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Jake Luhrs

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Jake Luhrs
Luhrs performing with August Burns Red in 2017
Luhrs performing with August Burns Red in 2017
Background information
Born
William Jacob Luhrs

(1985-02-02) February 2, 1985 (age 41)
Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.[1]
Genres
OccupationsSinger, businessman
Years active2006–present
Member ofAugust Burns Red
Formerly ofShe Walks in Beauty

William Jacob Luhrs is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist of the metalcore band August Burns Red. He is also the founder and president of HeartSupport, a non-profit mental health organization.

Early life

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Jake Luhrs was born in Montclair, New Jersey on February 2, 1985, however he grew up in South Carolina. His parents divorced when he was young with his father moving to Virginia, while he his mother and older sister had to move into government aid housing in Greenville. After spending two years in Greenville his family settled in Columbia, South Carolina where Luhrs spent much of his early life.[2] During elementary school Luhrs was the victim of sexual assault by one of his classmates. During this time his older sister bought him a CD player where he was introduced to a wide range of music such as Nirvana, Beastie Boys, Green Day, and Wu-Tang Clan.[3] As a teenager he began attending shows, it was after attending a Strike Anywhere concert, he was first influenced to pursue music following a memorable interaction with the band's lead singer, Thomas Barnett.[4]

Music career

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Luhrs performing at Elbriot festival 2014

Luhrs started his first band as a teenager with some friends called Smash Adams, which played only small local shows. He then joined another band, Last to Know, which he said "brought him more experience." At around the age of 18, he joined his third band, She Walks in Beauty, which gained more traction than his previous bands and began playing shows outside of South Carolina. He later moved out of his mother's house and into an apartment with his bandmates. Around the same time, he briefly attended a local technical college.[2] During this period, the band began to fall apart, with one member quitting and another frequently arriving at rehearsals intoxicated. As a result, Luhrs fell into depression and began coping by drinking and partying nearly every day. Eventually, he began contemplating suicide. However, this changed one day while he was working on a house at work. During a break, he went outside for a cigarette. Although Luhrs had been skeptical of organized religion,[3] he began trying to communicate with God, which resulted in him having a religious experience he later stated in an interview "I instantly felt an enormous flow of love in my soul. I couldn’t stop smiling! I was still in the same place, with the same struggles, working at loved! I was no longer alone I felt someone cared That someone was God."[2][5]

It was soon after this experience that Luhrs got the opportunity to join August Burns Red in 2006, replacing their previous vocalist Josh McManness.[2][6] In total Luhrs has performed on all the ABR albums except 2005's Thrill Seeker and 2003's Looks Fragile After All along with being nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance for their songs "Identity" and "Invisible Enemy".[7]

Luhrs has performed both studio and live guest vocal spots for bands such as Pierce the Veil,[8][9] Blessthefall,[10] and For Today.[11] Luhrs, along with Matt Greiner and JB Brubaker and members of We Came as Romans and Blessthefall, appear in parody metal band, Amidst the Grave's Demons video for "Save My Life".

Personal life

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Luhrs is a devout Christian.[12][13] He is a member of a non-denominational church, and was in seminary at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.[14]

In 2011, Luhrs founded HeartSupport, a mental health-based non-profit organization that offers resources and peer support to individuals within the music community dealing with addiction, anxiety, depression, and self-harm.[15][16][17]

Luhrs began using physical fitness to reshape his life in 2015.[18] He would later open the YourLife Gym in August Burns Red's hometown, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 2021. The gym was opened in response to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the importance of both mental and physical health.[19]

Luhrs is a keen ice hockey fan and is a supporter of the Boston Bruins.[20][21] In 2020, he began uploading videos on his own YouTube channel where he reacted to metal songs.[22]

Discography

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August Burns Red

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Collaborations

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YearSongAlbumArtist
2011"Ruler of the Air" (featuring Jake Luhrs)KingdomsLife in Your Way
2012"Set Apart" (featuring Jake Luhrs)ImmortalFor Today
2013"Carry On" (featuring Jake Luhrs)Hollow Bodiesblessthefall
2016"Dead Memory" (featuring Jake Luhrs)DeathgripFit for a King
2017"Delusion" (featuring Jake Luhrs)Aqua VitaeThe Voynich Code
2019"Redefined" (featuring Jake Luhrs)Shaped by FireAs I Lay Dying
2021"God of Fire" (featuring Jake Luhrs)Guardians of the PathFit for a King
"When Everything Means Nothing" (featuring Jake Luhrs)
2024"Tides" (featuring Jake Luhrs)Apologies Are for the Weak (15th Anniversary Edition)Miss May I

