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Mushroomhead is an American heavy metal band from
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,
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. Formed in 1993 in the Cleveland Warehouse District, the band is known for their
avant-garde In the arts and literature, the term ''avant-garde'' ( meaning or ) identifies an experimental genre or work of art, and the artist who created it, which usually is aesthetically innovative, whilst initially being ideologically unacceptable ...
sound and
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-inspired imagery which features masks and costumes as well as their unique live shows usually performed at smaller venues. They have sold over two million media units worldwide, and have released eight full-length albums and 35 music videos. Since the band's formation, Mushroomhead has experienced numerous lineup changes, with
water drum Water drums are a category of membranophone characterized by the filling of the drum chamber with some amount of water to create a unique resonant sound. Water drums are used all over the world, but are found most prominently in a ceremonial as w ...
mer, keyboardist, DJ and visual designer Steve "Skinny" Felton being the sole consistent member. Other members include vocalists Steve Rauckhorst, Jackie LaPonza and Scott "Strike" Beck, guitarists Dave "Gravy" Felton and Joe "Jenkins" Gaal, bassist/keyboardist Ryan "Dr. F" Farrell, drummer Aydin Kerr, percussionist/water drummer Robbie "Roberto Diablo" Godsey and touring water drummer Jordan Gannon. Previous vocalists include Jeffrey Nothing, Jason "J Mann" Popson and Waylon Reavis.


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,
mask A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment, and often employed for rituals and rites. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes, ...
s, and
pseudonyms A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's ow ...
. Mushroomhead played its first show in 1993. Days later, the octet found itself on stage alongside established metal band
Gwar Gwar, often stylized as GWAR, is an American heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, in 1984, composed of and operated by a frequently rotating line-up of musicians, artists, and filmmakers collectively known as Slave Pit Inc. Since ...
. "We played our first show on a Saturday" said the band's drummer, Skinny, in an article for Mushroomhead's official website. "Three days later, we got a call to play with Gwar at the Cleveland Agora in front of 2,000 people – our second show ever!". In 1995, Mushroomhead released a self-financed debut album, '' Mushroomhead'', with their own record label, Filthy Hands Co. (previously known as Shroomco Records and later on, MRH Records). For the members, Mushroomhead became a priority with their original bands breaking-up. Although the line-up saw many changes throughout the 1990s, the band stayed active, steadily releasing music and gaining followers. In 1996, they released ''
Superbuick ''Superbuick'' is the second studio album by American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Mushroomhead. It was released independently in 1996. Most of the songs were later remastered on ''XX (Mushroomhead album), XX'' which was initially release ...
''. In 1999, Mushroomhead released '' M3'', which was the final album self-financed and self-released by the band.


''XX'' and ''XIII'' (2000–2005)

