American Idol season 10 finalist James Durbin has signed with Wind-Up Records, it was announced on Monday. The label founded in 1997 by husband and wife team Alan and Diana Meltzer is home to multi-platinum rock acts Evanescence and Creed.
Says Gregg Wattenberg, Wind-up’s Chief Creative Officer who co-wrote Daughtry’s Top 10 hit “It’s Not Over:” “When the possibility of signing James Durbin to Wind-up Records came up, we knew it was a no-brainer. James is a rock star. We’re all excited to have him as part of the family and can’t wait to let his fans hear his debut album.”
Durbin, who came in fourth, was the season’s resident rocker who had performed songs by the likes of Judas Priest, Sammy Hagar and 30 Seconds to Mars — many for the first time on the Idol stage. On the American Idol summer tour, his set included Muse’s “Uprising” and Guns N Roses’ “Sweet Child O Mine.”
The 22-year-old Santa Cruz native suffers from Asperger and Tourette syndrome.
As previously reported, Durbin is among the finalists jointly managed by 19 Entertainment and Red Light Management. Added to the fold: Josh Klemme, former manager of Buckcherry who also represents Steven Tyler.
Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Daughtry) will produce the debut, which is due out in November, but according to a label rep, Durbin hasn’t begun his part of the recording process yet.
Update: According to Wind-Up, Durbin is due to start recording vocals next week and will continue once the Idol tour has wrapped.
