Under Jenkins’s direction, Third Eye Blind has sold over 12 million copies world-wide of four records: “Third Eye Blind” (1997), “Blue” (1999), “Out of the Vein” (2003), and “Ursa Major” (2009). Jenkins was born in Indio, California on September 27, 1964. Stephan began his musical career early in life. He remembers banging out first works in the age of five, pulling out pots and pans on the ground of his kitchen in the home in northern California. When he was 13, his family relocated to Madison, Wisconsin to support his dad’s profession, but the Jenkins family returned to the Bay Area two years after. Jenkins started musical work as a drummer. During high school, he performed with Fast Forward, consisting of Jenkins on drums with Nick Dement (Guitar), Ben Austin (Bass Guitar), and Greg Magel (Guitar). Although the precocious Jenkins was still in high school, another three were students at nearby Stanford University. Together with the break up of Fast Forward, Austin and Magel departed; Jenkins and Dement added a fresh bassist and formed the trio Splash. Jenkins subsequently formed Puck and Natty (the name originating in the Shakespeare characters), a ‘fantastic rap masta’ group, with Detroit rapper Herman Chunn in 1992. Jenkins formed Third Eye Blind in 1993 with Kevin Cadogan. They played little shows across the bay for a long time and were, for the large part, unknown until they were signed in 1996 by Elektra Records which was afterwards reported as the biggest publishing deal ever for an unsigned musician. Jenkins has written or co-written every song on the group’s four studio albums and one extended play record. He’s appeared to favor the Gibson Explorer guitars over most other electrical versions in his career, especially during live performances. Jenkins has either sued or been sued by many connected with Third Eye Blind, although several of these suits are settled from court. Jenkins won two California Music Awards for the best songwriter as well as bandmate Cadogan, was nominated three years in a row as best vocalist, and won artist of the year.
Singer, Songwriter, Record producer, Guitarist, Actor
Education
Gunn High School, University of California, Berkeley
Nationality
United States of America
Nicknames
Jenkins, Stephan , Stephan Douglas Jenkins
Music Groups
Third Eye Blind
Movies
Art of Revenge
Star Sign
Libra
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Quote
1
On the surface, I'm a very cheerful person, but deep down I just love that dark winding road. I relate well to things being grim.
2
[on being a musician and an actor] "Sometimes people go, 'So which is it? Are you a musician or an actor?' I'm entirely and completely a musician. I'm really about making music, and that's my life's work. When a race car driver goes out and plays tennis, nobody goes, 'So are you a tennis player?' I also cook chicken. That doesn't make me a chef."
3
Music is the only thing in this world, with the exception of sneezing and looking at the sunset, that takes you to a place that's above the mundane. Everything else is just bullshit.
4
Twenty years from now, I'll be in some studio arguing over whether there's too much cello. It's my life's work, and I'd do it all for free.
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Fact
1
He went out with Vanessa Carlton from August 2002 until 2007 and also produced her second album.