In 2000, Mushroomhead acquired a record deal with independent label Eclipse Records and in 2001 the band released their first ever label-released album; a re-recorded compilation release titled '' XX'', which contains remixed/remastered versions of select songs from the first three Mushroomhead albums. Later in the year, after quickly selling almost 40,000 copies in just 2–3 months, the band signed with major label
Universal Records Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...
and the compilation was re-released internationally. The release of the album led Mushroomhead to major national and international tours including
Ozzfest Ozzfest was an annual music festival tour of the United States and sometimes Europe and later Japan, featuring performances by many heavy metal music, heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Sharon Osbourne and her husband O ...
2002; as well as television exposure via their first music video " Solitaire/Unraveling". Also in 2001, guitarist J.J. Righteous was replaced by one of the band's previous stage dancers & then current sampler, Marko Vukcevich. 2003 saw the release of '' XIII'', their first album with new material for Universal Records. The album produced the single "Sun Doesn't Rise" which was featured on ''MTV:
Headbangers Ball ''Headbangers Ball'' is a music television program that consists of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV and its global affiliates. The show began on MTV on April 18, 1987, playing heavy metal music videos from both well-known and more obsc ...
'' and the ''Freddy vs Jason'' soundtrack. Also featuring the hidden track "Crazy", a song originally by
Seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, also called "true seal" ** Fur seal ** Eared seal * Seal ( ...
. The album debuted at no. 40 on the ''Billboard'' Top 200 charts and sold 400,000 copies worldwide. 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 Megaforce Records is an American independent record label founded in 1982 by Jon Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula to release the first works of Metallica, and devoted primarily to hard rock and heavy metal. It has offices in New York City (whe ...
, ensuring the new album's availability nationally and internationally. On June 6, 2006, Mushroomhead launched Mushroom Kombat – an interactive
flash Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional aliases * The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed: ** Flash (Jay Garrick) ** Barry Allen ** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult Flash ...
feature as a part of the band's official website. The mini-game pits band members against each other in a
Mortal Kombat ''Mortal Kombat'' is an American media franchise centered on a series of fighting game, fighting video games originally developed by Midway Games in 1992. The original ''Mortal Kombat (1992 video game), Mortal Kombat'' arcade game spawned Lis ...
-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 uitarplayer. Now that he's gone, I don't have to worry anymore that my riffs will be too difficult for him to play." Since then, Mushroomhead continued with only one guitarist until Gravy's return in 2022. Mushroomhead headlined with Dope,
Nocturne A nocturne is a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night. History The term ''nocturne'' (from French '' nocturne'' "of the night") was first applied to musical pieces in the 18th century, when it indicated an ensembl ...
, and
New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
locals Invain on the Music For Freedom Tour sponsored by
Jägermeister ( , ) is a German digestif made with 56 herbs and spices. Developed in 1934 by Wilhelm and Curt Mast, it has an alcohol by volume of 35% ( 61 degrees proof, or US 70 proof). The recipe has not changed since its creation, and the drink contin ...
at the
House of Blues House of Blues is an American chain of live music concert halls and restaurants. It was founded by Isaac Tigrett, the co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, co-star of the 1980 film ''The Blues Brothers (film), The Blues Brothers''. The ...
in
New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
,
Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...
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 Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...
striking New Orleans on August 29, 2005.


''Savior Sorrow'' and ''Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children'' (2005–2012)

'' Savior Sorrow'' was released on September 19, 2006, and debuted at No. 45 on the ''Billboard'' 200 charts with sales exceeding 12,000. The band's label stated that sales were closer to 25,000 with the inclusion of sales made while on tour. As a result, SoundScan issued an apology the day following the release of sales data due to mistakes made in estimates. The primary reason given was the lack of inclusion of sales from the
Best Buy Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American multinational consumer electronics retailer headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota. Originally founded by Richard M. Schulze and James Wheeler in 1966 as an audio specialty store called Sound of Music, it was r ...
retailer chain. Sales of ''Savior Sorrow'' were roughly 26,000 and the chart entry place was closer to the No. 30 spot than No. 73. ''Savior Sorrows chart position was later officially adjusted to No. 50. "Simple Survival", the pre-released single to '' Savior Sorrow'', was placed at No. 39 on the Billboard
Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock is a music chart published by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations in the United States. It is an administrative category that combines the " active rock" and " heritage rock" ...
chart one week after the release. Also in 2006, Daniel Fox (Lil' Dan) joined the band as a touring drummer. The band has performed three shows on the
Mayhem Festival The Mayhem Festival is a metal festival that takes place during the summer. The inaugural season took place in 2008; the festival later became an annual event across the United States. Most years also included a single date in either Montreal or ...
tour, filling in for
Bullet for My Valentine Bullet for My Valentine, often abbreviated as BFMV, are a Welsh heavy metal band from Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band is currently composed of Matthew Tuck (vocals, rhythm guitar), Michael Paget (lead guitar), Jason Bowld (drums) and J ...
. 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 The Autumn Offering was an American metalcore band that formed in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1999. After achieving some degree of local success, the band was signed to Stillborn Records, founded by Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, in 2003. The band r ...
, 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 '' Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children'' in September 2010. Within the first week of its release, it became the No. 1 best selling metal album on
iTunes iTunes is a media player, media library, and mobile device management (MDM) utility developed by Apple. It is used to purchase, play, download and organize digital multimedia on personal computers running the macOS and Windows operating s ...
. A new song, "Your Soul Is Mine," appeared on the '' Saw VI Soundtrack''. On October 1, 2010, a music video for "Come On" debuted on ''
Headbangers Ball ''Headbangers Ball'' is a music television program that consists of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV and its global affiliates. The show began on MTV on April 18, 1987, playing heavy metal music videos from both well-known and more obsc ...
'' on MTV. The video has since been barred from airing on MTV and other television outlets after being deemed too graphic by network
censors Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governmen ...
. On October 28, 2010, the band's founding guitarist, JJ Righteous, died of unknown reasons at the age of 41. 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 Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (abbreviated as TNA Wrestling or TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, a Canadian media company owned by busines ...
) (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
Gravy Gravy is a sauce made from the juices of meats and vegetables that run naturally during cooking and often thickened with thickeners for added texture. The gravy may be further coloured and flavoured with gravy salt (a mix of salt and caramel food ...
and bassist Pig Benis would be replaced by Tommy Church and Ryan Farrell respectively. In April 2012, Dave "Gravy" Felton stated publicly on his Facebook fan page that he was "kicked out of the band." In May 2012, Daniel "Lil Dan" Fox left Mushroomhead to work for another band. It was rumored that he is working as a drum technician for Marilyn Manson. On May 22, Dave Felton posted on his fan page an interview about his latest band. In the interview, he was asked about the Mushroomhead split. He said that he was kicked out via email and that it was the third time he had been told to leave. He said that he thought one of the reasons was because he did not have a party mentality (drinking and smoking) and that he thought it sometimes got in the way of band progress. The interview was on Uncensored Net Noise on the Msc Radio Network LLC. Drum tech Jeremiah Stratton (also known from
Hed PE Hed PE (standing for ''Higher Education Planet Earth/Planetary Evolution'', typeset as (həd)p.e., (hed) Planet Earth, (Hed)pe or (Hed)PE) is an American rock band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1994, the band is known for its ecle ...
) had taken over Fox's percussion parts in the Hed 2 Head Tour 3. After the Hed 2 Head Tour ended, drum tech Elliot Mapes took over Fox's drum parts for live shows. People have jokingly called him "Tall E" in reference to Fox's nickname being "Lil Dan". On Thursday, August 16, 2012, Mushroomhead stated on their official Facebook fan page that former member Bronson would return on guitar for their 2012 "Old School Show".


