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Miles Nielsen

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Miles Nielsen performs in Wisconsin, April 11, 2025
Miles Nielsen performs at Monk's Bar & Grill in Lake Delton, Wisconsin during the Stampede Music Festival, April 12, 2025.
Background Information
Birth nameMiles Spence Nielsen
BornJuly 20, 1975 (age 49)
Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A.
GenresRock, power pop, soul, jam, "Beatlesque-Cosmic-Americana"[1]
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Years active1990-present
LabelsRowtown Records
Member ofMiles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts, The Nielsen Trust
SpouseKelly Steward
Websitemilesnielsen.com, thenielsentrust.com

Miles Spence Nielsen (born July 20, 1975) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter based in Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A.[2] He is a member of the rock band The Nielsen Trust[3] as well as the front man and principal founder of the rock group Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts.[4]

Harmony Riley

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From 1997 to 2004 Nielsen was a member of the rock group Harmony Riley.[5] The band took their name from Riley Harmony Road[6] which crosses Interstate 90 near the town of Marengo, IL.[citation needed]

Harmony Riley Discography:
Year Title
1999 Time[7]
2000 Four Songs[8]
2002 Harmony Riley - Volume 1[9]

Harmony Riley Members

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1999-2009

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Silver

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On August 28, 1999 the rock band Cheap Trick celebrated their 25th anniversary with a concert at Davis Park in Rockford, Illinois. This performance would eventually be released on compact disc on February 27, 2001, and later on DVD (October 9, 2001) under the title, "Cheap Trick - Silver." Miles Nielsen joined Cheap Trick during this anniversary performance for the song "Losing You" by John Lennon; a song that his father, Rick Nielsen, recorded with Lennon himself on August 12, 1980 during the Double Fantasy sessions, just months before the former Beatle was murdered. In addition, Miles Nielsen played acoustic guitar during the Silver performance for the Robin Zander penned song "Time Will Let You Know."[13]

Judgement Day - The Songs of Robert Johnson

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In 2004 Miles Nielsen appeared on the album "Judgement Day - The Songs of Robert Johnson."[14] Nielsen's contribution to the album is a rendition of the legendary bluesman's 1937 composition "Hellhound On My Trail."

Miles

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In 2009 Nielsen collaborated with musicians Daniel McMahon, Darren Garvey, Adam Plamann, Jim Westin, Andy Scarpaci, Kelly Steward and others to produce an album of twelve self-penned tracks. Titled simply "Miles," the album was engineered and produced by both Miles Nielsen and Daniel McMahon. Other musicians contributing to this album include Bun. E. Carlos and Daxx Nielsen.[15]

Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts

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Formed in 2011, Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts[16] has been Nielsen's primary musical endeavor. Since its inception, Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts have toured and performed continuously throughout the United States, much of western Europe, and in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico at the Circus Mexicus music festival.

Miles Nielsen & the Rusted Hearts Current Members

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Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts Member Changes

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Dave McClellan replaced original bassist Andy Scarpaci in February of 2012. In January of 2013 Jeff Werckle joined The Rusted Hearts as the group's drummer, replacing Darren Garvey. Guitarist Daniel James McMahon passed away on September 19, 2024 leading to keyboardist Jim Westin and singer/songwriter Kelly Steward joining the band shortly thereafter. Kelly Steward is Miles Nielsen's wife.[23] Jim Westin contributed keyboards to Nielsen's 2009 effort, "Miles"[24] and is the keyboardist for Kelly Steward & The Restless Kind.[25]

Miles Nielsen & the Rusted Hearts Past Members

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Discography

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To date, Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts have released four LPs (including a live album), two EPs, and numerous singles.

Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts Discography
Year Title
2011 Miles Nielsen Presents The Rusted Hearts[29]
2012 St. Louis Sessions (4 song EP)[30]
2014 Rockford[31]
2016 Heavy Metal[32]
2016 Audio Tree Live (6 song EP)[33]
2019 Ohbahoy[34]
2019 In the Meantime (4 song EP)[35]
Singles
Year Title
2016 High Street[36]
2016 Heavy Metal[37]
2017 Revolution Day[38]
2020 Joke[39]
2020 Letters and Hammers[40]
2025 Build a Fire (written by Kevn Kinney)
2025 Bullies

Academy Award for "Undefeated"

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In 2012 the documentary film "Undefeated," which featured original music scored and performed by Miles Nielsen and fellow Rusted Hearts guitarist Daniel McMahon, was awarded an Academy Award for "Best Documentary Feature."[41] The soundtrack for the movie was released on February 17, 2012, with eleven of its seventeen tracks composed and performed by Miles Nielsen and Daniel McMahon.[42]

Weep & Willow

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Miles Nielsen & Kelly Steward, July 4, 2017, Rockford, Illinois
Miles Nielsen & Kelly Steward performing in Rockford, IL, July 4, 2017.

Miles Nielsen and his wife, Kelly Steward, released a four-song EP titled "Weep & Willow[43] in 2016." The couple frequently duet on stage performing songs from this release.[44]

Daniel McMahon (1982–2024)

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Guitarist Daniel James McMahon performing with Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts.

On September 19, 2024 Nielsen's fellow collaborator, guitarist and co-founding member of The Rusted Hearts, Daniel James McMahon passed away[45] at the age of 41 due to cancer.

In an August 22, 2024 interview with The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Nielsen was quoted as saying, “That’s been a real huge curveball for us, since I’ve been making music with Dan for 18 years...We’re missing a huge piece of our puzzle. We’ve just been trying to keep the train on the tracks and not do him a disservice.”[46] McMahon was on hiatus from the band at the time due to receiving treatment for esophageal cancer.

A celebration of life was held for McMahon on November 24, 2024 at the Coronado Theater in downtown Rockford, IL. During the ceremony, keyboardist Jim Westin and Nielsen's wife, singer/songwriter Kelly Steward, joined Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts on stage to perform McMahon's original composition "I Make Mistakes.[47]" The late musician released the song on July 25, 2024,[48] less than two months prior to his passing.[49] Steward and Westin had been performing with the band during McMahon's convalescence and would ultimately go on to fill the void created by McMahon's death by becoming permanent members of The Rusted Hearts.[citation needed]

McMahon was a close companion to Nielsen as well as a trusted creative partner. He was a central creative figure for The Rusted Hearts, and his talents contributed greatly to nearly all aspects of the group's arrangements, recordings and trademark sound. McMahon's loss was enormously impactful to Nielsen, his bandmates, and the greater Rockford community at large.

The Nielsen Trust

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The Nielsen Trust performing in Wisconsin

Miles Nielsen is a member of the rock group The Nielsen Trust.[50] Formed in 2019 and billed as a family band, its members include Nielsen's father, Rick Nielsen; his brother, Daxx Nielsen; and his wife, Kelly Steward.[51] The band was formed at the suggestion of Nielsen's mother, Karen Nielsen.[52] Rick Nielsen and Daxx Nielsen[53] are both members of the rock band Cheap Trick. Rounding out the rest of the line up are fellow Rusted Hearts bandmates Dave McClellan (bass guitar) and Adam Plamann (keyboards, clarinet & saxophone).

Members of The Nielsen Trust:

[edit]

