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Justin Shekoski

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Justin Shekoski
Shekoski performing in 2014
Shekoski performing in 2014
Background information
Birth nameJustin Paul Hollis Shekoski
Born (1983-06-11) June 11, 1983 (age 41)
Orange County, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active2003–present
Formerly of
Websitejustinshekoski.com

Justin Paul Hollis Shekoski (born June 11, 1983)[1] is an American guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist, best known for being the former lead guitarist, songwriter, and backing vocalist of Saosin and the Used. He has cited guitarists John Petrucci and Paul Gilbert as some of his main inspirations.[2] Shekoski is also known for his guitar playing style onstage, including "guitar spins," which involves spinning his guitar over his left shoulder multiple times, subsequently catching it mid-air, and continuing to play.

Career

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Shekoski, along with Beau Burchell, Anthony Green, and Zach Kennedy, is a founding member of the post-hardcore band Saosin, having been with the group since their 2003 extended play Translating the Name.[3] In February 2015, Quinn Allman, the lead guitarist for post-hardcore band the Used, began a year-long hiatus from performing with the group, and Shekoski was selected to fill in for him.[4] The Used bassist Jeph Howard cited their friendship with the entirety of Saosin and Shekoski specifically as the reasons he was selected.[5] In November 2015, the Used announced that Allman would be permanently leaving the band, and that Shekoski would be replacing him as an official member.[6]

Shortly after that announcement, Shekoski revealed that he had been removed from Saosin "a few months [prior to November 2015]" for what he described as "questionable reasons". Shekoski expressed surprise at his removal, saying "One thing I can be sure of is that I could not and would not have done anything differently over the past years. The shows were some of the best we have ever played. It truly seemed as if everyone was happy and positivity was at an all-time high. I was proud of the new music we were creating and to be turned away right before we tracked the record that we had spent years writing and our entire career working towards is saddening at best and angering at worst. If anyone's heart or commitment to Saosin could have possibly been in question, it certainly wasn't mine, ever."[7]

In January 2018, following a business dispute regarding payment after the release of the Used's The Canyon and subsequent promotional tour, Shekoski was dismissed from the band.[8] In March 2018, the Used removed Shekoski from their band members section on Facebook and edited him out of their promotional photos.

Shekoski received critical acclaim for his work on The Canyon by the Alternative Press, stating "[Shekoski] has breathed new life into the songwriting."[9] Other various music critics positively praised The Canyon for its unique sound with Billboard stating the album was the Used's most prolific and most important to date.[10][11][12]

In 2019, Shekoski filed suit against the Used for royalties and damages. The dispute was resolved amicably and settled out of court.[13]

Discography

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with Saosin

with The Used

References

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  1. ^ "Justin Paulhollis Shekoski, Born 06/11/1983 in California". California Birth Index. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  2. ^ "Justin Shekoski From Saosin: 'Finding The Shredder Within'". Ultimate Guitar Archive. August 2, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  3. ^ Apar, Corey. "Saosin - Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. ^ Sharp, Tyler (February 2, 2015). "The Used guitarist to take temporary leave from band, Saosin member to fill in". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  5. ^ Ebeling, Amy (April 15, 2015). "An Interview with The Used: In Need Of A Revolution". The Aquarian Weekly. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  6. ^ Sharp, Tyler (November 19, 2015). "The Used welcome Saosin guitarist after officially parting ways with Quinn Allman". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. ^ Leak, Brian (November 23, 2015). "Ex-Saosin guitarist speaks out about being removed from band for "questionable reasons"". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  8. ^ "About". JUSTIN SHEKOSKI. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  9. ^ AltPress (2017-10-27). "'The Canyon' is the Used's most soul-wrenching effort to date". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  10. ^ "The Used's Bert McCracken Talks Suicide & Loss, How It Influenced New Album 'The Canyon'". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  11. ^ The Canyon - The Used | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-05-06
  12. ^ "Review: The Used - The Canyon | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  13. ^ "About". JUSTIN SHEKOSKI. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
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