{{short description|American singer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Marty Casey | image = Marty Casey (cropped).jpg | caption = Casey with Tracii Guns' L.A. Guns in 2008 | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Martin Xavier Casey | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|9|26|mf=y}} | origin = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}} | genre = {{hlist|Alternative rock|indie rock|post-grunge|hard rock}} | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|musician|songwriter}} | years_active = 1987–present | current_member_of = Lovehammers }}
'''Martin Xavier "Marty" Casey''' (born September 26, 1973)<ref name="ChMetromix">"New sensation: Marty Casey is a hit!" (news report/bio), Karen Budell, ''Metromix Chicago'', October 17, 2005, webpage: [http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/article/new-sensation/165152/content Metromix-New-Sensation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124095411/http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/article/new-sensation/165152/content |date=November 24, 2007 }}: states, "Oct 3, 2005-- Marty arrived in his hometown Sep 30 to play an Oct 1 Hurricane Katrina benefit concert at the Tweeter Center; Marty and his band, the Lovehammers, opened for Jessica Simpson."</ref> is an American rock musician who is the lead singer, primary songwriter and second guitarist of Lovehammers.<ref name="MCorg">"MartyCasey.org, Official Site for Marty Casey, Rock Star: INXS" www.MartyCasey.org, 2006, webpage: [http://www.martycasey.org/archives/ MartyCasey-Org-archives] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070721133129/http://www.martycasey.org/archives/ |date=July 21, 2007 }}.</ref> After years of building a strong local following in Chicago and the Midwest, Casey achieved international fame on the first season of the reality show ''Rock Star: INXS''. Casey made it to the final two of the competition, finishing as the runner-up to winner J.D. Fortune.<ref name=ChMetromix /> Although he was not chosen as the new singer for INXS, he was invited to tour as opening act. In 2006, Marty Casey and the Lovehammers opened on the first leg of the INXS Switched On Tour.<ref name=MCorg /> Marty was a fan favorite on ''Rock Star: INXS'',<ref name=MCorg /> receiving the most viewer votes,<ref name="ChMetroMix">"New sensation: Marty Casey is a hit!" (news report), Karen Budell, ''Metromix Chicago'', October 17, 2005, webpage: [http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/article/new-sensation/165152/content Metromix-New-Sensation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124095411/http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/article/new-sensation/165152/content |date=November 24, 2007 }}.</ref> and topping the download charts with his performances of both covers and original material.<ref name=ChMetromix />
== Biography ==
=== Early life ===
The youngest of six children,<ref name=ChMetromix /><ref name="RStarMSN">"MSN Entertainment – Marty Casey: Marty's Bio" MSN Entertainment, Microsoft Corporation, 2005, webpage: [http://rockstar.msn.com/rockers/marty Rockstar-MSN-Marty] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117012549/http://rockstar.msn.com/rockers/marty |date=November 17, 2007}}.</ref> Marty Casey was born in the Chicago suburb of Hickory Hills, Illinois.<ref name=ChMetromix /> As a child and youth, he was an avid sportsman, competing in both baseball and wrestling. When he was eight years old he met future Swinging Lovehammers bandmates Bobby and Dino Kourelis while playing together on a local T-Ball team. Casey and the Kourelis brothers formed Lovehammers (initially named The Swinging Lovehammers) in 1988. During this time Casey attended Amos Alonzo Stagg High School<ref name=ChMetromix /> in Palos Hills, Illinois. After receiving a degree in Finance<ref name=RStarMSN /> at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign,<ref name=MCorg /> he worked part-time as a real estate appraiser<ref name=ChMetromix /><ref name=MCorg /><ref name=RStarMSN /> while continuing to record and tour with his band. He was a member of Star Course, a student run organization at the University of Illinois. He was also a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.
While touring with artists including Nickelback,<ref name=MCorg /><ref name=RStarMSN /> Jerry Cantrell, Interpol, New Found Glory, and Cake,<ref name=RStarMSN /> Casey and the Lovehammers began to build a small but loyal national following.
