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.

Crazy Town
Crazy Town at Camden Rocks festival in 2018
Crazy Town at Camden Rocks festival in 2018
Background information
Also known asThe Brimstone Sluggers (1995–1999)
Crazy Town X (2017–2024)
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1995–2003
  • 2007–2024
Labels
Past members

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

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Formation (1995–1999)

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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.[3] 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.[4] Crazy Town's debut album, The Gift of Game, was released in November 1999, having been recorded earlier that year.

 
The Crazy Town logo used from the release of The Gift of Game to the release of The Brimstone Sluggers

The Gift of Game and "Butterfly" (1999–2001)

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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.[5]

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.[3][6] 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.[7]

Crazy Town toured with Ozzfest in 2001.[8] They were received with mixed reviews; many people in the Ozzfest crowd mockingly called them "The Butterfly Boys".[9] 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)

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Their second album, Darkhorse, was produced by Howard Benson and released on November 12, 2002.[10] 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.[5]

Hiatus (2003–2007)

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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.[11] 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)

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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,[12] 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.[13] On August 28, 2009, former member DJ AM was found dead in his apartment, of an accidental drug overdose.[14] On August 7, 2010, Crazy Town played together at the festival SRH FEST 2010 in California.[15] 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)

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In 2013, Shifty and Epic said that Crazy Town were in the studio recording a new album, entitled The Brimstone Sluggers.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18][19] In 2016, lead guitarist Elias Tannous[20] 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.[21] Throughout the tour, Epic would perform and was temporarily replaced by Bobby Reeves, an ex-vocalist of Adema.

 
The Crazy Town logo with the X mark on it used since Epic left the band

Mazur's departure, lineup change, Crazy Town X and Binzer's death (2017–2024)

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In January 2017, after a year of hiatus from the band, Epic announced through his Facebook post that he will no longer tour with the band.[22][23] 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".[24]

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.[25]

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.[26][27]

Crazy Town released an EP titled Flirting With Disaster in March 2024.[28] At the time, Crazy Town's members were Binzer, Mark White, Rick Dixon and Sean Heenan.[29]

On June 24, 2024, Binzer was found dead in his home from an accidental drug overdose.[30]

Musical style and legacy

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Billboard categorized Crazy Town as a rock and hip hop band.[31] 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,[32] reflecting the band members' background working in Los Angeles hip hop.[33] The band fused "hip-hop's lyrical attitude and rhythmic sass with the muscle of live rock instrumentation."[33] They developed their rap rock sound in the Los Angeles underground music scene, anticipating nu metal.[34] 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."[33] The band's influences include N.W.A, Cypress Hill, Ice-T and the Cure.[33] Crazy Town's music is defined by "pronged rapping [...] urban angst/street-fighting, bitch-bonking [lyrics]" which are "punctuated [with] bone-crushing [...] guitar riffs."[35] 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.[32] 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.[32]

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".[36]

Although they were best known for having a rap metal sound, their biggest hit, "Butterfly", had a hip hop sound.[37] 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."[38] Their third album, The Brimstone Sluggers, saw the band displaying an alternative hip hop sound reflective of their musical roots.[39][40]

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".[41]

Members

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Former members
  • Seth "Shifty" Binzer – vocals (1995–2024; his death)
  • 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 Tannous aka "ET" – guitars, backing vocals (2016–2023)
  • Hasma Angeleno – bass, backing vocals (2017–2022)
  • Kevin Kapler – drums (2014–2017)
  • Roland Banks – drums, percussion (2017–2022)
  • Jarred Jackson aka "Party Time" – guitars, bass (2022–2023)
  • 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)
Touring/session members
  • Boondock – vocals (2016–2017)
  • Bobby Reeves – vocals (2016–2023)
  • Pigsy - bass, vocals (2020 Aus/NZ Tour)

Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums and extended plays

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List of studio albums and extended plays, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[42]
AUS
[43]
AUT
[44]
CAN
[45]
FRA
[46]
GER
[47]
NLD
[48]
NZ
[49]
SWI
[50]
UK
[51]
The Gift of Game 9 27 4 7 133 6 40 10 11 15
Darkhorse
  • Released: November 12, 2002
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: CD, CS
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

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List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[59]
US
Alt.

[60]
US
Main. Rock

[61]
AUS
[43]
AUT
[44]
FIN
[62]
GER
[63]
NOR
[64]
NLD
[48]
NZ
[49]
SWE
[65]
SWI
[50]
UK
[51]
"Toxic"[66] 1999 The Gift of Game
"Darkside"[67] 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"[70] 2003
"Lemonface" 2013 The Brimstone Sluggers
"Megatron" 2014
"Backpack" 2015
"Born to Raise Hell"
"Come Inside" 2016
"The Life I Chose"
(featuring Hyro the Hero)
2020 Non-album singles
"Fly Away"
(featuring Tanner Alexander)
2021
"Butterfly 2021"
(featuring Ekoh)
"Leeches"
(featuring Ray Garrison)
2022
"Faded"
(featuring We Are PIGS)
2023
"Lighthouse"
(Silos, Crazy Town, Judge & Jury)
2024
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

