Stuck Mojo

Stuck Mojo is an American rap metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, United States, formed in 1989 by bassist Dwayne Fowler. Stuck Mojo is considered to be one of the pioneers of rap metal. They have toured alongside bands such as Machine Head and Slapshot. Stuck Mojo's most successful album, Rising, peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. The band disbanded in 2000, reforming five years later. In 2006, their original vocalist, Bonz, was replaced by rapper Lord Nelson. Stuck Mojo released, via Pledge Music, their seventh studio album, "Here Come The Infidels". In the press release Stuck Mojo also announce the addition of two new members, Robby J. Fonts (Vocals) and Len Sonnier (Bassist). To date, they have released seven studio albums and one live album.

Stuck Mojo
Background information
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Years active19892000, 2005present
LabelsStuck Mojo Music, Century Media, Napalm
Associated actsFozzy, Saint Asonia, Sevendust, Sick Speed, Stereomud, Eye Empire, Bonz
MembersRich Ward
Frank Fontsere
Robby J. Fonts
Len Sonnier
Past membersEric Sanders
Lord Nelson
Sean Delson
Mike Martin
John Carpenter
Bonz
Corey Lowery
Ryan Mallam
Brent Payne
Dwayne Fowler

History

In their early days, Stuck Mojo was criticized for their hip hop influences, while some audiences directed bigotry towards Bonz, their African American lead vocalist/rapper.[3] In 1994, Stuck Mojo signed a deal with Century Media Records, releasing their debut album, Snappin' Necks in 1995. Allmusic's Bret Love wrote that "The group's high testosterone and volume levels, and virtual lack of funkiness, ensure a somewhat limited appeal, but for angry young men with too much pent-up energy, the powerful aggression of Snappin' Necks must be close to heaven."[4] In October 1995, the band joined Machine Head and Slapshot on a ten-week tour while living in a rented van.[3] Stuck Mojo's first European tour followed, and they were named the best live band by MTV Europe.[5]

Their second studio album, Pigwalk, was released on October 8, 1996. Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that "Pigwalk captures the pummelling power of the band's intense live shows, yet the group doesn't yet have the ability to construct a memorable riff or hook, leaving Pigwalk as an entertaining, but uncompelling, cross of Rage Against the Machine and Pantera."[6] On March 3, 1998, Stuck Mojo released their third studio album, Rising. It peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.[7] Allmusic reviewer Steve Huey wrote that "Rising shows some musical growth from Pigwalk, although Stuck Mojo still lose their musical focus on several occasions over the course of the album."[8]

Stuck Mojo disbanded following the release of a live album, HVY1, and their fourth studio album, Declaration of a Headhunter, reforming in 2005. During the band's period of inactivity, Ward worked on side projects such as Fozzy and Sick Speed.[5][9] In 2006, Stuck Mojo began recording material for a new album with original vocalist Bonz.[10][11] Rapper Lord Nelson was asked to contribute guest vocals to the album.[12] When it was decided that Bonz would not continue as the band's vocalist, Lord Nelson stepped into Bonz' position.[12] The band's fifth studio album, Southern Born Killers, was released directly through the band's website without a label.[5] The album was released as a free download, while the compact disc edition contained a bonus DVD.[13] After signing with Napalm Records, Southern Born Killers was released nationally, with three bonus tracks.[5] On November 28, 2008, Stuck Mojo released their sixth studio album, The Great Revival. It featured what has been described as some of the band's heaviest work, as well as some of the band's most "commercially-tinged songs".[14]

Reunion (2014)

In October 2014 it was announced that the band would be playing a reunion show December 26, 2014 at the Masquerade in Atlanta, the venue they recorded their HVY1 live album. This was to be the first time Ward, Bonz, Lowery and Fontsere shared the stage together since 1998. The band scheduled two other live reunion shows (Charlotte and Woodstock, VA) in early 2015. Although the reunion shows were filled with energy and fans relished the reunited line-up, it was reported on Blabbermouth[15] that the old lineup wasn't working out[16] and that Ward and Fontsere would continue on and replace Bonz and Lowery at a later time.

