Brad Kelley’s exposure to music began at an early age. The youngest of three siblings, Brad inherited the old acoustic guitar and piano from his older brother and sister and taught himself the basics. After discovering that you don’t really need to be good to be in a band if you own a lot of equipment, Brad embarked on a buying spree that netted him a bass guitar and a big amp… and his first gig. Local “tours” with bands like “Blue Sky”, “Act Two”, “Tempting Fate” and “Split Decision” soon followed. Like the skinny kid who brought the football to the playground so he’d be sure to play, Brad then bought a PA, lights and a truck to secure his spot in cover bands.

 

After one too many blizzards and uncontrollable shivering episodes in northeast Ohio, and upon hearing the news of the Cleveland Browns impending move to Baltimore, Brad moved to the Bay Area in 1995 and joined “Soundcheck”. In Soundcheck, Brad has taken on the role of multi-instrumentalist, playing keyboards and guitar while providing vocals when needed. Arrogant, egotistical and self-centered, Brad believes the whole musical world should revolve around him and what he wants. Not surprisingly, he takes great pride in his two-fingered keyboard soloing… think Emerson or Wakeman with one arm tied behind their back and missing three fingers. On guitar, listening to Brad play evokes comparisons to Mars, DeVille and Young with his imaginative use of feedback and distortion to mask glaring deficiencies in technique.

 

When not playing with Soundcheck, Brad enjoys world travel, scuba diving, camping, hiking, playing with his cats and designing reticle and photomask inspection tools.

 

Influences: Elton John, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Jon Lord, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Bob Marley, Edwin Charley

and Sailor Jerry Collins.

 

Equipment: Alesis, Yamaha, Sequential Circuits, Casio, Korg, Gibson, Marshall, BOSS, B.C. Soundworx, Radio Shack