''The Righteous & the Butterfly'' (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." On August 16, Jason Popson confirmed his return to the band via Facebook. Mushroomhead toured
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
for the first time as part of the
Soundwave Soundwave or Sound Wave may refer to: * Sound, a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave * Acoustic wave, the wave which carries sound Festivals * Soundwave (Australian music festival), an annual music festival 2007–2016 * Soundwave Fe ...
Festival 2014. On February 14, 2014, Mushroomhead released the date and name of their new album which will be released May 13, 2014 and the name of the new album is ''The Righteous & the Butterfly''. This album marks the return of J Mann. On April 15, 2014, Frontman Jeffrey Nothing released the band's first unofficial single "Qwerty" on YouTube from his personal Facebook account. This marks the first song featuring J Mann since rejoining the band. The album received mostly positive reviews and is Mushroomhead's first album to reach the top 20 of the
Billboard Top 200 The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular Album, music albums and extended play, EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine to convey the popularity of an recor ...
chart in the United States, reaching No. 20, selling around 11,000 copies the first week. The album also, reached No. 1 in the ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' Indie chart, their first album to do so. ''The Righteous & the Butterfly'' reached No. 5 in the
Top Rock Albums The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in ''Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, p ...
and No. 1 in the
Top Hard Rock Albums The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in ''Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, p ...
. Mushroomhead have released an official music video for the album's second single "Out of My Mind". The band will be co-headlining the 2014 Shockfest Tour with
Insane Clown Posse Insane Clown Posse, often abbreviated as ICP, is an American hip hop duo. Formed in Detroit in 1989, ICP's best-known lineup consists of rappers Violent J (Joseph Bruce) and Shaggy 2 Dope (originally 2 Dope; Joseph Utsler). Insan ...
. 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. Two days later, guitarist Tommy Church announced that he had also quit the band. 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. Rauckhorst was a longtime friend, former neighbor and influence of the former vocalist. On April 4, 2019, Mushroomhead announced that they had signed with
Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal, hard rock and folk/folk rock/folk metal. Originally, Napalm focused on black metal bands, such as Abigor and Summoning, and folk metal bands, such as Falkenbach a ...
. 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 Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a music recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, London, Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of ...
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.


