Jared James Nichols


Jared James Nichols is an American blues-rock guitarist and singer from East Troy, Wisconsin. Known for his high-energy 'pick-less' electric guitar playing technique. He is rarely seen playing without his signature single-pickup Epiphone Les Paul Custom P90 nick-named Old Glory or his vintage original 1953 Gibson Les Paul nick-named Ole Red
He fronts a power trio under his name, rooted in the early 1970s hard-rock vein of Cream and Mountain. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

Band members

Nichols moved to Los Angeles in 2010. He won the Gibson Les Paul Tribute Contest as well as the Musicians Institute Most Outstanding Player Award. He formed his own trio shortly thereafter and released a 3-song EP Live at the Viper Room.
After this release, Nichols toured America and played various clubs/festivals including Sturgis Buffalo Chip, SXSW, Summerfest, and more. It was during this time he opened for Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top. In Spring 2014, he embarked on a 2-month European Tour which proved to be successful, resulting in 2015 full-length release Old Glory & The Wild Revival recorded with producers Warren Huart and the legendary Eddie Kramer.
In early 2016, Music Radar named Jared as one of the "Top Upcoming Guitar Players in the World". Around the same time, Nichols was featured in a "mini-doc" series UNCHARTED by Honda and UPROXX about his guitar playing and determination to further himself in the music industry. The documentary went viral online, resulting in over seven million views within one month of its premier.
He has also recorded at historic studios such as Abbey Road, Sunset Sound, East-West, Swinghouse, La Fabrique and Dave Grohl's Studio 606.
Nichols has toured across America and Europe with acts including Living Colour Glenn Hughes, Zakk Wylde, Walter Trout, UFO, Saxon, Fozzy, L.A. Guns and Blue Öyster Cult.
Nichols has performed with many of his musical heroes ranging from Billy Gibbons, Slash, Peter Frampton, Zakk Wylde, Joe Bonamassa, Steve Vai, and Leslie West
His second full-length album Black Magic was released in January 2018.
In July 2019, Nichols released the single "Nails in the Coffin". The single premiered on BBC Radio 2 as well as heavy A-List Rotation on the UK’s Planet Rock Radio.
March of 2020 saw Jared release the single "Threw Me To The Wolves" in conjunction with his debut headline European tour. The single received rave reviews in the industry, touting the single as his best work to date. Premiering on BBC Radio 2 on the "Radio 2 Rock Show" in England, as well as "Pirate Rock Radio" in Sweden.

Equipment

Nichols is endorsed by Gibson/Epiphone, Seymour Duncan, Blackstar Amplification, and DR strings.
Jared primarily plays his signature Les Paul nicknamed "Old Glory" fitted with a single Seymour Duncan P-90 in the bridge position. Nichols ‘signature Les Paul’ model unveiled in January 2019.
Known for his use of p90 pickups, he prefers vintage Gibson p90s or new reproductions by Seymour Duncan.
In January 2019, Jared collaborated with British company Blackstar Amplification to develop a Signature amplifier, the JJN20.

Discography