James Valentine (musician)

James Valentine
Valentine performing with Maroon 5 in 2016
Background information
Born
James Burgon Valentine

(1978-10-05) October 5, 1978
Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Genres
Occupation
  • Musician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1996–present
Member ofMaroon 5
Formerly of
Spouse
Alexis Novak
​
(m. 2023)​

James Burgon Valentine (born October 5, 1978)[1] is an American musician who is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the pop band Maroon 5.[2]

Early life

Valentine was born in Lincoln, Nebraska.[3] He was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and has three sisters and one brother.[4] His mother is a former beauty queen, who was a school teacher before becoming a stay-at-home mom to raise her five children.[5] His younger sister, Amanda Valentine, has been a contestant on Project Runway two times starring in Season 11 and Season 13, as well as Project Runway All Stars once in Season 6.[6] James is an Eagle Scout and was the president of his high school Lincoln Southeast High School's student council in Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][8] He left before graduating (had one semester left per an interview he did) from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and attended Berklee College of Music.[9][10]

In addition to guitar, Valentine is also a percussionist, playing in orchestra and jazz band in his youth.[11][12]

Career

Valentine played in Lincoln bands: Montag, Kid Quarkstar, Mondello and Happy Dog.[13][14] In 2000, Happy Dog changed its name to Square and he moved to Los Angeles from Anaheim, California, where he taught private guitar lessons out of his home.[15] Valentine had also played with Reel Big Fish, firstly when guitarist Aaron Barrett broke his hand in 2000,[16][17] and later in 2001, when Barrett fell down some stairs.[18] Valentine displayed a picture from one Reel Big Fish show he played during Maroon 5's appearance on MTV Cribs.[19] Eventually the members of Square and Kara's Flowers became friends and when Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden and Ryan Dusick began looking for another guitarist, Valentine was approached.[20][21] Personal tensions in Square helped the decision to join the band and shortly afterward, Kara's Flowers became Maroon 5.[22][23]

Valentine is a friend of John Mayer, whom he met in 1996 at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.[24][25] Valentine once tried to get Mayer to move to Lincoln to play guitar for the Lincoln blues rock band Baby Jason and the Spankers.[26] An opening slot on Mayer's 2003 summer tour helped bring widespread exposure to Maroon 5.[24] Valentine contributed guitar work to Mayer's September 2006 release Continuum on the songs "Stop This Train" and "In Repair."[27]

Valentine also played guitar on Jenny Lewis' 2006 solo album, Rabbit Fur Coat with The Watson Twins and has appeared in her music video for the first single, "Rise Up with Fists!!".[28][29]

In 2016, Valentine partnered with Ernie Ball Music Man to release his signature "Valentine" electric guitar.[30]

Phases

Main article: Phases (band)

Phases (originally called JJAMZ) was a supergroup composed of Valentine, Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley/Conor Oberst), Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), Michael Runion (solo), and Z Berg (The Like).[31][32] The group was started at karaoke night at Guys in Hollywood.[33] The band name was an acronym using the first letter of each member's name and was means of escape from each member's respective bands. "[Phases] started at an interesting time in all of our lives. We all needed some kind of escape from relationships or our other bands. It was a tumultuous time, and the lyrics just came out. It was like word vomit. I can't remember." said Z Berg, lead vocalist for the Like.[34] The band played their first concert at the Echo Plex on January 27, 2009.[35] They released their debut album Suicide Pact on July 10, 2012.[36] Later, Valentine left the band due to work with Maroon 5 and the band changed their name to Phases, before quietly going on hiatus the following year, followed by a one-off reunion in 2021.[37][38][39]

Personal life

Valentine married yoga instructor Alexis Novak on February 6, 2023.[40][41] He has worked with the non-profit organization Reverb since 2005 to promote environmental sustainability in the music industry.[42] His efforts include traveling to Guatemala and Peru to advocate against illegal logging and for responsibly sourced wood in instrument manufacturing.[43]

