# Shane Told

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**Shane Matthew Told**[1] (born 1981) is a Canadian musician known as the lead vocalist of Canadian [post-hardcore](/source/Post-hardcore) band [Silverstein](/source/Silverstein_(band)).

Told hosts a podcast called *Lead Singer Syndrome*.[2]

He announced a solo album in 2015.[3]

## Biography

Born in [Scarborough, Ontario](/source/Scarborough,_Ontario), a small town in [Ontario](/source/Ontario) just outside [Toronto](/source/Toronto), at the age of six he moved with his family to [Oakville, Canada](/source/Oakville,_Canada) when his father found a new job.[4] He currently lives in Toronto.[1] Shane became interested in music when he was 10 years old, thanks to his sister who listened to *[Black Album](/source/Metallica_(album))* by [Metallica](/source/Metallica), which, he said, he immediately felt a connection with upon first listening, as if he had already listened to that CD a million times.[1] He began playing his father's acoustic guitar, and then bought an electric one. He also taught himself to sing (including screaming).[5] He attended [White Oaks Secondary School](/source/White_Oaks_Secondary_School) in Oakville, then enrolled in 2000 at the [University of Guelph](/source/University_of_Guelph) following courses in music, genetics and molecular biology, but dropped out in April 2003 to devote himself full time to music. He approached punk rock thanks to groups like [Fugazi](/source/Fugazi) and [Minor Threat](/source/Minor_Threat), and became a regular visitor to the local scene.[4]

## Musical career

Told's first band was a [punk rock](/source/Punk_rock) group called **Jerk Circus**.[6][7] The band, which rehearsed in the basement of Shane's parents' house, achieved a fair amount of success among the local public, with its first album *Never Mind the Suburbs* in 2001, followed by the [EP](/source/Extended_play) *Everything Is a Travesty with You*. He covered "[When I Come Around](/source/When_I_Come_Around)" by [Green Day](/source/Green_Day) at his first show. In 2002, the band decided to split up at the end of the year, because the members wanted to follow new paths (many of them had joined a [ska](/source/Ska) project that was taking up a lot of time).[4] Shane was among the founders of [Silverstein](/source/Silverstein_(band)) at the age of 19, in 2000. The band was born as a side project of the members who had already played in other local bands.[8][9]

In 2000, the band released their first self-produced EP, "[Summer's Stellar Gaze](/source/18_Candles:_The_Early_Years)." Initially, guitarist Josh Bradford was dissatisfied with Shane, believing Silverstein needed a screamer. However, Shane decided to learn how to scream, and with this new style, the band released "When the Shadows Beam" two years later, signing them to [Victory Records](/source/Victory_Records). During the band's first tour with Safeway Home, Shane sold his car to buy a Dodge van for the band. With their new label, Silverstein released their first album, *[When Broken Is Easily Fixed](/source/When_Broken_Is_Easily_Fixed),* in 2003, which began to gain attention in the [emo scene](/source/Scene_(subculture)). However, it was with their next album, *[Discovering the Waterfront](/source/Discovering_the_Waterfront)* (2005), that the band achieved success, thanks to songs such as "*Smile in Your Sleep*" and "*My Heroine*" which achieved considerable success worldwide.

Towards the end of the year, Shane announced that he had created his own label, called *Verona Records*, to help young and talented bands in his area trying to emerge. The first contract was made with an [Ontario](/source/Ontario) band called "[Dead and Divine](/source/Dead_and_Divine)". [10] That same year, he appeared as a guest vocalist on the song "*Pictures of You*" by *No Assembly Required*.

## Artistry

Told's vocal style incorporates both melodic singing and screaming, usually alternating between the two throughout a track. The first time he was exposed to harsh vocals was through the song "[Angel of Death](/source/Angel_of_Death_(Slayer_song))" by [thrash metal](/source/Thrash_metal) band [Slayer](/source/Slayer). His first experience with screaming was in a contest held at [Warped Tour](/source/Warped_Tour). To avoid irritating his housemates, Told said he would travel to remote areas to practice screaming in his car. He stated that this habit attracted police attention on several occasions, though these encounters reportedly passed without further incident.[11]

## Personal life

Told enjoys [hockey](/source/Ice_hockey) and [pinball](/source/Pinball) as hobbies.[12]

## References

1. ["Shane Told"](http://www.silversteinmusic.com/db/shane.html). *silversteinmusic.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090415052733/http://www.silversteinmusic.com/db/shane.html) 15 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["A Profile on Lead Singer Syndrome with Shane Told"](https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/a-profile-on-lead-singer-syndrome-with-shane-told-3/). *New Noise Magazine*. Retrieved 2025-12-12.

1. AltPress. ["Silverstein frontman Shane Told releasing solo album"](https://www.altpress.com/silverstein_frontman_shane_told_releasing_solo_album/). *Alternative Press Magazine*. Retrieved 2025-12-17.

1. [100 Words or Less. Shane Told from Silverstein. Episode 154](http://100wordspodcast.com/post/117175046489) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151222135948/http://100wordspodcast.com/post/117175046489) 22 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine 100wordspodcast.com

1. [Post on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/silversteinmusic/posts/129041730492774) www.facebook.com

1. [Jerk Circus on MySpace](https://myspace.com/jerkcircus) myspace.com

1. [Silverstein brings 'Short Songs' to Palladium](http://www.telegram.com/article/20120822/NEWS/108229995/1011/newsrewind&Template=printart) www.telegram.com

1. Magazine, Alternative Press. ["Fan poll: 5 best post-hardcore vocalists of all time"](https://www.altpress.com/fan-poll-post-hardcore-best-vocalists/). *Alternative Press Magazine*. Retrieved 2026-01-29.

1. Alessandro. ["The untold story of Shane Told of Silverstein's first band Jerk Circus"](https://www.altpress.com/shane-told-silverstein-first-band-jerk-circus/). *Alternative Press Magazine*. Retrieved 2025-12-12.

1. [[https://www.punknews.org/article/14576](https://www.punknews.org/article/14576) Silverstein Singer Shane Told starts record label; signs Dead and Divine www.punknews.org

1. ["How Silvertein's Shane Told Learned to Scream"](https://wgrd.com/how-shane-told-silverstein-learned-scream/). *97.9 WGRD*. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2025-12-12.

1. Buzz, Valentino Petrarca (2024-11-27). ["Part VIII of the When We Were Young Series: Silverstein’s Shane Told"](https://www.theaquarian.com/2024/11/27/part-viii-of-the-when-we-were-young-series-silversteins-shane-told/). *The Aquarian*. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Shane Told](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Told) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Told?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.