Motograter

Formation, Hugh Chardon and Indy (1995-2001)

Motograter was founded in Santa Barbara, California, in 1995 by Bruce "Grater" Butler, the inventor of the motograter instrument, and percussionist Joey "Smur" Krzwonski. In their early years they experimented with various sounds and instruments. The initial duo was rounded out into a band with the additions of vocalist Zak "The Waz" Ward and main drummer Chris "Crispy" Binns in late 1998, and they released their first EP, Hugh Chardon, in 1999. Late that year, during the recording of their second EP, Indy, they added Eric Gonzales, who handled electronics and samples. In January 2001, Motograter was introduced to Dez Fafara from fellow nu metal band Coal Chamber and they signed to his newly formed Sever Records.^[6][7]

Motograter, hiatus and breakup (2002-2006)

After a period of inactivity, Motograter was released from Sever Records and later signed on to No Name/Elektra Records in 2002,^[8] when guitarist Neil Godfrey introduced label founder Steve Richards to the band. Around that time, Godfrey left the band and was replaced with Matt "Nuke" Nunes.

During development of their debut album later that year, Zak Ward departed from the band over artistic differences. The band then recruited Ivan "Ghost" Moody and continued work on the album. In early 2003, after recording was finished and in preparation of their first nationwide tour on a major label, the band welcomed back Zak Ward, handling electronics/samples in addition to backup vocals, while Nuke entered rehab, being replaced with JR Swartz.

On June 24, 2003, Motograter released their major label album debut, the self-titled Motograter. The song "Suffocate" was featured uncredited on the soundtrack to the film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The song "Down" is featured on the EA Sports video game Nascar Thunder 2004. Motograter was voted the best band of 2003 by Hit Parader.

	"No Name" (2003) 30 second sample of the Motograter song "No Name".
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Motograter then toured on the second stage of Ozzfest 2003. By then, Nuke had returned to play the first few dates on the tour but was eventually fired in July, being replaced with Ty Fury.

In the summer of 2004, Ty Fury was in turn replaced with Aaron aka "A-Bomb" and the band announced that they were beginning work on a new album. In August 2004, Zak left the band again, and was not replaced. In fall 2004, the band toured without Bruce and Smur, who were both under financial obligations. In place of the motograter, they were accompanied by bassist Jonny Nailz.

In May 2005, Motograter announced a hiatus to give time for side projects.^[9] However, they played a one-time reunion show in 2006 at the Delicious Rox Festival,^[10] with Ivan, JR and Crispy and also returning members Nuke and Bruce. Ivan confirmed at this show that he was finished with the band, resulting in the band's disbanding.

The New Breed, Pre-Release (2008-2011)

In 2008, the band reformed with a "new breed" line-up based out of San Luis Obispo, California. This lineup also included a bass player, playing alongside the motograter. The lineup was announced as Michael Angel Woodruff on vocals, Matthew "Nuke" Nunes on guitar, Tyler Hole on guitar, Mylon Guy on bass, Jeremy "Twitch" Scheller on drums and Bruce Butler on the motograter.^[11] The lineup played one show in Las Vegas, Nevada, under the name "Out Of Curiosity" to test the new material on a live, unbiased crowd before deciding to adopt the Motograter name. The set did not feature the motograter.

Before any touring commenced, Butler left and was replaced with Mark Nosler, leaving Motograter with no original or consistent members. Around the start of their national tour in 2009, the band released their first EP with the new line-up, Pre-Release.

The new lineup began touring on July 25, 2009, with Orange County metal group Darksun. The tour was cut short on September 28, missing cities such as Seattle, Denver, and Tempe, with a band member’s sickness given as the reason.

The second 2009 tour, known as The Damned Holiday Tour, took place from November 5 to December 20. Motograter’s venture alone on this tour was questionable due to the lack of draw during the previous tour, as well as a missed opportunity to have Straight Line Stitch added to the ticket. Nonetheless, the tour was a success, as attendance numbers had tripled in most cities. The band made public on-stage announcements of an upcoming album and anticipation grew.

Motograter took 2010 off except for two California dates in Modesto and Sacramento. On September 6, 2010, they uploaded a comical studio preview, showing supposed production on the next album. However, the band was later heard saying that the sessions had been trashed and they would be starting again at a later date.

In 2011, the band debuted new high-quality photos from a shoot in downtown Los Angeles. That same year, they announced a summer tour dubbed The Honoring Of The Sun Tour, running from April 29 to July 9, accompanied by various regional bands. The tour took a sudden change in course when, instead of continuing south to Texas, the band re-routed to Michigan to play the fourth annual Rockapalooza alongside such national acts as Mushroomhead, Crossfade and Pop Evil.

The second leg of the tour, going from July 25 to August 28, saw the addition of a seventh member, KC Kaos, on electronics and samples. The tour featured two festivals, Buzzfest and The Carnival of Chaos, where Motograter proved to be one of the bigger draws. Both festivals were soaked from the day's rain, but the bands continued to perform. C.O.C., one of the many national names involved, were pulled off at the last minute on Saturday, August 20, leaving Motograter as the default headliner. Facing a possible cancellation of the events, and despite the weather conditions, Motograter continued to perform.

(2011)

Shortly after their return home, Motograter announced that they would be joining Mushroomhead in the fall of 2011 on a tour called The Slaughterhouse Roadshow and featuring Psychostick, Blue Felix, Ventana and Tenefly Viper. One week before the first day of the tour Motograter announced on their Facebook page that they had disbanded and would therefore not participate in the tour.

