Mushroomhead is an American metal outfit that emerged in the 1990s. Mushroo… Read Full Bio ↴Mushroomhead is an American metal outfit that emerged in the 1990s. Mushroomhead's forceful yet melodic alternative metal incorporates elements of hip-hop, as well as industrial metal.

Formed by drummer Skinny in 1993, Mushroomhead was originally a side-project for members of other Cleveland bands. They played their first show on October 22nd of that year. The members wore a variety of masks to hide their identity and for theatrical impact. One of the vocalists, J Mann, eventually stopped wearing a mask and just put white make-up on his face with black make-up on his mouth and around his eyes, similar to make-up worn in the movie Dead Presidents.

Mushroomhead quickly became one of Cleveland's top local acts and developed a devoted fanbase. Mushroomhead's self-titled debut album was released independently in 1995, followed by Superbuick in 1996 and M3 in 1999. Over the course of those 3 albums the band had several line-up changes: Bassist Mr Murdernickel was replaced by Pig Benis after the first album, female dancer Roxy left, guitarist Dinner was replaced by Gravy, male dancer Bronson went to playing samples and then took over as 2nd Guitarist when J.J. Righteous left. During this time Mushroomhead was the #1 underground band in Cleveland.

Roadrunner Records approached Mushroomhead with a record contract which they declined. The band eventually got signed to Eclipse Records in 2000, and their next album, XX (a "best of" compilation), came out the following year. In 2001, Mushroomhead's members included drummer/founder Skinny, lead vocalists J. Mann and Jeffrey Nothing, guitarists Bronson and Gravy, keyboardist Shmotz, bassist Pig Benis, and sample provider Stitch when they signed to Universal Records to re-release XX. During this time Jeffrey Nothing also ditched his trademark goat / devil masks in favor of face paint.

Their first proper effort for the label was 2003's dynamic XIII, but the band soon parted ways with not only Universal, but also vocalist J. Mann during a subsequent tour. Undeterred, Mushroomhead pressed on with their D.I.Y. ethos intact and welcomed new frontman Waylon, formerly of 3 Quarters Dead, into the fray. Second guitarist Bronson would depart not long after Waylon's entry, leaving to study in film school. The DVD Mushroomhead, Volume 1 followed in mid-2005 before the guys returned in September 2006 with Savior Sorrow, released through New York-based indie Megaforce Records.

Mushroomhead released another DVD titled Volume 2 on October 28th 2008 and the band released the album Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children in 2010 via Megaforce Records.

Late in 2013, it was announced via social media that original vocalist J.Mann would be returning to the band. This leaves Mushroomhead with 3 active vocalists. There were some other lineup changes along the way, with new members Church stepping in on guitar, Dr. F on bass, and Roberto Diablo on percussion.

In May of 2014, the band will release their 7th studio album, The Righteous and the Butterfly, once again via Megaforce Records. This album will be the first to feature all 3 vocalists and the rest of the newer members.

Current

"Jeffrey Nothing" – Vocals (1993 - present)
"Waylon" – Vocals (2004 - present)
"J Mann" - Vocals (1993 - 2004, 2013 - present)
"Church" - Guitars (2012 - present)
"Dr. F" - Bass (2012 - present)
"Shmotz" – Keyboards (1993 - present)
"ST1TCH" – Turntables, Electronics, Samples, water drums (2001 - present)
"Skinny" – Drums, Percussion (1993 - present)
"Roberto Diablo" - Percussion (2013 - present)
Former

"Gravy" – Guitars (1999 – present)
"Pig Benis" – Bass (1995 - present)
"DJ Virus" - turntables (1993 – 1995)
"Mr. Murdernickel" - bass (1993 – 1995)
"Dinner" - guitars (1993 – 1998)
"Roxy" - dancing, electronics (1993 – 2000)
"J.J. Righteous" - guitars (1993 – 2001) (R.I.P.-J.J. passed away on October 28th 2010)
"Bronson" - dancing, samples (1993 – 2001), guitars (2001 – 2006)

A little more history:

Since 1999, Mushroomhead has had an on-and-off rivalry with Iowa-based band Slipknot. The feud erupted due to the image similarities between the bands. Many fans of Mushroomhead claim Slipknot stole their 'masked' look, and vice-versa. In an interview with Soundbites, then lead singer of Mushroomhead Jason Popson stated, "It seems a little strange, because they look so much like us and they have the same number of members and some of the same masks, and it was a little too strange that their record label had all of our material. I think it's obvious that they borrowed material from our show."

An incident between Mushroomhead fans and Slipknot themselves occurred when Slipknot trekked to Cleveland as part of their tour in support of their debut album. Mushroomhead fans flocked to the concert and peppered Slipknot with batteries, rocks, bottles of piss, etc., forcing them off-stage. In a press conference, Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor stated that members of Mushroomhead had encouraged fans to do these acts. However, Mushroomhead has publicly stated that the band in no way encourages this sort of behavior, nor were any band members even at the show where the incident took place.

