name: Brandon
Boydd.o.b.:
February 15, 1976
band position:
lead vocals, percussion
biography by
Brandon Boyd:
"Nothing is true. All is permitted."
-Last
words of Hassan i Sabbah X
To think that one's life is interesting enough to write about is indeed
flattering. I wouldn't say though that my life was necessarily in that
particular category.
For I
still have a couple of nasty drug addictions to go through, a divorce or two to
fight out, two filed bankruptcies, an arrest for indecent exposure and the total
public annihilation of this band to bear before I can go as far as calling my
life 'interesting'. Then, of course, I must tell my story on one of the myriad
different television documentaries. Spill my guts, cry for the world, then put
out a book called, "A Life Less Lived." (How Incubus ruined my childhood, etc,
etc.) But, alas! 'Interesting' is a multi-interpretable term! And besides, a few
of you have expressed desires to know the goings on in this little atmosphere of
mine, so I guess I'll elucidate.
I was
born in the harsh, desert climate of Van Nuys, California, where I was orphaned
and taken in by a pack of hungry native coyotes. Their initial intention was to
have me for an appetizer before they went on their nightly suburban feline hunt,
but I survived only because the leader of the pack saw potential in me as a
hunter and a spreader of coyote seed! From there, our friendship was forged, and
I became known as Brandon of the Jungle. They taught me the ways of the Valley,
and I quickly became one of the pack's most vocal howlers! Hence my present day
ability to sing. When I was old enough, I learned to catch house pets, insects
and rodents! Which is where I got these kickin' thigh muscles! At age 11, I
began impressing the pack and local wild-life photographers with my skill in
carpentry. I would build elaborate shelters for my family and I using the
ever-abundant palm frawns, pieces of discarded twine and snot. And this is where
my first encounter with my present cohorts in music came into play. I was the
ripe age of 15, and was busy chasing a female coyote in heat down a dusty trail
one afternoon, when I turned a corner and ran into the other guys in the band.
They were sitting inside one of my more arty housings and enjoying it's refuge
from the blistering California sun. I stepped inside and made the only noises I
knew how, and tried to express to them my discontent for invading my space. They
replied with fascination at my inhuman grunts, growls and wales, and asked me to
be in their band, Incubus. I, of course, did not know at the time what they
meant nor did I care. I simply started biting the shit out of the drummer's ass.
Which is where Jose's fear of things canine comes into play.
Things
eventually calmed down and I started to enjoy the fresh perspectives these boys
brought into my reality. The guys came back every day after that and taught me
to speak English and sing. WE began playing together about a month later when my
powers of speech and wit began developing. And with my past experience in snot
carpentry, I built us our first band rehearsal space! My taste for insects and
things fury has not subsided. But I believe that those are just old habits dying
hard. Luckily, we tour the Mid-west of America frequently where these delicacies
are more appreciated and less persecuted! I have been in this, my first and only
band, now for nine years, and have learned worlds about life, love, loss and
humanity. It is and has been such a different experience from my roots as a
wild, scavenger dog! But I have to say that I've enjoyed every minute of it.
Being
in this band has shown me that any mutt can break the mold and prosper. And
being the first orphan who was raised by wolves to be in a rock band reinforces
that creto in me every day. Straying from the norm has done nothing but good for
me in my 23 years alive this time around. And I will continue to do so in this
sphere, for better or worse.
Now,
does that not so brief description of my life deserve the title, 'Interesting'?
Likely, not. You decide.
For
more details about me and my further mis-adventures on deserted islands,
literary discoveries, art, sex, love, hairstyles, international cuisine and
general rock and roll mayhem, feel free to come into my live page!
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