Motograter
is an American nu metal band. They are known for their homemade "motograter" instrument - designed with industrial cable and guitar pieces - as a substitute for the traditional bass guitar. The band is also known for painting themselves before concerts.
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MOTOGRATER TICKETS
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History
Motograter was founded in 1995 by Bruce Butler aka Grater. The band was originally a tribal group that experimented with hardcore screams and sampling. In 1999, they became more of a rock styled band, and began to use guitar samples before adding a proper guitarist. They released two independent
EPs titled
Hugh Chardon
(1999) and
Indy
(2000) with their original vocalist Zak (The Waz). He was later replaced by
Ivan Moody, and the band signed with
Elektra Records in 2002.
The band released their self-titled debut album
Motograter
on June 24, 2003, just shortly before their first major tour. Motograter's second stage slot at
Ozzfest 2003 would ultimately lead to the band's struggles with their label. Like every other band on the second stage classified as
nu metal (others included
Twisted Method,
grade 8,
Depswa,
Endo, and
Unloco), Motograter's record sales did not improve as much as their record company had hoped. After the tour, Motograter's camp didn't say much regarding their future.
In 2003, Motograter's "Suffocate" was included on the soundtrack of the film
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
and had a music video of the song which featured scenes from the film.
Dates were announced for a tour in January 2004, but it received no promotion or tour support from Elektra. The tour was eventually canceled, but the group hinted at Elektra being interested in both a second album and a
European tour. Nothing materialized and there were no plans in the works for the band.
Following a headlining tour that was poorly advertised, Motograter did a series of dates with
Kittie. They followed this up with an extensive, self-financed tour with
Dope that saw the band abandon their trademark body paint.
The band announced in May 2005 that they were on hiatus to start some side-projects.
Motograter played a one-time reunion show at the Delicious Rox Festival in
Missouri on September 30, 2006. The lineup featured Ivan, JR, Matt, Bruce and Crispy.
In early December 2008 the band made a new myspace account, promoting a new line up as "The New Breed", confirming "Angel" being the new frontman.
The new lineup also includes a bassist, in addition to the Motograter. Currently the band is writing a new album as they tour the country for the first time since 2004.
The tour dubbed "Halo's and Horn's" will span the entire U.S. lasting 3 months.
Members
;Current
- Angel (Michael E. Woodruff)- Vocals (2008-present)
- Nuke (Matt Nunes)- Lead Guitar (2003, 2006-present)
- Tyler Hole - Rhythm Guitar (2008-present)
- Mylon Guy - Bass (2008-present)
- Twitch (Jeremy Scheller)- Drums (2008-present)
- Grater (Bruce Butler)- Motograter, Percussion (1995-present)
;Former
- Zak Ward - Lead Vocals (1995-2002), Backing Vocals/Samples/Electronics (2003-2004) (briefly left before returning as backing vocalist/sampler) Zak has a new band called Southern Front as of January 2007.
- Eric Gonzales - Electronics (1995-2002) Eric went on to join the band "Angree Amputees" based in SF, CA.
- Neil Godfrey - Guitar (1998-1999) Ultraspank, Lo-Pro
- Ghost (Ivan L. Moody) - Vocals (2003-2006)
- Crispy (Chris Binns) - Drums (1996-2006)
- Smur (Joey Krzywonski)- Percussion (1995-2004)
;Touring
- J.R. Shwartz - Guitar (2003-2006) Curiosity Killz
- Ty Fury - Lead Guitar (2003-2004) Fomofuiab, Murder Of Crows, Dirty Little Rabbits
- A-Bomb - Lead Guitar, Backing vocals (2004-2005) Synthetic Delusion, Murder Of Crows, Life In Electric
- Johnny Nailz- Bass (Crispy left so Bruce played Percussion, and Nailz covered the Motograter parts on bass for a 2004 tour)
- Mark Nosler - Motograter (2009-present)
Other Projects
- Former members Ivan Moody and Chris Binns formed a side-project in 2005 dubbed Ghost Machine . They have released two albums the self-titled Ghost Machine
(2005) and Hypersensitive
(2006).
- Ivan Moody is also a member of Five Finger Death Punch, whose debut album The Way of the Fist
was released in 2007.
- JR started a Rap-Rock group called Curiosity Killz.
- Ex-vocalist Zak, has formed a new thrash metal band called Southern Front in Austin, TX. They are recording and mixing their debut album due for release in 2009.
- Joey (Smur) & Crispy started a noize project in late 2007 dubbed "The Pesky Brothers".
Discography
Album(s)
Album information
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Demo 1998
- Released: 1998 (U.S.)
- Label: Independent
- Chart Positions: -
- Album Sales: ?
- Singles: -
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Album information
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Hugh Chardon EP
- Released: 1998 (U.S.)
- Label: Independent
- Chart Positions: -
- Album Sales: ?
- Singles: -
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Album information
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Indy
- Released: Feb 2000 (U.S.)
- Label: Independent
- Chart Positions: -
- Album Sales: ?
- Singles: -
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Album information
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Motograter
- Released: June 24, 2003 (U.S.)
- Label: Elektra Records
- Chart Positions: -
- Album Sales: 64,347
- Singles: Suffocate, Down, No Name
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Singles
Year
| Song
| US Hot 100
| U.S. Modern Rock
| U.S. Mainstream Rock
| Album
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2003
| "Suffocate"
| -
| -
| 23
| Motograter
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2003
| "Down"
| -
| -
| 29
| Motograter
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2004
| "No Name"
| -
| -
| -
| Motograter
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Other songs
"Failure" (Performed in 2004)