List of Corrosion of Conformity members explained

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).

History

1982–1988

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

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

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.

Members

Current

ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributions
Woody Weatherman1982–presentall Corrosion of Conformity releases
Mike Deanall COC releases, except Blind (1991)
Pepper Keenan
John Green2020–present drumsnone to date

Former

ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributions
Reed Mullinall 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)
Benji Shelton1982–1983No Core demo tape (1982)
Robert Stewart1983None
Eric Eycke1983–1984 Eye for an Eye (1984)
Simon Bob Sinister1986–1987[18]
Phil Swisher1989–1993bass
Karl Agelllead vocalsBlind (1991)
Jimmy Bower2001–2002Live Volume (2001)
Merritt Partridge2002–2004none
Stanton Moore2004–2005In the Arms of God (2005)
Jason Patterson2005–2006none

Lineups

PeriodMembersReleases
June 1982 – 1983
  • Woody Weatherman – guitars, backing vocals
  • Mike Dean – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Reed Mullin – drums, backing vocals
  • Benji Shelton – lead vocals
rowspan="2"
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
  • Animosity (1985)
  • Six Songs with Mike Singing 1985 (1988)
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
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
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
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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Corrosion Of Conformity Interview . . February 12, 2020 .
  2. Web site: Corrosion of Conformity: An oral history of 30 years . Reed . Bryan C. . . February 29, 2012 . February 12, 2020 .
  3. News: Reed Mullin, Corrosion of Conformity Drummer, Dead at 53 . Shteamer . Hank . . January 28, 2020 . February 12, 2020 .
  4. News: Eric Eycke, Former Corrosion of Conformity Singer, Dies . Lifton . Dave . Ultimate Classic Rock . September 23, 2017 . February 12, 2020 .
  5. Web site: The story behind Deliverance by Corrosion Of Conformity . Dome . Malcolm . . December 1, 2016 . February 12, 2020 .
  6. Web site: Corrosion of Conformity's Mike Dean talks about three decades of metal and getting back to basics . Stewart . Allison . . March 1, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120302214654/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/click-track/post/corrosion-of-conformitys-mike-dean-talks-about-three-decades-of-metal-and-getting-back-to-basics/2012/03/01/gIQAiFLXkR_blog.html . March 2, 2012 . February 12, 2020 .
  7. Gitter . Mike . April 28, 1990 . Coc Rock Shock! . . 287 . 8–9.
  8. Book: Sharpe-Young, Garry . New Wave of American Heavy Metal . November 2005 . New Plymouth, New Zealand . Zonda Books . 978-0958268400 . 93 . February 12, 2020 .
  9. News: News From The Pit . Spaulding . Laura . Louisville Music News . December 2000 . February 12, 2020 .
  10. News: Corrosion Of Conformity: Galactic Drummer To Guest On New Album . . August 8, 2004 . February 12, 2020 .
  11. News: Motörhead And Corrosion Of Conformity Officially Announce Joint U.S. Tour . . February 9, 2005 . February 12, 2020 .
  12. News: Corrosion Of Conformity: 'Doing Some Writing And Jamming The Tunes A Little' . . January 2, 2007 . February 12, 2020 .
  13. Web site: Corrosion of Conformity: Biography & History . Huey . Steve . . February 12, 2020 .
  14. News: Confirmed: Corrosion Of Conformity's 'Animosity' Lineup Reunited . . May 12, 2010 . February 12, 2020 .
  15. News: Corrosion Of Conformity Featuring Pepper Keenan To Begin Work On New Album In January . . December 17, 2014 . February 12, 2020 .
  16. News: Corrosion Of Conformity Guitarist Woody Weatherman: 'We've Never Jumped On Any Bandwagons' . . November 10, 2018 . February 12, 2020 .
  17. News: Corrosion of Conformity Drummer Reed Mullin Dies at 53 . Kaufman . Gil . . January 29, 2020 . February 12, 2020 .
  18. Gitter . Mike . April 28, 1990 . Coc Rock Shock! . . 287 . 8–9.