Four line-ups of Mushroomhead in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2023.
Mushroomhead is an American alternative metal band, they have undergone many lineup changes, leading every studio album to have a different lineup, with the only constant member being drummer, percussionist, water drummer, keyboardist, DJ, producer and director Steve "Skinny" Felton. Their lineup currently consists of Felton, vocalists Jackie LaPonza, Steve Rauckhorst and Scott "Strike" Beck, guitarists Dave "Gravy" Felton and Joe "Jenkins" Gaal, bassist and keyboardist Ryan "Dr. F" Farrell, percussionist Robert "Roberto Diablo" Godsey, drummer Aydin "Aylien" Michael and touring water drummer Jordan Gannon.[1][2]
History
The band was founded in 1993 by vocalists Jeff "Nothing" Hatrix and Jason "J Mann" Popson, guitarists John "JJ Righteous" Sekula and Richie "Dinner" Moore, bassist Joe "Mr. Murdernickel" Kilcoyne, keyboardist Tom "Shmotz" Schmitz, drummer Steve "Skinny" Felton and DJ Joe "DJ Virus" Lenkey.[3] Live performances also featured dancers Jessica "Roxy" Haney and Marko "Bronson" Vukcevich, the latter also being video editor, alongside hired talent such as fire-breathers and gymnasts.
After releasing a demo and their self-titled debut album in 1995, Kilcoyne was replaced by his brother, Jack "Pig Benis" Kilcoyne. Lenkey departed the band in early 1999, and was replaced by Bronson. Next to depart was guitarist Richie Dinner, who was replaced by Skinny's brother Dave "Gravy" Felton. JJ Righteous also left a year later, in his absence, Bronson moved to guitar, and Rick "St1tch" Thomas joined as DJ, moving to more experimental electronics by 2003.
In mid 2004, Popson left the band to establish a relationship with his estranged terminally-ill father.[4] He was replaced by Waylon "Wizlo" Reavis.[5] Bronson departed in May 2006, he was not replaced, meaning the band had only one guitarist.[6] Later in 2006, the band were joined by touring water drummer Daniel "Lil' Dan" Fox, who later became an official member in 2009 with St1tch and Skinny gradually becoming more prevalent on the instrument as well.
In February 2012, Gravy, Lil' Dan and Pig Benis were all fired. They were replaced by Tommy Church, Ryan "Dr. F" Farrell and Robert "Roberto Diablo" Godsey respectively. Dr. F had previously contributed electronic elements to the previous 2 albums in the studio. Popson also returned in August 2013,[7][8] performing vocals alongside Hatrix, Reavis, and Skinny's wife Jackie LaPonza as the first female vocalist.[9]
Schmitz departed in 2015 causing turmoil within the band, leading to Reavis being violently fired soon after and schisms occurring between key members. Skinny and St1tch were often labelled the aggressors.[10] The former members weren't replaced, St1tch moved onto keyboards, eventually splitting duties with Skinny and Dr. F, with Hatrix and Popson continuing as dual vocalists. Hatrix and Church both departed in March 2018 as a result of further conflict.[11][12] They were replaced by roadies Steve Rauckhorst and Tommy "Tankx" Shaffner respectively.[13][14] LaPonza went on hiatus and Shaffner departed in mid-2021, the latter being replaced by Joe "Jenkins" Gaal.
In 2022, J Mann and ST1TCH went on touring hiatus and Skinny suffered back injuries. As such the line-up was reworked to feature Skinny as both DJ and water drummer in addition to visual design, new members Scott Beck and Aydin Michael joined as a new vocalist and drummer respectively, and onstage Jordan Gannon became a touring water drummer.[15] The band were also rejoined by Gravy, returning to a dual guitarist line-up.[16] Gravy and LaPonza's return, Popson's retirement and Skinny's reconciliation with Reavis are considered indicators of the winding-down of conflict, however tensions still exist between the band, Hatrix and Church. As such, in 2024, following the announcement of Call the Devil, Hatrix attempted to form 'Jeffrey Nothing's Mushroomhead', composed of other former members of the band, confirming members Church 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.[17][18] 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.[17][19]
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