His musical influences include: Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Cyndi Lauper, Rob Bass, Joe Cocker, and Accept.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://metroseeker.com/chicago/felos/marty-casey |title=''MetroSeeker.com: Exclusive Interview with Marty Casey'' |access-date=July 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815045727/http://metroseeker.com/chicago/felos/marty-casey |archive-date=August 15, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
A number of the band's songs have been included in television shows and movies. The group's DVD, "Live/Raw" charted well on the ''Billboard'' musical DVD charts in 2004.<ref name=RStarMSN /> Casey was a finalist in the annual John Lennon Songwriting Contest, with his song "Rain on the Brain," featured on the L'Strange album.<ref name=RStarMSN />
=== ''Rock Star: INXS'' === During the competition, Casey gained the respect of the INXS band members as well as viewers. His performances consistently received high marks, and he received the most votes of any contestant on the show.<ref name=ChMetromix /> Near the end of the competition, he performed his original song "Trees", which became a fan favorite.<ref name=ChMetromix /><ref name=MCorg /> "Trees" was picked up by mainstream radio.
Casey's extended family and long-term fans (known as Hammerheads) were very supportive of his run on the show, co-hosting viewing parties for the fans at Chicago bars, and even organizing shuttle buses to bring fans to the parties. Casey spoke frequently of being "humbled" and "honored" by all the support he received.
On his ''Rock Star: INXS'' blog, Casey wrote: "I love writing music and I think performing those creations completes the cycle and helps me define my life. Writing music is the thought and performing is the action. Great thoughts must be put into action in order to exist. Action without thought can be a train wreck."
=== ''Post Rock Star: INXS'' === After revealing J.D. Fortune as the winner and new INXS front man, INXS guitarist Tim Farriss offered Casey the job of opening act on INXS's upcoming tour, which Casey accepted.<ref name=ChMetromix /> During the tour, Casey and his band released their major label debut, ''Marty Casey and Lovehammers'' (released January 24, 2006,<ref name=MCorg /> through Epic Records). The album could be described as a "best-of" compilation of songs from previous indie albums, though songs were chosen largely on the basis of accessibility as well as to showcase the band to a more mainstream audience. Though some songs were re-recorded and remixed for the recording, the album featured only one completely new track. There was some criticism that the album was sold under "Marty Casey and Lovehammers" as opposed to their current bandname – "Swinging Lovehammers" – however, fans generally understood that the album's purpose was to capitalize on Marty's TV exposure and to increase their fan base.
Casey continues to tour with Lovehammers, now as headliners. As natives of Chicago's South Side, they are avid fans of the Chicago White Sox, and were particularly excited to be asked to play before some games in October 2005 and 2006.<ref name=ChMetromix />
In 2008, he joined Tracii Guns' version of LA Guns. He both co-wrote and provided vocals, touring with the L.A. Guns through 2009.<ref name="Marty Casey Icon vs Icon">{{cite web | last = Price | first = Jason | title = The Bright Light of Possibility: An Interview with L.A. Guns' Marty Casey | work = Icon vs Icon | date = July 4, 2008 |url=http://www.iconvsicon.com/2008/07/04/the-bright-light-of-possibility-an-interview-with-la-guns-marty-casey/}}</ref> In a 2009 interview, Tracii stated that L.A. Guns parted ways with Alexus Records and that he was unsure whether the material recorded with Marty Casey or the VH1 pilot would ever be released.
Casey returned to the Lovehammers in 2009 in order to record and release the album Heavy Crown.
In January 2009, Casey conducted a two-week solo acoustic tour of New Zealand, in support of charity CanTeen, which supports young people living with cancer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://martycasey.co.nz/ |title=Marty Casey | Home |accessdate=December 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416045542/http://martycasey.co.nz/ |archivedate=April 16, 2009 }}</ref> The tour was run by Christchurch resident Tania Gilchrist. One New Zealand radio interview took place in Invercargill on January, 12th 2009, airing on 89.2 MORE FM's The Morning Fix with Andy George [http://www.morefm.co.nz/andy Andy George]. It can be viewed [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ4UohIg2Zo here].