''A Wonderful Life'' and ''Call the Devil'' (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. 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. 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, with LaPonza having completely returned to the band by 2022. In September 2022, Dave "Gravy" Felton rejoined Mushroomhead as the second guitarist, rather than replacing Joe "Jenkins" Gaal. By the end of 2022, vocalist Jason "J Mann" Popson departed for the second time, alongside Rick "St1tch" Thomas. Vocalist Scott "x" Beck joined as a vocalist. Drummer Steve "Skinny" Felton also took on keyboards, sampling and water drums as his live role. As such, live drums are performed by Aydin Kerr and Robbie "Robbie Bobbie Shoes" Godsey, with studio drums and percussion, as well as live percussion and
water drum Water drums are a category of membranophone characterized by the filling of the drum chamber with some amount of water to create a unique resonant sound. Water drums are used all over the world, but are found most prominently in a ceremonial as w ...
s being shared between the three. On June 13, 2024, the band released the single "Fall in Line" and announced their ninth studio album '' Call the Devil''. It is advertised as a continuation of their accessible avant-garde style of the previous two albums as opposed to the heavier and more nu metal-influenced works of the Waylon era. On the same day, former vocalist Jeffrey Nothing teased the formation of 'Jeffrey Nothing's Mushroomhead' composed of other former members of the band, after previous vocalists such as Reavis and J Mann had resolved differences with the band. Therefore, confirmed members included only Church, Noah "Shark" Robertson and Marko "Bronson" Vukcevich. On August 16, 2024, it was reported that Jeffrey Nothing had filed a lawsuit against Felton in regard to unpaid royalties and copyright infringement. Nothing's attorney Ronald Stanley alleged that Felton had siphoned income under the alias of 'Tenafly Viper' as well as an unknown publicist and unknown writer. Stanley claims Nothing is owed at least $3.5 million and is entitled to use of band insignia.


Musical style and influences

Mushroomhead's sound combines elements of heavy metal,
hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...
,
experimental music Experimental music is a general label for any music or music genre that pushes existing boundaries and genre definitions. Experimental compositional practice is defined broadly by exploratory sensibilities radically opposed to, and questioning of, ...
, industrial music,
gothic rock Gothic rock (also called goth rock or simply goth) is a style of rock music that emerged from post-punk in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The first post-punk bands which shifted toward dark music with gothic overtones include Siouxsie an ...
,
punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
and
techno Techno is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) which is generally produced for use in a continuous DJ set, with tempos being in the range from 120 to 150 beats per minute (bpm). The central rhythm is typically in common time ( ) and often ...
. The band has been categorized as
alternative metal Alternative metal (also known as alt-metal) is a genre of heavy metal music that combines heavy metal with influences from alternative rock and other genres not normally associated with metal. Alternative metal bands are often characterized by ...
,
industrial metal Industrial metal is the fusion of Heavy metal music, heavy metal and industrial music, typically employing repeating Heavy metal guitar, metal guitar riffs, sampling (music), sampling, synthesizer or music sequencer, sequencer lines, and Distor ...
,
nu metal Nu metal (sometimes stylized as nü-metal, with a metal umlaut) is a subgenre of that combines elements of heavy metal music with elements of other music genres such as hip hop music, hip hop, funk, industrial music, industrial, and grunge. Nu ...
,
experimental metal Avant-garde metal (also known as avant-metal, experimental metal, art metal and experimetal) is a subgenre of heavy metal music loosely defined by use of experimentation and innovative, avant-garde elements, including non-standard and unconventi ...
, and
electro-industrial Electro-industrial is a music genre that emerged from industrial music in the early 1980s. While EBM (electronic body music) has a minimal structure and clean production, electro-industrial tends to have a grittier, complex and layered sound ...
. They are influenced by bands such as
Mr. Bungle Mr. Bungle is an American experimental rock band formed in Eureka, California, in 1985. The band is known for its eclecticism, cycling through several musical genres, often within the course of a single song, including heavy metal, avant-garde ...
,
Faith No More Faith No More is an American Rock music, rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1979. Before September 1983, the band performed under the names Sharp Young Men and later Faith No Man. Bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist/rhythm guitarist ...
,
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments ...
,
Pantera Pantera () is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Arlington, Texas in 1981 by the Abbott brothers (guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul), and currently composed of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, an ...
,
Nine Inch Nails Nine Inch Nails, commonly abbreviated as NIN (stylized as NIИ), is an American industrial rock band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988. Its members are the singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Trent Reznor and his frequent col ...
, and
KMFDM KMFDM (originally Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid, loosely translated by the band as "no pity for the majority") is a multinational industrial rock band from Hamburg led by Sascha Konietzko, who founded the band in 1984 as a performance art proje ...
. 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 Michael Allan Patton (born January 27, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and voice actor, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock bands Faith No More and Mr. Bungle. He has also fronted and/or played with Tomahawk, The ...
was doing - Faith No More or Mr. Bungle, things like that. But we also liked heavier bands like
Meshuggah Meshuggah () is a Swedish extreme metal band formed in Umeå in 1987. Since 2004, the band's lineup consists of founding members Jens Kidman (lead vocals) and Fredrik Thordendal (lead guitar), alongside rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, drumm ...
, 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."


