Incubus band based out of Calabasas, California. Formed by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Michael Einziger, and drummer Jose Antonio Pasillas II while in high school, the band grew to include bassist Alex Katunich (a.k.a. "Dirk Lance""), and Gavin Koppell (a.k.a. "DJ Lyfe"), both of whom were eventually replaced by bassist Ben Kenney (formerly of The Roots), and DJ Kilmore, respectively.Incubus has recieved both high critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching multi-platinum sales, as well as releasing highly successful singles such as "Wish You Were Here", "Drive", "Anna Molly" and "Pardon Me", among others. Originally part of the nu-metal movement, the band started branch out creatively and earned mainstram recognition with the release of their 1999 album Make Yourself. By 2001, Incubus became hugely successful with the single Drive and their follow up album Morning View. Today they remain one of the most popular rock acts, with their latest studio album, Light Grenades, reaching Gold certification. Their music has also appeared in other media, such as the video games Halo 2 and Guitar Hero, and the movie Stealth.
In 1993, Incubus was introduced to Jim Wirt, a local record producer through Joanne Stanulonis. Joanne was friends with both Jim Wirt and his wife Kathleen. Jim agreed to record demos for the band during unbooked studio time and eventually many of these demos were compiled to create the band's first album - the independently released Fungus Amongus (initially distributed by both the band and Red Eye Records and then ultimately re-released by Epic Records). It was at this time (1993-94) that the band was introduced to Mark Shoffner, a close friend of Jim Wirt, who then became the band's first manager.
In 1995, Gavin Koppell saw the band play and asked if they would be interested in using some of his tracks, which incorporated the use of turntables. Gavin joined full-time after his first rehearsal.
Shortly thereafter, Incubus' unusual amalgamation of styles and high-energy shows, combined with its growing fan base, attracted labels and put the band in the enviable position of a bidding war. Incubus finally landed a record deal in the summer of 1996 with Immortal Records, a label distributed by Sony's Epic Records, whose top artists in those days were Korn and Far. Touring throughout the remainder of 1996, Incubus established themselves as a top drawing live act, gaining a dedicated following all over the United States. To start off the new year, Immortal Records released Incubus' EP entitled Enjoy Incubus on January 7, 1997.
S.C.I.E.N.C.E., Incubus' second studio album,was released on September 9, 1997. "We like it when our stuff sounds as weird as possible," said Mike. "When we signed our record deal and started working on this album, we were worried that someone would come along and tell us to hold back, and try and make our songs a little more palatable. But that never happened. They kinda just said, 'Do whatever you want'. With that kind of support, we just let everything kind of run wild." Said Brandon Boyd, "SCIENCE. was done in six weeks, straight through, at 4th Street Recording. Very different experience, but very important on this band’s existence."
On October 23, 2001, the band released their third full-length major label album. The name was taken from the street on which the band's recording studio was situated. Incubus continued to headline dates after its release, and "Wish You Were Here" continued to sit among the top 10 on Billboards Modern Rock Charts.
After constant touring throughout 1998, and after selling over 100,000 copies of S.C.I.E.N.C.E. without the support of radio or MTV, Incubus then took some time off to record their new album Make Yourself.
Make Yourself was released on October 26, 1999. Right after their album's release, the band went on tour with Primus and Buckethead, a tour which lasted for the remainder of the year. The first song that kicked off the album, "Privilege," was featured on MTV Sports: Pure Ride for the PlayStation. The band also released the single, "Pardon Me," but it was initially not well-received by radio stations.
The band took a break during the first part of 2001 before heading to a beachside mansion in Malibu, California, to record their follow-up album, which would later become known as Morning View.
They hit the road with Hundred Reasons in Europe from June until the first week of July. At this time, the band was invited to play with the Area Festival, which featured Moby, Outkast, The Roots, Paul Oakenfold, Carl Cox, and Nelly Furtado. Also, in July, Make Yourself was certified double Platinum, selling 2 million copies. In August, the band got to play their first shows in Australia and Japan, before returning to the United States to begin their long-awaited headlining tour with their long-time friends from California, Hoobastank.
Incubus issued a limited edition version of Morning View on October 1 to coincide with their fall headlining tour. The new version of the album contained a DVD dubbed the "Morning After View Session". It featured the U.K. video for the group's track "Are You In?", tour footage, new artwork, behind the scenes material, and more. Incubus' last performance in 2002 (on November 1) brought several eras for the band to a close. Their last show of the tour would be their last show touring behind 2001's Morning View, as the band looked on to playing new music. The show would also prove to be their last with bass player Dirk Lance, who left the band due to personal differences.
December the new album, which was recorded at Southern Tracks Recording Studios in Atlanta, GA was recorded live, opposed to recording each instrument on separate tracks at different times, and was produced by Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Rage Against the Machine) was completed and scheduled for release. Titled A Crow Left of the Murder..., was to be an enhanced CD with behind-the-scenes video. In the videos, Einziger and Boyd discussed their new songs. Einziger described them as "like the old shit, but older. It's very different. It's very energetic and fast, and a lot of it is more technical. I guess maybe in the vein of more of our older songs; they don't sound like our older songs. They are more exploratory."
In November 2004, the band released a live DVD entitled Alive at Red Rocks, filmed in Red Rocks Park, Colorado, during their world tour for A Crow Left of the Murder.... Along with the DVD came a bonus CD featuring five tracks, including a studio version of live favorite "Pantomime", "Follow" (a lyrical version, different from the First Movement of the Odyssey version), and the U.K. B-Side "Monuments and Melodies". Two live tracks were also included.
On December 27, 2006, Incubus launched the "I Dig Incubus" contest, in which participants cut together clips of the band performing their single "Dig," to form a complete music video. On February 1, 2007, five finalists were announced for the "I Dig Incubus" contest. In a video interview on Blender, bassist and vocalist Ben Kenney said, "It's almost something that will happen whether or not we want to do it.
In February and March 2008, Incubus hit the road again and headlined the Soundwave Festival in Australia alongside The Offspring and Killswitch Engage, and toured Asia performing to sell-out crowds. In April, Incubus performed at the Festival Imperial in Costa Rica, along with the bands The Smashing Pumpkins and Duran Duran, and later in Venezuela at the Poliedro de Caracas. Incubus will also be performing a number of shows throughout Europe this summer including the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park Festivals in Germany, the Nova Rock Festival in Austria, Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands and the Download Festival in England.
Incubus albums:
November 1, 1995 Fungus Amongus
January 7, 1997 Enjoy Incubus (EP and audio CD)
September 9, 1997 S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
October 26, 1999 Make Yourself
August 22, 2000 When Incubus Attacks Volume 1 (EP/CD)
October 23, 2001 Morning View
February 4, 2004 A Crow Left of the Murder
November 28, 2006 Light Grenades
live album ( Japan Sweden, And Live at Lollapalooza)
