Tony Meade
Band Story
Tony Meade’s music is as contradictory as its creator—full of romance and cynicism, hope and longing, beauty and grit. It’s a contradiction that, somehow, makes perfect sense.
Born and raised in the hills and valleys of West Virginia—a region rich with its own paradoxes of conservative values and union labor, breathtaking landscapes and deep-rooted poverty—Tony was immersed early in a complex world. His musical journey began here, surrounded by traditional country gospel passed down through generations, while secretly slipping into his older sisters’ bedroom to explore their 45s. "I’d pretend I was giving concerts, using the bed as a stage," he recalls.
It didn’t take long for Tony to discover the albums that would become the foundation of his musical identity. “In 1983, I bought my first cassettes—Synchronicity by The Police, and not long after, War by U2. That pretty much locked in my favorite music for life. I think I picked well,” he says. His foundational trio was completed in 1994 with Definitely Maybe by Oasis. Even as a child, Tony was drawn to music that was melodic and catchy, yet raw with passion and authenticity. “I wouldn’t have articulated it like that back then—I just knew it was special.”
Though his love for music was clear early on, Tony didn’t pursue performing until late in high school. “I got roped into musical theatre because I had the same teacher as my older sister—who was really talented. I didn’t even know I could sing. I just tried to fake it. Then I started getting lead roles and realized… you can’t fake it. Turns out, I could sing.”
Tony’s early adulthood saw him serving overseas in the U.S. Army, during which he taught himself to play guitar and began experimenting with songwriting. “At first, I was either trying too hard to be original or just rewriting cover songs. Eventually, I learned how to write in my own voice—and that the secret to saying something is just to say it.”
After brief stints in Charlotte and Seattle—where he honed his live performance and recording skills—Tony settled in Denver in 1998. There, he became a staple of the local rock scene, first with the rowdy pub band Free Beer, which later split into two offshoots: the American roots rock group The Revelators and the comedy-cover act The Sally Struthers All-Stars. From these two bands emerged Feedback, a power-pop trio that marked the full emergence of Tony’s songwriting prowess.
In addition to performing, Tony is an accomplished sound and recording engineer. He has produced albums for several local artists, including Denver’s Xiren, and has worked on recording projects with major acts such as The Lovemongers and Garbage.
Not My Day is Tony Meade’s first solo release—a collection of songs from both his past and present, offering a glimpse of what's to come. He is currently recording the follow-up, a full-length album set for release in 2012.
Born and raised in the hills and valleys of West Virginia—a region rich with its own paradoxes of conservative values and union labor, breathtaking landscapes and deep-rooted poverty—Tony was immersed early in a complex world. His musical journey began here, surrounded by traditional country gospel passed down through generations, while secretly slipping into his older sisters’ bedroom to explore their 45s. "I’d pretend I was giving concerts, using the bed as a stage," he recalls.
It didn’t take long for Tony to discover the albums that would become the foundation of his musical identity. “In 1983, I bought my first cassettes—Synchronicity by The Police, and not long after, War by U2. That pretty much locked in my favorite music for life. I think I picked well,” he says. His foundational trio was completed in 1994 with Definitely Maybe by Oasis. Even as a child, Tony was drawn to music that was melodic and catchy, yet raw with passion and authenticity. “I wouldn’t have articulated it like that back then—I just knew it was special.”
Though his love for music was clear early on, Tony didn’t pursue performing until late in high school. “I got roped into musical theatre because I had the same teacher as my older sister—who was really talented. I didn’t even know I could sing. I just tried to fake it. Then I started getting lead roles and realized… you can’t fake it. Turns out, I could sing.”
Tony’s early adulthood saw him serving overseas in the U.S. Army, during which he taught himself to play guitar and began experimenting with songwriting. “At first, I was either trying too hard to be original or just rewriting cover songs. Eventually, I learned how to write in my own voice—and that the secret to saying something is just to say it.”
After brief stints in Charlotte and Seattle—where he honed his live performance and recording skills—Tony settled in Denver in 1998. There, he became a staple of the local rock scene, first with the rowdy pub band Free Beer, which later split into two offshoots: the American roots rock group The Revelators and the comedy-cover act The Sally Struthers All-Stars. From these two bands emerged Feedback, a power-pop trio that marked the full emergence of Tony’s songwriting prowess.
In addition to performing, Tony is an accomplished sound and recording engineer. He has produced albums for several local artists, including Denver’s Xiren, and has worked on recording projects with major acts such as The Lovemongers and Garbage.
Not My Day is Tony Meade’s first solo release—a collection of songs from both his past and present, offering a glimpse of what's to come. He is currently recording the follow-up, a full-length album set for release in 2012.
Band Members
Tony Meade
Tony Meade
Location: AMERICA NORTH: USA: Colorado (CO)
Genre: BritPop