KEITH KERN: The Sharp Suitor

Festiva's Hottest Guys of Valley Rock 2009 profiles the guitarist of local rockers The Decadent Suits. To read other profiles in the series, click here.

As with so many careers in music, Keith Kern's started because of a girl. Well, sort of.

Kern played trumpet in middle and high school, but he wanted to be in a rock band. He'd watch concerts on TV and tell a high school girlfriend that he wanted to do that - he wanted to be on stage. Eventually, and unrelated to his desire to rock, his girlfriend broke up with him. So he bought a guitar.

Decadant Suits was created by Kern and his high school buddies and it became an important part of Kern's life.

"When I started playing with Decadent Suits, it was a big part of growing up for me," he said. "Before I joined the band, I was really shy and didn't get out much."

That was high school and now the Decadent Suits are all grown up and the band has dissolved. It has been an amicable split though, there was no scandal, no big fight. And Kern still intends to keep music in his life.

"Right now I'm getting some musicians together and looking forward to having something by this summer," Kern said. 

*Name: Keith Kern
*Age: 24
*Born in: Chicago, IL (grew up in McAllen)
*Role: Guitarist for Decadent Suits
*Song stuck in my head right now: Ben Harper's "Lie There and Hate Me"
Graduate of: McAllen Memorial, Class of 2003
*Zodiac sign: Aquarius
Online: http://www.myspace.com/decadentsuits

Who is your rock star crush?
"I've always had a thing for Kelly Clarkson, actually."

*What are five products you use to look hot (get brand names)?
"A good bar of soap and I got my own set of clippers, I do my own hair."

What did you look like a little kid?
"I was a chubby kid in middle school. Then I started playing sports and I stretched out. Thinned out."

*Which Valley restaurant would you take a first date to?
"Actually, there's this new restaurant that just opened up not too long ago. Lolo's Smart Cuisine is set up pretty neat and it's really healthy gourmet food."

What physical feature are you most insecure about?
"Probably the fact that I don't have a six-pack."

When you want to pig out, what do you eat?
"Potato chips and hot sauce, with a little bit of lime juice."

What's one bad habit you wish you could kick?
"Actually, I wish I could cut down smoking cigarettes. Tough one though."

When did you realize you were hot?
"When you guys called me." (laughs)

Would you or have you ever dated an older woman?
"Actually my girlfriend is older than me."

How are you vain?
"I check myself out in the mirror more often than I should."

*What's the worst date you ever had?
"I went out with this one girl and we went out to have drinks. And it turned out she had too many. It got really weird. She mistook me for someone else and started saying really weird things. It got awkward."

• THAT'S HOT

>> British or Spanish accent - British

>> Brown or blue eyes - Blue

>> Good body or pretty face? - Pretty face

>> bubble bath together or night of dancing? - Bubble bath

>> Skinny or muscular or curves - Curves

>> Beer or cocktails? - Beer

>> 80's or 90's - '90s

>> Convertible or pickup truck? Pickup truck

>> London or Tokyo - London

>> Sunlight or moonlight - Sunlight

>> Adam Lambert or Kris Allen? - I didn't really watch American Idol.

• SPILL IN THE BLANK

The reason I broke up with my last boy/girlfriend is _______________. "She cheated on me."

If would have plastic surgery done on my ____________________. "Probably wouldn't."

I would do a spread in Playgirl if they paid me $______________. "A case of beer."

I got my first kiss when I was _____  years old. "13"

The biggest lie I ever told a boy/girl is ________________________. "I don't lie." Me: You don't lie? Ever? "That's probably the lie I told her."

My secret turn-on is _________________________. "Kisses in the right places."

 Read about the other nine Hottest Guys of Valley Rock 2009, or check out 2009's Hottest Women of Valley Rock. How does this group measure up against 2008's Hottest Men & Women of Valley Rock? Click here to decide for