Papa Roach Biography
The Northern Californian alt-metal group Papa Roach consists of Jacoby Shaddix, Jerry Horton, Dave Buckner, and Tobin Esperance. They formed in 1993 and released a few EP's soon after, including 1994's Potatoes for Christmas and 1995's Caca Bonita. By 1996, the group hired a new manager; the following year, Papa Roach released their first full-length album, Old Friends From Young Years, which became a surprise hit on local radio. The band's regional success led to more prominent gigs, including dates with Suicidal Tendencies, Sevendust, and Powerman 5000, and a deal with Dreamworks Records. Released on Dreamworks in 2000, Papa Roach's second album, Infest went triple-platinum thanks to the success of the single "Last Resort." Two years later, frontman Coby Dick opted to go by his given name of Jacoby Shaddix. A second album, lovehatetragedy, appeared in June 2002. That same summer the band joined a number of rap acts including Ludacris and Xzibit on Eminem's Anger Management Tour. Working on a musical evolution, Papa Roach released their new album, Getting Away With Murder in 2004. The band began writing new material while on the road in 2003. They recorded over 30 songs, and with the help of producer Howard Benson (P.O.D., Blindside, Hoobastank), they chose 12 to put out. The album is still as loud and abrasive as the prior ones, but demonstrates what the band has previously downplayed –melody and vulnerability. Their lyrics reflect that they want people to think about the world around them, question it and make actions towards change. Shaddix says, "We just put up our middle finger to critics and said, 'We're gonna do what we're gonna do.' We stand up for ourselves as a band, and our message to our fans is to shut yourself off from anyone who wants to run the show, and run it yourself."
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