Snot (band)

Snot
John Fahnestock of Snot at Le Grillen, Colmar, 2015
John Fahnestock of Snot at Le Grillen, Colmar, 2015
Background information
OriginSanta Barbara, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1995–1998
  • 2008–2011
  • 2014–present
Labels
Members
Past members

Snot is an American nu metal band from Santa Barbara, California. Formed in 1995, the band released their only studio album Get Some with founding vocalist Lynn Strait in 1997 and disbanded after his death in 1998. In 2008, the lineup of lead guitarist Mikey Doling, bassist John Fahnestock, drummer Jamie Miller and rhythm guitarist Sonny Mayo reunited. In 2009, a new band, Tons, was formed, with Brandon Espinosa as vocalist. As of February 2014, Snot has reformed again.

History

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Formation, Get Some and death of Lynn Strait (1995–1998)

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The band was formed by singer Lynn Strait, the former bassist of a local punk band, Lethal Dose, and lead guitarist Mikey Doling, formerly of Kronix.[1] After building a strong following with performances in Los Angeles, Snot signed with Geffen Records, and began work on their debut album with producer T-Ray. The album, titled Get Some, was released on May 27, 1997.

The band performed on the 1998 Ozzfest tour. On July 9, 1998, Strait was arrested in Mansfield, Massachusetts, after emerging nude from the oversized toilet prop used by Limp Bizkit in their performances.[2] The band began work on their second album. On December 11, 1998, Strait died in a car accident when a truck struck his car, killing him and his dog, Dobbs.[1][3] The band disbanded following Strait's death, with Doling stating, "We can't go on without Lynn. It's just bullshit when bands do that."[4]

Post-accident (1999–2007)

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Because Strait had not recorded vocals for the album, it was decided that the album's vocal tracks would be completed by friends of Strait as a tribute. Strait Up, released on November 7, 2000, featured appearances by the lead vocalists of System of a Down, Korn, Hed PE, Soulfly, Incubus, Sevendust, Limp Bizkit, Coal Chamber, Slipknot and Sugar Ray, among others. However Doling told the Life is Peachy podcast in 2021, that the instrumental tracks written for the sophomore Snot album did not form the basis for Strait Up and he wrote new music for Strait Up, with each vocalists individual style in mind. [3][5] It peaked at number 56 on the Billboard 200.[6]

A live album, Alive!, was released on July 30, 2002. It peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.[7] On April 5, 2007, the band reunited for a performance in Anaheim, California, with vocals performed by Invitro singer Jeff Weber.[8]

First reunion, Tons and breakup (2008–2011)

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In 2008, the band reformed, with former Divine Heresy singer Tommy Vext on vocals.[9] Vext and Sonny Mayo left the band, and a new band, "Tons", was formed in 2009 with a new vocalist, Brandon Espinoza, formerly of Spineshank and minus knives. They recorded three new songs titled "Ability & Control", "1000 Ways of Pain" and "Fan the Flames"[10] before members of the group moved on to new projects.

Second reunion (2014–present)

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On February 11, 2014, Snot reunited again at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood.[11][12] This second reunion lineup once again features Vext, Mayo, Doling, Fahnestock and Miller. They went on to play three more shows in the Southern California area before once again going quiet, although they poked at the possibility of another future U.S. tour. In August it was announced that Snot would be hitting the road once again, starting November 28 and going through December 22 all throughout the U.S. An international tour is coming in January/February. However, in October, vocalist Tommy Vext announced he had left the band to form his new band, Westfield Massacre, and that Snot already had a replacement vocalist (Carl Bensley) in place. For the European dates, Mike Smith would fill in for Sonny Mayo, who was going to be unable to tour due to business commitments.[13]

On 29 September 2024, after ten years of relative inactivity, Dolling teased the return of Snot.[14] The return was officially announced in November, with Mayo returning and an currently (As of December 2024) unknown singer.[15] The first show is to be on 17 January 2025.[15] The reunion will not include Vext and Bensley.[16]

Musical style

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Snot has been described as nu metal,[3][17][18][19] hardcore punk,[20][21][22] funk metal,[23][24][21] and alternative metal.[25]