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 season 4 of original SyFy series "Face Off", a special effects prosthetic makeup reality show competition. Another common visual trait that Mushroomhead is known for, are the use of
water drum Water drums are a category of membranophone characterized by the filling of the drum chamber with some amount of water to create a unique resonant sound. Water drums are used all over the world, but are found most prominently in a ceremonial as w ...
s, which are performed by all the percussionists in the band.


Relationship with Slipknot

In the band's early days, the group repeatedly saw accusations of
plagiarism Plagiarism is the representation of another person's language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions as one's own original work.From the 1995 ''Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Random House Compact Unabridged Dictionary'': use or close ...
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. 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 Roadrunner Records is a Dutch–American record label focused on Heavy metal music, heavy metal and hard rock music. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, it is now a division of Warner Music Group and is based in New York City. Formerly seen as ...
was interested in signing Mushroomhead, but Mushroomhead passed on the deal. As of 2009, the drama has ended and both bands currently maintain a close friendship. 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 Corey Todd Taylor (born December 8, 1973) is an American musician, songwriter, author and actor. He is the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Slipknot (band), Slipknot, in which he is designated #8, as well as the lead vocalist, guitarist, ly ...
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 Mudvayne is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Peoria, Illinois, Peoria, Illinois, in 1996. Known for their sonic experimentation, face and body paint, masks and uniforms, the band has sold over five million records wor ...
"would be beautiful!". The same year, Mushroomhead members joined Slipknot's Sid Wilson on stage in an impromptu performance during Wilson's DJ set. 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".Interview with Jeffrey Nothing
by Grande-Rock.com retrieved on August 31, 2014.


Band members

Current members * Steve "Skinny" Felton – samples, keyboards, production (1993–present); percussion (2006–present); drums (1993–2022; studio 2022–present) * Ryan "Dr. F" Farrell – bass (2012–present); keyboards (2015–present, studio 2006–2015) * Robbie "Roberto Diablo" Godsey – percussion, drums (2012–present) * Jackie LaPonza – vocals (2013–present) * Steve Rauckhorst – vocals (2018–present); bass (touring 2007) * Joe "Jenkins" Gaal – guitars (2021–present) * Dave "Gravy" Felton – guitars (2000–2012, 2022–present) * Scott "Strike" Beck – vocals (2022–present) * Aydin "Alien" Kerr – drums (2024–present; touring 2022–2024); samples, keyboards, percussion (touring 2019) Current touring members * 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) * 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) * Waylon Reavis – vocals (2004–2015) * Jeffrey "Nothing" Hatrix – vocals (1993–2018) * Tommy Church – guitars (2012–2018) * Tommy "Tankx" Shaffner – guitars (2018–2021) * Jason "J Mann" Popson – vocals (1993–2004, 2013–2022) * Rick "St1tch" Thomas – samples, electronics (2001–2022); keyboards (2013–2022); percussion (2007–2022); turntables (2001–2003) 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 ''Superbuick'' is the second studio album by American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Mushroomhead. It was released independently in 1996. Most of the songs were later remastered on ''XX (Mushroomhead album), XX'' which was initially release ...
'' (1996) *'' M3'' (1999) *'' XIII'' (2003) *'' Savior Sorrow'' (2006) *'' Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children'' (2010) *'' The Righteous & the Butterfly'' (2014) *'' A Wonderful Life'' (2020) *'' Call the Devil'' (2024)


References


External links

* *
FilthyMaggots Group Page (Masked 4 Tour)
{{Authority control 1993 establishments in Ohio American alternative metal musical groups American industrial metal musical groups American nu metal musical groups American avant-garde metal musical groups Articles which contain graphical timelines American electro-industrial music groups Heavy metal musical groups from Ohio Masked musicians Musical groups established in 1993 Musical groups from Cleveland Musical nonets Universal Records artists