Stone Sour was an American rock band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1992. The band performed for five years before disbanding in 1997. They reunited in 2000 and since 2015, the group has consisted of Corey Taylor (lead vocals, guitar), Josh Rand (guitar), Christian Martucci (guitar), Johny Chow (bass) and Roy Mayorga (drums). Longtime members Joel Ekman (drums, percussion) and Shawn Economaki (bass guitar) left the band in 2006 and 2011, respectively. Former lead guitarist Jim Root left in 2014. The band has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2020.
Stone Sour earned the group two Grammy Award nominations, both for Best Metal Performance, for the singles "Get Inside", in 2003,[3] and "Inhale", in 2004.[4] From their album Come What(ever) May, the group received another Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance for the single "30/30-150", in 2007.[5] The band has sold 2.1 million albums in the United States as of April 2017.[6]
History
Formation and early years (1992–1997)
Stone Sour was founded by Corey Taylor, who later became the vocalist of Slipknot, and former drummer Joel Ekman. The band's name comes from a cocktail menu at a local bar.[7] Taylor's longtime friend Shawn Economaki joined shortly after, and filled in as the bass player. During these formative years, Stone Sour recorded two demo tapes,[8] in 1993 and 1994. In 1995, Jim Root, who is now part of Slipknot with Taylor, joined the band. In 1996, this lineup recorded another demo tape, songs from which would be used in 2002 on their self-titled debut album. In 1997, the band went on hiatus, during which Taylor and Root spent most of their time with Slipknot, who were another up-and-coming act in Des Moines and would soon earn a record deal.
Stone Sour performing in 2007. From left to right: Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga and Shawn Economaki.
The band came back in 2006 to release their second studio album, Come What(ever) May. They parted ways with drummer Joel Ekman, currently drumming for Isaac James, who left to take care of his cancer-stricken son, and later recruited current drummer, Roy Mayorga (Soulfly, and later Amebix and Hellyeah). The track "30/30-150" was recorded with Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin.[11] The album was released on August 1, 2006. It was met with positive reviews from critics, and sold 80,000 copies in the first week, allowing it to debut at number four on the Billboard 200.[9] The band toured for the next year and a half, releasing the Live in Moscow album exclusively to iTunes on August 14, 2007.[8]
The single "Sillyworld" peaked at number 2 on the Mainstream Rock charts in 2006. "Through Glass" proved to be successful peaking at number 1 on the Mainstream Rock Chart,[10] 2 on the Modern Rock Tracks,[10] 12 on the Adult Top 40[10] and 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 also in 2006.[10] They released two more singles in 2007, "Made of Scars" and "Zzyzx Rd.", which managed to peak at numbers 21 and 29 on the Mainstream Rock charts respectively.[10] In 2006 they received a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance nomination for the single "30/30-150".[5]
The band's third album Audio Secrecy,[8] was recorded at the Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who was the producer for the band's second album Come What(ever) May.[12] and released on September 7, 2010.[13] Taylor stated that "Audio Secrecy is the summation of everything we want, everything we crave and everything we fight for...The dimensions go further than anything we've ever tried before. It's metal, rock, slow, soft, hard, fast, bitter, beautiful and most importantly, it's real. You can't get an album like this out of a band that doesn't exist. We're throwing caution out the damn window."