In a May 2007 interview it Imhotep.com, singer Jeffrey Nothing stated that the day after the Cleveland incident, his then girlfriend went down to the venue and the members of Slipknot and some of their crew harassed her saying: "You're wearing a Mushroomhead shirt, what do you know?" And they said it was our idea that you stole and now you are mocking us that we stole this masked-looking from you?, "The bottom line is: here is our city, our fans support us completely! They felt just as fucked over by these puny 'Clowns' as us and they aren't afraid to show it. "Welcome to Cleveland bitches." In 2005 Mushroomhead dressed as Slipknot for three shows in the northeast Ohio area, avidly mocking the band.

Mushroomhead's 2006 Midnight Halloween performance started with an announcement over the PA: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Slipknot will not be appearing tonight,” which was greeted by chants of “Fuck Slipknot!” from the sold-out Agora Theatre. Soon after, the lights came up, revealing their Nightmare Before Christmas-themed set, complete with falling snow. St1tch and Little Dan (Skinny’s drum tech and drummer for Ventana) came out wearing masks from two members of Slipknot. Dan wearing Chris Fehn’s mask with the Pinocchio-style nose, Stitch wearing Shawn “Clown” Crahan’s mask.

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Epiphany
Mushroomhead Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mind hemorrhage
fuckin' folding chairs in the hallway
crucified,
paralyzed,
you laugh, I cry
calculating my miscalculations
what is the sign
for I'm choking to death?

There's something caught in my throat
could it be something I've said?
Sighted blind,
Braille is fine,
two black eyes,
are you a badass or just a fuckin' asshole?
There's too much, not enough
God and dog
well I've seen a dog
I'll take my chances
and sleep like a log,
hard in the ground,
dig?
God,
dog,
God,
dog agnostic,
insomniac,

dyslexic I'm wide awake
and I'm wondering if there is a dog

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mushroomhead's song Epiphany are complex and introspective, exploring themes of anxiety, self-doubt, and faith. The opening line, "Mind hemorrhage," is a visceral description of the intense mental anguish the singer is experiencing. The image of "folding chairs in the hallway" suggests a mundane or institutional setting, which may add to the sense of confinement or restriction the singer feels. The following lines, "crucified, paralyzed, / you laugh, I cry," evoke feelings of powerlessness and vulnerability.

The next stanza introduces the idea of "calculating my miscalculations," suggesting that the singer is caught in a cycle of self-doubt and self-blame. The line "what is the sign / for I'm choking to death?" can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically, as the singer may be feeling physically suffocated or emotionally overwhelmed. The image of something caught in the throat is a common metaphor for suppressed thoughts or feelings. The following lines, "Sighted blind, / Braille is fine, / two black eyes," suggest a struggle to communicate or be understood by others. The singer questions whether those who appear tough or intimidating are truly deserving of respect or simply acting out.

The final lines of the song, "God, / dog, / God, / dog agnostic, / insomniac, / dyslexic I'm wide awake / and I'm wondering if there is a dog," add a layer of philosophical inquiry to the mix. The singer is questioning his or her faith in a higher power, using the word "dog" as a stand-in for God. The list of unrelated descriptors suggests a scattered or restless state of mind, as the singer tries to make sense of his or her place in the world. The repetition of "God, / dog" reinforces the idea that these two concepts are closely linked in the singer's mind, and that faith and doubt are constantly at war.

Line by Line Meaning

Mind hemorrhage
My thoughts are causing me intense pain and confusion

fuckin' folding chairs in the hallway
The environment around me is mundane and unchanging

crucified
I feel trapped and helpless, like I am being punished

paralyzed
I am unable to take action or escape my situation

you laugh, I cry
While I am suffering, others are unsympathetic and even amused by my pain

calculating my miscalculations
I am reflecting on how my mistakes have led me to this point

what is the sign
What warning or symbol did I miss that could have prevented this outcome?

for I'm choking to death?
I am struggling to survive and feel like I am suffocating

There's something caught in my throat
I am cognizant that something is holding me back or causing me harm

could it be something I've said?
Did my words or actions contribute to my current situation?

Sighted blind
I can physically see, but I am mentally blind to the truth

Braille is fine
Even if I cannot perceive something visually, there are other ways to understand it

two black eyes
I have been physically hurt, perhaps violently assaulted

are you a badass or just a fuckin' asshole?
I am questioning whether the person who caused my injuries is worthy of respect or is simply cruel

There's too much, not enough
I am overwhelmed by the abundance of some things while also facing scarcity in other areas of my life

God and dog
I am contemplating the differences and similarities between faith/religion and animals/nature

well I've seen a dog
I have firsthand knowledge of an animal in the world and cannot deny its existence

I'll take my chances and sleep like a log
Despite the risks and possible dangers out there, I will try to rest soundly and not worry

hard in the ground
Death is inevitable and permanent

dig?
Do you understand the gravity and finality of death?

God
A supreme being or deity that some people believe in

dog
An animal that some people regard as close companions or even family members

God, dog agnostic
I am unsure of whether or not to believe in a god or a dog or both

insomniac, dyslexic I'm wide awake
Despite my sleep troubles and learning difficulties, I am fully alert and conscious

and I'm wondering if there is a dog
I am still pondering the existence of a canine or whether or not it has any significance to my life or beliefs

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEVE R. FELTON, JEFF L. HETRICK, JASON J. POPSON, THOMAS MICHAEL SCHMITZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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