Biography

Bands that appreciate sound for the purpose of art is a rarity these days, and bands who perfect their own unique sound is even rarer in the modern music scene. However, like a bottle of 1982 Chateau Petrus, Incubus has emerged from the hills of California to slice through the conformist’s pop and develop a sound all their own. Some have incorrectly categorized them as nu-metal, others a mixture of alternative rock, funk metal, jazz fusion and post grunge. Whatever the case may be, incubus is good.

At the height of Seattle grunge, Incubus began their journey as a jam band incorporating funk, spoken word and tight riffs at all ages shows in clubs around Calabasas, CA. It was their high school math teacher, Joanne Stanulonis, who set up contacts with Immortal Records in 1995. The band would go on to record their first album, Fungus Amongus, and embark on an Incubus tour that same year. Large record companies took notice to the large amount of people buying Incubus concert tickets and 2 years later, incubus would release their first major studio album, Enjoy Incubus,through Sony which contained some old material from Fungus Amongus and some new tracks (for more information on Incubus Albums, check out the albums page).

In 1997, the same year that Fungus Amongus hit shelves, S.C.I.E.N.C.E. was released. Incubus’ sound was typically unheard of at the time, and people attending Incubus concerts gave them credit for their originality despite being signed to a major record label. Singer Brandon Boyd, bassist Dirk Lance, guitarist Mike Einziger, drummer Jose Pasillas and turntablist Chris Kilmore, who replaced original guitarist Gavin Copple would embark on a successful route of tours. Incubus concerts included Korn, System of a Down, Black Sabbath, 311, and the Family Values Tour, Ozzfest and Warped Tour.

Rest and repose was put on hold after Incubus concerts in 1997 as they hit the studio for the third album Make Yourself in 1998. Considered Incubus’ breakthrough album, Make Yourself delves away from chaotic funk of yore and reveals a low-key version of the band’s sound. Their first single “Privilege” was featured on MTV sports and their second single,”Make Yourself,” propelled Incubus to the top on mainstream radio waves. The plugged in version of the song received little attention at first, but when the song was rerecorded acoustically, ears perked up and fans took notice. Shortly after being featured on major radio stations in LA and NYC, Incubus tickets went on sale and the band hit the road with Deftones, Mr. Bungle and System of a Down.

In 2000, Incubus shacked up at a beach side mansion in Malibu to gather inspiration for their fourth album Morning View, which was, interestingly enough, named after the road that the mansion was located on. In 2001 the album was released, sat in the number 2 spot on the Billboard top 200 and ncubus tickets went on sale for a tour with Hoobastank.”Wish You Were Here,” the first single off the album peaked at the number 2 spot on US charts. Before the end of the tour, Dirk Lance left the group and was replaced by roots guitarist Ben Kenney.

In another set of trying events, the band went through an extensive lawsuit with Sony in 2003 to seek damages for lack of compensation- the band would be rewarded and A Crow Left of the Murder… was the result. A Crow left of the Murder was released in 2004 and according to Rolling Stone, is ” an expansive musical vision charged with some righteous anger; although vocalist Brandon Boyd doesn’t write explicit protests, there sure are enough allusions to social turbulence to make this the first politically aware alt metal album in many a year.”A much faster paced album, their first single “Megalomaniac” ruffled the feathers of a few republican office holders for it’s apparent political statements- the video was banned during the daytime.

Their next album, Light Grenades, was released in 2006 and become their first #1 position on Billboard Charts, “Anna Molly” (a play on the word anomaly) was the first single off of the album. The video, which follows a woman who is mistakenly declared dead, became a cult favorite. That same year the Incubus tour had to be postponed due to Mike Einziger’s extensive recuperation from carpal tunnel surgery. When Einziger was given a clear bill of health they followed through with Incubus tour dates in Australia and South America.

On Incubus’ official blog in 2008, Brandon Boyd announced a planned hiatus for an indeterminate amount of time. Recently, however, Incubus has dropped hints left and right of a tour in the summer of 2009 and Incubus tickets will go on sale soon. Who wouldn’t want to bask in the warm weather to the sound of Brandon Boyd’s lilting voice and Kilmore’s funky beats? Keep checking back for more Incubus tour date information on the schedule page and Incubus ticket information on the tickets page.