Papa Roach is a four-piece rock band from Vacaville, California. They broke into the mainstream with their three times platinum major-label debut album Infest (2000). The group's curious success continued with later releases Lovehatetragedy (2002) and Getting Away With Murder (2004). The group's fourth major album, The Paramour Sessions, was released on September 12, 2006.
Band history
Papa Roach's early years
The formation of Papa Roach began in January of 1993, when Jacoby Shaddix (vocals) and Dave Buckner (drums) met on the Vacaville High School football field, where the two ended up talking about music. They were later joined by Mark Rabinovich (bass) Dr. Zorg (trombone). completing Papa Roach’s first ever line-up. They decided to enter the school's talent show, where they performed a cover version of Jimi Hendrix's famous song, Fire. They ultimately didn't win the contest. The band's name comes from Shaddix's step-grandfather, Howard William Roach, who was nicknamed Papa Roach. Roach committed suicide in 2006. The band pay homage to him with The Paramour Sessions and during live performances of the song "Roses On My Grave". Ben Luther was replaced by Jerry Horton (guitar) from nearby Vanden High School. Jerry was introduced to the band through his girlfriend, who was a fan. By this time, Papa Roach were practicing everyday in Dave's garage and trying to secure local gigs.
Papa Roach's first ever release, Potatoes for Christmas (1994)
In 1994, Papa Roach recorded their first 7 track EP titled Potatoes For Christmas. David Buckner was temporarily replaced by Ryan Brown, as Buckner was spending the year in Seattle studying art. One year later, they recorded a 2 track promo at Sound Farm Studios titled Caca Bonita. By this time Dave Buckner was back. To keep progressing as a band, they replaced Will James, who had become heavily involved in a church summer camp, by Tobin Esperance, because James' absence would limit the band's summer practicing and touring. As Esperance had been with the band as a roadie for a while, the transition was an easy one.
In 1997, the band produced their first full-length album, entitled Old Friends from Young Years. Still touring heavily, they supported bands such as Incubus, Powerman 5000, (həd) p.e., Snot, Far and Static-X.
In 1998, they released a 5 track EP titled 5 Tracks Deep. It sold more than 1,000 copies in its first month of release.[citation needed] One year later, they produced another EP, which would end up being their last independent release, titled Let 'Em Know. This was seen to be Papa Roach's best independent effort as a band, highlighting their bland and hackneyed sound.[citation needed] Its success caught the attention of Warner Brothers, who financed the production of a 5 track promo/demo CD. The unreleased disc included the songs "Infest", "Last Resort", "Broken Home", "Dead Cell", and "She Loves Me Not" - the first four would later feature on their Infest album, and the last on Lovehatetragedy. In the end, Warner Brothers elected not to sign them, based on the sheer lack of talent presented in their musical efforts. Soon after, Shaddix was contacted by Dreamworks Records offering the band a recording contract. Papa Roach made it into the mainstream on the back of their major label debut album, Infest, and the hit single, "Last Resort".
The breakthrough and mainstream success
After signing with Dreamworks Records in October 1999, they immediately hit the studio to record their debut major label album titled Infest. The album included four old songs from their independent releases, which were re-recorded, and an additional seven newly written songs. Infest was released in the United States on April 25, 2000, and sold 30,000 copies in its first week of release. With their debut album released, and the music video for "Last Resort" recorded, they hit the Vans Warped Tour and numerous other large tours.
In late 2000, they even toured the United Kingdom, highlighting how quickly their popularity had spread worldwide. In 2001, the band toured Ozzfest, where they performed on the prestigious main stage, on both the United States and United Kingdom tours.
After enormous amounts of touring worldwide, most notably in the United States, United Kingdom and Japan, the band hit the studio again to record their second album titled Lovehatetragedy. The album was released in the United States on June 18, 2002, and though it didn't outsell Infest, it managed to chart higher in both the United States and United Kingdom album charts. The album marked their first change in sound.
In late 2003, Papa Roach hit the studio again to write and record their third major album, which was tentatively titled Dancing In the Ashes. However, the name was soon to be replaced by Getting Away With Murder. The band worked with well-recognized producer Howard Benson, writing such songs as "Take Me" and "Scars". After completion, the band filmed the video for the title track, "Getting Away With Murder", and went on a small summer club tour to warm-up for the new album and tours to follow. Some long time fans of the band criticized Getting Away With Murder for its softer sound, compared to their previous albums. Regardless of the perceived backlash, Getting Away With Murder outsold Lovehatetragedy, mainly due to the enormous popularity of the album's second single, "Scars". Currently, the album has sold more than 1 million copies and has been certified platinum.
In 2005, the band spent a large proportion of the year on tour. This included a full United States and European tour alongside bands such as Slipknot, Dead Poetic, Trust Company, Chronic Future, Skindred, 311 and Unwritten Law.
