Jon Nelson

Jonathan Nelson, (born December 15, 1962), better known as Jon Nelson, is an American guitarist, record producer from Culver City, California. Jon Nelson is better known for his time playing with the hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies after its previous guitarist Grant Estes departed from them before their self titled debut album was released. He toured with the band extensively from 1983-1984, often times giving the band more attention with his guitar playing which included playing his guitar with his teeth, homage to his biggest musical influence Jimi Hendrix. Before and after his time with Suicidal Tendencies, he's been involved in multiple music projects across the Venice Hardcore Punk scene, and even managed the band threw his own record label deederdeets.
Suicidal Tendencies
Although born in Santa Monica, California in 1962, Jon Nelson mostly stayed around Venice Beach, California and Hollywood, California when growing up. He managed & produced a band called Neighborhood Watch during the early 80s, "who were like little brothers to Suicidal Tendencies" according to Jon. After a gig where they opened for Suicidal Tendencies, Jon proposed the idea of having another guitar player. With him accompanying then guitarist Grant Estes on rhythm guitar. After Estes quit before touring with the band and their 1st album, Jon learned all his solo's and replaced him. He played with the band from 1983-1984, often times touring with them and contributing music for future songs like: "War inside my head", "Human Guinea Pig", and "The Boys are Back (Look Up)", “You got, I want” which would later appear on future albums like Join The Army and the Welcome to Venice compilation. He was able to give the band more media attention on how he played his guitar. Usually playing Fender Stratocaster guitars, he would at times play with his teeth, and brought a more blues type sound to the band. Naming Hendrix as a very big musical influence to his guitar playing. Jon also gave an interview for MTV while hanging upside down and recalls "That was cool. I was talking normal, while blood was rushing straight to my head". Although he never played on any albums, he can be seen playing with the band on live video recordings from 1983-84 circulating on you tube (like a live video of "I Saw Your Mommy" from 1984), and can be heard on a live bootleg from 1983 which can be found on a file sharing program soulseek. He eventually left Suicidal because of his desire to sing and play at the same time and traded off the rights to "War Inside My Head" for a flying v guitar which Mike Muir had bought of him. "It was a prototype made for Eddie Van Halen by a friend of mine. Eddie didn’t want it. I had that thing for years. It looked like marble. Pretty cool." according to Jon.
After Suicidal
Jon has been known to play in different local bands at the same time he plays in one, he's said in a recent interview on his you tube account Youtube/DeederDeets, that he has probably played in over 75 bands in his lifetime. He played guitar briefly with Red Hot Chilli Peppers in 1985 and is good friends with bass player . Other than a few demos he recorded with them, and helped write songs for their 2nd album Freaky Styley, he never really made it to record on any actual album with them. Soon after, he started his own band originally a supergroup called 'Screaming Fetus'. That originally featured Mike Clark from No Mercy, Amery Smith from Suicidal Tendencies, and John Flitcraft from Neighborhood Watch, which eventually became The Brood after Todd Moyer joined. They recorded a self titled album in 1986 and Jon eventually left. leaving Todd Moyer to continue the band as Uncle Slam. Throughout the mid to late 80s, he's been heavily involved with local bands around the Venice Beach area. Playing bass for the band Crux Ansata, which are featured in the Farewell to Venice compilation. And also in a Heavy Metal band Shrapnel in 1987. During the early 90s, Jon got the chance to play with the late Jackie Lee Cochran for a few shows.
Recently
After leaving music behind for some time and living a ordinary life, he soon became active in the music scene once again. Playing in a Christian Metal band in 2002 called Narrow Intercession, which eventually recorded an album on his deederdeets label. And in 2006 formed Nasty Habits where he's currently playing, and released "Skinned Alive" in January 15, 2010. When not making music, he spends some of his free time on his Facebook and Myspace page. And is currently writing a movie about himself while using a fictional name. Jon also studied record production, music business and marketing at UCLA when he dropped out of high school. And gave Mike Muir and Louiche Mayorga the idea to start their own record labels.
Discography
Suicidal Tendencies
* Suicidal Tendencies Live Bootleg from 1983 (1983)
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
* 1985 Demo (1985)
The Brood
* The Brood (1986)
Narrow intercession
* Narrow intercession (2002)
Nasty Habits
* Skinned Alive (2010)

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