Table of content
    Was this helpful?
    Thumbs UP Thumbs Down

    Keith Urban’s Surprising Time in a Metal Band


    By continuing to use this website you agree to our terms and conditions. If you don't agree with our terms and conditions, you are not permitted to continue using this website.

    Source: Instagram
    Table of Contents

    Keith Urban is one of the biggest names in country music today, but his musical journey started in a very different place.

    During an interview on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Urban revealed that he wasn’t always playing country music. In fact, he was once part of a heavy metal band!

    Urban’s love for music began when he was very young.

    His mom played a big part in getting him started. She entered him in singing competitions, and he won a few of them.

    Along the way, he taught himself to play the guitar, which would later become his most famous skill.

    But not many people know that one of his first bands wasn’t playing country music—it was playing metal!

    The Band Called Fractured Mirror

    The metal band Keith Urban joined was called Fractured Mirror, named after a song by Ace Frehley, the guitarist for the legendary rock band KISS.

    Frehley’s song, “Fractured Mirror,” is an instrumental track that appears on his solo album from 1978.

    This was the year when all four members of KISS released their own solo albums. At that time, Urban was around 15 or 16 years old.

    He was just discovering heavy metal music, and he became a fan of Iron Maiden, one of the biggest metal bands in the world.

    This led him to join Fractured Mirror as a guitarist.

    Source: Instagram/ keithurban

    Country Meets Metal: A Strange Mix

    Even though Urban was into metal, he was still listening to a lot of country music.

    He became a fan of Ricky Skaggs, a bluegrass musician known for his fast and precise guitar style called “chicken picking.”

    This style of playing is very different from what you would hear in a metal band.

    It uses a lot of fast, sharp notes, and is more common in country and bluegrass music.

    While playing with Fractured Mirror, Urban was torn between two worlds: the heavy sound of metal and the light, fast picking of country.

    During one of their performances, they were playing a song by Saxon, a British heavy metal band, and they gave Urban a solo.

    Instead of playing in the usual metal style, Urban started using his chicken-picking technique.

    This didn’t go over well with the rest of the band. The lead singer looked at him in confusion, wondering what he was doing.

    Fired from the Band

    Not long after that performance, the band decided that Urban’s style didn’t fit with their heavy metal sound, and they fired him.

    Though his time with Fractured Mirror didn’t last long, this experience showed Urban that his heart was really in country music.

    A Different Path to Fame

    Getting fired from the metal band turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

    Urban’s unique guitar style, shaped by both metal and country influences, helped him stand out when he returned to playing country music.

    Over time, he became a global superstar in the country genre, winning awards and gaining millions of fans worldwide.

    What Happened to Fractured Mirror?

    After Urban left, there isn’t much information about what happened to the band Fractured Mirror. The group seems to have faded away.

    However, there is now a band from Indiana that uses the same name, but there’s no known connection to the band that Urban was a part of.

    Source: Instagram /keithurban

    Keith Urban’s Success in Country Music

    Although Keith Urban’s time in heavy metal was short, it played a part in shaping the musician he became.

    Today, he is famous for hit songs like “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and “Somebody Like You,” and he’s known for blending different musical styles into his country music.

    His guitar skills, especially his fast and precise picking, are often praised as some of the best in country music. But Urban’s journey to success wasn’t easy.

    After moving from Australia to Nashville in the early 1990s, he struggled for a few years before his career finally took off.

    And his unique background, which includes that brief time in a metal band, has helped him become the star he is today.

    Keith Urban’s Personal Life

    Keith Urban has been happily married to actress Nicole Kidman since 2006.

    They met at an event in 2005 and quickly became one of Hollywood’s most well-known couples.

    Together, they have two beautiful daughters: Sunday Rose, born in 2008, and Faith Margaret, born in 2010.

    Urban often shares how important family is to him, describing his wife and daughters as his greatest source of joy and inspiration.

    Urban has been open about his struggles with addiction, which began at a young age.

    He faced challenges with alcohol and substance abuse, but with the support of Kidman, he sought help and entered rehab.

    Urban has been sober since 2006, crediting his wife’s love and encouragement for helping him through his toughest moments.

    He often speaks about the importance of mental health and how being open about his experiences has helped him heal.

    In addition to his family life, Urban enjoys spending time on his farm in Tennessee, where he finds peace and relaxation away from the spotlight.

    Urban’s love for his family and his commitment to staying grounded are essential parts of who he is, both as a person and as an artist.

    Keith Urban’s Biography Overview

    CategoryDetails
    Full NameKeith Lionel Urban
    Date of BirthOctober 26, 1967
    Place of BirthWhangarei, New Zealand
    NationalityAustralian-American
    GenresCountry, Country Pop, Country Rock
    Primary InstrumentsGuitar, Vocals
    Early Musical InfluenceRicky Skaggs (Country), Iron Maiden (Metal)
    Famous Metal BandFractured Mirror (Named after Ace Frehley’s song)
    SpouseNicole Kidman (married since 2006)
    ChildrenSunday Rose Kidman Urban, Faith Margaret Kidman Urban
    Notable AwardsGrammy Awards, Country Music Association Awards
    Breakthrough AlbumKeith Urban (1999, U.S. debut)
    Major Hits“Blue Ain’t Your Color,” “Somebody Like You,” “The Fighter”
    Other VenturesCoach on The Voice (Australia), Judge on American Idol
    Years Active1990–present
    Key facts about Keith Urban’s life and career
    ‘Daytona’ (Official Audio)

    Conclusion

    • Keith Urban’s time in a metal band may seem surprising given his success in country music, but it highlights his wide range of musical influences.
    • Though his stint in Fractured Mirror didn’t last, it played an important role in shaping his unique style.
    • Blending elements of metal and country, Urban developed a sound that set him apart and paved the way for his rise to stardom.
    • His journey is a great example of how unexpected experiences can lead to discovering one’s true path, proving that sometimes what seems like a setback can actually be the start of something greater.

    Related Articles

    Was this helpful?
    Thumbs UP Thumbs Down
    Prev Next
    Share this post

    Lucky you! This thread is empty,
    which means you've got dibs on the first comment.
    Go for it!

    Send feedback to NashvilleGab

    Close Feedback Form



      We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback about this page with us.

      Whether it's praise for something good, or ideas to improve something that isn't quite right, we're excited to hear from you.