Wikipedia

List of Corrosion of Conformity members

Corrosion of Conformity (COC) is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Formed in June 1982, the group originally consisted of guitarist Woody Weatherman, bassist Mike Dean, drummer Reed Mullin and lead vocalist Benji Shelton. The band's current lineup features lead guitarist Weatherman (the only constant member), bassist Dean (who rejoined in 1993 after leaving in 1987, and was also the lead vocalist from 1984 to 1986 and from 2006 to 2014), rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist Pepper Keenan (from 1989 to 2006, and since 2014), and drummer John Green (since 2020, who first joined as a touring substitute for Mullin in 2018 until his death).

Two lineups of Corrosion of Conformity in 1986 (top) and 2018 (bottom)

History

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1982–1988

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COC was formed in June 1982 by Woody Weatherman, Mike Dean and Reed Mullin.[1] Prior to taking on its final name, the group was known as Barney Fife's Army, the Accused and the Seven Ups.[2] The band's original lead vocalist was Benji Shelton, although he had left within a year of its formation.[3] He was replaced for "about a month and a half" by Robert Stewart, followed on a permanent basis by Eric Eycke.[4] Shortly after the release of the group's debut album Eye for an Eye in 1984, Eycke was fired and the group continued as a trio, with Dean and Mullin handling most vocals.[5]

In early 1986, Simon Bob Sinister (who had performed some backing vocals on Animosity the previous year) took over as COC's lead vocalist, with the EP Technocracy recorded "about six months after" his arrival.[2] Shortly after the EP's 1987 release, Dean left and was replaced by Phil Swisher; speaking about his departure later, Dean has explained that "there was a lot to stress about, and it was kind of a relief to step away",[6] while Sinister has claimed that the bassist "was unhappy with the direction [the band] was going".[2] After the EP's release, Sinister left to return to Ugly Americans and the band went on a hiatus.[7]

1989–2006

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COC returned in May 1989 with new frontman Karl Agell.[8] At the same time, the group also added second guitarist Pepper Keenan, who had originally auditioned for the role of lead vocalist but "wasn't really hitting the bill of what we were looking for singing-wise" according to Mullin.[2] The new five-piece lineup released Blind in 1991 and toured extensively; however, during the early stages of production for a follow-up album in summer 1993, Agell was fired and Swisher chose to leave alongside him.[2] Dean subsequently returned and Keenan took over on vocals.[5]

COC's lineup remained constant throughout the rest of the decade, before it was announced at the end of 2000 that Mullin was to be replaced by Jimmy Bower due to a back injury.[9] The new drummer contributed to Live Volume, before he left in mid-2002 to focus on other projects and was replaced by Merritt Partridge.[8] By summer 2004, the group was recording a new album with Galactic drummer Stanton Moore, which was released as In the Arms of God the following year.[10] Due to scheduling conflicts, Moore was replaced by Jason Patterson on tour in 2006.[11]

2006 onwards

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Despite reportedly working on material for a new album in November 2006,[12] the group was placed on hiatus for several years as members focused on other projects.[13] In May 2010, the band returned with Mike Dean on lead vocals, alongside Woody Weatherman and Reed Mullin.[14] The group remained a trio for Corrosion of Conformity and IX, before Keenan returned to the lineup in January 2015.[15] During the touring cycle for 2018's No Cross No Crown, Mullin was often replaced by his drum technician John Green due to various health issues.[16] Mullin died on January 27, 2020,[17] and Jon Green became an official member.

In September 2024, Mike Dean left the band.[18] In October 2024, it was announced that Bobby Landgraf would join the band on Headbangers Boat.[19]

Members

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Current

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Woody Weatherman 1982–present
  • lead guitar
  • backing vocals
 all Corrosion of Conformity releases
Pepper Keenan
  • 1989–2006
  • 2015–present
  • rhythm guitar
  • vocals (lead since 1993, backing until 1993)
John Green 2020–present (touring 2018–20) drums none to date

Former

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Reed Mullin
  • 1982–2001
  • 2010–2020 (hiatus 2019–20, until his death)
  • drums
  • vocals (co-lead 1984–86, backing otherwise)
 all COC releases from Eye for an Eye (1984) to America's Volume Dealer (2000), and from Your Tomorrow Parts 1 & 2 (2010) to No Cross No Crown (2018)
Mike Dean
  • 1982–1987
  • 1993–2024
  • bass
  • keyboards
  • vocals (lead 1984–86 and 2006–15, backing otherwise)
 all COC releases, except Blind (1991)
Benji Shelton 1982–1983
  • lead vocals
 No Core demo tape (1982)
Robert Stewart 1983 None
Eric Eycke 1983–1984 (died 2017) Eye for an Eye (1984)
Simon Bob Sinister 1986–1987[20]
  • Animosity (1985) – guest backing vocals
  • Technocracy (1987)
  • ”Bound” on Rat Music For Rat People Vol. III comp. (1987)
Phil Swisher 1989–1993 bass
  • "Bound" on Rat Music For Rat People Vol. III comp. (1987)
  • Blind (1991)
 Karl Agell lead vocals Blind (1991)
Jimmy Bower 2001–2002
  • drums
  • percussion
 Live Volume (2001)
Merritt Partridge 2002–2004 none
Stanton Moore 2004–2005 In the Arms of God (2005)
Jason Patterson 2005–2006 none

