Mass Mental
Encyclopedia
Mass Mental was a short lived heavy metal
band. It was formed (and disbanded) in 1998 by Suicidal Tendencies
and current Metallica
bassist Robert Trujillo
and former Dub War
and current Skindred
singer Clive "Benji" Webbe
.
disbanded after a dispute with their record label, Earache Records
, and Webbe had failed to persuade them to let him record a hip-hop solo album. Robert Trujillo was working with Ozzy Osbourne at the time. He invited fellow Osbourne musicians Mike Bordin
(of Faith No More
) on drums and Joe Holmes
on guitar to perform on the new band's album, How to Write Love Songs. Bordin and Holmes did not appear on all tracks, as others featured Brooks Wackerman
on drums and Armand Sabal-Lecco on lead bass (notably on the track Go Mexican Go). Mikey Demus of Skindred has also claimed that Roy Mayorga
of Stone Sour
also played on some tracks. He also hinted that the project is ongoing, yet no plans have come to fruition since How to Write Love Songs.
The band spawned a studio album called How to Write Love Songs and a live album in Tokyo both released in Japan
only, before disbanding shortly afterwards.
which spawned 4 studio albums; Robert Trujillo going on to join Metallica
in 2003 where he remains to this day; Mike Bordin briefly touring with Korn
in 2000 while David Silveria
was injured and reforming Faith No More
in 2009; and Brooks Wackerman working with Bad Religion
, Tenacious D
, Fear and the Nervous System
, and for a brief time in 2007, Korn
.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band. It was formed (and disbanded) in 1998 by Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
and current Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
bassist Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo is an American bassist who currently plays bass in Metallica. He has also played in Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society, and with Jerry Cantrell and Ozzy Osbourne.-Career:...
and former Dub War
Dub War
Dub War was a four piece metal band from Newport, South Wales, UK. Formed in 1993, the band offered an innovative mix of metal, punk, and ragga influenced by bands like The Clash and Bad Brains...
and current Skindred
Skindred
Skindred is a Welsh rock band from Newport. The band was formed in 1998 following the disbandment of vocalist Benji Webbe's previous band, Dub War. Skindred's musical style mixes alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and reggae...
singer Clive "Benji" Webbe
Benji Webbe
Clive "Benji" Webbe is a Welsh singer best known as the lead vocalist for the alternate rock band Skindred and as a former member of Dub War...
.
Biography
The band was formed when Benji’s old band Dub WarDub War
Dub War was a four piece metal band from Newport, South Wales, UK. Formed in 1993, the band offered an innovative mix of metal, punk, and ragga influenced by bands like The Clash and Bad Brains...
disbanded after a dispute with their record label, Earache Records
Earache Records
Earache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
, and Webbe had failed to persuade them to let him record a hip-hop solo album. Robert Trujillo was working with Ozzy Osbourne at the time. He invited fellow Osbourne musicians Mike Bordin
Mike Bordin
Mike Bordin is the co-founder and drummer of rock band Faith No More. He is also known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne. As a left-handed drummer, he notably plays with a right-handed kit with his ride cymbal on the left...
(of Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
) on drums and Joe Holmes
Joe Holmes
Joe Holmes is a Heavy metal guitarist. Born in New Jersey, he took lessons from guitarist Randy Rhoads in 1979. Holmes formed the L.A based band called Terriff in 1983. Holmes left Terriff to join Lizzy Borden in 1987...
on guitar to perform on the new band's album, How to Write Love Songs. Bordin and Holmes did not appear on all tracks, as others featured Brooks Wackerman
Brooks Wackerman
Brooks Wackerman is the current drummer for the American punk band Bad Religion and the younger brother of Chad Wackerman, formerly a member of Frank Zappa's band.-Career:...
on drums and Armand Sabal-Lecco on lead bass (notably on the track Go Mexican Go). Mikey Demus of Skindred has also claimed that Roy Mayorga
Roy Mayorga
Roy Maurice Mayorga is the drummer for the hard rock band Stone Sour. He is of Ecuadorian and Cuban descent.-Musical history:...
of Stone Sour
Stone Sour
Stone Sour is an American rock band from Des Moines, Iowa. Since 2006, the group has been composed of Corey Taylor , Jim Root , Josh Rand, , Shawn Economaki and Roy Mayorga . Original drummer Joel Ekman left the group in 2006...
also played on some tracks. He also hinted that the project is ongoing, yet no plans have come to fruition since How to Write Love Songs.
The band spawned a studio album called How to Write Love Songs and a live album in Tokyo both released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
only, before disbanding shortly afterwards.
After Mass Mental
The group members each went their separate ways, with Benji Webbe forming influential "ragga metal" band SkindredSkindred
Skindred is a Welsh rock band from Newport. The band was formed in 1998 following the disbandment of vocalist Benji Webbe's previous band, Dub War. Skindred's musical style mixes alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and reggae...
which spawned 4 studio albums; Robert Trujillo going on to join Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
in 2003 where he remains to this day; Mike Bordin briefly touring with Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
in 2000 while David Silveria
David Silveria
David Randall Silveria is a former-drummer, best known as the drummer for the band Korn from early 1993 until leaving the band in late 2006.-1993 to 2006: Korn:...
was injured and reforming Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
in 2009; and Brooks Wackerman working with Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
, Tenacious D
Tenacious D
Tenacious D is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. Composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Black and lead guitarist and vocalist Kyle Gass, the band has released two albums – Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny...
, Fear and the Nervous System
Fear and the Nervous System
Fear and the Nervous System is an experimental/industrial rock band formed by Korn guitarist James Shaffer.-History:In early 2008, Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer announced plans to release a new project entitled Fear and the Nervous System. The record was said to be released in late 2008,...
, and for a brief time in 2007, Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
.
Members
(known participants on "How to Write Love Songs" only)- Benji WebbeBenji WebbeClive "Benji" Webbe is a Welsh singer best known as the lead vocalist for the alternate rock band Skindred and as a former member of Dub War...
- Lead Vocals - Robert TrujilloRobert TrujilloRobert Trujillo is an American bassist who currently plays bass in Metallica. He has also played in Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society, and with Jerry Cantrell and Ozzy Osbourne.-Career:...
- Bass Guitar - Joe HolmesJoe HolmesJoe Holmes is a Heavy metal guitarist. Born in New Jersey, he took lessons from guitarist Randy Rhoads in 1979. Holmes formed the L.A based band called Terriff in 1983. Holmes left Terriff to join Lizzy Borden in 1987...
- Lead Guitar - Mike BordinMike BordinMike Bordin is the co-founder and drummer of rock band Faith No More. He is also known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne. As a left-handed drummer, he notably plays with a right-handed kit with his ride cymbal on the left...
- Drums - Armand Sabal-Leco - Bass Guitar
- Brooks WackermanBrooks WackermanBrooks Wackerman is the current drummer for the American punk band Bad Religion and the younger brother of Chad Wackerman, formerly a member of Frank Zappa's band.-Career:...
- Drums
Discography
- How To Write Love Songs (1999)
- Live In Tokyo (1999)