Hailing from the Warehouse district of Cleveland, Ohio, MUSHROMHEAD is an Electro-Industrial Alt-Metal band with a fearsome live reputation bolstered by a longstanding war of words with the similarly masked SLIPKNOT. The core of MUSHROOMHEAD members started out with Heavy Metal band HATRIX. Pre HATRIX, vocalist Jeffrey Nothing (Jeffrey Hatrix) and guitarist Gravy (Dave Felton) were members of Heavy Metal outfit PURGATORY. Nothing, Gravy and drummer Skinny (Steve Felton) all held HATRIX credits, uniting with keyboard player Schmotz (Tom Schmitz) and ex-UNIFIED CULTURE singer J Mann (Jason Popson).

As MUSHROOMHEAD, the band evolved during 1992, issuing a debut single a year later. The group soon made an impact on the Cleveland scene with their concept of fully masked members and adopted pseudonyms. First product would be a 1993 four song demo cassette.

An inaugural eponymous album was issued in April 1995 on the group's custom imprint Shroom Co. Sampled movie soundtrack dialogue peppered throughout the album included snippets from 'Reservoir Dogs', 'The Silence Of The Lambs', 'Pet Semetary' and 'Moscow On The Hudson' amongst many others. At this juncture the group was credited asvocalists J. Mann and Jeffrey Nothing, guitarists Dinner and J.J. Righteous (John Sekula) from STATE OF CONVICTION, bass player Mr. Murdernickle (Joe Kilcoyne) of MYSTIK and THE SPUDMONSTERS, keyboard player Shmotz, sampler DJ Virus and drummer Skinny. For concert work MUSHROOMHEAD also employed stage dancers Bronson and Roxy.

Unfortunately for the band, they would gain public recognition not for their music but by insinuations that Roadrunner artists SLIPKNOT had taken their entire concept of masks, boiler suits and multi-percussionists from them. Whilst SLIPKNOT shot to international stardom, MUSHROOMHEAD would be left to rely on strong local and underground support.

MUSHROOMHEAD endured attrition through a welter of membership changes, including the installation of bassist Pig Benis (Jack Kilcoyne replacing his brother Joe), but a second album, 'Superbuick' co-produced by Bill Korecky, was delivered in 1996. The 'M3' album of 1999, which novelly closed with a prank phone call skit by the Original Pranksta, would be their final self-financed album.J.J. Righteous would be superseded by Bronson of TRELLEBORG, (Marko Vukcevic) son of the noted scientist and inventor Milan Vukcevic.

The first triptych of MUSHROOMHEAD's work, 'Mushroomhead', 'Superbuick' and 'M3', was compiled by Eclipse Records for the May 2001 release 'XX'. Subsequently the band signed with major label Universal Records and duly re-recorded all these songs at the Record Plant in Los Angeles for a re-vamped version of 'XX' in December that same year. The Universal Records also release included additional tracks of 'Fear Held Dear', 'Too Much Nothing' and a cover version of PINK FLOYD's 'Empty Spaces'. During this period Bronson, handling guitars, was replaced by sampler St1tch (Rick Thomas), although the album cover band photo was the same on both variants. Dean Karr directed a promotional video for the song 'Solitaire/Unraveling'. Despite only attaining a no. 178 position on the Billboard charts the collection was a success, quickly surpassing over 250,000 sales in the USA.

October 2003's album 'XIII', recorded at Mars Studios in Ohio and which impacted on the Billboard charts at no. 40, would feature a guesting MESHUGGAH vocalist Jens Kidman on the track 'The Dream Is Over'. Vincent Marcone directed a video for the song 'Sun Doesn't Rise'. UK versions added two extra tracks, 'Treason' and the instrumental 'Loop #6'. The band undertook a US headline tour in October packaged with 40 BELOW SUMMER and MOTOGRATER. Subsequent dates found New Jersey Thrashers GOD FORBID as opening act.

MUSHROOMHEAD's Skinny would act as producer for Cleveland, Ohio based DEAD EVEN's debut 2004 EP 'Of Constant Rotation'.

Vocalist Jason Mann exited in August of 2004 as soon after reports suggested frontman Waylon Reavis from North Carolina based 3 QUARTERS DEAD had filled the vacancy.

Tackling their arch enemies once again, MUSHROOMHEAD performed three concerts in their home state of Ohio in late January 2005 in full SLIPKNOT attire. The band allied with DOPE and NOCTURNE for a Jägermeister sponsored US tour of military bases, dubbed 'Music For FREEdom', in July and August.

Returning with the 'Savior Sorrow' album, recorded at their own Filthy Hands Studios in Cleveland for Megaforce Records in September 2006, MUSHROOMHEAD hooked up with SOIL, BRAND NEW SIN and THE AUTUMN OFFERING for US dates that same month. Album track 'Tattoo' hosted by guest vocals by Sean Kane from GIZMACHI. Bronson had quit the ranks just prior to the album release. 'Savior Sorrow' was packaged in a 3D sleeve and Best Buy store exclusives were clad in seven different artwork variations, each featuring a different band member. These Best Buy albums hosted two extra songs in an alternate edition of 'The Fallen' and 'Embrace The Ending'. In addition a double album pressed on metallic grey vinyl was issued, restricted to 2000 copies.

'Savior Sorrow' made its first impression on the US charts at no. 73 with quoted sales in the first week of release at over 12,000 copies. However, the band's label objected, claiming on tour sales of a further 25,000 copies had been neglected. The chart position was re-adjusted to give a first week placing at no. 50.

Drummer Steve Shelton acted as producer for Minneapolis, Minnesota Metal band BLACK FLOOD DIESEL's 'Chaos Saves' album. The two bands then partnered up for US touring in December 2006. Ex-member Joe Kilcoyne played the opening songs as at MUSHROOMHEAD's annual Old School show at Peabody's Downunder venue in Cleveland on 5th July 2008 before his brother Pig Benis came on to play the remainder of the show.

MUSHROOMHEAD again utilised their own Filthy Hands compound to begin work on their seventh studio release in February 2009. (HED) P.E. united with the band for a Jägermeister sponsored US tour commencing 11th August 2009 at Pop's in Sauget, Illinois and wrapping up in Jacksonville, North Carolina on 13th September.

Garry Sharpe-Young