Stuck Mojo

Stuck Mojo
Background information
Origin Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres Rap metal
Years active 1989–2004, 2005–present
Labels Stuck Mojo Music, Century Media, Napalm
Associated acts Fozzy, Sick Speed
Members Rich Ward
Frank Fontsere
Robby J. Fonts
Len Sonnier
Past members Eric Sanders
Lord Nelson
Sean Delson
Mike Martin
John Carpenter
Bonz
Corey Lowery

Stuck Mojo is an American rap metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1989 by guitarist Rich Ward, 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.

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.[1] 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."[2] In October 1995, the band joined Machine Head and Slapshot on a ten-week tour while living in a rented van.[1] Stuck Mojo's first European tour followed, and they were named the best live band by MTV Europe.[3]

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."[4] On March 3, 1998, Stuck Mojo released their third studio album, Rising. It peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.[5] 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."[6]

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.[3][7] In 2006, Stuck Mojo began recording material for a new album with original vocalist Bonz.[8][9] Rapper Lord Nelson was asked to contribute guest vocals to the album.[10] When it was decided that Bonz would not continue as the band's vocalist, Lord Nelson stepped into Bonz' position.[10] The band's fifth studio album, Southern Born Killers, was released directly through the band's website without a label.[3] The album was released as a free download, while the compact disc edition contained a bonus DVD.[11] After signing with Napalm Records, Southern Born Killers was released nationally, with three bonus tracks.[3] 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".[12]

2014 Reunion and Beyond

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[13] that the old lineup wasn't working out[14] and that Ward and Fontsere would continue on and replace Bonz and Lowery at a later time.

New Album and Line-Up (2016)

In March, 2016 via a press release[15] Stuck Mojo announced they would be releasing their seventh studio album, "Here Come the Infidels" via Pledge Music.[16] In addition to the new album, Stuck Mojo announced the addition of two new members - vocalist Robby J. and Bassist Len Sonnier. Robby J. is a Canadian born musician while Sonnier hails from Vinton, Louisiana.

During the summer of 2016 Stuck Mojo released a series of lyric videos leading up to the release of Here Come the Infidels. The lyric videos include: Verbal Combat, Charles Bronson and The Business of Hate.

On June 24th via their Facebook page, Stuck Mojo announced that Here Come The Infidels shipped and is now available on Apple Music, Amazon and other online retailers.

Stuck Mojo continues to announce new tour dates with the new lineup for 2016 and 2017.

Music and Lyrics

Stuck Mojo fuses Southern-based heavy metal with hip hop influences, and is considered to be one of the pioneers of rap metal.[8][9] 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."[17] The band cites Red Hot Chili Peppers, Run-D.M.C., Faith No More and Black Sabbath as influences.[3]

Discography

Band members

Former band members

References

  1. 1 2 DaRonco, Mike. "Biography of Stuck Mojo". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  2. ↑ Love, Bret. "Review of Snappin' Necks". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Biography and Discography". Stuck Mojo. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  4. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review of Pigwalk". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  5. ↑ "Charts and awards for Rising". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  6. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Review of Rising". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  7. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Biography of Fozzy". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  8. 1 2 "Mojo's Working — Rap-rock Pioneers Are Back". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. April 13, 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  9. 1 2 Barnes, Brad (April 19, 2006). "Rap-rock pioneers have their 'Mojo' workin'". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  10. 1 2 Lord Nelson. "In His Own Words - Lord Nelson". Stuck Mojo. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  11. ↑ "And don't miss ...". Spartanburg Herald Journal. April 12, 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  12. ↑ "Interview: Stuck Mojo". Rock Sound. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  13. ↑ "STUCK MOJO Parts Ways With Vocalist BONZ, Bassist COREY LOWERY; New Album To Arrive Next Year". BlabberMouth.Net. 2015-12-30.
  14. ↑ "STUCK MOJO Reunion Fell Apart 'For The Same Reasons It Didn't Work The First Time,' Says RICH WARD". BlabberMouth.Net. 2016-03-28.
  15. ↑ "STUCK MOJO Announces New Album and Lineup". BlabberMouth.Net. 2016-03-25.
  16. ↑ Stuck Mojo Pledge Music Page, March 25, 2016
  17. ↑ Jenkins, Mark (November 20, 1998). "STUCK MOJO "Rising" Century Media; ULTRASPANK "Ultraspank" Epic". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 December 2008.

External Links, Media and Interviews

Stuck Mojo on Facebook
Rich Ward appears on VH1's That Metal Gear, April 4, 2015
Rich Ward interview with Talking Metal Online, March 31, 2016
Stuck Mojo Verbal Assault Lyric Music Video (YouTube), March 25, 2016
Rich Ward interviewed by Hayley Licks at Bloodstock 2016; August 16th 2016
Rich Ward interviewed by Mike James, Radio and Online Magazine; August 17th 2016

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/3/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.