Touring

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Image Name Years active Instruments Notes
Bobby Landgraf 2024 bass Landgraf will join the band for Headbangers Boat 2024.[19]

Timeline

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Lineups

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Period Members Releases
June 1982 – 1983
  • Woody Weatherman – guitars, backing vocals
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Reed Mullin – drums, backing vocals
  • Benji Shelton – lead vocals
 none
1983
  • Woody Weatherman – guitars, backing vocals
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Reed Mullin – drums, backing vocals
  • Robert Stewart – lead vocals
1983–1984
  • Woody Weatherman – guitars, backing vocals
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Reed Mullin – drums, backing vocals
  • Eric Eycke – lead vocals
1984 – early 1986
  • Woody Weatherman – guitars, backing vocals
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, lead and backing vocals
  • Reed Mullin – drums, backing and lead vocals
Early 1986 – Early 1987
  • Woody Weatherman – guitars, backing vocals
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Reed Mullin – drums, backing vocals
  • Simon Bob Sinister – lead vocals
Early 1987–1989
  • Woody Weatherman – guitars, backing vocals
  • Reed Mullin – drums, backing vocals
  • Phil Swisher - bass
  • Simon Bob Sinister – lead vocals
 none
May 1989 – summer 1993
  • Woody Weatherman – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Reed Mullin – drums, backing vocals
  • Pepper Keenan – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Karl Agell – lead vocals
  • Phil Swisher – bass
Summer 1993 – December 2000
  • Woody Weatherman – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Reed Mullin – drums, backing vocals
  • Pepper Keenan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
December 2000 – mid-2002
  • Woody Weatherman – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Pepper Keenan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jimmy Bower – drums, percussion
Mid-2002 – summer 2004
  • Woody Weatherman – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Pepper Keenan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Merritt Partridge – drums, percussion
 none
Summer 2004 – early 2005
  • Woody Weatherman – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Pepper Keenan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Stanton Moore – drums, percussion
Early 2005 – November 2006
  • Woody Weatherman – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Pepper Keenan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jason Patterson – drums, percussion
 none
Band on hiatus November 2006 – May 2010
May 2010 – January 2015
  • Woody Weatherman – guitars, backing vocals
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, lead vocals
  • Reed Mullin – drums, backing vocals
January 2015 – January 2020
  • Woody Weatherman – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Reed Mullin – drums, backing vocals
  • Pepper Keenan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
January 2020 – present
  • Woody Weatherman – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Pepper Keenan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • John Green – drums
 none to date

References

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  1. ^ "Corrosion Of Conformity Interview". Thrasher. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Reed, Bryan C. (February 29, 2012). "Corrosion of Conformity: An oral history of 30 years". Indy Week. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  3. ^ Shteamer, Hank (January 28, 2020). "Reed Mullin, Corrosion of Conformity Drummer, Dead at 53". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  4. ^ Lifton, Dave (September 23, 2017). "Eric Eycke, Former Corrosion of Conformity Singer, Dies". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Dome, Malcolm (December 1, 2016). "The story behind Deliverance by Corrosion Of Conformity". Metal Hammer. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  6. ^ Stewart, Allison (March 1, 2012). "Corrosion of Conformity's Mike Dean talks about three decades of metal and getting back to basics". Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Gitter, Mike (April 28, 1990). "Coc Rock Shock!". Kerrang!. No. 287. pp. 8–9.
  8. ^ a b Sharpe-Young, Garry (November 2005). New Wave of American Heavy Metal. New Plymouth, New Zealand: Zonda Books. p. 93. ISBN 978-0958268400. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  9. ^ Spaulding, Laura (December 2000). "News From The Pit". Louisville Music News. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  10. ^ "Corrosion Of Conformity: Galactic Drummer To Guest On New Album". Blabbermouth.net. August 8, 2004. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  11. ^ "Motörhead And Corrosion Of Conformity Officially Announce Joint U.S. Tour". Blabbermouth.net. February 9, 2005. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  12. ^ "Corrosion Of Conformity: 'Doing Some Writing And Jamming The Tunes A Little'". Blabbermouth.net. January 2, 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  13. ^ Huey, Steve. "Corrosion of Conformity: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  14. ^ "Confirmed: Corrosion Of Conformity's 'Animosity' Lineup Reunited". Blabbermouth.net. May 12, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  15. ^ "Corrosion Of Conformity Featuring Pepper Keenan To Begin Work On New Album In January". Blabbermouth.net. December 17, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  16. ^ "Corrosion Of Conformity Guitarist Woody Weatherman: 'We've Never Jumped On Any Bandwagons'". Blabbermouth.net. November 10, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  17. ^ Kaufman, Gil (January 29, 2020). "Corrosion of Conformity Drummer Reed Mullin Dies at 53". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  18. ^ "MIKE DEAN Announces Departure From CORROSION OF CONFORMITY". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  19. ^ a b "CORROSION OF CONFORMITY Names BOBBY LANDGRAF As Bassist For Band On Headbangers Boat 2024". bravewords.com. October 27, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  20. ^ Gitter, Mike (April 28, 1990). "Coc Rock Shock!". Kerrang!. No. 287. pp. 8–9.
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