# Ed Kowalczyk

Edward Joel Kowalczyk (/koʊˈwɔːl.tʃɪk/; Polish pronunciation:; born July 16, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, musician and a founding member of the band Live. He launched a solo career after leaving Live in 2009, releasing his first album, Alive, in 2010. He rejoined Live in December 2016.

## Early life

Kowalczyk was born to a family of Polish descent on July 16, 1971. 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. When he left the band, the other three members issued a statement detailing what they felt were inappropriate actions by Kowalczyk in regards to contract and salary negotiations. Kowalczyk was sued by the band, seeking damages and an injunction against using the name "Live". Kowalczyk rejoined the band in December 2016 after months of rumors. In June 2022, Kowalczyk took a 55% controlling ownership of the band, immediately firing founding guitarist Chad Taylor from the band. In October 2022, Kowalczyk and three new touring musicians began performing as Live without Patrick Dahlheimer and Chad Gracey, leaving Kowalczyk as the sole founding member of the band.
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. In 2014-2016 he embarked on an extensive tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of Throwing Copper, playing acoustic concerts across the U.S., Europe and Australia.
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, 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 Iraq War. 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.
Kowalczyk is a member of Canadian charity Artists Against Racism and has worked with them on awareness campaigns.

## Discography
### Solo studio albums

| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Year | Album details | US | AUS | BEL (FL) | NLD |
| 2010 | Alive Released: July 6, 2010 Label: Soul Whisper Format: CD | 166 | 42 | 27 | 4 |
| 2013 | The Flood and The Mercy Released: October 29, 2013 Label: Soul Whisper Format: CD | — | — | 136 | — |

### Solo extended plays

| Year | EP details |
| 2012 | The Garden Released: November 2012 Label: Harbour Format: Download |

### Solo singles

| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Year | Single | US Alt. | AUS | NLD | Album |
| 2001 | "Evolution Revolution Love" (Tricky featuring Ed Kowalczyk & Hawkman) | 35 | — | 79 | Blowback |
| 2010 | "Grace" | — | 100 | — | Alive |
| 2010 | "Stand" | — | — | — | Alive |
| 2013 | "Seven" | — | — | — | The Flood and the Mercy |

## Songs in TV

* "Evolution Revolution Love" (Tricky featuring Ed Kowalczyk) was used in the NBC series The West Wing in the episode "Manchester (Part 1)".
* "The Great Beyond" was included on the soundtrack of the 2011 film Killing Bono.