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  1. ^ "Top 10 Alt-Rock One-Hit Wonders". radio.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  2. ^ Miller, Victoria. "The 5 best one-hit wonder alternative rock artists". AXS. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Edwards, Gavin (March 15, 2001). "Q&A: Shifty Shellshock of Crazy Town". Rolling Stone. No. 864. p. 35.
  4. ^ Keeps, David (August 2, 2001). "U are now Entering Crazy Town". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 17, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Kaufman, Gil (February 8, 2007). "Where Ya Been?: City High Drop Out, Crazy Town Stop The Insanity". MTV. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021.
  6. ^ Johnson, Tina (July 13, 2000). "Crazy Town Leaves Ozzfest After Arrest". MTV. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019.
  7. ^ Jeckell, Barry (January 10, 2002). "News on Crazy Town, Nelly, NY Metropolis Fest". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020.
  8. ^ D'Angelo, Joe (November 22, 2002). "Crazy Town Hope To Put An End To 'Butterfly Boys' Taunts". MTV. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018.
  9. ^ D'Angelo, Joe (February 12, 2001). "Crazy Town Join Ozzfest". MTV. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017.
  10. ^ Wiederhorn, Joe (September 23, 2002). "Crazy Town Take On All Comers With Darkhorse". MTV. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021.
  11. ^ Swanson, David (March 10, 2004). "Ex-Crazy Town Guitarist Dead". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 29, 2021.
  12. ^ Harris, Chris (December 5, 2007). "Kris Kross, Crazy Town, EMF, Extreme And More Unmemorable Reunions, In Our Year-End Top 10s - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Archived from the original on June 7, 2019.
  13. ^ "Celebrity Studded Red Carpet Event". PR Newswire. August 25, 2009. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014.
  14. ^ Oh, Eunice (August 28, 2009). "DJ AM Found Dead in New York City". People. Archived from the original on May 25, 2021.
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  16. ^ Srisavasdi, Greg (August 21, 2013). "Crazy Town Reunite for New Album 'The Brimstone Sluggers'". Noise Creep. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020.
  17. ^ Moore, John (January 24, 2015). "1/23 Moore's TNA Impact Wrestling TV Report: Lashley and MVP street brawl, Feast or Fired, James Storm vs. Matt Hardy, Havok vs. Gail Kim, Jeremy Borash vs. EC3". ProWrestling. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019.
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  19. ^ Sciarretto, Amy (August 28, 2015). "Album Stream: Crazy Town 'The Brimstone Sluggers'". Artistdirect. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016.
  20. ^ Washington, Darius (May 18, 2020). "The Story of Elias Tannous- Guitarist for CrazyTown X". Medium. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020.
  21. ^ Bowar, Chad (May 18, 2016). "Trapt, Saliva, Puddle of Mudd, P.O.D., Alien Ant Farm and More Lead 'Make America Rock Again' Tour". Loudwire. Archived from the original on July 18, 2016.
  22. ^ Mazur, Bret (January 10, 2017). "To all of our fans and friends..." Crazy Town (via Facebook). Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  23. ^ Mazur, Bret (January 10, 2017). "Statement from Epic..." Bret Mazur (via Facebook). Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  24. ^ Binzer, Seth (June 18, 2018). "Instagram post". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
  25. ^ Levenson, Eric (November 3, 2019). "Crazy Town band members bloodied after their tour van crashed into a moose". CNN. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019.
  26. ^ Kaufman, Gil (April 26, 2023). "Bloody Crazy Town Fight Between Singer, Guitarist Throws 'Nu-Metal Madness' Tour Into Chaos". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023.
  27. ^ Shadows, Em (April 25, 2023). "Crazy Town Members Get in Physical Altercation over Missed Performance". MetalSucks. Archived from the original on May 19, 2024.
  28. ^ Rosenbloom, Ali (June 25, 2024). "Seth Binzer, lead singer for Crazy Town who was known as 'Shifty Shellshock,' dead at 49". CNN.
  29. ^ "Exploring Crazy Town's New EP "Flirting With Disaster"". Krushkill Records. March 20, 2024.
  30. ^ Paul, Larisha (June 25, 2024). "Shifty Shellshock, Frontman of Crazy Town, Dead at 49". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024.
  31. ^ "Crazy Town Survives Troubles To See Success", Billboard, January 16, 2001.
  32. ^ a b c Udo, Tommy (2002). Brave Nu World. Sanctuary Publishing. pp. 187–88. ISBN 1-86074-415-X.
  33. ^ a b c d Nimmervoll, Ed. "Crazy Town - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  34. ^ Chaz Kangas (May 13, 2014). "Everything You Need to Know About Crazy Town Getting Back Together". L.A. Weekly. Archived from the original on August 12, 2015.
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  38. ^ Staying Crazy Band careful about 'Butterfly' image newsok.com (April 20, 2001)
  39. ^ 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"
  40. ^ "The Brimstone Sluggers Review". Ultimate Guitar Archive. September 7, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  41. ^ Price, Johnny. "Interview ~ Elias "ET" Tannous of Crazy Town". I'm Music Magazine. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
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  64. ^ "Crazy Town". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  65. ^ Swedish singles chart
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