Motograter

Motograter formed in 1995, founded in Santa Barbara, California by Robert Bruce "Grater" Butler, inventor of the band's namesake instrument, along with percussionist Joey "Smur" Krzywonski. The original duo was expanded into a full band in late 1998 with the addition of vocalist Zak "The Waz" Ward and primary drummer Chris "Crispy" Binns, and their debut EP, Hugh Chardon, followed in 1999. The band became known for using a custom instrument, also called a motograter, constructed from industrial cable and guitar parts, which produces a distinctive bass sound, and for performing with tribal-style body paint. Between 1998 and 2001, the original lineup released two EPs, Hugh Chardon and Indy. The band's breakthrough arrived when a lineup shakeup brought in a new frontman who would go on to considerable fame elsewhere. In 2002, Ivan "Ghost" Moody replaced original singer Zak Ward, and the band released their debut studio album, Motograter, in 2003. The album marked the band's major-label debut following their signing with Elektra in 2002, and it featured 22 tracks, half of them short, static tracks presenting the names of the other tracks reversed. The record was produced by James "Jimbo" Barton, with sessions recorded at The Coyote House in Topanga Canyon after original plans to record in Vancouver fell through when the band parted ways with Ward. Moody's tenure with Motograter would prove to be a launching pad, as he later left to achieve success with the multi-platinum groove metal band Five Finger Death Punch. The years following the debut brought instability and reinvention. In the fall of 2004, the band toured without Bruce and Smur, leaving drummer Crispy as the only constant original member, and in place of using the Motograter instrument, they were accompanied by bassist Johnny Nailz, before the band announced a hiatus in 2005 to give time for side projects. The band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2005, disbanded after playing a one-time reunion show in 2006, and then reformed in 2008 with a new lineup featuring singer Michael "Angel" Woodruff, releasing the EP Pre-Release in 2009 before touring until they again disbanded in 2011. In 2013, the band reformed once again and performed at Slipknot's Knotfest the following year; that December, Woodruff left Motograter and was replaced with James Anthony Legion, and the band released their sophomore album, Desolation, in 2017. That record showed renewed chart traction, reaching No. 19 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and No. 36 on the Independent Albums chart. Motograter's story since Desolation has continued to be one of intermittent activity and lineup evolution rather than a clean ending. As of 2023, the lineup included vocalist James Legion, bassist Mylon Guy, drummer Noah "Shark" Robertson, and percussionist Dustin "Skunk" Anderson, with Nunes in discussions to rejoin on guitar, continuing to evolve their sound while honoring the band's origins. The group's legacy rests largely on its inventive namesake instrument and its role as an early stage for Ivan Moody before his rise with Five Finger Death Punch, cementing Motograter's place as a footnote of note in nu metal and industrial metal history even as members have cycled in and out over three decades.