In 2007 Kyle Peters formed a band with 5 other friends called Kill the Academy. On February 14, 2011 they released their first album entitled The Taking. The band’s fan base has become predominantly male based because of the “aggressive style of music” and targets an age group between young teens and age 30. Kill the Academy has a “showy sound” with a “Big Rock” performing presence. The unit of the two guitars, creates an atmosphere with a more mellow sound of the 90’s, enhancing the “spacey” tone structure.
I had the opportunity to sit down with David McInnes, Kill The Academy vocalist, and learn more about the band, their music and their conviction. David informed me:
“…my guitarists focus greatly on the intricacies of their instruments. The song writing is solid. Structure and dynamics are strong so they have the luxury of building tones within their equipment that gives the live performances an almost record quality clarity. Josh Minyard engineered our record in such a way that, the guitars especially, are able to fill the listener with a wall of sound. It’s the classic LA; two pompous loud ass guitars, blaring over a driving dirty bass. Mike is a machine on those drums….he lays with passion and angst that is the pulse of the band.”
Thus far, the band has recognized themselves as an LA band, performing in venues such as The Troubadour and The Roxy on the Sunset Strip. David says the goal he would like to see for Kill the Academy (as well as his two other bands) is,
“..to see every artist I know be able to support themselves financially with their craft. I believe that if you do something well enough, then people will want to pay you for it. The music business is rough these days and everyone, including myself wants everything..all the time.. without cost or consequence. There’s this misconception that if a song was popular and heard often, then the artist received equal monies for the influence. Not true. Until we find a more profitable way to encourage people to pay for the entertainment we enjoy, my friends and I will continue to scheme ways of building an empire to our liking.”
Members of the band include: David McInnes, lead singer; Michael Thomas, the drummer and booking agent for the band;
David McInnes, Kill The Academy vocalist
Sean De La Tour, guitar; Kyle Peters, guitar; Zac Edwards, and bass guitar. All the band members use a “grass roots” process of recording. It begins in their own recording studio and finished with the engineering done at home to save money.
David’s career path began at the young age of 12 playing a harmonica at a 5th grade talent show. By 17, he had his first paying gig that was sold out. During this time, David was one of two tenors in his high school choir that was awarded, at the time, Best Jazz in the state for 2003. He describes the dichotomy of the two venues as: “clean singing vs. screaming in the band”. He has had a combined total of ten years of singing lessons. David attended Musicians Institute in Hollywood where he majored in vocals. The intense curriculum there taught him how to pick up good practices for learning and how to “sell” himself.
David has shared many of his passions and dreams over the years with his closest friend, Mitch Boyce, an independent film maker. A collaboration of ideas and goals of movies and music videos have evolved.
If you would like to view more information on Kill the Academy please visit their website: killtheacademy.com. or the email address: David@wepilotthesemachines.com. If you would like a personal introduction to David McInnes please give me a call, it would be my pleasure.
