Revelation Theory's initial members Rich Luzzi, Dave Agoglia, and Julien Jorgensen first met in 1997 at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA, and all moved to Long Island, NY in 2002 to pursue a career in music. A year later, bassist Matty McCloskey, a student at New York University, joined the band, completing the quartet. They recorded a demo EP and began touring; in 2005 they were tapped for the Girls Gone Wild Rocks America tour.[4] The group then signed with EMI subsidiary Element Records, and released the album Truth Is Currency in 2005.
In 2007, the band toured with Hinder again, as well as with Papa Roach and Buckcherry. Later in 2007, the band signed a major label deal with Interscope Records and began writing their second album Light It Up. During this time the band shortened their official name to Rev Theory. They began to substantially build their fan base when World Wrestling Entertainment started using their music for pay-per-view events; initially with "Light It Up", which was the official theme music for WrestleMania XXIV, followed immediately with the use of "Hell Yeah" as the official theme for One Night Stand (2008), which took place in June. Former WWE wrestler Ashley Massaro appeared in the official "Hell Yeah" music video. Also in 2008, Rich Luzzi provided vocals for the song "Voices", the entrance theme of WWE wrestler Randy Orton. The song is also the title track on Voices: WWE The Music, Vol. 9 album.[7] On May 25, 2023, Rev Theory released an updated version of "Voices" via Bandcamp. The track was released a month later to all platforms on June 30, 2023.[8] "Hell Yeah" was featured in the video game Madden NFL 09, and it was the goal song for the NHL's Winnipeg Jets.
That same year, Interscope, Geffen, A&M Records and Microsoft partnered together to premiere the band's new music video exclusively on the Xbox LIVE Video Store. This made Rev Theory's single "Hell Yeah" the first ever video premiere on Xbox LIVE.
In October 2009, Rev Theory began touring with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Rev Theory's song "Hell Yeah" was played during the opening and closing credits of the Spike TV college show Blue Mountain State.
Justice (2010–2012)
In February 2010, the band started writing new material for their third studio album[9] with producer Terry Date. The title track and first single from the album, "Justice," was released on iTunes on October 25, 2010, and was released to radio stations on November 2, 2010. The band's song "Hangman" from the album Justice was used as a theme song for WWE SmackDown when the show made its debut on their new network home Syfy.[10] "Justice" was also named the official theme song to the 2011 WWE pay-per-view event, Extreme Rules. Justice was released on February 15, 2011, and debuted on the Billboard top 200 charts at No. 75.
To support the "Justice" album, Rev Theory went on tour from April 13 to May 13, 2011, opening for Saliva, on Saliva's HardDrive Spring Tour.[11] Rev Theory then went on a four-date tour with Black Label Society on their Uranium Tour. The band headlined their first national U.S. tour with Monster Energy Outbreak Presents from February 16 to March 6.Graff, Gary (December 28, 2010). "Rev Theory Returns to Roots for 'Justice'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.</ref>[12] Rev Theory also toured with Puddle of Mudd in 2011. Rev Theory was scheduled to go on tour with Hatebreed, All That Remains, and Five Finger Death Punch from October 13 to December 14, but had to cancel due to Julien Jorgensen's hand injury.[13][14]
On April 12, 2012, Rev Theory posted on their Facebook Page that Rikki Lixx would no longer be a part of their band, stating "We've parted ways on good terms and we wish him nothing but success in his creative endeavors. We love Rikki and he will always be our friend and our brother."[15]
Take 'Em Out and The Revelation (2012–present)
On November 1, 2012, Rev Theory announced that they were putting out a new EP titled Take 'Em Out, through Universal Music Group's specialty licensing label/publisher Killer Tracks. The EP, which featured four songs produced by Wax Ltd, was also released commercially online through digital retailers and streaming sites, including iTunes and Spotify. The song "Something New" gained considerable popularity online due in part to a high number of synchronization uses in media as well as a lyric video produced by The Uprising Creative. The "Something New" lyric video was premiered by Monster Energy[16] and was later featured by VEVO.[17]
The band spent most of 2013 promoting their Take 'Em Out EP and recording songs for a new studio album. On August 10, 2013, the band released a street track called "Alpha King" along with another lyric video. The "Alpha King" lyric video premiered on Loudwire.com.[18]
On February 20, 2014, the band teased a song online from their forthcoming studio album called "Red Light Queen" on Loudwire.com, along with an announcement that Paul Phillips (formerly with Puddle of Mudd) would be joining the band as lead guitarist on future tour dates.[19]
In August 2014, Rev Theory signed with Century Media/Sony Music imprint Another Century[20][21] and also announced their first digital single with the label, "Born 2 Destroy."[22] On September 19, 2014, the label premiered the official lyric video of "Born 2 Destroy" on Loudwire.com[23] and on September 30, 2014, "Born 2 Destroy" was officially released as a digital single through online retailers like iTunes.
In October 2015, WWE chose the song "We Own The Night" as the main theme song for the new WWE Network series "Breaking Ground."[24] On January 8, 2016, "We Own The Night" was released as a digital single through online retailers like iTunes and streaming services like Spotify.
From 2019 to 2021, Julien Jorgensen and Matthew McCkloskey with The DNS Agency self-released a number of singles and grew their monthly listenership on Spotify from 500K to over 1 Million with Bassist Matty McCloskey singing lead. Drop the Hammer, ONE, ONE remix, Make me a Drink, Fire in the Sky, and Remember Me, which the two members also produced a full video for. The songs released during this time garnered over 5 million streams worldwide.[25]
Salvation Nowhere
In 2023, the founding member Julien Jorgensen took the initiative to re-record the WWE theme 'Voices', and was released along with a video in June 2023 and within a month the song received over 1 million listeners.[25] The band would release their fifth studio album titled Salvation Nowhere on November 29, 2024
Band members
Current members
Matty McCloskey – bass (2002–present), lead vocals (2016–2023)
Julien Jorgensen – rhythm guitar (2002–present); lead guitar (2002-2006, 2012–2014)
Rich Luzzi – lead vocals (2002–2016, 2023–present)
Past members
Paul Phillips – lead guitar (touring) (2014–2016)
Rikki Lixx – lead guitar, backing vocals (2006–2012)