Miles Nielsen - guitar, vocals

Rick Nielsen - guitar

Daxx Nielsen[53] - drums

Kelly Steward[54] - guitar, vocals

Dave McClellan[55] - bass guitar, backing vocals

Adam Plamann[56] - keyboards, woodwinds, backing vocals

References

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  1. ^ Irwin, Tom (December 17, 2009). "Miles Nielsen not a Cheap Trick". Illinois Times. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  2. ^ "ABOUT". The Rusted Trunk. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  3. ^ "Rock Band | The Nielsen Trust". Mysite. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  4. ^ "Miles Nielsen Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mo..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  5. ^ "Harmony Riley Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mo..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  6. ^ "Riley Harmony Rd · Illinois". Riley Harmony Rd · Illinois. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  7. ^ Harmony Riley - Time, 1999-12-07, retrieved 2025-04-26
  8. ^ Harmony Riley - Four Songs, 2000, retrieved 2025-04-26
  9. ^ Harmony Riley - Volume 1, 2002-10-08, retrieved 2025-04-26
  10. ^ "The Rusted Trunk". The Rusted Trunk. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  11. ^ "Daxx Nielsen". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  12. ^ "Harmony Riley discography - RYM/Sonemic". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
  13. ^ GhostWalker40Music (2009-07-25). (HQ) Cheap Trick - Time Will Let You Know (Live). Retrieved 2025-05-05 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Judgement Day: Songs of Robert Johnson - Vario... | AllMusic, retrieved 2025-05-04
  15. ^ Miles Nielsen - Miles, 2009, retrieved 2025-04-26
  16. ^ "Miles Nielsen And The Rusted Hearts". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  17. ^ "Miles Nielsen". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  18. ^ "Kelly Steward". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  19. ^ "Jim Westin". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  20. ^ "Jeff Werckle". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  21. ^ "Adam Plamann". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  22. ^ "Dave McClellan". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  23. ^ "Kelly Steward - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  24. ^ Miles Nielsen - Miles, 2009, retrieved 2025-05-04
  25. ^ "Kelly Steward & The Restless Kind". Hey Nonny. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  26. ^ "Dan McMahon (2)". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  27. ^ "Andrew Scarpaci". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  28. ^ "Darren Garvey (2)". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  29. ^ Miles Nielsen Presents The Rusted Hearts - Miles Nielsen Presents The Rusted Hearts, 2011, retrieved 2025-04-27
  30. ^ Miles Nielsen And The Rusted Hearts - St. Louis Sessions, 2012, retrieved 2025-04-27
  31. ^ Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts - Rockford, 2014, retrieved 2025-04-27
  32. ^ Miles Nielsen And The Rusted Hearts - Heavy Metal, 2016, retrieved 2025-04-27
  33. ^ Miles Nielsen And The Rusted Hearts - Audiotree Live, 2016-07-13, retrieved 2025-05-04
  34. ^ Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts - OHBAHOY, 2019, retrieved 2025-04-27
  35. ^ Miles Nielsen And The Rusted Hearts - In The Meantime, 2019, retrieved 2025-04-27
  36. ^ Miles Nielsen And The Rusted Hearts - High Street, 2016-07-20, retrieved 2025-05-04
  37. ^ Miles Nielsen And The Rusted Hearts - Heavy Metal, 2016-02-05, retrieved 2025-05-04
  38. ^ "Revolution Day, by Singles Series with Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts". Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  39. ^ Miles Nielsen And The Rusted Hearts - Joke, 2020-04-17, retrieved 2025-05-04
  40. ^ Miles Nielsen And The Rusted Hearts - Letters And Hammers, 2020-04-17, retrieved 2025-05-04
  41. ^ Undefeated (2011) - Awards - IMDb. Retrieved 2025-04-11 – via www.imdb.com.
  42. ^ "Undefeated (2012) - Soundtrack.Net". www.soundtrack.net. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  43. ^ Miles Nielsen, Kelly Steward - Weep & Willow, 2016, retrieved 2025-04-27
  44. ^ "Miles Nielsen & Kelly Steward". Hey Nonny. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  45. ^ "Obituary information for Daniel J. McMahon". www.olsonfh.com. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  46. ^ "Miles Nielsen brings musical mix to CSPS in C.R." www.thegazette.com. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  47. ^ I Make Mistakes, retrieved 2025-04-15
  48. ^ Daniel McMahon (2024-07-25). I MAKE MISTAKES - Dan McMahon. Retrieved 2025-04-15 – via YouTube.
  49. ^ "Obituary information for Daniel J. McMahon". www.olsonfh.com. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  50. ^ "Rock Band | The Nielsen Trust". Mysite. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  51. ^ Baker, Josh (2020-11-24). "MOKB Presents". Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  52. ^ Conway, Tom. "The Nielsen Trust keeps fathers and sons active, out of the house". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  53. ^ a b "Daxx Nielsen". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  54. ^ "Singer Song-Writer Musician | Kelly Steward". mysite. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  55. ^ "Dave McClellan". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  56. ^ "Adam Plamann". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
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