Stone Sour played the first annual Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival with Avenged Sevenfold and Hollywood Undead among others.[14] Stone Sour set the release date of Audio Secrecy as September 7. Stone Sour were part of the Soundwave Festival in late February/early March in Australia 2011.[15] Stone Sour headlined The Avalanche Tour in 2011, supported by Theory of a Deadman, Skillet, Halestorm and Art of Dying.[16] It was also announced that a Stone Sour live DVD will be released, filmed at the Brighton Centre in the United Kingdom.[17] The band toured with Avenged Sevenfold, New Medicine and Hollywood Undead on the "Nightmare After Christmas Tour" 2011.[18]
On April 16, 2011, it was announced that bassist Shawn Economaki had left the tour for personal reasons. Jason Christopher, who had played with Corey Taylor previously during his solo performances and with the Junk Beer Kidnap Band, filled in for the tour.[19] In May 2011, Stone Sour canceled the remaining dates from their headline tour as drummer Roy Mayorga suffered a minor stroke. He made a full recovery.[20] The band played their last show of 2011 at the second day of the Rock in Rio IV festival, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between September 23 – October 2. Drummer Roy Mayorga was not present at the show as he was expecting his first child back home, and filling-in for him was ex-Dream Theater and The Winery Dogs drummer Mike Portnoy.[21] Bassist Shawn Economaki was also absent from the performance.
The band released a song called "The Pessimist" as a free download on their Facebook page on March 27, 2012. The song was previously only available on the iTunes deluxe version of the soundtrack to Transformers: Dark of the Moon. They also released their first DVD Live at Brighton in the same year, capturing their performance on November 7, 2010.[22]
Johny Chow performing in 2013
It was announced via Instagram on May 3, 2012, that bassist Shawn Economaki had parted ways with the band on amicable terms. He was replaced in the studio by current Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan.[23] Stone Sour started recording their fourth studio album in early 2012.[24] Corey Taylor stated that the album would end up being a double album or concept album, and described the album's sound as "Pink Floyd's The Wall meets Alice in Chains's Dirt".[25] It was later announced that the new material would be released as two separate albums. The first album, House of Gold & Bones – Part 1 was released worldwide on October 23, 2012, and the second album House of Gold & Bones – Part 2 was released worldwide on April 9, 2013. The project also has a 4-part graphic novel series that accompanies the albums, telling the linear storyline featured in the twin albums' lyrics.
The first two songs from Part 1, "Gone Sovereign" and the first official single, "Absolute Zero" were released for radio airplay in mid/late August 2012.[26] The first single from House of Gold & Bones Part 2 was "Do Me a Favor".[27][28] It was released digitally on February 12.[29] Guitarist Josh Rand stated in an interview with O2 Academy[30] that there was a song recorded for Part 1, an instrumental which was deemed 'not up to par' by the band. The song will likely be released in the future once James Root and Josh Rand do 'some stuff to it guitar-wise'.
On October 5, 2012, Johny Chow of Fireball Ministry and Cavalera Conspiracy was announced as the bassist for the band on the House of Gold & Bones tour cycle.[31] Stone Sour subsequently played Soundwave Festival 2013 in Australia and on the Sunday at Download Festival 2013. Guitarist James Root did not tour with Stone Sour in the winter of 2013, as he had to take a brief hiatus from the group to work on .5: The Gray Chapter with Slipknot, although it was later revealed that he was fired from the band due to musical differences. He claimed that the band wanted to focus on "radio play and money," which Root fought against, leading to his departure.[32][33]Christian Martucci filled in for Root during that period.
On October 5, 2014, it was announced via Stone Sour's Facebook page that the band had begun recording a covers EP, which is due to be titled Meanwhile in Burbank... and released in 2015.[34] Corey Taylor stated about the covers EP: "This is something that we've been talking about since the first album came out, with [Stone Sour]. We've always wanted to do this. Even as people have come, people have gone, this is still something we've always come back to, and we just never had the opportunity to do it. And we just kind of said, 'Well, screw it.'"[35] On February 9, 2015, Stone Sour released an official music video and track, which is a cover version of the Metal Church's song "The Dark".[35] The EP was released on April 18, 2015. Corey Taylor confirmed that two more covers EPs are to be produced, they will be titled Straight Outta Burbank and No Sleep Till Burbank and will feature covers of songs by Rage Against The Machine, Mötley Crüe, Bad Brains and Violent Femmes.[36]Straight Outta Burbank..., the second volume in the series, has since been released.