== Discography ==
===Studio Albums=== See also: Lovehammers Discography
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title ! rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Album details ! colspan="1"| Peak positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="40"| US<br><ref name="Billboard 200 (11 February 2006)">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2006/BB-2006-02-11.pdf|title=Billboard|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Marty Casey and Lovehammers''{{ref label|A|A|}} | *Release date: 2006 *Label: Epic Records | 67 |- ! scope="row"| ''The Ground You Walk On'' | *Release date: 2017 | — |- | colspan="5" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |}
: '''A'''{{Note|A}} Also an official studio album for ''Lovehammers''
===Soundtrack Albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title ! rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Album details ! colspan="1"| Peak positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="40"| US<br><ref name="Billboard 200 (08 October 2005)">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2005/BB-2005-10-08.pdf|title=Billboard|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=January 5, 2026}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Rock Star: A Night At The Mayan Theatre'' (with various artists) | *Release date: 2005 *Label: Burnett/Epic Records | 68 |- | colspan="5" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="colw" rowspan="2"| Single ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|US (Pop)<br><ref name="Billboard Pop 100 (01 October 2005)">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2005/BB-2005-10-08.pdf|title=Billboard|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=January 5, 2026}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|US Digital<br><ref name="Hot Digital Songs (01 October 2025)">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2005/BB-2005-10-01.pdf|title=Billboard|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=January 5, 2026}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Wish You Were Here" | rowspan="2"| 2005 | 71 | 74 | | rowspan="2"| "Non-album single" |- ! scope="row"| "Trees" | 97 | — |- | colspan="6" style="font-size:9pt"| "—" denotes single that did not chart |}
=== DVD Releases === * ''Live/Raw'' (2004) (With Lovehammers) * ''Rock Star: INXS / The DVD'' (2005) * ''And the Rest is History...'' (2006) (With Lovehammers)
=== Music Videos === * ''Merry Christmas (All Year Long)'' (2006) (View [http://vimeo.com/2467503Q here]) * ''Sleeper'' (2008) by Stock Yard Film (View [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHDsBLsyh40 here]) * ''Price I Pay'' (2013) (View [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBwLlVQRNzA here])
<ref name="lovehammersfanclub.com">{{cite web|url=http://lovehammersfanclub.com/lhfanclub/Music.html |title=Lovehammers Music |accessdate=December 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205025658/http://www.lovehammersfanclub.com/lhfanclub/Music.html |archivedate=December 5, 2008 }}</ref>
== See also == * ''Lovehammers'' * ''INXS'' * ''Rockstar: INXS'' * ''LA Guns''
== Notes == <references />
== References == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071124095411/http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/article/new-sensation/165152/content "New sensation: Marty Casey is a hit!"], Karen Budell, Metromix Chicago Bars & Clubs, October 2005.
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080709014705/http://www.martycasey.com/ Official site of Marty Casey, Singer and Songwriter] * [http://www.lovehammers.com/ Lovehammers] * [http://www.lovehammersfanclub.com/ Lovehammers Fan Club] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205052724/http://lovehammersfanclub.com/ |date=December 5, 2006 }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070826184204/http://www.rockbandlounge.com/rock-star-inxs/marty-casey.asp Marty Casey bio at ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM] * [https://www.youtube.com/user/lovehammers/videos Lovehammers YouTube Channel] * [https://www.facebook.com/martycasey Marty Casey on Facebook] * [https://www.facebook.com/lovehammers Lovehammers on Facebook] * [https://twitter.com/martycasey Marty Casey on Twitter] * [https://twitter.com/Lovehammers Lovehammers on Twitter] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060228140224/http://www.lovehammersecards.com/ Free Lovehammers eCards] * [http://www.wickedinfo.com/content/view/131/60/ Interview with Marty Casey at WickedInfo.com] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071124095411/http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/article/new-sensation/165152/content "New sensation: Marty Casey is a hit!", Metromix Chicago Bars & Clubs]. * [http://www.rockbandlounge.com/news/2008-06-marty-casey/ Marty Casey on the Sunset Strip]
{{Rock Star: INXS}} {{L.A. Guns}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Casey, Marty}} Category:Living people Category:1973 births Category:American rock singers Category:Singers from Chicago Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:Gies College of Business alumni Category:People from Cook County, Illinois Category:21st-century American singers Category:21st-century American male singers