Brad Shultz

Donald Bradley Shultz Jr. (born May 15, 1982) is an American musician. He is the rhythm guitarist and one of the founding members of the band Cage the Elephant, and is also a record producer. He is the older brother to current Cage the Elephant bandmate, Matt Shultz.

Brad Shultz
Brad Shultz performing at Rock im Park 2019
Background information
Born	(1982-05-15) May 15, 1982 (age 43) Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock garage rock punk blues blues rock indie rock
Occupations	Musician songwriter producer
Instruments	Guitar keyboards

Early life

Donald Bradley "Brad" Shultz Jr was born on May 15th, 1982, and was raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky. His father, Donald Bradley Shultz Sr, was also a musician. Growing up, Shultz came from a poor background alongside his younger brother, Matthew Shultz, which subjected them to teasing from their peers at school. Their parents separated when the brothers were young, which inspired them to begin writing music while they lived with their grandmother in a trailer park. He attended Greenwood High School.

History

Before Cage the Elephant, Shultz was in a band with current bandmates Jared Champion and Matt Shultz known as Perfect Confusion.^[1] Perfect Confusion formed in 2001, and played smaller music venues around their hometown, Bowling Green and released one self titled album. The band broke up in 2005, but the former members occasionally have reunions and performances.^[2]

Career

After Cage the Elephant formed in 2006, Shultz, along with the rest of the band, moved to the United Kingdom to gain moderate success with their self-titled debut LP, releasing in Europe on June 23, 2008, and in the United States on March 24, 2009.^[3] Since then Shultz’s and Cage the elephant have become one of the top bands in the alternative rock scene and have realsed 6 total albums. Winning 2 Grammys from best rock album in 2017 and 2020.^[4] He alongside his brother are known to have tremendous showmanship during live shows. With Shultz’s leaning over the barrier and communing with fans, along with dynamic on stage antics.^[5][6]

Along with being a member of Cage the Elephant, he is a record producer. He has produced Juliette Lewis' Future Deep EP,^[7] Nashville band Bad Cop's The Light On EP,^[8] and Bowling Green band Dan Luke and The Raid's debut LP, Out Of The Blue,^[9] among other indie artists' EPs and LPs. In 2022 Shultz’s produced the band Glove’s debut album Boom Nights. the album went on to receive praise from Rolling Stone and other music magazine’s.^[10]

In 2025 Shultz along side Daniel Oakley and Darren Potuck would formed their own record label parallel vision. The label also formed a joint venture with big loud rock.^[11]

Gear

During Cage the Elephants earlier years Shultz used Mustangs, Telecasters and Jazzmasters most being heavily modified or glued together due to the bands more raucous music. In 2019 Shultz started using a Silverstone 1149, he also uses multiple fenders and a couple of Gibsons.^[12][13]

Shultz sometimes rewires/selects guitar wiring differently in the studio vs live. For live, he might simplify (e.g. disconnect some pickups) so switches don’t get in the way when he’s moving around.^[14] To get his recording tone, he uses preamps and compressors in rack units, rather than just cranking the amp. These help him preserve clarity, especially with heavy effects or fuzz.^[15]

Personal life

In May 2007, Shultz and his wife, Lindsay, got married. In September 2013, the Shultz's first child was born.^[16] In November 2019, the couple welcomed their second child.^[17]

On August 2, 2017, Shultz’s threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game.^[18]

Accomplishments

Cage the Elephant's first nomination came in 2011, when the music video for "Shake Me Down" was nominated for the Best Rock Video at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. In 2014, Cage the Elephant was nominated for the Best Alternative Music Album for Melophobia, at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2016, Cage the Elephant won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album for Tell Me I'm Pretty, winning again in 2019 for Social Cues.^[19] In 2025 the band's song "Neon Pill" was nominated for best Alternative Music Performance at the 67th annual Grammys.^[20]

Discography

Perfect Confusion

• Perfect Confusion (2005)

Cage the Elephant

Main article: Cage the Elephant discography

• Cage the Elephant (2008)
• Thank You, Happy Birthday (2011)
• Melophobia (2013)
• Tell Me I'm Pretty (2015)
• Social Cues (2019)
• Neon Pill (2024)

Guest appearances

• “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” (2012 Chimes of Freedom)
• "The Unforgiven" (2021 The Metallica Blacklist)

Production discography

Year	Artist	Work	Role
2013	Bad Cop	The Light On EP	Producer
2016	Juliette Lewis	Future Deep
2022	Glove	Boom Nights