Kevin Kelly is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer based in Austin, Texas. He is best known as the lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and principal songwriter of the dark musical project Musidora Vampires, which he founded in 2013 and of which he was the sole official member until 2018.
His unique sonic identity is adorned with captivating hooks infused with a lasting structural prowess that blends cool undertones with gothic tendencies. In 2013, he took a significant step to further establish his creative and artistic freedom and to provide a platform for artists to explore and express their unique sounds by founding the independent record label Revvolt Records.
Throughout his storied three-decade career in music, Kevin Kelly has collaborated with a multitude of renowned artists in various capacities playing crucial roles in both technical and creative aspects including the Clown Prince of Rock Joe Walsh, acid-punk frontman in a space bubble Wayne Coyne, Rocky Horror rock n’ roll theatrical powerhouse vocalist Meat Loaf, lead guitarist and heavy metal dark horse Mick Mars, progressive rock howler and shoegaze balladeer Rob Dickinson, Austria-based desert-tinged troubadour Matt Boroff, Wichita Western goth rocker iAN Ottaway, LA-based dexterous multi-instrumentalist and producer Alain Johannes, prolific collaborator and grunge icon Mark Lanegan, cosmic space rock drummer extraordinaire Kellii Scott, alt-rock anti-hero and tribal assault wild card Jack Irons, combative punk experimenter and auteur Joe Cardamone, and many others.
Associated acts include:
- Railer (2018-2023)
- Portland-born post-punk/industrial rock band.
- Musidora Vampires (2013-2018)
- Founded by Kevin Kelly as a solo project in January of 2013 in Austin, Texas. As the sole official member of Musidora Vampires, he was the principal songwriter and both vocalist and multi-instrumentalist for the dark musical project.
- J.D. King (2006)
- American singer, songwriter, engineer, photographer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and a founding member of the group The Olms.
- Martyr Plot (2005)
- Los Angeles-based alternative rock band formed by Kenny Wilson (AKA Ginger Fish) and former Tuff Luck guitarist Dave Scott. Kevin Kelly was originally enlisted as the second guitarist but vacated his position prior to the band's debut performance at the notable King King Club in Hollywood, California. Michael Shuman replaced Kelly as second guitarist, but he too left the band after only a short stint and in 2007 joined Queens of The Stone Age before the release of Era Vulgaris, replacing Alain Johannes, who chose to focus on other musical projects.
- The Fold (2000 - 2001)
- Oklahoma-based alternative rock trio.
- Relic (1998-2000)
- Oklahoma-based acoustic post-grunge rock band.
- Lazy Boyz (1996)
- Oklahoma-based garage blues/rock quartet.