Crazy Town
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist Crazy Town (sometimes abbreviated as CXT) was an American rap rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1995 by Bret "Epic" Mazur and Shifty Shellshock (Seth Brooks Binzer). Their 2000 single "Butterfly", reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and helped their debut album, The Gift of Game (1999), sell over 1.6 million units. Their follow-up album, Darkhorse (2002), failed to achieve the same level of success, contributing to the band's breakup in 2003.
Mazur and Binzer reformed the band in 2007 and released their third album, The Brimstone Sluggers, in 2015. In 2017, Mazur left the band and Binzer changed its name to Crazy Town X. In March 2024, the band released the EP Flirting with Disaster. Binzer died in June 2024, leaving the future of the band unclear.
History
Formation (1995–1999)
Bret Mazur and Seth Binzer, who go by the names of Epic and Shifty Shellshock, respectively, started collaborating under the name of "The Brimstone Sluggers" in 1995 in Los Angeles, along with Adam Bravin (a.k.a. DJ Adam 12) who preceded DJ AM. However, they did not become serious about releasing any material until much later.<ref name="2001 interview">Template:Cite magazine</ref> By early 1999, Rust Epique, James Bradley Jr. (a.k.a. JBJ), Doug Miller, Adam Goldstein (a.k.a. DJ AM), and Antonio Lorenzo "Trouble" Valli joined the band. Prior to joining the band, Bradley was the drummer for jazz trumpeter Chuck Mangione from 1977 to 1981, and had been a member of the alternative rock band Mary's Danish in the early 1990s.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Crazy Town's debut album, The Gift of Game, was released in November 1999, having been recorded earlier that year.
The Gift of Game and "Butterfly" (1999–2001)
The release of The Gift of Game was followed by a tour support slot for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Guitarist Rust Epique left the band while the album was being mixed, and Crazy Town was joined by Kraig Tyler shortly after. The first two singles from The Gift of Game, "Toxic" and "Darkside", were released but failed to chart.<ref name="where ya been">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2000, Crazy Town was signed to tour with Ozzfest; however, they were forced to withdraw after only two weeks when Binzer was arrested after he threw a chair through a window while he was drunk.<ref name="2001 interview"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Crazy Town then released their third single in 2001, "Butterfly" (which uses samples from Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Pretty Little Ditty"). It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Soundscan reports 100,000 album sales of The Gift of Game prior to the release of "Butterfly"; after "Butterfly" reached number 1, sales exceeded 1.5 million.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Crazy Town toured with Ozzfest in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They were received with mixed reviews; many people in the Ozzfest crowd mockingly called them "The Butterfly Boys".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A fourth single, "Revolving Door", was released with limited success. In 2001 Crazy Town also made a cameo appearance in the music video for "Bad Boy for Life" by P. Diddy, Black Rob and Mark Curry.
Darkhorse (2001–2003)
Their second album, Darkhorse, was produced by Howard Benson and released on November 12, 2002.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Benson's influence resulted in a more rock-oriented sound. Prior to recording the album, drummer James Bradley Jr. eventually left the band and was replaced by Kyle Hollinger. The album achieved little commercial success, spawning only two singles: "Drowning", which became a minor hit in the U.S., UK, Austria, and Germany, and "Hurt You So Bad", which failed to chart at all. Shortly after the release of Darkhorse the band broke up in 2003, citing amongst other things, pressure from their record company for a "Butterfly" follow-up.<ref name="where ya been"/>
Hiatus (2003–2007)
During Crazy Town's hiatus, Bret Mazur went on to form The Pharmacy, a record-producing company. Shortly after leaving Crazy Town, Rust Epique formed a band which would eventually go by the name pre)Thing. He died of a heart attack shortly before their debut album 22nd Century Lifestyle was released in 2004.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Binzer contributed vocals to Paul Oakenfold's 2002 single Starry Eyed Surprise. He released his first solo album in 2004, Happy Love Sick, under his alias Shifty Shellshock. Kraig Tyler joined Eric Powell's industrial band 16Volt.
Reformation (2007–2011)
In late 2007, Crazy Town announced that the remaining members had reformed and were working on a new studio album, tentatively titled Crazy Town is Back, which would be released sometime in 2008,<ref name=reformed>Template:Cite web</ref> though no such release was ever made. On August 26, 2009, Crazy Town performed at Les Deux, in Hollywood, California, on stage together for the first time in five years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On August 28, 2009, former member DJ AM was found dead in his apartment, of an accidental drug overdose.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On August 7, 2010, Crazy Town played together at the festival SRH FEST 2010 in California.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Throughout 2011, Crazy Town released a new song, "My Place", on YouTube, as well as two new songs, "Hard to Get" and "Hit That Switch", on their Myspace page.
