Jake Kiszka, born on April 23, 1996, is an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Frankenmuth, Michigan.
He co-founded Greta Van Fleet with his twin brother Josh and younger brother Sam in 2012. The band won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2019.
Who is Jake Kiszka?
Jake Kiszka is the lead guitarist and a co-founder of the American rock band Greta Van Fleet. He formed the group with his twin brother Josh Kiszka and younger brother Sam Kiszka in 2012, while still in high school in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Known for his heavy blues-influenced riff style, Jake draws from classic rock traditions and brings a raw, retro energy to everything he plays.
His band made an immediate mark with the 2017 single “Highway Tune,” which topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
In 2025, Jake expanded his creative output by co-founding a second band, Mirador, with British guitarist Chris Turpin of Ida Mae. The group released their self-titled debut album on September 19, 2025, through Republic Records.
Jake plays guitar and shares lead vocal duties in Mirador, making it a distinctly different project from his work with Greta Van Fleet.
Early Life of Jake Kiszka
Jake Kiszka grew up in Frankenmuth, a small city in Michigan known for its Bavarian heritage and tight-knit community. His full legal name is Jacob Thomas Kiszka.
His father, Kelly Kiszka, worked as a chemist and had a deep love for 1970s rock music, keeping a large collection of musical instruments and vinyl records at home. Kiszka’s mother, Karen Kiszka, worked as a science teacher and shared that love of music.
Jake started picking up instruments from his father’s collection as a toddler. By the age of three he was already experimenting with guitar, and his skills developed steadily through early childhood.
Growing up surrounded by classic rock recordings gave him an education in blues, soul, and hard rock that would shape his entire playing style.
He joined his high school band in Frankenmuth, where he met drummer Kyle Hauck. The two began practicing in the Kiszka family garage, soon recruiting Jake’s identical twin brother Josh on vocals and younger brother Sam on bass. That garage session became the foundation of Greta Van Fleet. He also has a sister, Veronika Kiszka.
Jake Kiszka Age
Jake Kiszka is 30 years old as of 2026, born on April 23, 1996. His zodiac sign is Taurus. He co-founded Greta Van Fleet at just 16, making him one of the youngest guitarists to headline major rock festivals and arenas in modern rock history.
Jake Kiszka Ethnicity and Nationality
Jake Kiszka holds American nationality, born and raised in Frankenmuth, Michigan. His family background is white American, rooted in the Midwestern United States.
The Kiszkas are described in press materials as a traditional, close-knit family from a small Michigan community.
Jake Kiszka Height and Weight
Jake Kiszka stands at approximately 5 feet 10 inches, or 1.78 meters tall. His weight has not been publicly confirmed.
His lean frame and long dark hair have become part of his signature look on stage, often performing in T-shirts and skinny jeans under bright arena lights.
Jake Kiszka Musical Style and Influences
Jake Kiszka’s guitar style draws heavily from blues legends and classic rock pioneers. His influences include Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and Howlin’ Wolf from the Delta blues tradition. Classic rock acts from the 1970s also shaped his approach, as he grew up listening to his father’s vinyl collection.
He plays a 1961 Gibson Les Paul SG as his primary instrument. Jake has spoken publicly about his attachment to this specific guitar, describing how the SG lets him create sounds outside the conventional rock space.
“Safari Song” reached number one on US Rock Radio, and “Highway Tune” claimed the same position for five consecutive weeks. Both achievements reflect his ability to craft riffs that hold radio appeal while maintaining a raw, vintage sonic character.
Jake Kiszka Education
Jake Kiszka attended Frankenmuth High School, which his twin brother Josh also graduated from in 2014.
His education overlapped directly with the early formation of Greta Van Fleet, as the band came together while the brothers were still in high school.
Jake Kiszka Career
Jake Kiszka’s professional career spans over a decade of band leadership, guitar performance, and songwriting at a major label level. He has performed at arenas and festivals worldwide, appeared on national television, and now leads a second active band alongside his primary role in Greta Van Fleet.
His career arc moved quickly from garage rehearsals in Frankenmuth to Grammy wins and global tours in just a few years.
Early Career: Black Smoke Rising and First Recordings
Kiszka began rehearsing in 2012, with original drummer Kyle Hauck joining Jake, Josh, and Sam. Hauck left in October 2013 and was replaced by Danny Wagner, a family friend who has remained with the band since.
On February 28, 2014, the band recorded a live EP in a single take. That EP was released on June 7, 2014. Their first professional studio recording, “Highway Tune,” originated from a guitar riff Jake wrote as early as 2010.
On January 17, 2016, the song appeared as a live performance on the Showtime series Shameless, giving the band their first significant television exposure.
The band signed with Lava Records in March 2017. Their debut studio EP, Black Smoke Rising, released on April 21, 2017. That same day, Apple Music named Greta Van Fleet their new artist of the week. “Highway Tune” reached number one on Billboard’s Active Rock and Mainstream Rock charts in September 2017.