Members

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Current lineup

  • Mikey Doling – lead guitar (1995–1998, 2008–2011, 2012, 2014–2015, 2024–present)
  • John "Tumor" Fahnestock – bass (1995–1998, 2008–2011, 2012, 2014–2015, 2024–present)
  • Sonny Mayo – rhythm guitar (1995–1998, 2008–2009, 2014–2015, 2024–present)
  • Jamie Miller - drums (1996–1998, 2008–2011, 2012, 2014–2015, 2024–present)

Former members

  • Lynn Strait – vocals (1995–1998; died 1998)
  • Dobbs Strait – mascot (1995–1998; died 1998)[26]
  • Ruben Gonzalez – bass (1995)
  • Brent[a] – drums (1995)[27]
  • James "Fed" Carrol – drums (1995–1996)
  • Mike Smith – rhythm guitar (1998, 2015)[13]
  • Tommy Vext – vocals (2008–2009, 2014)
  • Carl Bensley – vocals (2014–2015; sporadic appearances until 2017)

Timeline

Discography

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Studio albums

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Live albums

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Demos

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  • Snot (1995)

References

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  1. ^ a b Anderson, Jason. "Biography of Snot". AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  2. ^ "Snot Singer Charged With Indecent Exposure". MTV News. July 10, 1998. Archived from the original on February 12, 2003. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c Iannini, Tommaso (2003). "Snot". Nu metal (in Italian). Giunti. pp. 78–79. ISBN 88-09-03051-6.
  4. ^ "Snot's Lynn Strait Dies in Car Crash". MTV News. December 14, 1998. Archived from the original on September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  5. ^ Huey, Steve. "Review of Strait Up". AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  6. ^ "Charts and awards for Strait Up". AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  7. ^ "Charts and awards for Alive". AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  8. ^ "Exclusive: Reunited SNOT Recruits Ex-DIVINE HERESY Frontman, Prepares To Hit The Road". blabbermouth.net. July 14, 2008. Archived from the original on August 18, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  9. ^ "Reunited Snot Releases New Song, Announces Tour With DEVILDRIVER". blabbermouth.net. August 7, 2008. Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
  10. ^ "SNOT Is Back... As TONS". blabbermouth.net. November 20, 2009. Archived from the original on November 23, 2009. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
  11. ^ "Reunited SNOT To Play First Show in Five Years Next Month". blabbermouth.net. January 13, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  12. ^ "Video: Reunited SNOT Plays First Show In Five Years". blabbermouth.net. February 15, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  13. ^ a b Stef Lach (January 19, 2015). "Snot snap up Mike Smith for Euro tour". Loudersound.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  14. ^ wookubus (September 30, 2024). "Word On Something Snot-Related Is "Coming Soon"". Theprp.com. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Blabbermouth (November 17, 2024). "Reunited SNOT Recruits Mystery New Singer, Announces First 2025 Dates". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Childers, Chad (November 18, 2024). "What We Know So Far About Snot's 2025 Reunion". Loudwire. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  17. ^ McIver, Joel (2002). Nu Metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk. Omnibus Press. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-0-7119-9209-2.
  18. ^ Udo, Tommy (2002). Brave Nu World. Sanctuary Publishing. p. 241. ISBN 1-86074-415-X.
  19. ^ Taylor, Sam (September 3, 2000). "America's 'nu metal' bands have the world at their feet". The Guardian. London. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
  20. ^ McIver, Joel (2001). Slipknot: Unmasked. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-8677-0.
  21. ^ a b Bowar, Chad (September 11, 2014). "Snot to Reunite for Tour, Will Play 'Get Some' Disc in Full". Loudwire. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  22. ^ Kennelty, Greg (January 17, 2014). "SNOT Reunites With Former Touring Vocalist For Charity Event". Metal Injection. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  23. ^ "How to Make it in the Music Industry II". Hollywood Music Magazine. March 31, 2010. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2014. Mikey Doling, guitarist of revered funk metal band Snot
  24. ^ Meyer, Mike R. (January 22, 2009). "Snot". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved March 3, 2014. the funk metal that characterized their lone studio album with Strait.
  25. ^ "Throwback 'Snot' by Snot!". Metal Noise. March 18, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  26. ^ "Snot's Dobbs". National Pure bred dog day. October 29, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  27. ^ Snot Demo Credits (liner notes). Self-Released. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  1. ^ The surname of Brent is not known, but he was replaced by James Carrol after the first demo tape.
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