Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
Genres | |
Discography | Mushroomhead discography |
Years active | 1993 | –present
Labels | |
Members | Steve Felton Rick Thomas Ryan Farrell Robbie Godsey Jason Popson Steve Rauckhorst Joe Gaal Dave Felton |
Past members | Tommy Church Jeffrey Hatrix John Sekula Richie Moore Marko Vukcevich Joe Kilcoyne Jack Kilcoyne Joe Lenkey Daniel Fox Waylon Reavis Tom Schmitz Jackie LaPonza Tommy Shaffner |
Website | mushroomhead |
Mushroomhead is an American
Mushroomhead has sold over two million media units worldwide, and has released eight full-length albums and 15 music videos. Since the band's formation, Mushroomhead has experienced numerous lineup changes, with drummer Steve Felton being the sole consistent member.
History
Debut album, Superbuick and M3 (1993–2000)
In 1993, Mushroomhead was established as a side project. To differentiate itself from the members' existing bands and to dispel any misconceptions about the group's sound and musical content, Mushroomhead used costumes,
In 1995, Mushroomhead released a self-financed debut album,
XX and XIII (2000–2005)
In 2000, Mushroomhead acquired a record deal with independent label
After an extensive world tour, vocalist J Mann announced he was leaving the band in August 2004, citing exhaustion and to take care of his sick father. He was replaced by Three Quarters Dead singer, Waylon. In August 2005, Mushroomhead self-released its first DVD on its own Filthy Hands label – "Volume 1". Produced, directed, shot, and edited by the band, Volume 1 covers the band's rise in the 2000s with live performances, music videos, and behind the scenes footage.
While on the road in 2005, Mushroomhead began the process of writing new material and recording a new album. In December 2005, Mushroomhead signed with Megaforce Records, ensuring the new album's availability nationally and internationally. On June 6, 2006, Mushroomhead launched Mushroom Kombat – an interactive flash feature as a part of the band's official website. The mini-game pits band members against each other in a Mortal Kombat-style environment, with each member having a unique fatality.
In 2005, Bronson announced that he was leaving the band to further his studies. Rather than recruiting another guitarist, the band decided to let Gravy do all the guitar parts for their new album. Gravy had said, "it worked out really well, because Bronson wasn't a natural [guitar] player. Now that he's gone, I don't have to worry anymore that my riffs will be too difficult for him to play."[7] Since then, Mushroomhead continued with only one guitarist until Gravy's return in 2022.
Mushroomhead headlined with Dope, Nocturne, and New Orleans locals Invain on the Music For Freedom Tour sponsored by Jägermeister at the House of Blues in New Orleans, Louisiana on Tuesday, August 16, 2005. This show was one of the last big acts to play in New Orleans for a long time due to Hurricane Katrina striking New Orleans on August 29, 2005.
Savior Sorrow and Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children (2005–2012)
The band has performed three shows on the Mayhem Festival tour, filling in for Bullet for My Valentine. Live footage was compiled into the band's second DVD, titled "Volume 2". On December 29, 2007, Mushroomhead won Video of the Year 2007 on the MTV2 Headbanger's Ball for "12 Hundred" from the Savior Sorrow record. On September 17, 2008, it was announced that the band will release the "Volume 2" DVD on October 28 through Filthy Hands/Megaforce Records. The disc features two and a half hours of content, including live footage from the three-year Savior Sorrow tour, music videos including "12 Hundred", "Simple Survival", "Burn", the short video for "Tattoo", "Save Us" and "Embrace the Ending", video commentary and behind the scenes footage. To support the DVD, Mushroomhead hit the road with The Autumn Offering, XFactor1, and Human Factors Lab from October 3 in Findlay, Ohio, until November 2 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After the tour, Mushroomhead returned to the studio to record their next album.
They released
In October 2010, following the death of ex bandmate JJ Righteous, J Mann appeared on stage with the band during their Halloween show, performing vocals for two songs alongside both Jeffrey Nothing and Waylon. Both he and Waylon made a point of announcing that there were no hard feelings between the two of them, and that they are in fact on good terms with each other. On October 5, 2010, the Professional Wrestling Promotion known as TNA (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling) (Now called "Impact Wrestling") used their hit single "Come On" as the theme song to promote a match between Ric Flair and Mick Foley, a confrontation that was 20 years in the making. The promotional video can be seen on the TNA Wrestling official YouTube Channel. It is said that a longtime fan of the band put that together for them.