The Brimstone Sluggers (2013–2017)
In 2013, Shifty and Epic said that Crazy Town were in the studio recording a new album, entitled The Brimstone Sluggers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On December 18, 2014, Crazy Town released their first official single from the album, "Megatron". The song was used as the theme song for Impact Wrestling during its run on Destination America in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Brimstone Sluggers was released on August 28, 2015. DJ AM appears as a featured artist on the track "Born to Raise Hell", which was released as a single in August 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, lead guitarist Elias Tannous<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was added to the lineup and from August till October 2016, the band toured with the Make America Rock Again concert, alongside other artists who had success throughout the 2000s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Throughout the tour, Epic would perform and was temporarily replaced by Bobby Reeves, an ex-vocalist of Adema.
Mazur's departure, lineup change, Crazy Town X and Binzer's death (2017–2024)
In January 2017, after a year of hiatus from the band, Epic announced through Facebook that he would no longer tour with the band.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Epic intended to still be involved with Crazy Town, though not as a band member. Shifty decided to add an "X" next to the band's name. When asked about the letter's significance on their Instagram account, the band stated "the X is used by gangs to symbolize a territory that has just been won".<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
On November 3, 2019, Crazy Town's van, carrying Binzer and band members Elias Tannous and Roland Banks, crashed into a moose during a tour stop in Ontario, Canada. All three were treated for bruises and cuts at the hospital.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Crazy Town were kicked off a 2023 tour with Hed PE after a bloody fight between Binzer and Reeves outside a venue in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Crazy Town released an EP titled Flirting With Disaster in March 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the time, Crazy Town's members were Binzer, Mark White, Rick Dixon and Sean Heenan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On June 24, 2024, Binzer was found dead in his home from an accidental drug overdose.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Musical style and legacy
Billboard categorized Crazy Town as a rock and hip hop band.<ref>"Crazy Town Survives Troubles To See Success", Billboard, January 16, 2001.</ref> The band described themselves as "hip-hop kids who needed a bit of rock in their sound", instead of a rock band that added hip hop to their sound,<ref name=Udo>Template:Cite book</ref> reflecting the band members' background working in Los Angeles hip hop.<ref name=allmusicguide/> The band fused "hip-hop's lyrical attitude and rhythmic sass with the muscle of live rock instrumentation."<ref name=allmusicguide/> They developed their rap rock sound in the Los Angeles underground music scene, anticipating nu metal.<ref name=laweekly>Template:Cite web</ref> According to AllMusic, "Crazy Town's music and image reflected one of the most dynamic and volatile sociocultural environments on the planet—Los Angeles—where the urban squalor of the South Central district exists just minutes away from the glitz of Beverly Hills."<ref name=allmusicguide>Template:Cite web</ref> The band's influences include N.W.A, Cypress Hill, Ice-T and the Cure.<ref name=allmusicguide/> Crazy Town's music is defined by "pronged rapping [...] urban angst/street-fighting, bitch-bonking [lyrics]" which are "punctuated [with] bone-crushing [...] guitar riffs."<ref name=NME>Template:Cite web</ref> Due to looking more like a hip hop crew than a metal band, Crazy Town inspired more ire from metal purists than any other rap rock group.<ref name=Udo/> It was commonly perceived that the band's target audience was 13-year-old boys "vicariously living out their fantasies of being a bad-ass tattooed pimp" through the band's rap lyrics.<ref name=Udo/>
About the band's lyrics, Shifty Shellshock said: "We're just having a good time. We're not like political or anything. I can be very sarcastic just like a little punk, we talk a lot of trash. We have some points, like 'learn from your mistakes', 'check yourself', you know, 'don't get taken advantage of'. Real simple things, nothing too overwhelming".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Although they were best known for having a rap metal sound, their biggest hit, "Butterfly", had a hip hop sound.<ref name="Complex">Every #1 rap song in Hot 100 history: "Butterfly" (2001). Complex (April 1, 2013). "Crazy Town were more known as an alt-rap-metal group, but their biggest song was decidedly hip-hop."</ref> Reporting on the song's success in 2001, The Oklahoman wrote, "The song, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart last month, was one of those welcome surprises: a deft blend of hip-hop and rock that didn't sound like Red Bull-fueled 'roid rage. Built around a sample of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Pretty Little Ditty,' 'Butterfly' was hard enough to please the Bizkit eaters but smooth enough to seduce pop fans."<ref>Staying Crazy Band careful about 'Butterfly' image newsok.com (April 20, 2001)</ref> Their third album, The Brimstone Sluggers, saw the band displaying an alternative hip hop sound reflective of their musical roots.<ref>The Brimstone Sluggers. Allmusic. "The Brimstone Sluggers finds Crazy Town returning to their roots and dialing back the guitars in favor of a more alternative hip-hop approach"</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