Discography

Main article: Maroon 5 discography
Other albums, on which Valentine has played

References

  1. ^ Karina, Naomi (July 10, 2025). "Meet the members of Maroon 5: a look at the band's current and former members - Legit.ng". Legit.ng. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  2. ^ "James Valentine • REVERB". REVERB. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  3. ^ Tobias, Mike; Producer, Senior; Olberding, Matt; Media, News director Nebraska Public. "Maroon 5 guitarist leaves Lincoln with more than memories". Nebraska Public Media (in Spanish). Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  4. ^ "James Valentine". Latter-day Saint Musicians. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  5. ^ Chomel-Bailey, Lorraine (November 23, 2015). "BYU employee promotes education while singing to Maroon 5". BYU Daily Universe. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  6. ^ Nebraska Alumni Association - Amanda & James Valentine
  7. ^ Wendell, Bryan (January 8, 2015). "Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine is an Eagle Scout". Bryan on Scouting. Boy Scouts of America.
  8. ^ "City Honors James Valentine with Street Renaming". www.lincoln.ne.gov. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  9. ^ Ziskey, Livia (October 27, 2025). "Lincoln's newest boulevard welcomes home Maroon 5 guitarist". JournalStar.com. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  10. ^ Writer, TESSA JEFFERS / DN Staff (October 14, 2003). "Lincoln student takes off with band's success". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  11. ^ "BYU home to Maroon 5 parents". BYU Daily Universe. April 11, 2005. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  12. ^ "Maroon 5's James Valentine: Minimalist Funk, a Love of Improv, and His Signature Music Man - inSync". inSync. December 19, 2017. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  13. ^ Schulte, Bret (June 16, 2006). "Dual shows bid farewell to Kid Quarkstar". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  14. ^ "James Valentine Story - Bio, Facts, Home, Family, Net Worth | Famous Mucisian | SuccessStory". successstory.com. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  15. ^ https://www.tcelectronic.com/artists/artist.html?artistId=james-valentine
  16. ^ ReelBigFishVIDEOS (March 27, 2022). Reel Big Fish Feat. James Valentine of Maroon 5 on Guitar. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ Times, Neal J. Leitereg and Jack Flemming Los Angeles. "A Midcentury move for Maroon 5's James Valentine". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  18. ^ "James Valentine Striking A Chord". Ernie Ball. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  19. ^ MTV Vault (September 14, 2020). Maroon 5's 2004 House Tour | MTV Cribs. Retrieved February 8, 2026 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ Rosen, Craig (June 5, 2005), "Gold 5". Billboard. 117 (23):
  21. ^ Greenhaus, Mike (April 23, 2020). "TBT: Maroon 5's Thoughts On Phish". Relix. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  22. ^ Greenhaus, Mike (April 23, 2020). "TBT: Maroon 5's Thoughts On Phish". Relix. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  23. ^ maroonmusic.com
  24. ^ a b Hoard, Christian 2004-06-10, "A Whiter Shade of Funk". Rolling Stone (950):
  25. ^ "Meet Maroon 5". Reading Eagle. August 20, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  26. ^ Borges, Christine (August 19, 2010). "Q&A with Maroon 5 Guitarist James Valentine, Playing Bayfront Amphitheater Today". Miami New Times. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  27. ^ "Interview with Mihir Joshi | JohnMayer.info". johnmayer.info. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  28. ^ Merkel, Ralph (January 31, 2006). "CD REVIEW: Jenny Lewis Rabbit in a Fur Coat". The Louisville Cardinal. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  29. ^ "Jenny Lewis: Rise Up with Fists!! (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  30. ^ "Valentine". Ernie Ball Music Man guitars. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  31. ^ Costello, Carly. "Introducing… JJAMZ". Carly Costello. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  32. ^ "JJAMZ 'Never Enough'". Rolling Stone. April 3, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  33. ^ "JJAMZ 'Never Enough'". Rolling Stone. April 3, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  34. ^ "JJAMZ' First Kiss". Interview Magazine. January 27, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  35. ^ Bronson, Kevin (February 12, 2009). "Visceral reactions and valentines: The Like, Rockville". buzzbands.la. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  36. ^ Staff, KQED News (July 20, 2012). "Pop Music Review: JJAMZ's 'Suicide Pact' | KQED". www.kqed.org. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  37. ^ Hampp, Andrew (July 8, 2015). "PHASES (Formerly JJAMZ) Talk New Music, Debut Mystery Skulls Remix: Exclusive Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  38. ^ Warfield, Parker (September 23, 2015). "Phases - For Life -". mxdwn Music. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  39. ^ whatsapalisade. "Post by @whatsapalisade · 7 images". Tumblr. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  40. ^ DeSantis, Rachel; Chiu, Melody (February 16, 2023). "Maroon 5 Guitarist James Valentine Marries Fiancée Alexis Novak: 'We Eloped'". People. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  41. ^ "Maroon 5 Guitarist James Valentine Marries Fiancée Alexis Novak: 'We Eloped'". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on June 30, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  42. ^ "James Valentine • REVERB". REVERB. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  43. ^ "Maroon 5's James Valentine on why he's working to stop illegal logging". Conservation news. April 3, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  44. ^ "Tim Heidecker: From soft rock to medium rock". consequence.net. November 11, 2013.
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