The Hold Steady Artistfacts

2004-
Craig FinnGuitar, vocals
Tad KublerGuitar, vocals
Galen PolivkaBass
Bobby DrakeDrums2005-
Steve SelvidgeGuitar2010-
Although many of their songs are about partying, drinking, and doing drugs, The Hold Steady stress that their message is actually anti-drugs. Singer Craig Finn, who was raised Catholic, told Reax Magazine that the band's music is "about the hangover as much as the high" and that they're saying "things that make you high will make you die."
The Hold Steady guitarist Tad Kubler has ADD. Growing up, Kubler was considered by his teachers to be smart and energetic but also difficult to handle. He was diagnosed with ADD in high school and actually dropped out of music studies at the University of Wisconsin to get more real-life experience.
Three songs by The Hold Steady feature prominent references to Ybor City in Florida: "Most People are DJ's," "Killer Parties," and "Slapped Actress." The reference comes from singer/lyricist Craig Finn, who knows several people in New York City who routinely go down to Ybor City to party. The historic area is popular with tourists in Florida for its numerous bars and nightclubs such as Orpheum, which Finn cites as his favorite.
In 2007, Daniel Radcliffe revealed that The Hold Steady was his favorite band. The Harry Potter actor told NME that they were "The best band of the year by far."
Although he cites The Doors as an influence, The Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn says the music on their most influential album L.A. Woman "meanders" and that "Morrison was more like a drunk asshole than an intelligent musician." He told The Guardian that the song "Riders on the Storm" is "the worst of the worst."
Guitarist Tad Kubler from The Hold Steady cites bands like Queen, Led Zeppelin, and Thin Lizzy as influences, but it's Cheap Trick that really got him into music. The family of the band's manager lived across the street from Kubler growing up, so he had a chance to meet Cheap Trick frontman Rick Nielson when he was just seven years old.
The Hold Steady singer Craig Finn once worked a suit-and-tie job under the financial advisors for American Express. He worked under portfolio managers but says he kept his rock 'n roll side quiet because "people are kind of suspicious of rock people."
English folk/punk singer Frank Turner has a Hold Steady tattoo. The lyric "Damn Right I'll Rise Again" from The Hold Steady song "Your Little Hoodrat Friend" is inked across his back. Turner is a huge fan of the band but prefers their older albums Almost Killed Me and Separation Sunday over their newer ones like Boys and Girls in America and Stay Positive.

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