About the band's legacy in nu metal, I'm Music Magazine said: "Crazy Town is often only thought of as a 'one hit wonder' by way too many people. The band has never truly received the credit that they deserve for their influence on the nu metal scene".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Radio.com included the band on a list titled "Top 10 Alt-Rock One-Hit Wonders".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Members
- Final lineup
- Seth "Shifty" Binzer – vocals (1995–2024; his death)
- Steven "Epic" Hendricks – guitars (2023–2024)
- DJ Rick One (Rick Dixon) – turntables (2010–2013, 2015–2017, 2018–2024)
- Mark White – guitars (2023–2024)
- Brian "Ruby" Selleck – bass (2023–2024)
- Sean Heenan – drums (2023–2024)
- Former members
- Bret "Epic" Mazur – vocals, bass, keyboards, piano, turntables, beatboxing (1995–2017)
- Adam "DJ Adam 12" Bravin – turntables, samples, programming, keyboards (1995–1996)
- Charles "Rust Epique" Lopez – guitars (1999–2000; died 2004)
- Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein – turntables, samples, programming, keyboards (1999–2000, 2001; died 2009)
- Doug "Faydoe Deelay" Miller – bass (1999–2003)
- James "JBJ" Bradley Jr. – drums (1999–2001)
- Antonio Lorenzo "Trouble" Valli – lead guitar (1999–2003)
- Kraig "Squirrel" Tyler – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2000–2003)
- Kyle Hollinger – drums (2001–2003)
- Ahmad "Deadsie" Alkurabi – guitars (2014–2015)
- Omar Gusmao – guitars (2015–2016)
- Nick "Dax" Diiorio – bass, backing vocals (2014–2017)
- Elias "ET" Tannous – guitars, backing vocals (2016–2023)
- Hasma Angeleno – bass, backing vocals (2017–2022)
- Kevin Kapler – drums (2014–2017)
- Roland Banks – drums, percussion (2017–2022)
- Jarred "Party Time" Jackson – guitars, bass (2022–2023)
- Touring/session members
- Boondock – vocals (2016–2017)
- Bobby Reeves – vocals (2016–2023)
- Pigsy - bass, vocals (2020 Aus/NZ Tour)
Timeline
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</timeline>
Discography
Studio albums and extended plays
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US <ref name="US-albums">Template:Cite magazine</ref> |
AUS <ref name="AUS">Peaks in Australia:
|
AUT <ref name="AUT">Template:Cite web</ref> |
CAN <ref name="CAN-albums">Template:Cite magazine</ref> |
FRA <ref name="FRA">Template:Cite web</ref> |
GER <ref name="GER-albums">Template:Cite web</ref> |
NLD <ref name="NLD">Template:Cite web</ref> |
NZ <ref name="NZ">Template:Cite web</ref> |
SWI <ref name="SWI">Template:Cite web</ref> |
UK <ref name="UK">Template:Cite web</ref> | |||||
| The Gift of Game | 9 | 27 | 4 | 7 | 133 | 6 | 40 | 10 | 11 | 15 |
| |||
| Darkhorse |
|
120 | 90 | — | — | 139 | 52 | — | — | 90 | 164 | |||
| The Brimstone Sluggers |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| Flirting with Disaster EP |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US <ref name="US-singles">Template:Cite web</ref> |
US Alt. <ref name="US-Alternative-singles">Template:Cite magazine</ref> |
US Main. Rock <ref name="US-Mainstream-Rock-singles">Template:Cite magazine</ref> |
AUS <ref name="AUS"/> |
AUT <ref name="AUT"/> |
FIN <ref name="FIN">Template:Cite web</ref> |
GER <ref name="GER-singles">Template:Cite web</ref> |
NOR <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
NLD <ref name="NLD"/> |
NZ <ref name="NZ"/> |
SWE <ref name="SWE">Swedish singles chart</ref> |
SWI <ref name="SWI"/> |
UK <ref name="UK"/> | |||||
| "Toxic"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 1999 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Gift of Game | ||
| "Darkside"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 2000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Butterfly" | 1 | 1 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| |||
| "Revolving Door" | 2001 | — | — | — | 76 | 29 | 19 | 26 | — | 71 | — | 46 | 43 | 23 | |||
| "Drowning" | 2002 | — | 24 | 24 | 72 | 45 | — | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | Darkhorse | ||
| "Hurt You So Bad"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 2003 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Lemonface" | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Brimstone Sluggers | ||
| "Megatron" | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Backpack" | 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Born to Raise Hell" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Come Inside" | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "The Life I Chose" Template:Small |
2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | rowspan="6" Template:N/A | ||
| "Fly Away" Template:Small |
2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Butterfly 2021" Template:Small |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Leeches" Template:Small |
2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Faded" Template:Small |
2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Lighthouse" Template:Small |
2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||
Notes
<references group="upper-alpha" />
References
External links
- 1995 establishments in California
- American rap metal musical groups
- American rap rock groups
- Columbia Records artists
- Hip-hop groups from California
- Musical groups established in 1995
- Musical groups disestablished in 2003
- Musical groups reestablished in 2007
- Musical groups from Los Angeles
- Musical quintets
- Nu metal musical groups from California