Mushroomhead is an American metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in the Cleveland
Warehouse District, the band is known for their avant-garde sound with includes influence
from heavy metal, art rock and electro-industrial and their imagery which features masks and
costumes as well as their unique live shows usually performed at smaller venues. Mushroomhead
has sold over 2 million units worldwide, and has made 8 studio albums and 15 music videos.
During their inception, Mushroomhead has gone through many changes in band line-ups, with
original members, lead singer Jeffrey Nothing, keyboardist Shmotz, and drummer Skinny, being
the only consistent members.
History Mushroomhead, Superbuick and M3
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, masks, and pseudonyms. Mushroomhead played
its first show in 1993. Days later, the octet found itself on stage alongside established
metal band GWAR. "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.. 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. In 1999, Mushroomhead released
M3, which the final album was self-financed and self-released by the band.
XX and XIII In 2001, Mushroomhead released a compilation
album titled XX on the independent label Eclipse Records. Later in the year, after quickly
selling almost 40,000 copies in just 2–3 months, the band signed with major label Universal
Records and the compilation was remastered and re-released internationally. The release
of the album led Mushroomhead to major national and international tours including Ozzfest
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 and the Freddy vs Jason soundtrack. Also
featuring the hidden track "Crazy", a song originally by Seal. The album debuted at no.
40 on the Billboard Top 200 charts and sold 400,000 copies worldwide.
After an extensive world tour, singer 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 albums 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.
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
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 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 Sorrow's 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 chart one week after the release. Also in 2006,
Daniel Fox joined the band as a touring drummer. The band has performed 3 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 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. 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 on MTV. The
video has since been barred from airing on MTV and other television outlets after being
deemed too graphic by network censors. On October 28, 2010, the band's founding guitarist,
JJ Righteous, passed away of unknown reasons at the age of 41.
In October 2010, following the death of ex band-mate 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 Oct 5, 2010 The Professional Wrestling
Promotion known as TNA 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 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 is 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 didn't have a party mentality 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 "Major Trauma" pe) had taken over
Lil Dan's custom percussion parts in the Hed 2 Head Tour 3.
After the Hed 2 Head Tour ended, drum tech Elliot Mapes took over Dan's drum parts for
live shows. People have jokingly called him "Tall E" in reference to Dan'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 and return of
J Mann
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 Jeffrey
Nothing 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 upcoming eighth album is the first to showcase all three vocalists. Drummer Skinny
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." The album will come out around early 2014.
On August 16, Jason Popson confirmed his return to the band on his personal Facebook.
Mushroomhead toured Australia for the first time as part of the Soundwave 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 bands 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 chart in the United States, reaching #20, selling
around 11,000 copies the first week. The album also, reached #1 in the Billboard Indie chart,
their first album to do so. The Righteous & The Butterfly also, reached #5 in the Top
Rock Albums and #1 in the Top Hard Rock Albums. Image
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. Musical style and influences
Mushroomhead's sound combines elements of heavy metal, alternative rock, new age, hip
hop, experimental music, industrial music and techno The band has been categorized as
alternative metal, industrial metal, electro-industrial, nu metal, experimental metal and symphonic
metal. They are influenced by bands such as Mr. Bungle, Faith No More, Pink Floyd, Pantera,
Nine Inch Nails, Rammstein, and KMFDM. Feud with Slipknot
Since 1999, Mushroomhead has had an on-and-off rivalry with Iowa-based metal band Slipknot.
The feud erupted due to the image similarities between the bands; such as the masks and costumes
worn on stage. Before signing Slipknot, Roadrunner Records was interested in signing Mushroomhead,
but Mushroomhead passed on the deal. As of 2009 the rivalry is now officially over as
confirmed in several interviews with Waylon, ST1TCH and Skinny. 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, OH and said there was never
a real feud between bands but the feud was between Mushroomhead fans and Slipknot fans.
He stated doing a tour with Mushroomhead, Gwar, and Mudvayne would be beautiful! The
same year Mushroomhead members joined Slipknot's Sid Wilson on stage in an impromptu performance
during Wilson's DJ set. Members
Timeline
Discography
Independent Albums Mushroomhead
Superbuick M3
Major Label Albums XX
XIII Savior Sorrow
Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children The Righteous & the Butterfly
References
External links Official website
Mushroomhead on Myspace FilthyMaggots Group Page