About Shane Told
Born 1981. Shane Told is a Canadian singer-songwriter.
Shane Matthew Told (born 1981) is a Canadian musician known as the lead vocalist of Canadian post-hardcore band Silverstein.
Told hosts a podcast called Lead Singer Syndrome.
He announced a solo album in 2015.
Biography Born in Scarborough, Ontario, a small town in Ontario just outside Toronto, at the age of six he moved with his family to Oakville, Canada when his father found a new job. He currently lives in Toronto. He attended White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville, then enrolled in 2000 at the 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 and Minor Threat, and became a regular visitor to the local scene. 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 Everything Is a Travesty with You. He covered "When I Come Around" by 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 project that was taking up a lot of time).
In 2000, the band released their first self-produced EP, "Summer's Stellar Gaze." 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. 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, in 2003, which began to gain attention in the emo scene. However, it was with their next album, 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 band called "Dead and Divine". 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" by thrash metal band Slayer. His first experience with screaming was in a contest held at 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.
Personal life Told enjoys hockey and pinball as hobbies.
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Important facts
People in Shane Told's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Shane Told's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Shane Told?
Canadian singer-songwriter and singer
When was Shane Told born?
Shane Told was born on 13 February 1981 in Scarborough.
What is Shane Told's occupation?
Shane Told is a singer-songwriter.
What nationality is Shane Told?
Shane Told is Canadian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Shane Told. https://biography.guide/shane-told/
MLA: "Shane Told." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/shane-told/.
Chicago: "Shane Told." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/shane-told/.
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