlapped with Joel assuming the role of lead guitarist for Collective Soul
, and in 2006 Joel announced that he would be leaving Steep to focus on Collective Soul exclusively. The position opened up for Joel with Collective Soul after many years of working with the band as a guitar technician. He originally began performing as the lead guitarist for Collective Soul when Ross Childress
left the band in 2001.
At an outdoor concert in Rochester Minnesota on August 21, 2011 in front of an estimated 23,000 fans it was announced that Joel's wife had a baby daughter recently. He is known to have hand made several of his guitars that were used that night on stage, and his precise style of soloing continue the bands trademark sound.
Collective Soul
Collective Soul is an American rock band originally formed in Stockbridge, Georgia. Collective Soul broke into mainstream popularity with their first hit single, "Shine", which came from their debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, released in 1993...
. He has also just released a full length solo album, Fight Years (June 22, 2010).
Starting as tour tech back in 1996, Joel Kosche made a welcome transition when Collective Soul offered him the role of lead guitarist. Kosche stepped into the spotlight with bandmates Ed Roland (vocals), Dean Roland (guitar), Will Turpin (bass) and Shane Evans (drums) in the multi-platinum rock group.
Kosche, in a rare departure from Collective Soul's formula, wrote and sang "I Don't Need Anymore Friends" on the band's 2007 effort Afterwords
Afterwords (Collective Soul album)
Afterwords is the seventh studio album by Atlanta-based rock band Collective Soul, it was released on August 28, 2007. The album was released digitally in the iTunes Store and physical copies of the album were available only at Target Stores following an exclusive deal the band made with the chain...
. The only other song in Collective Soul's repertoire that was not written and sung by Ed Roland
Ed Roland
Edgar Eugene Roland III was born August 3, 1963 in Stockbridge, Georgia. He is an American musician and vocalist of the alternative rock band Collective Soul. He is the primary songwriter and also contributes guitars, keyboards, producing, and engineering....
was "Dandy Life" on Dosage
Dosage (album)
Dosage is the fourth studio album by Atlanta-based American alternative rock band Collective Soul. The album was released in February 1999 and peaked at #21 in Billboard's albums chart...
, which was original guitarist Ross Childress
Ross Childress
Ross Childress is a guitarist and songwriter, best known as the former lead guitarist and co-songwriter of American rock band Collective Soul from 1993 to 2001...
' sole lead vocal.
Prior to Collective Soul
Jovian Storm
Jovian Storm was a progressive rock band from the 1990s, established in Atlanta, GA . Founding member Joel Kosche, who made his musical debut with this group, continued on to become the guitarist for the internationally acclaimed rock band Collective Soul.Jovian Storm's first and only album Magic...
which achieved local success with the CD "Magic Show" (now out of print). During this time, Joel showed his progressive rock influences by specially in authoring and co-authoring several epic pieces in the tradition of his favorite bands such as Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
, Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
.
Several years later with the dissolution of Jovian Storm, Joel fronted the band Steep in which he sang lead vocals and embraced a leaner "American rock" style. Steep members also included Bryan Smith (a.k.a. Smitty), on guitar. The Steep years overlapped with Joel assuming the role of lead guitarist for Collective Soul
Collective Soul
Collective Soul is an American rock band originally formed in Stockbridge, Georgia. Collective Soul broke into mainstream popularity with their first hit single, "Shine", which came from their debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, released in 1993...
, and in 2006 Joel announced that he would be leaving Steep to focus on Collective Soul exclusively. The position opened up for Joel with Collective Soul after many years of working with the band as a guitar technician. He originally began performing as the lead guitarist for Collective Soul when Ross Childress
Ross Childress
Ross Childress is a guitarist and songwriter, best known as the former lead guitarist and co-songwriter of American rock band Collective Soul from 1993 to 2001...
left the band in 2001.
At an outdoor concert in Rochester Minnesota on August 21, 2011 in front of an estimated 23,000 fans it was announced that Joel's wife had a baby daughter recently. He is known to have hand made several of his guitars that were used that night on stage, and his precise style of soloing continue the bands trademark sound.