Jacob Bannon (born October 15, 1976)[1] is an American musician who is the vocalist, lyricist and graphic artist for the metalcore band Converge.

He is the co-founder and owner of the record label Deathwish Inc. and the author of many visual works for independent punk rock and heavy metal musicians.

Bannon has also composed and performed experimental music as Supermachiner with Ryan Parker and more recently as Wear Your Wounds.

[2] During his freshman year of high school, he sustained a severe knee injury after jumping off a bridge and hitting a shopping cart.

[2] Converge is an American metalcore band formed in the winter of 1990 by vocalist Jacob Bannon and guitarist Kurt Ballou, they were later joined by bassist Jeff Feinburg, and drummer Damon Bellorado.

[10] Although a number of releases were lined up none of them saw the light of day except a demo version of one track "Grant Me the Strength" which was made available for download on Converge's website in January 2003.

There was also a Dear Lover double album planned, titled Wear Your Wounds to be released through Icarus Records.

[9] Converge's website also changed the use of the name Dear Lover to J.Bannon in the upcoming section where the Wear Your Wounds album was listed.

The album has multiple guest musicians such as Kurt Ballou, Mike McKenzie, Chris Maggio, and Sean Martin.

[19] The Wear Your Wounds live band has been described as a supergroup with Bannon on piano, bass and vocal duties, guitarists Mike McKenzie (of The Red Chord) Adam McGrath (of Cave In), Sean Martin (of Hatebreed) and drummer Chris Maggio (of Trap Them).

With his input, they developed collective song ideas into the Rise of the Great Machine album, released through Undecided Records.

[9][10] Three of his solo projects, Urtica, The Blood of Thine Enemies and Dear Lover were quickly signed to Undecided Records.

[9] In late 2007, fine artist and musician Stephen Kasner also expressed interest in working with the pair,[9] leading to the formation of Irons that year.

[27] In 2020, Bannon joined the industrial metal supergroup Blood from the Soul, which started out as a collaboration between Shane Embury and Sick of It All vocalist Lou Keller.

[28][29] In 2020, Bannon formed the death metal group Umbra Vitae with members of Twitching Tongues, The Red Chord and Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats.

"[38] Bannon's style has been influential; as one magazine article put it, he "is often credited with inventing the so-called skull with wings aesthetic that became so popular in the punk underground and mixed martial arts scenes that today knockoffs are available in stores like Target and Marshalls.

[46][47] In October 2010, Bannon had work in the Scream With Me show at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco, which featured the artwork of selected musicians and tattoo artists.

[32]Bannon co-owns a home décor and antique store with his wife in Beverly, Massachusetts called Diamonds & Rust, which offers, "a variety of new/vintage industrial and mid-century furniture and lighting, textiles, art, and other collectibles and accessories.

Sammy O'Hagar of MetalSucks wrote: Jacob Bannon’s place in metal, hardcore, and—for better or worse—metalcore is massive, with his trademark vocals incalculably influential and lyrics favoring the abstract over the melodramatic.

[58] Bannon is also an avid mixed martial arts and kickboxing fan,[58] having trained in boxing and Muay Thai, and obtained a license as an MMA instructor in the state of Massachusetts, occasionally working as a judge.