"Charisma, power, complexity, and grace. INXS and the producers of the show were very, very lucky to find Mr. Marty Casey. Talent like his comes along so rarely." - Cicada, Fan

Genesis of an Artist
The source of Marty’s talent is deeply imbedded in his relationships with his friends and original band mates, brothers Dino and Bobby Kourelis. The three of them became fast friends as kids on the t-ball fields of Hickory Hills, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Their musical odyssey began when they bought instruments and taught themselves to play as teenagers. Joined by friends Ben Kelly and John Murdock, they formed the Swinging Lovehammers when they were about 15 for the same reason most teenage boys start bands: fun, free beer, and chicks. The current line-up is Marty on vocals, Dino on bass guitar, Bobby on drums, and Billy Sawilchik on guitar. In a 2004 Chicago Sun-Times interview, Marty was asked what the best thing was about being him and he responded, "Being in a band with my three best friends. Most friendships fall apart after a certain age. Best thing about being in a band: getting to record with amazing people, see different parts of the country and sell out places like the Viper Room in L.A."

Marty began experimenting with songwriting in his late teens, drawing on personal experiences for inspiration. His original song, "Rain on the Brain," from the 2000 "L’Strange" CD, was a finalist in the Pop Category of the annual John Lennon songwriting contest. Marty’s blog at the Rock Star: INXS website gives us a glimpse into his writing process:

Things that inspire me to write songs:

• When I travel I always bring a guitar and write songs instead of keeping a journal or taking photographs.
• When I see a great live band and they move me, I go home and try to write songs that give me that same feeling.
• In the midst of relationship difficulties, I write songs in order to figure out what is really going on in my head.

As a group, the Lovehammers have continued to mature in their songwriting endeavors, trying out new ideas while keeping true to their hard-edged style of straight-up rock ‘n roll. Some of their songs have been picked up to use for motion pictures and TV, including "This Town" on ESPN Shidokan Championships; "Clouds" in the movie Greener; and "The Tunnel" in the movie Communication Breakdown. They’ve toured with Nickelback, Jerry Cantrell, and Cake, and have opened for numerous acts including Puddle of Mudd, Lifehouse, and Interpol. When not on tour, they headline venues in Chicago and throughout the Midwest.

Disciple of His Craft
An avid reader and eager student, Marty’s natural affinity for learning may be the key to his success on Rock Star. He has seemingly approached this venture from a pupil’s perspective, methodically making changes to his voice, style and appearance as he continues to hone his artistic sensibilities. Soaking up direction from INXS like a parched sponge, Marty has offered fresh glimpses of himself week by week, gradually revealing his depth and diversity as a performer.

Although he’s kept his eyes firmly on the prize, Marty’s quest has not resulted in diminishing his own singular flair. Even as he has outwardly limited his more erratic onstage behavior, he has remained the vortex of each performance, a self-contained eye of the storm, ever constant as the chaos of the stage and audience swirl around him.

"The hardest part is, while you're here, not beating yourself up and not comparing yourself to the other performers too much. Because you don't want to convert into all being one kind of performer by, you know, we're all learning from each other. But the struggle is completely remaining yourself and keeping your voice, your tone of voice, and keeping your edge and keeping your style." - Interview with the Chicago Tribune, September 7, 2005

The Mad Conductor

I need to change up my energy for the next performance and I'm psyched. I may take a fast song and make it slow or rock out a ballad. The fact is I need to embrace whatever song I get and find my voice within the lyrics. - Marty’s Blog, July 23

His performance style has been likened to Mick Jagger, Iggy Pop, Axl Rose, David Bowie, Phil Lynott, and even Michael Hutchence. But Marty is a chameleon on the stage, much in the style of Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander. He transforms himself both physically and vocally, melding synergistically with the song. Mesmerizing the audience, he compels all eyes to follow. Far from a mimic, Marty Casey is very much the embodiment of his own one-man cast of breath-sucking characters. Every movement is organic and relevant; is it choreographed, or does the genius just flow uninhibited?

"The conductor really seems to be a conduit tapping into something larger than himself -- as if every cell in his body is quivering with the energy passing through him. The Marty phenomenon is beyond talent, beyond passion. He is an electric-magnetic transformer, channeling the high voltage of Rock Icons, raw emotion, and the primal matter of music into a field of energy that passes through the audience and through the pixels of the TV screen. This is not entertainment; this is transmutation." - Desire, Fan, Writer, and Artist

All-American Boy
From Marty’s Blog:
Things one would find in my bedroom:

• Record albums from the 70's
• Plants
• Musical instruments
• Book of famous last words
• Unbreakable comb
• Pile of clothing
• Pages of lyrics & song ideas
• Sleepless bed
• Map of the world

On September 26, 1973, the Casey family welcomed their sixth and final child, Martin Xavier Casey. Growing up with his three brothers and two sisters in Hickory Hills, Illinois, Marty stayed busy with baseball, wrestling, and keeping his grades up in school. After graduating from Stagg High School, he attended the University of Illinois, Champaign, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. Upon leaving college, he interned first for the Illinois Board of Trade, and then for an independent record label. Marty soon found that a career as a commercial real estate appraiser would afford him a steady income as well as flexibility to continue performing with the Lovehammers.

In the course of everyday life, Marty follows the Chicago White Sox, runs to keep in shape, and enjoys a good Beatles tune or a night at the movies. Maintaining a close relationship with his family, he lives within two hours driving distance of his parents. Interviewed by the Daily Southtown News during a celebratory party on September 14, Marty’s dad John said, "This is all so overwhelming. I'm so proud of Marty." His brother Chris also remarked, "He's suffered a lot to make his dream come true. He's seen his friends being more successful and making more money, but he has had to sacrifice to follow his dream."

American boys dream big dreams, and Marty is no exception. Whether he becomes the next lead singer of INXS or goes back home to the Lovehammers, this all-American boy will soon realize his most passionate and enduring dream. In the words of Dave Navarro, “You are totally relevant in music today...Being a rockstar is not about hitting notes. It’s about having the intangible magnetism that you already have. In my opinion, you’re already a rockstar.”

--Bio by Jenny Creson for ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM

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lovehammers: Marty Casey & Lovehammers Fans of Lovehammers, the band Marty Casey fronted before putting his name out front seemed a smart publicity move, will love the bulk of these 11 songs, especially the pained and furious "Clinic" and the hot-headed "The Tunnel." Format: CD BUY AT AMAZON

lovehammers: Murder on My Mind Lovehammers have stepped up to put the spark back in modern rock and they've brought their welder's torches with them. It's about time a band has turned up with full guns drawn, ready to delve out some serious rock and roll without skimping on the sex and debauchery that grunge so foolishly discarded. Their latest release Murder on My Mind, which has independently sold over 8,000 copies, encapsulates the Lovehammers' arrival as an act that sweeps aside the mope for pure sweat and energy. Murder collects the best elements of grunge and hard rock with a twist of punk that stems from the pure adrenaline the band possesses. Singer Martin Casey has best been described as a cross between Mick Jagger and Axl Rose, while the Kourelis brothers man the rhythm section with a sex appeal that is reminiscent to the early days of rock-n-roll. At the same time, guitarist Billy Sawichik effortlessly rips through riffs and chords to complete this power quartet. Format: CD BUY AT AMAZON BUY AT CD BABY

lovehammers: L'Strange Released in 2002, "L'Strange" is straight forward in your face rock-n-roll. No smoke, no mirrors, just straight-up rock from Chicago's favorite band. Includes the single, "Rain on the Brain," a runner up in the John Lennon songwriting contest. Format: CD BUY AT CD BABY