Bill Mallonee (born 1 January 1955) is an American singer-songwriter, most notably the songwriter and leader of Vigilantes of Love (sometimes stylized V.O.L.), an Americana, alt-country, rock band from Athens, Georgia.

Early life

Mallonee was born in Martinsville, Virginia, and grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He was raised Roman Catholic. He graduated with a degree in history from the University of Georgia in 1977.

Family

Mallonee and his first wife, Brenda, have two sons: Joshua and Joseph.

Health

Mallonee has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in his abdomen.

Musical career

Early career

Mallonee played drums in high school and college before turning to songwriting and lead vocals when he formed Vigilantes of Love with keyboard player Mark Hall. He later played drums for a band that consisted of Buddy Miller, Julie Miller, Lucinda Williams, and Victoria Williams.

Vigilantes of Love

With Mallonee serving as Vigilantes of Love's frontman, the band's "Double Cure" was nominated for a 1997 Dove Award in the Alternative/Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year category. The band experienced controversy in the Contemporary Christian music (CCM) market for the song "Love Cocoon." The song, which described marital sex, led to the band's album Slow Dark Train being dropped by some Christian bookstores. Mallonee has remarked that he never felt comfortable with the CCM label.

Solo

Though the Vigilantes disbanded in 2001, Mallonee has continued to write and sing. On his mid-2007 tour, he was joined onstage by his second wife, Muriah Rose, who plays keyboards and sings. The two have continued to tour together ever since. Throughout his career many of his songs have focused on his Christian faith and his family. Critically speaking, he is held in high regard as a songwriter, being named one of the 100 greatest living songwriters by Paste Magazine.

Songwriting influences and process

Mallonee has cited Woody Guthrie and Jack Kerouac as influences on his songwriting. Mallonee describes his songwriting process as starting with playing sounds on the guitar, then crafting a melody, then building around a lyric.

Discography