Founded in 1993 in Cleveland, Ohio, Mushroomhead have built a successful underground career due to their aggressively artistic sound, theatrical stage show, and unique looks of the members. How much the band blew up rock music can be illustrated like this:
“We played our first show on Saturday,” says founder and drummer Skinny, “three days later we got a call to play with GWAR at the Cleveland Agora in front of 2,000 people.”
Mushroomhead quickly achieved regional popularity, opening up new national acts (with Marilyn Manson, Down, Type O Negative) and headlining their own shows.
The reason for their ascension was an unusual, original, aesthetic eight guys, dressed in matching overalls and frightening masks over their heads, playing incredible, disturbing music. You see, Mushroomhead's music unfolds like a daydream. It's both surreal and vibrant, intense and intelligent, and impossible to ignore.
From 1995 to 1999, the band released four independent albums (1995's Mushroomhead, 1996's Superbuick, 1997's Remix and 3's M1999) on the Filthy Hands label. They toured the regions in support of each release, watching the fan base grow with each performance.
Mushroomhead: 1995-2000
The late 1990s contained conflicting myths and legends about Mushroomhead. Record labels began to take notice of Mushroomhead, with the band especially catching on with Roadrunner Records.
In 1998, the band was close to signing with Roadrunner Records, however, due to both parties' inability to reach a mutual agreement, the pen never touched the paper. A year later, nine-member Des Moines, Iowa-based Slipknot debuted on the Roadrunner label with Slipknot. The rock band became Mushroomhead's main competitor for years to come. Of course, not without conflict.
Know-how from Mushroomhead
Since 1993, when the Cleveland-based octet formed, no other band has worn masks and overalls and written unique heavy music influenced by Faith No More and Pink Floyd, as hardcore, metal and even techno have done.
In 1999 year Slipknot signed with Roadrunner Records, which led to changes in how Mushroomhead worked. The group felt that their style and image had been stolen for financial gain. This, according to the members of the group, "killed" their individuality. Their once colorful costumes, camouflage and rubber masks have been replaced with black uniforms.
Later, cartoonish X-marks were added over each eye to further illustrate the death of the group's former image. This mask design later led to the "X Face" logo, which is today recognized as the band's symbol. These changes were also reflected in the group's album "M3" in 1999.
The band's look has evolved over the years with each release. Their current masks, as confirmed by one of their manufacturers, reflect the return from hell after the members were killed in the war. This decision to disguise oneself was not taken without controversy.
Long conflict with Slipknot
Since 1999, Mushroomhead has had an occasional rivalry with the Iowa-based band Slipknot. A feud broke out over the members' appearance. Many Mushroomhead fans say that Slipknot stole Mushroomhead's image, their "camouflaged" look.
Then, in an interview with Soundbites, former Mushroomhead vocalist Jason Popson stated: “It seems a little strange because they are so similar to us, as if we were a stupid version of Slipknot. I admit that we borrowed material from their show. "
Slipknot members claim they didn't hear about Mushroomhead until after they demoed their first album in 1998 and actually started wearing masks and overalls in late 1992. The incident between Mushroomhead fans and Slipknot themselves occurred when Slipknot traveled to Cleveland during their debut album tour.
Mushroomhead fans came to the concert and threw batteries at Slipknot, forcing the musicians to leave the stage. Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor said at a press conference that the members of Mushroomhead encouraged fans to do the same.
However, Mushroomhead has publicly stated that the band does not encourage this kind of behavior in any way. In a May 2007 interview with Imhotep.com, singer Jeffrey Nothing claimed that the day after the Cleveland incident, members of Slipknot abused his then-girlfriend.
2000 - present
In 2000, the band signed with Eclipse Records to release "XX", a compilation of tracks from four previous albums. The compilation sold 50 units in the first four months.
Based on these sales, Universal Records took notice of the band and re-released a mixed version of XX. The band soon filmed a music video (Solitaire/Unraveling, directed by Dean Carr) and worked on soundtracks for films (The Scorpion King, XXX, Freddy vs. Jason, and a remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre).
The re-released album sold 300 copies. This was followed by numerous tours in the US, Europe and Canada, as evidenced by the successful performance at Ozzfest 000 (both Europe and the US).
2003 saw the release of XIII, their first album of brand new material for Universal Records. This record contains the single "Sun Doesn't Rise", which was shown on MTV. The song became the soundtrack for Headbangers ball and Freddy Vs Jason. The album debuted at number 40 on the Billboard Top 200 and sold 400 copies worldwide.
In this work, the band's melodic metal was realized more richly and extensively. Sales of XIII matched those of XX as Mushroomhead continued to travel the world and connect with fans. But in the midst of the next tour, the band parted ways with Universal Records, and shortly thereafter with vocalist J-Mann.
Mushroomhead line-up changes
After an extensive world tour, J-Mann (aka Jason Popson) announced that he had left the band in August 2004 due to fatigue and personal reasons. The main reason for his departure was the fact that his father was ill and he wanted to be close to him.
Such changes would have crippled any other band, but not Mushroomhead.
"We're doing what we've always done," Skinny says, "getting back to square one." He refers to the band's "Do it yourself from day one" creed, so Mushroomhead are responsible for their own success. It was their enthusiasm and talent that made them what they are today: popular and successful musicians.
Armed with new frontman Waylon, the band continues to gain momentum. They heard the new vocalist when 3QuartersDead opened for Mushroomhead.
Working with a new vocalist
In August 2005, Mushroomhead released their first DVD on their own Filthy Hands label, Volume 1. Recorded and edited by the band themselves, "Volume 1" spans the 2000s with live performances, music videos and behind-the-scenes footage.
While on tour in 2005, Mushroomhead began the process of writing new material and recording a new album. In December 2005, Mushroomhead signed with Megaforce Records, making new albums available nationally and internationally.
On June 6, 2006, Mushroomhead launched MushroomKombat, an interactive game as part of the band's official website. The mini-game pits party members against each other in Mortal Kombat style, with each member having a unique death option.
"Savior Sorrow"
The album "Savior Sorrow" debuted at number 73 on the Billboard 200 with sales of over 12 copies. The band's label stated that sales were close to 000 based on sales made during the tour.
SoundScan issued an apology the day after the sales figures were released due to errors in estimates. The main reason was the lack of sales in the Best Buy chain of stores. "Savior Sorrow" had sales of approximately 26 and the chart entry was closer to number 000 than to number 30. Savior Sorrow's chart position was later officially adjusted to #73.
Drummer Skinny stated that during the Jägermeister-sponsored tour, Mushroomhead filmed around the clock, both on and off stage. The footage will be compiled on the band's second DVD titled "Volume 2".
On December 29, 2007, Mushroomhead won the 2007 MTV2 Headbanger's Video of the Year for "12 Hundred" from "Savior Sorrow".
Jeffrey Nothing will release a solo album called The New Psychodalia in 2008.
Mushroomhead have been defined as alternative metal, heavy metal, shock rock and even nu metal. But Jeffrey Nothing said that the band is not nu metal, and when asked about the band's genre, he replied: “We play what we feel when it happens. We try to expand the territory with each new release.”