In February 2012, it was announced that guitarist
The Righteous & the Butterfly, return of J Mann and departure of Waylon Reavis and Jeffrey Nothing (2012–2019)
In September 2012, Mushroomhead announced that they are currently in the studio working on new music via their Facebook fan page. It was said by Mushroomhead frontman Jeff Hatrix that former Slipknot and current Painface vocalist Anders Colsefni is in the works to do a recording together in their upcoming studio sessions. The band entered their own Filthy Hands Studio in December 2012 to begin writing and recording their next studio album.
Their eighth album was the only one to showcase all three vocalists. Drummer Steve Felton described it as "very energetic, dark and by far their heaviest album to date, just a fresh spin on the same old thing if you will. This is the first record with Church on guitar and Farrell on bass, so having those new writers on board you never know where it's going to go. For the old school fans there's a lot of flavorful elements in it so they will definitely enjoy it."[11]
On August 16, Jason Popson confirmed his return to the band via Facebook.
As of October 5, 2015, vocalist Waylon Reavis announced via his Facebook page that he had parted ways with Mushroomhead, citing "irreconcilable differences with band ownership" and stating he had "severed all ties with Mushroomhead and Filthy Hands Company."
Mushroomhead went on a headlining UK tour in 2016, the first since 2002. American Head Charge was supposed to be their main support, but they ultimately decided to drop off the tour. A full European tour followed the next year.
On March 7, 2018, it was announced that vocalist and founding member Jeffrey "Nothing" Hatrix had parted ways with the band.[18] Two days later, guitarist Tommy Church announced that he had also quit the band.[19] On March 17, Popson's Pitch Black Forecast bandmates and the band's roadies Steve Rauckhorst and Tommy "Tankx" Shaffner were revealed as the new vocalist and guitarist respectively.[20] Rauckhorst was a longtime friend, former neighbor and influence of the former vocalist.[21]
On April 4, 2019, Mushroomhead announced that they had signed with Napalm Records.[22]
In an interview during their UK tour in July 2019, drummer Felton and his wife, vocalist Jackie LaPonza revealed more information about the then forthcoming album, mentioning that during the tour they had recorded vocals at Abbey Road Studios and that the new album was 80% finished, with a tentative release date of April 2020. They confirmed that the new album cycle would also include new masks.[23][24]
A Wonderful Life (2020–present)
On April 21, 2020, it was announced the band's new album was titled A Wonderful Life and would be released on June 19. It was also revealed that touring vocalist Jackie LaPonza (who has toured with the band since 2014) had officially joined the band on a full-time basis, adopting the alias, Ms. Jackie.[25][26][27] The second single, "The Heresy" was released on May 26, 2020. The album was released on June 19 on schedule. Unfortunately, her tenure with the band was cut short as both she and Shaffner quietly left a year later. Joe "Jenkins" Gaal stepped in to replace the latter.[28]
On Nov 1, the band teased two further music videos. A trailer stated that this collaboration with SK1 productions would have 2 story-based music videos, featuring all the members of the band, released back-to-back.[29]
In September 2022, Gravy rejoined Mushroomhead as the second guitarist, rather than replacing Jenkins.[30]
Musical style and influences
Mushroomhead's sound combines elements of heavy metal, hip hop, experimental music, industrial music, gothic rock, punk rock and techno.[31][32][33] The band has been categorized as alternative metal,[33][34][35][36] industrial metal,[37][38][39][40] nu metal,[41][42][43][44] experimental metal,[40] and electro-industrial.[34]
They are influenced by bands such as Mr. Bungle, Faith No More, Pink Floyd, Pantera, Nine Inch Nails, and KMFDM.[45][46] In a 2014 interview with music journalist Greg Prato, Jason Popson reflected on the band's musical influences, stating "When you're talking about a band with nine guys, you're talking about tons of influences. I know when we started the band, we were really into a lot of the stuff Mike Patton was doing - Faith No More or Mr. Bungle, things like that. But we also liked heavier bands like Meshuggah, Pantera. Then there's electronic stuff. So it's really all over the map. It's everything from hard rock to punk rock to hip-hop to electronica. It's pretty vast."[47]
Artistry
Image and visuals
The members of Mushroomhead have identified themselves by wearing masks and by its distinct "X Face" logo – commonly worn on the masks of most members, as well as clothing and merchandise. The band originally adopted masks and stage names to not conflict with their original bands. The band's look has evolved over the years, featuring alterations to bring them up to date and freshen up the image for new albums and tours. In January 2013, Mushroomhead Video Director, Maskmaker and Make-up artist Dave Henson Greathouse competed in
Another common visual trait that Mushroomhead is known for, are the use of water drums, which are performed by all the percussionists in the band.[49]
Relationship with Slipknot
In the band's early days, the group repeatedly saw accusations of plagiarism due to sharing a similar distinct visual performance to Iowan metal band Slipknot, but the Mushroomhead band members have heavily denied the claims of "ripping off" Slipknot and insist that they were instead the first to adopt the masked aesthetic.[50]
As a result of the comparisons, Mushroomhead has had an on-and-off rivalry with Slipknot since at least 1999. The feud erupted mostly among fans of both bands. Before signing Slipknot, Roadrunner Records was interested in signing Mushroomhead, but Mushroomhead passed on the deal.[51] As of 2009, the drama has ended and both bands currently maintain a close friendship.[52]
Following the death of Slipknot member Paul Gray in 2010, Mushroomhead posted on their official Myspace page: "R.I.P. Paul Gray, This feud needs to end. Much Love and Respect to the guys in Slipknot".
