Kerry McCoy | |
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McCoy performing with Deafheaven in 2013
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Background information | |
Origin | Yuma, Arizona, United States |
Genres | Blackgaze,black metal, shoegazing, post-rock, post-metal, grindcore |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instruments | Guitar, bass |
Years active | 2006–present |
Associated acts | Deafheaven, Rise of Caligula |
Website | deafheaven |
Kerry McCoy is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the guitarist of San Francisco-based blackgaze band Deafheaven.
McCoy is a native of Yuma, Arizona, and lived in Port Hueneme, Oxnard and Stockton, California, before moving to Modesto at age 10. He started playing guitar at age 11 and got his first electric guitar at age 13. Playing with various bands since he was 13, McCoy met future bandmate George Clarke in 9th grade, after he complimented Clarke's Slayer t-shirt. Clarke further introduced McCoy, who was a fan of Dead Kennedys, to extreme metal music. The two eventually shared a mutual interest in black metal.
From 2006 to 2011, McCoy and Clarke were the members of Modesto-based grindcore band Rise of Caligula. McCoy played bass with the band and Clarke was the vocalist. Following the disbandment of Rise of Caligula, Clarke and McCoy moved to San Francisco and formed Deafheaven in February 2010. The duo recorded an untitled demo album in April 2010 at Atomic Garden Studios with Jack Shirley for about US$500, which they couldn't afford at the time. As McCoy didn't own an electric guitar or amp at the time, he wrote the demo with an acoustic guitar and recorded with equipment borrowed from the studio.
In 2010, Deafheaven became a five-piece with the addition of bassist Derek Prine, guitarist Nick Bassett and drummer Trevor Deschryver. At the same year, the band signed to Deathwish, Inc. and released their debut album Roads to Judah in 2011. Following a series of international touring and the release of a split EP with Bosse-de-Nage, Deafheaven released their sophomore album, Sunbather in 2013. The album, written solely by Clarke and McCoy, was critically acclaimed.