The Paramour Sessions and the future
On September 12, 2006 they released their 4th major-label album The Paramour Sessions. The band chose the title in respect to the recording location, the Paramour Mansion. The band was given the idea of doing an album in a mansion, while recording Getting Away With Murder, by Slipknot, who were recording their Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) album in the Houdini Mansion and told the band it was the "only way to make an album". "To Be Loved" was the first single from the album. That album marked a more Alternative Rock/Pop-Rock-based sound compared to earlier efforts but still contained the softer ballads akin to Getting Away With Murder. Although the album debuted at #16 on the Billboard 200 Charts, the total sales are considered disappointing by Papa Roach standards, with only 308,685 copies sold.
The band started touring in August 2006, with an American tour followed by one in Europe. On October 2006, Papa Roach toured with bands such as Guns N' Roses, during the Chinese Democracy tour, and Deftones through-out the United States, having major success. They were also the special guest band during the Zippo Hot Tour with Hed Pe and Eyes Set to Kill.
On October 10, 2006 a String Quartet tribute album entitled Perfect Murder: Strung Out on Papa Roach was released by Vitamin Records.
The band originally planned to release a compilation of acoustic recordings for their songs, such as "Forever," "Scars," and "Not Coming Home" (all 3 recorded in Scotland). "Not Coming Home" was recorded for KROQ's charity Christmas album, entitled Kevin and Bean's Super Christmas. The acoustic compilation has since been put on hold until the future. In an interview with billboard.com, Jacoby Shaddix, has stated that he doesn't think his fans are quite ready for the acoustic direction.
On April 25, 2007 it was announced that Dave Buckner would be sitting out the band's current tour. A statement issued by the group's record label said, "Buckner has taken time off from touring with the band due to personal matters." He is expected to rejoin the group at a later date. Jacoby Shaddix later confirmed in an interview with Launch Radio Networks that Dave had checked himself into rehab, stating "Dave, he went to rehab and went to go clean his act up 'cause he was out of his f***ing mind." Unwritten Law drummer, Tony Palermo filled in on drums for touring duties.
"Forever" is the 2nd single from The Paramour Sessions and is currently in heavy rotation across America. On May 23, 2007, more than 4 months after Forever had impacted radio, the band shot the official video for "Forever" in the Los Angeles area, directed by Meiert Avis. Dave Buckner was in the video and is now known to be back for good. On June 15, 2007 the video made it's official debut on AOL.
Little did Papa Roach fan Ramon Boutviseth (from Huntersville, NC) know that when he entered the "Make Your Own 'Forever' Video" contest on YouTube for fun that he would end up as an official co-director.
Even though a video for "Forever" was already completed, when the band saw Boutviseth's version, they liked his storyline so much that they handed control over to the fan to mix the original performance footage with his own editing and storyline.
Jacoby recently stated that after their current tour they will be taking a few months off in preparation for starting work on the next album in February.
Music style
In their first two albums, Old Friends From Young Years (1997) and Infest (2000), Papa Roach tended to incorporate influences from nu metal and rapcore. Since Lovehatetragedy (2002), they moved to rap-devoid sounds like alternative rock (except for the songs "Anxiety", played along with Black Eyed Peas, and "She Loves Me Not").
Frontman Jacoby Shaddix said the following in an interview with the Dallas Music Guide regarding the band no longer using rapping in their music: "...the rapping's gone! I don't feel like rapping. I'm just over that...I just want to be a rocker. It's what I wanted to be when I was a kid".
Shaddix has added this remark in a recent interview: "We’re a band that tries to walk that line between metal, hardcore, punk rock and pop music, and we do our best at trying to make it all tasteful".
To many fans' surprise, "...To Be Loved" of their most recent album The Paramour Sessions features glimpses of the old nu metal sound, with what many would consider rapping in the beginning and end verses. The song also has the words "I'm taking it back to a Hardcore level" in it, which may mean they're going back to nu metal. "Roses On My Grave" is the only song featuring orchestral instruments, giving it a different flavour compared to the rest of The Paramour Sessions.
Band members
Current
Jacoby Shaddix – lead vocals
Jerry Horton – guitar, backing vocals
Tobin Esperance – bass guitar, backing vocals
Dave Buckner – drums, percussion
Former
Andrew Saturley – trombonist who was replaced by Jerry Horton in 1993, while the band was still in its initial formation process.
Will James – bassist who featured on the band's first record Potatoes for Christmas.
Ryan Brown – drummer who temporarily filled in for Dave Buckner on the Potatoes for Christmas recording, who was studying art in Seattle.
Mike Doherty - second guitarist during the Lovehatetragedy tour in 2002.
Discography
1995 Caca Bonita
1997 Old Friends from Young Years
1998 5 Tracks Deep
1999 Let 'Em Know
1999 Warner Bros. demo'
2000 Infest
2002 Lovehatetragedy
2004 Getting Away with Murder
2004 The Rolling Stone Live EP
2006 The Paramour Sessions
2007 Live Session EP
1997 Old Friends from Young Years
1998 5 Tracks Deep
1999 Let 'Em Know
1999 Warner Bros. demo'
2000 Infest
2002 Lovehatetragedy
2004 Getting Away with Murder
2004 The Rolling Stone Live EP
2006 The Paramour Sessions
2007 Live Session EP
2008 "Untitled 5th Album"
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