(2013-2014)

In November 2013, Motograter reunited with another new lineup, including returning members Angel on vocals, Nuke on guitar and Mylon Guy on bass, in addition to new members Noah "Shark" Robertson on drums, Kery "Venom" Glennon on guitar, and Michael "The Kidd" Stewart on the Motograter.^[12] The band played their first show in two years on February 8, 2014, in Santa Ana, California, beginning a West Coast Reunion Tour that included a string of California and Nevada dates.

On October 26, 2014, the band performed at Knotfest at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino, California, alongside acts such as Slipknot and Five Finger Death Punch, with Mark Nosler returning to the motograter for this event. In December 2014, Angel and Venom left the band.

(2015-2016)

On April 2, the band announced the arrival of vocalist James Anthony Legion. The following day, they released a 20-second pre-production teaser of a new song, "Portrait of Decay", featuring Legion on vocals. The new line up was rounded out with Carlos "Crow" on guitars, Dustin "Skunk" Anderson on the motograter, and Joey Vice on smurs/samples/vocals. In April–May 2015, Motograter completed a US headlining tour, followed by the Civil Unrest Tour, touring with Ill Niño, Straight Line Stitch, Ünloco, and more. Soon after the tour concluded, Skunk and Crow departed from the band.

On August 7, 2015, the band premiered their new demo track and video, "Portrait of Decay", through Revolver.^[13] and announced plans to record their second album, with Ill Nino guitarist Ahrue Luster.^[14]

From May 12 through June 25, 2016, the band embarked on a US tour with American Head Charge with new guitarist Jesse Stamper and returning motograterist Skunk, during which, on June 6, they revealed cover art and the title of the upcoming album, Desolation.^[15]

On October 6, the band announced their signing to EMP Label Group and set the release date for Spring 2017.^[16] As time moved on, the release was officially announced as August 11, 2017.^[17]

On September 10, the band released the official lyric video for "Parasite", directed by Brian Cox of Gemini Syndrome and Hollywood Undead, featuring samples by Justin Fowler from American Head Charge.^[18]

In September–October, the band toured the US with Dope and Flaw, during which Joey Vice was fired from Motograter for reasons not made clear to the public.

Desolation (2017)

In February 2017, Motograter embarked on a U.S. tour with Hed PE, and again in May–June.

In July 2017, Motograter traveled to Mansfield, Ohio, to perform "Ink In The Clink" at the Ohio State Reformatory. The band performed alongside Three Days Grace, Theory of a Dead Man, Gemini Syndrome, Starset, 10 Years, 40 Below Summer and more. During the festival the band met up with video director Chris Davis of Human Twelve and shot the video for "Dorian" inside the prison.^[19]

The sophomore Motograter album, Desolation, was released on August 11, 2017 via EMP Label Group, debuting on the Billboard Charts.

On August 16, Loudwire premiered the official music video for "Dorian".^[20]

From September to November 2017, Motograter is to tour the US with The Desolation Tour.

Current members

• Matthew "Nuke" Nunes – guitars, backing vocals (2002–2003, 2006, 2008–2011, 2013–present)
• Michael "Angel" Woodruff - lead vocals (2008-2011, 2013-2014, 2018-present)
• Jonathan "Zero" Price – percussion, backing vocals, samples (2017–present)
• Aeon Cruz - bass (2018-present)
• Matthew O'Connell - drums (2018-present)

Former members

Vocals

• Zak "The Waz" Ward - lead vocals (1998–2002, 2003-2004)
• Ivan "Ghost" Moody - lead vocals (2002–2005, 2006)
• James Anthony Legion - lead vocals (2015–2018)

Guitars

• Neil Godfrey - guitars (2001–2002)
• J.R. Swartz - guitars (2003-2005, 2006)
• Ty Fury - guitars (2003–2004)
• Aaron "A-Bomb" Abalos - guitars (2004–2005)
• Tyler Hole - guitars (2008–2011)
• Jesse Stamper - guitars (2016–2018)

Motograter

• Bruce "Grater" Butler - motograter (1995-2004, 2006, 2008-2009)
• Mark Nosler - motograter (2009–2011, 2014)
• Michael "The Kidd" Stewart - motograter (2013-2014, 2016)
• Dustin "Skunk" Anderson - motograter (2015, 2016-2018)

Bass

• Mylon Guy - bass (2008-2011, 2013–2017)

Drums

• Chris "Crispy" Binns - drums (1998–2005, 2006)
• Jeremy "Twitch" Scheller - drums (2008–2011)
• Noah "Shark" Robertson - drums (2013–2017)

Percussion/Other

• Joey "Smur" Krzywonski - percussion, backing vocals (1995–2004)
• Joey "Vice" Vice - percussion, backing vocals, samples (2015–2016)

Electronics/Samples/Other

• Eric Gonzales - electronics/samples (1999–2001)
• Zak "The Waz" Ward - electronics/samples, vocals (2003–2004)

Touring members

• Johnny Nailz - bass (2004)
• Casey "KC Kaos" Cahill - electronics/samples, vocals (2011), motograter (2018)
• Carlos "Crow" Pagan - guitars (2015)
• Derek Campbell - guitars (2016)
• Stephen Kalani Seguin - drums (2017)
• Ryan Ramirez - drums (2018)
• David Visser - drums (2018)
• Travis Manning - bass (2018)

Timeline

Studio albums

Extended plays

• Hugh Chardon (1998)
• Indy (2000)
• Pre-Release (2009)

Compilations

• The Best of Motograter (2015)^[note]

Singles