By October 2017, the band toured with The Struts and won Best New Artist at the Loudwire Music Awards.
On November 10, 2017, the band released From the Fires, an eight-song double EP. The project combined the four tracks from Black Smoke Rising with new recordings and two covers.
The new tracks were recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, Michigan, produced by Al Sutton and Marlon Young. “Safari Song,” released in October 2017, also topped US Rock Radio.
Breakthrough: Grammy Win and Anthem of the Peaceful Army
On March 4, 2018, he performed at Elton John’s Academy Award Party at John’s personal request. John joined them onstage for his “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” and their own “You’re the One.” After the set, John encouraged the band to get more theatrical with their performances and wardrobe.
On July 26, 2018, they made their television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, performing “When the Curtain Falls.” Their debut full-length album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army, was released on October 19, 2018. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and sold 80,000 copies in its first week in the US.
The band earned four Grammy nominations at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019, including Best New Artist. From the Fires won the Grammy for Best Rock Album, making Greta Van Fleet the first rock band in years to win in that category at such an early stage of their career.
In 2021, their second studio album, The Battle at Garden’s Gate, debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 on April 16, 2021. The album was preceded by the single “My Way, Soon,” released October 9, 2020. That album confirmed their move into arena-level touring.
Recent Work: Starcatcher and Mirador
Greta Van Fleet released their third studio album, Starcatcher, on July 21, 2023, through Republic Records. Jake co-wrote all tracks on the album, including lead single “Meeting the Master,” released April 7, 2023. The Starcatcher World Tour followed, with the band graduating to full arena headlining status.
In 2024, Jake debuted his side project Mirador as the opening act on Greta Van Fleet’s Starcatcher World Tour. His creative partner in the group is Chris Turpin of Ida Mae, who first met Jake when Ida Mae opened for Greta Van Fleet in Detroit in 2018. The band is rounded out by drummer Mikey Sorbello and bassist/keyboardist Nick Pini.
Mirador’s self-titled debut album was released on September 19, 2025, through Republic Records, produced by Dave Cobb at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath. Lead singles included “Feels Like Gold” and “Must I Go Bound.”
The tour supporting the album expanded to 31 dates due to high demand, with tickets for initial dates selling out immediately. Jake sings lead vocals in Mirador, a role he does not take on in Greta Van Fleet.
Jake Kiszka Discography
- Black Smoke Rising (EP, 2017)
- From the Fires (EP, 2017)
- Anthem of the Peaceful Army (2018)
- The Battle at Garden’s Gate (2021)
- Starcatcher (2023)
Mirador releases:
- Mirador (2025)
Jake Kiszka Awards and Recognition
Kiszka won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album at the 61st Grammy Awards in February 2019 for their EP From the Fires. The band also received Grammy nominations for Best New Artist, Best Rock Performance, and Best Rock Song at that same ceremony.
In October 2017, the band won Best New Artist at the Loudwire Music Awards. Jake has topped multiple reader polls in guitar publications, earning recognition as Best New Guitarist, Best Rock Guitarist, and Best Guitar Solo in various Guitar Player magazine reader polls.
Guitar Player magazine featured Jake in a 2023 cover interview, calling him “the preeminent axe hero for his generation.”
Jake Net Worth
Jake Kiszka’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. His income comes from touring, album sales, and streaming royalties with Greta Van Fleet. The band’s 2023 Starcatcher World Tour saw them headline major arenas across the US and internationally.
His second act, Mirador, released their debut album in September 2025 through Republic Records and launched a 31-date headlining tour, adding a new revenue stream.
He also earns from songwriting credits across Greta Van Fleet’s catalog and, as a producer and songwriter for Mirador, from the new band’s releases.
Jake Kiszka Wife
Jake Kiszka is not married. He maintains private personal life, and no details regarding a current wife or marrige are confirmed.
Currently, he is focusing on his music career.
Jake Social Media
Jake Kiszka maintains an Instagram presence at @jake_gvf, where he shares updates on his work with Greta Van Fleet and Mirador.
The band’s official presence is at the Greta Van Fleet website. Mirador’s official website is at miradorband.com.
The Bottom Line
Jake Kiszka co-founded Greta Van Fleet at 16 in his family’s garage in Frankenmuth, Michigan, and by 2019 the band had won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album for From the Fires. His guitar work on singles like “Highway Tune” and “Safari Song” drove both to number one on US Rock Radio.
Jake grew up in a household where his father’s 1970s rock record collection served as his early music education. That upbringing is directly reflected in his blues-rooted guitar style and his connection to artists like Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson.
In September 2025, his second band Mirador released their self-titled debut album through Republic Records, with a 31-date tour that sold out immediately and required expansion to larger venues.
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