Here Come the Infidels and line-up (2016)

In March, 2016 via a press release[17] Stuck Mojo announced they would be releasing their seventh studio album, Here Come the Infidels via Pledge Music.[18] In addition to the new album, Stuck Mojo announced the addition of two new members - vocalist Robby J. Fonts and Bassist Len Sonnier. Fonts is a Canadian born musician while Sonnier hails from Vinton, Louisiana. Fonts has spurred controversy for his political views, particularly his opposition to abortion and view that transgenderism is a mental illness.[19]

During the summer of 2016 Stuck Mojo released a series of lyric videos leading up to the release of Here Come the Infidels.

Style

Stuck Mojo fuses Southern-based heavy metal with hip hop influences, and is considered to be one of the pioneers of rap metal.[10][11] Mark Jenkins of The Washington Post noted that one of the band's songs may indicate conservative views, while other songs may indicate more uniformly distributed hostility. Jenkins writes that "the [song] "Crooked Figurehead" does begin with an anti-Clinton rant, which suggests that this Atlanta quartet is the mirror image of leftist agit-metal band Rage Against the Machine. Maybe it's not just the president the Mojos hate, though—maybe it's everyone."[20] The band cites Red Hot Chili Peppers, Run-D.M.C., Faith No More, Pantera and Black Sabbath as influences.[5]

Discography

Band members

  • Rich Ward - guitar; vocals[5] (1989–present)
  • Frank Fontsere – drums (1996-2004, 2009–present)
  • Len Sonnier - bass (2016–present)
  • Robby J. - vocals (2016–present)

Former band members

  • Bonz – vocals/lyrics - (1989–2006, 2014-2015)
  • Dwayne Fowler - bass (1989–1995)
  • Corey Lowery – bass, vocals (1996–1998, 2014-2015)
  • Lord Nelson - vocals[5] (2006-2009)
  • Eric Sanders - drums (2005–2006)
  • Rodney Beaubouef – drums (2006–2008)
  • Sean Delson - bass[5] (2004–2009)
  • Dan Dryden – bass (1998–2001)
  • Tim Maines - drums
  • Ryan Mallam – guitar (2000–2001)
  • Mike Martin - guitar[5](2005–2009)
  • Brent Payne - drums (1993–1995)
  • Karman Gossett - drums
  • Steve 'Nailz' Underwood - drums[5] (2008–2009)
  • Brad Hasty - drums
  • Scott Spooner - keyboards
  • John Carpenter - drums
  • Richard Farmer - drums (1989–1990)
  • Benjamin Reed - drums (1990–1993)
  • Will Hunt - drums (1997, as a touring member)
  • Andrew Freund - vocals (1989)
  • Keith Watson - bass (2002–2004)

References

  1. Hill, Stephen (17 July 2016). "Stuck Mojo – Here Come The Infidels album review". Louder. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  2. "Rediscovering The '90s Post-Thrash Groove Metal Scene". VH1.
  3. DaRonco, Mike. "Biography of Stuck Mojo". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  4. Love, Bret. "Review of Snappin' Necks". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  5. "Biography and Discography". Stuck Mojo. Archived from the original on 1 July 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  6. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review of Pigwalk". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  7. "Charts and awards for Rising". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  8. Huey, Steve. "Review of Rising". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  9. Huey, Steve. "Biography of Fozzy". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  10. "Mojo's Working — Rap-rock Pioneers Are Back". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. April 13, 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  11. Barnes, Brad (April 19, 2006). "Rap-rock pioneers have their 'Mojo' workin'". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  12. Lord Nelson. "In His Own Words - Lord Nelson". Stuck Mojo. Archived from the original on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  13. "And don't miss ...". Spartanburg Herald Journal. April 12, 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  14. "Interview: Stuck Mojo". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  15. "STUCK MOJO Parts Ways With Vocalist BONZ, Bassist COREY LOWERY; New Album To Arrive Next Year". BlabberMouth.Net. 2015-12-30.
  16. "STUCK MOJO Reunion Fell Apart 'For The Same Reasons It Didn't Work The First Time,' Says RICH WARD". BlabberMouth.Net. 2016-03-28.
  17. "STUCK MOJO Announces New Album and Lineup". BlabberMouth.Net. 2016-03-25.
  18. "PledgeMusic". Web.archive.org. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  19. Neilstein, Vince (April 7, 2017). "Stuck Mojo Frontman Rails Against Transgender People and Abortions on New Blog". MetalSucks.net. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  20. Jenkins, Mark (November 20, 1998). "STUCK MOJO "Rising" Century Media; ULTRASPANK "Ultraspank" Epic". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
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