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
How many times
Mushroomhead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We lie and wait
We can't crucify
Relive our mistakes
The Devil that you know
A wolf in sheep's clothing
Your mate is your match
Fire to the whole world
Would you please accept my invitation
No salvation just follow me
Forked tongue with fingers crossed
Transformation the mark of the beast
If ignorance is bliss
Sever me up a cold dish
Of your vengeance
Commitments your sentenced
Crimes through your Father's eyes
you dare to speak with me but choose to lie
Win some lose some
Fuck the world it's now numb
After all this time
It's time to say goodbye
Like we've never met
How many times can we say goodbye
And subject and reflect everything we've tried
How many times can we say goodbye
I've tried and tried goodbye is all I say to you
Goodbye
The lyrics of Mushroomhead's song 'How Many Times' are complex and open to interpretation, but at their core, they seem to be about a sense of resignation and acceptance that arises from repeated failure and disillusionment. The opening lines seem to suggest a state of paralysis in the face of adversity, as the singer is lying in wait with their mouth open wide. However, the next two lines express a desire to move beyond this state of paralysis and to learn from past mistakes rather than being trapped by them.
The song then shifts gears, introducing the devil as a symbol of temptation and deception. The image of a wolf in sheep's clothing suggests that evil can often hide behind a facade of goodness, and the lines "your mate is your match/Set fire to the whole thing/fire to the whole world" suggest that confronting evil requires us to take drastic measures and to be willing to sacrifice our own comfort and safety in the process.
The chorus of the song revolves around the repeated question, "How many times can we say goodbye?" This suggests a sense of frustration at the cycle of failure and disillusionment that the singer finds themselves caught in. However, the final lines of the song seem to suggest that there may be some measure of acceptance in this repeated goodbye - it is as though the singer has come to accept that their struggles may never truly end.
Line by Line Meaning
With mouth open wide
We approach with desperation and vulnerability, unable to hide our fear and need.
We lie and wait
We are passive, waiting for someone or something to save us from our troubles.
We can't crucify
We are unable to escape the consequences of our actions and mistakes in life.
Relive our mistakes
We continue to repeat our past mistakes and suffer the same painful consequences.
The Devil that you know
We are more comfortable with what is familiar even if it harms us, rather than facing the unknown.
A wolf in sheep's clothing
Some people hide their true intentions and motives behind a facade of friendliness and familiarity.
Your mate is your match
The one you choose to be with must be a match to your personality and desires in order for the relationship to work.
Set fire to the whole thing
It's time to let go of the past, the bad memories, and the unhealthy relationships. Burn it down and start anew.
Would you please accept my invitation
I invite you to join me on my journey or my perspective, even if it's bleak.
No salvation, just follow me
I offer no promises of salvation or redemption. But if you follow me, we can experience the struggles and pain of life together.
Forked tongue with fingers crossed
The singer is deceitful and has hidden intentions, even though they make a promise or give reassurance.
Transformation, the mark of the beast
If you undergo a profound change in your life, it can be seen as a transformation for the better or as a sign of being damned.
If ignorance is bliss
It's preferable to be unaware of certain harsh realities than to suffer the consequences of facing them.
Sever me up a cold dish
The singer is willing to pay the price for their actions, even if it's painful or uncomfortable.
Of your vengeance
The singer will accept an act of revenge as punishment for their actions.
Commitments your sentenced
Being forced to honor an obligation or commitment can feel like being stuck in prison.
Crimes through your Father's eyes
What is deemed a crime or a sin can vary depending on one's family background or upbringing.
You dare to speak with me but choose to lie
The singer is aware that the other person is lying, even though they dare to have a conversation in the first place.
Win some lose some
Life has its ups and downs, and sometimes we win and sometimes we lose.
Fuck the world, it's now numb
The artist is so resentful of the world that they wish it had become numbed to the negativity and suffering that surrounds them.
After all this time
Despite having gone through so much together or alone, there is still some distance between the artist and the other person.
It's time to say goodbye
It's time to part ways and start anew in life.
Like we've never met
It's almost as if the singer is starting over from scratch, forgetting all memories of the past.
How many times can we say goodbye
How often can we part ways and try to start anew, only to fall back into old habits and hurt?
And subject and reflect everything we've tried
Despite our best efforts to move on from the past, it still affects us and colors our actions and inactions.
I've tried and tried, goodbye is all I say to you
Despite having tried many times to cut ties with the other person or the past, the singer is only able to say goodbye and hope for the best.
Goodbye
The end of this chapter in life, whether it's welcomed or painful.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TOMAS EUGHENE CHURCH, RYAN FARRELL, STEVE FELTON, JEFF HETRICK, JASON J. POPSON, WAYLON R. REAVIS, THOMAS MICHAEL SCHMITZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind