Hellyeah

Lore & Background

Hellyeah's beginnings can be traced back to 2000 on the Tattoo the Earth tour featuring Mudvayne, Nothingface, Slayer, Slipknot, and Sevendust. Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell became friends with Mudvayne vocalist Chad Gray, and they talked about the possibility of forming a supergroup. The following year, Nothingface toured with Mudvayne and talks to form the supergroup continued, although were constantly put on hold due to scheduling conflicts. At this time, Gray and Maxwell had brainstormed five band names. Mudvayne guitarist Greg Tribbett approached Maxwell 'out of the blue' and wanted to join the band. Another Nothingface member, bassist Jerry Montano, was also recruited into the project. A third Nothingface member, drummer Kevin Talley, had originally helmed the drum kit for the band's demo; however, things did not work out and the search for a new drummer began. Montano was friends with former Pantera and Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul, and Montano persistently called Paul, trying to persuade him to join the band as their drummer. Originally, Paul was not sure if he would return to music after the death of his brother Dimebag Darrell and an 18-month hiatus, but Montano and the other members kept in contact. The band's persistence paid off and Paul joined the project.

Reader's Guide

Hellyeah represents a notable supergroup in American heavy metal, formed from members of Mudvayne, Nothingface, and Pantera/Damageplan. Their self-titled debut album, recorded at Chasin' Jason studio in Dimebag Darrell's backyard, debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 and sold 45,000 copies in its first week. The band's significance lies in its assembly of established musicians from prominent metal acts, and its ability to produce six studio albums between 2007 and 2019. The band's formation story—originating from conversations on the Tattoo the Earth tour and requiring persistence to recruit Vinnie Paul—illustrates the collaborative and sometimes challenging nature of supergroup projects. Their legacy includes a hiatus as of 2021, with no announced plans to resume activity.

Did You Know?

• The band's name was chosen from a list written on pieces of paper placed in an amp box outside the studio.
• Bassist Jerry Montano was asked to leave Hellyeah after the album's release party, where he assaulted guitarist Tom Maxwell and made gun threats while heavily intoxicated.
• The debut album was recorded at Chasin' Jason studio, located in Dimebag Darrell's backyard in Arlington, Texas.
• Vinnie Paul initially declined to join the band multiple times before finally agreeing after drinking whiskey (or Crown Royal) and listening to Pantera.