In 2012, Slipknot singer Corey Taylor has stated that he never had a problem with the band, he only had a problem with the behavior of their fans due to a situation Slipknot faced when they played in Mushroomhead's home town in Cleveland, and said there was never a real feud between bands but the feud was between Mushroomhead fans and Slipknot fans. He stated that doing a tour with Mushroomhead, Gwar, and Mudvayne "would be beautiful!".[53][54] The same year, Mushroomhead members joined Slipknot's Sid Wilson on stage in an impromptu performance during Wilson's DJ set.[55]
In 2014, singer Jeffrey "Nothing" Hatrix stated about the feud between the two bands: "Fans are very loyal to the bands they like. Members of both sides have said they are over it and that it was never really between the bands. Let's all move on".[56]
Band members
Current members
- Steve "Skinny" Felton – percussion (2006–present); samples (2015–present); drums (1993–2022)
- Jason "J Mann" Popson – vocals (1993–2004, 2013–present; on hiatus since 2022)[28]
- Dave "Gravy" Felton – guitars (2000–2012, 2022–present)
- Rick "St1tch" Thomas – samples, electronics (2001–present; on hiatus since 2022); keyboards (2013-; on hiatus since 2022); percussion (2007-present; on hiatus since 2022); turntables (2001-2003)[28]
- Ryan "Dr. F" Farrell – bass (2012–present); keyboards (2015–present, studio 2006-2015)
- Robbie "Roberto Diablo" Godsey – percussion, drums (2013–present; touring 2012–2013)
- Steve Rauckhorst – vocals (2018–present); bass (touring 2007)
- Jackie LaPonza – vocals (2020–present; hiatus 2021; touring member 2014–2020)
- Joe "Jenkins" Gaal – guitars (2021–present)
Current touring members
- Aydin Michael - samples, keyboards, percussion (2019, 2022–present)[28]
- Scott Beck – vocals (2022–present)[28]
- Jordan Gannon - percussion (2022–present)
Former members
- Joe "Mr. Murdernickel" Kilcoyne – bass (1993–1996)
- Joe "DJ Virus" Lenkey – turntables, samples (1993–1997)
- Richie "Dinner" Moore – guitars (1993–2000)
- John "JJ Righteous" Sekula – guitars (1993–2001; died 2010)
- Marko "Bronson" Vukcevich – guitars (2001–2005); samples, turntables (1998–2001); dancing (1993–1998; touring member) and
- Jack "Pig Benis" Kilcoyne – bass (1996–2012)
- Daniel "Lil' Dan" Fox – percussion, drums (2009–2012; touring member 2006–2009)
- Tom "Shmotz" Schmitz – keyboards (1993–2015); samples (1993-2003)
- Waylon Reavis – vocals (2004–2015)
- Jeffrey "Nothing" Hatrix – vocals (1993–2018)
- Tommy Church – guitars (2012–2018)
- Tommy "Tankx" Shaffner – guitars (2018–2021)
Former touring members
- Chris Chamberlain – juggler, pogo stick, fire breather (1994)
- Jessica "Roxy" Haney – dancing (1993–2000)
- Dailey "Fatback" Davis – percussion (2005)
- Dylan "The Villain" Sharpe – percussion (2012)
- Elliot Mapes – percussion, keyboard (2012)
- Jeremiah Stratton – percussion (2012)
- Harry Mapes – keyboard, percussion (2014)
- Derek Beaty – percussion (2019)
Timeline
Discography
- Mushroomhead (1995)
- Superbuick (1996)
- M3 (1999)
- XIII (2003)
- Savior Sorrow (2006)
- Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children (2010)
- The Righteous & the Butterfly (2014)
- A Wonderful Life (2020)
References
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