Per Blabbermouth.net, On March 29, 2016, frontman Corey Taylor told the "Someone Who Isn't Me" podcast: "Originally we were going to do three [covers EPs], and now it sounds like we're just going to do the two and just keep the other stuff we recorded as extra content for when we make the next album."[37]
Hydrograd (2017–2019)
On July 26, 2016, Taylor announced the band had written and demoed 18 songs for their sixth studio album, with plans to enter the studio in January for a likely mid-2017 release.[38] On January 23, 2017, Taylor revealed that the band was in the process of recording their upcoming album named Hydrograd. Taylor indicated that the album would incorporate heavy metal elements found in previous releases, alongside hard rock styles.[39] Four singles have been released ahead of the album in promotion; "Fabuless", "Song #3", "Taipei Person/Allah Tea" and "Mercy" (A live recording from Sphere Studios), with St. Marie being released as single following the album's release.[40] Hydrograd released worldwide on June 30, 2017, to generally positive reviews.[41] The band also released an exclusive cover of the Rage Against the Machine song "Bombtrack" for the Metal Hammer compilation Metal Hammer Goes 90s in August 2017.
In Spring 2018, Stone Sour embarked on Ozzy Osbourne's US 2018 tour for the Spring and Fall. On May 6, 2019, it was announced that Roy Mayorga joining Hellyeah as their new drummer, and replacing the original Hellyeah drummer Vinnie Paul, who died on June 22, 2018.
On November 6, 2019, the band announced that they would be releasing a live album titled, Hello, You Bastards: Live in Reno, on December 13 of the same year.[42][43]
Indefinite hiatus (2020–present)
On August 10, 2020, Taylor announced on 'The Green Room with Neil Griffiths' podcast that Stone Sour was taking a hiatus, saying: "I feel like Stone Sour has kinda run its course for now," "We all talked as a band and decided to kinda put Stone Sour in indefinite hiatus. That's the way it is. We've put it on the shelf for now. Everyone's kind of going and doing their own thing."[44]
Guitarist Josh Rand stated in an interview that he tries to bring a metal aspect and elements of thrash metal in their music. He also stated that his writing style is different than Slipknot's writing style.[50]
Stone Sour's fourth and fifth albums, House of Gold & Bones - Part 1 and Part 2 are notable for their concept album format, and have led to comparisons to progressive rock bands. When asked about this, Josh Rand stated: "I still think it's us. We never said that we would be Genesis or Dream Theater or Yes or any of those types of bands. We're not a prog band. We said we're going to adopt the ideas of those stories and stuff, but it's still going to be a Stone Sour record, where you can still pull those individual songs. We just wanted to offer something more - in a world where it's all about singles, we just wanted to do something different. We've always evolved from record to record, if you listen to our entire catalog."[51]
Band members
Last active lineup
Corey Taylor – lead vocals, guitar (1992–1993,[52] 1994–1997, 2000–2020)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, former vocalist Anders Colsefni and bassist Paul Gray. After several lineup changes in its early years, the band settled on nine members for more than a decade: Crahan, Gray, Joey Jordison, Craig Jones, Mick Thomson, Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn, and Jim Root. Slipknot is well known for its attention-grabbing image, aggressive style of music, and energetic and chaotic live shows.
Corey Todd Taylor is an American musician, songwriter, author and actor. He is the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #8, as well as the lead vocalist, guitarist, lyricist, and sole continuous member of the rock band Stone Sour.
Donnie Steele is an American musician, best known as one of two original guitarists of the heavy metal band Slipknot. Steele co-founded Slipknot in 1995, performing on the band's debut demo Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. He left in 1996 and was replaced by Craig "133" Jones, but later rejoined in 2011 as the touring bassist following the 2010 death of Paul Gray. Steele was part of the recording sessions for the band's 2014 album .5: The Gray Chapter, but left at some point before the album was finished and was replaced by Alessandro Venturella. According to Jim Root, some of Steele's bass tracks were used for the album though he did not specify which tracks feature Steele on bass.
