James Durbin

James William Durbin was born on January 6, 1989, in Santa Cruz, California. His early life was marked by the loss of his father at age nine and subsequent diagnoses of Tourette syndrome and Asperger syndrome. Durbin pursued his passion for music and performing arts from a young age, attending Musicschool instead of a traditional high school. He participated in local children’s theater, starring in productions such as “Grease” and “Beauty and the Beast” in 2006, and later taking on lead roles in “West Side Story” and “Sweet Charity” in 2007 with All About Theatre. In 2008, Durbin’s musical talents were recognized when he appeared in Alan Parsons’ “Art & Science of Sound Recording” educational video series, recording a version of “We Play The Game.” Prior to his national recognition, Durbin also gained experience as the lead singer for the band Hollywood Scars under the stage name Jimmy Levox, drawing inspiration from 1980s Sunset Strip glitz metal, and was also part of the band Whatever Fits.

Durbin gained national prominence in 2011 as a contestant on the tenth season of American Idol, where he finished in fourth place. His performances on the show, including a notable duet with Judas Priest, showcased his vocal range and passion for heavy metal music. Following his appearance on American Idol, Durbin released his debut album, “Memories of a Beautiful Disaster,” in November 2011, which debuted at number 36 on the Billboard 200. He continued to release music, including his second album, “Celebrate,” in 2014, and an EP, “A Thrill of Hope,” in 2015. Durbin’s career took a significant turn in March 2017 when he joined the heavy metal band Quiet Riot as their new lead singer. He recorded two albums with them, “Road Rage” (2018) and “Hollywood Cowboys” (2019), before departing in September 2019 to pursue solo heavy metal projects under the moniker ‘Durbin.’

In October 2020, Durbin signed with Frontiers Records, leading to the release of his “pure heavy metal” album, “The Beast Awakens,” in February 2021. He continued this heavy metal direction with his second album under the ‘Durbin’ moniker, “Screaming Steel,” released in February 2024. Beyond his recording career, Durbin has maintained a presence on various television shows post-Idol, including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” He frequently performs with multiple bands, demonstrating his versatility across genres, including the 1980s tribute band Tainted Love, the yacht rock tribute band Mustache Harbor, and his own 1970s and 1980s tribute band, The Lost Boys. Durbin’s career illustrates a consistent dedication to music, marked by significant milestones in diverse musical landscapes.