Awards and nominations

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Alternative Press Music Awards
Year Award Result
2015 Artist Philanthropic Award[23] Nominated
2016 Artist Philanthropic Award[24] Won

Bibliography

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  • Mountains: 25 Devotionals with Jake Luhrs (2018) ISBN 9780999154533

References

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  1. ↑ "August Burns Red – Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?". Loudwire. November 22, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Jake Luhrs (August Burns Red) Founder of Heart Support Explains Where His Mission Began". Pittsburgh Music Magazine. July 24, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "How Jake Luhrs Was Able to Endure More Weight | Psychology Today". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  4. ↑ Lockridge, Roger (March 2025). "Jake Luhrs Has Made Passion For Fitness and Mental Health His Business". Muscle & Fitness.
  5. ↑ "Suicidal: Jake Luhrs' Life Story (August Burns Red)". TheHopeLine. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  6. ↑ "August Burns Red Interview". Tastemakers Music Magazine. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  7. ↑ "August Burns Red". grammys.com. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  8. ↑ Emily (August 6, 2015). "Pierce the Veil Perform Caraphernelia With August Burns Red's Jake Luhrs". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  9. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (August 5, 2015). "Pierce the Veil perform with August Burns Red vocalist, unnecessary-yet-awesome heaviness ensues". Alternative Press. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  10. ↑ Bower, Chad (June 10, 2013). "Blessthefall Releasing New Album "Hollow Bodies" In August". Loudwire. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  11. ↑ wookubus (March 30, 2012). "For Today's "Immortal" To Features Cameos From August Burns Red, P.O.D. & Sleeping Giant Vocalists". Theprp. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  12. ↑ Belcher, Josh (August 6, 2015). "Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red". Rocking God's House. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  13. ↑ Sarachik, Justin (November 11, 2014). "August Burns Red Vocalist Say They're "Not a Ministry" Christian Band Who's "Soul Purpose" is to preach; Lets Music Speak Truth". Breathcast. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  14. ↑ Paltrowitz, Darren (October 6, 2017). "Pumping Metal: August Burns Red Frontman Jake Luhrs on Taking Care of Himself, Hockey, Hobbies, and New Album 'Phantom Anthem'". V13 Media.
  15. ↑ Williams, Trevor (February 26, 2023). "Heart Support 2023". Soundlink Magazine.
  16. ↑ "August Burns Red's Jake Luhrs Talks His Foundation, HeartSupport". Revolver. December 17, 2014. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014.
  17. ↑ Pamatian, Chris (February 24, 2023). "HEARTSUPPORT FEST DAY 2 FEATURING RISE AGAINST, THE GHOST INSIDE, SPIRITBOX AND MORE AT THE ORLANDO AMPHITHEATER IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA 02/19/23". All Music Magazine.
  18. ↑ Lockridge, Roger (March 2025). "Jake Luhrs Has Made Passion For Fitness and Mental Health His Business". Muscle & Fitness.
  19. ↑ DiVita, Joe (January 6, 2021). "August Burns Red's Jake Luhrs Opens Gym for Mental + Physical Health". Loudwire.
  20. ↑ Paltrowitz, Darren (October 6, 2017). "Pumping Metal: August Burns Red Frontman Jake Luhrs on Taking Care of Himself, Hockey, Hobbies, and New Album 'Phantom Anthem'". V13 Media. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  21. ↑ Staff, Loudwire StaffLoudwire (March 27, 2023). "The Life Lesson August Burns Red's Jake Luhrs Realized After Wayne Gretzky Handshake". Loudwire. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  22. ↑ Jake Luhrs (March 18, 2020). Jake Luhrs Reacts - TrueShot "Paradigm (feat. Aidan Holmes)" (Reaction/Review). Retrieved August 4, 2026 – via YouTube.
  23. ↑ wookubus (March 31, 2015). "Nominees Revealed For 2015 'Alternative Press Music Awards'". Theprp.com. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  24. ↑ "And the nominees for the 2016 APMAs are..." altpress.com. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
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