Stone Sour is the debut studio album by American rock band Stone Sour. It was recorded and produced by the band and Tom Tatman at Catamount Studios in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and was released on August 27, 2002, through Roadrunner Records.
James Donald Root is an American guitarist. He is one of two guitarists for heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #4, as well as the former lead guitarist for rock band Stone Sour.
Come What(ever) May is the second studio album by American rock band Stone Sour, released on August 1, 2006, by Roadrunner Records. It was recorded and produced by Nick Raskulinecz and the band at Studio 606 in Los Angeles, California.
"Inhale" is a song by American rock band Stone Sour, featured on their 2002 debut album Stone Sour. Released as the third single by the band in July 2003, the song charted at number 18 on the American Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, while reaching number 63 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 2004 ceremony, losing out to Metallica's "St. Anger".
Josh Rand is an American musician best known as the rhythm guitarist of the band Stone Sour.
Christopher Anthony Martucci, known professionally as Christian Martucci, is an American guitarist and vocalist. He is the lead guitar player for the hard rock band Stone Sour, Corey Taylor, and former member of Black Star Riders.
The American rock band Stone Sour has released six studio albums, one live album and twenty-two singles. The band has also released twenty-four music videos. Stone Sour formed in Des Moines, Iowa in 1992 but did not release an album until 2002. The band comprises vocalist Corey Taylor, guitarists Christian Martucci and Josh Rand, drummer Roy Mayorga, and bassist Johny Chow. Longtime members Joel Ekman, Shawn Economaki and Jim Root left the band in 2006, 2011 and 2014, respectively. Martucci and Chow were first featured with the band on the Burbank Duology. Hydrograd is the first album to feature Christian Martucci and Johny Chow since each joining the band in 2014 and 2012, respectively.
The Junk Beer Kidnap Band or Corey Taylor & the Junk Beer Kidnap Band is an American rock band from Des Moines, Iowa, formed in 2008. They are a side project of Corey Taylor, frontman of Slipknot and Stone Sour. Since their formation, JBKB have currently solely been a touring band for lead singer and guitarist Taylor's solo work. No official studio album has been announced.
Audio Secrecy is the third studio album by American rock band Stone Sour. It was recorded and produced by the band and Nick Raskulinecz at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. On June 10, the band released a free download of "Mission Statement", which was later released as a single on iTunes. The first official single, "Say You'll Haunt Me", however, was released on July 6, 2010.
"Gone Sovereign/Absolute Zero" is a double-single from American rock band Stone Sour, released as the first single from their fourth album House of Gold & Bones – Part 1.
Meanwhile in Burbank... is an EP by American rock band Stone Sour, released on 18 April 2015. It consists of five cover songs from bands that influenced the members. It is the first Stone Sour recording to feature guitarist Christian Martucci and bassist Johny Chow.
Straight Outta Burbank... is the second EP of The Burbank Duology by American rock band Stone Sour. The EP consists of another five cover songs from bands that influenced the members. The EP's title is a reference to the 1988 N.W.A. album Straight Outta Compton.
Hydrograd is the sixth and most recent studio album by American rock band Stone Sour. Recorded at Sphere Studios in Los Angeles, it is the follow-up to the band's 2012–2013 double concept album, House of Gold & Bones Part 1 and 2. It was released worldwide on June 30, 2017 via Roadrunner Records.
"Goodbye" is the fifth single from the American heavy metal band Slipknot from their fifth studio album .5: The Gray Chapter.
"Song #3" is a single by American rock band Stone Sour, off of their studio album Hydrograd. It topped the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in June 2017, where it held the top spot for five consecutive weeks.
"Rose Red Violent Blue " is a song by American rock band Stone Sour. It was a single off of their album Hydrograd. As of February 2018, it had peaked at number 10 on the Billboard US Mainstream Rock Songs chart.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
