John Grant

Having failed to find superstardom after 10 years with US indie rockers The Czars, John Grant -- born July 25, 1968 in Buchanan, Michigan -- hit rock bottom. Haunted by alcohol and cocaine addiction, he had given up on the music industry and was waiting tables until folk rockers Midlake invited him to stay with them and record. These sessions resulted in his debut solo album, 2010’s Queen Of Denmark, a cathartic, dreamy, vanquishing of his grief that came filled with twisted piano ballads full of dark wit and hair-raising tales. The record received  critical acclaim and was named "Album of the Year" by Mojo as the 42-year-old finally received the recognition he was long overdue. He added synthesizers and dance sounds to his sonic palette for 2013’s Pale Green Ghosts. The album continued his critical praise being named the second best album of 2013 by The Guardian. 2015’s Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, was followed by a number of live appearances that helped the album reach the top 5 in Ireland. He closed out the decade with 2018’s Love Is Magic, and returned after the COVID-19 pandemic with 2021’s Boy from Michigan and 2024's The Art of the Lie.