DevilDriver

Lore & Background

DevilDriver was formed after vocalist Dez Fafara moved from Orange County to Santa Barbara and hosted barbecues where he jammed with musicians he met. Guitarist Evan Pitts met Fafara in a restaurant and gave him his phone number for a jam session, while John Boecklin, who originally played second guitar then switched to drums, met Fafara at a bar. The band was originally called Deathride, but changed to DevilDriver because Fafara felt there were too many bands with that name, and their label Roadrunner Records could not secure copyright. The name came from a book on Italian witchcraft owned by Fafara's wife; the term 'devil driver' refers to bells Italian witches used to drive evil forces away. The band's logo is the Cross of Confusion, which has existed for thousands of years and refers to 'question religion, question authority, question everything around you.'

The band's self-titled debut album was released on October 23, 2003, under Roadrunner Records and entered the Top Heatseekers chart at number 17. Their second album, The Fury of Our Maker's Hand, was recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios and released on June 27, 2005, debuting at number 117 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top Heatseekers chart. The album was re-released on October 31, 2006, with new tracks and a DVD. The band's third album, The Last Kind Words, was released on July 30, 2007, and peaked at number 48 on the Billboard 200. Their fourth album, Pray for Villains, was released on July 14, 2009, debuting at number 35 on the Billboard 200. Their fifth album, Beast, was released on February 22, 2011. In 2012, the band began composing songs for a sixth album and announced they were looking for a new record label, ending their ten-year relationship with Roadrunner Records.

Reader's Guide

DevilDriver emerged from the early 2000s metal scene with a sound rooted in groove and aggression. Their name change from Deathride to DevilDriver, inspired by Italian witchcraft, set a thematic tone of questioning authority and religion. The band's early work, particularly The Fury of Our Maker's Hand, was noted by critics as a significant improvement over their debut, with Allmusic describing it as 'a severe turn away from the falter of their first album.' The album's success on the Top Heatseekers chart and its re-release with bonus material helped solidify the band's presence. The Last Kind Words achieved higher chart positions and included songs featured in the TV show Scrubs and a cover of Iron Maiden's 'Wasted Years' for a tribute album. The band's attempt to set a Guinness world record for a circle pit at Download Festival, though unsuccessful, highlighted their engagement with fan culture. Their later albums, Pray for Villains and Beast, continued to chart on the Billboard 200. The band's lineup changes, including the departure of bassist Jon Miller in 2011 for recovery reasons, and their search for a new label in 2012, marked a period of transition. DevilDriver's legacy lies in their consistent output and thematic focus on questioning established norms.

Did You Know?

• The band was originally named Deathride but changed to DevilDriver due to copyright issues and the name being used by several other bands.
• The band's logo, the Cross of Confusion, has existed for thousands of years and is meant to encourage questioning religion, authority, and everything around you.