Birth name Edward Joel Kowalczyk Name Ed Kowalczyk | Years active 1988–present | |
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Born July 16, 1971 (age 53) ( 1971-07-16 ) Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter-guitarist Role Musician · edkowalczyk.com Spouse Erin Broderick Kowalczyk (m. 1997) Albums The Flood and the Mercy, Throwing Copper, Secret Samadhi, Awake: The Best of Live, Mental Jewelry Similar Chad Taylor (guitarist), Patrick Dahlheimer, Chad Gracey Zodiac Sign Cancer Profiles |
Mindgames
Edward Joel Kowalczyk (born July 16, 1971) is an American musician, and a founding member of the band Live. After leaving Live in 2009, he launched a solo career. His first album, Alive, was released worldwide in June and July 2010. Ed rejoined Live in December 2016.
Contents
- Mindgames
- Ed kowalczyk 2004 interview from awake dvd
- Early life
- Career
- Political activities
- Personal life
- Discography
- Songs in TV
- References

Ed kowalczyk 2004 interview from awake dvd
Early life

Kowalczyk was born to a family of Polish descent. He grew up in York, Pennsylvania and attended William Penn Senior High School in the York City School District, where he met the other three members of what would become Live. His father was a teacher at the local Northeastern High School.
Career

Ed Kowalczyk was the lead singer, lyricist, and main songwriter for the band Live from its formation until 2009, then rejoined the band in December 2016. In 2009, he left the band and the other three members issued a statement detailing what they felt were inappropriate actions by Kowalczyk. Kowalczyk was sued by the band, seeking damages and an injunction against using the name "Live". Ed rejoined the band in December 2016 after months of rumors.

Following his departure from Live, Kowalczyk recorded his first solo album, Alive, which was released in 2010. In 2012, he recorded The Garden and in 2013 The Flood and the Mercy.

Kowalczyk has worked with musicians Stuart Davis and Glen Ballard and singers Anouk, Neneh Cherry, Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, Red Wanting Blue, and Shelby Lynne. He featured on the song "Evolution Revolution Love," from the 2001 Tricky album Blowback. He collaborated with Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth (ex-Talking Heads, then performing as The Heads) on the song "Indie Hair" from their 1996 album No Talking, Just Head.
He appeared in the David Fincher film Fight Club as a waiter who serves the characters of Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter, his only film acting credit to date.
Political activities
Kowalczyk performed John Lennon's "Imagine" with Slash in 2003 at "Peace on the Beach," a rally to protest the coming War in Iraq. In 2008 he appeared in a video with will.i.am from The Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Scarlett Johansson, and Nick Cannon, supporting U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama and appeared at campaign rallies for Obama with will.i.am.
Personal life
Kowalczyk is married and has three daughters and one son. He announced the birth of his third daughter, Cecilia, on April 14, 2011, and his son, Paul, on August 5, 2013. His younger brother Adam Kowalczyk, who is also a musician, toured with Live from 1999 to 2009, playing rhythm guitar and providing backing vocals.