Skrillex

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Skrillex's path to electronic music began in 2008, when he started producing and performing under that alias at clubs in the Los Angeles area. The name, according to Moore, has no meaning and was 'a stupid old online AOL screen name.' On June 7, 2010, he released his official Skrillex debut EP, My Name Is Skrillex, as a free download. Later that year, he began a nationwide tour with Deadmau5 after being signed to Mau5trap recordings and released his second EP, Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites. In 2011, he kicked off the 'Project Blue Book Tour' with support from Porter Robinson, Tommy Lee and DJ Aero. That same year, he announced his label, Owsla, on August 17. At the 54th Grammy Awards, he won Best Dance/Electronic Album, Best Dance Recording, and Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical, as well as a nomination for Best New Artist. In late 2011, he was nominated on the BBC's Sound of 2012, and was named MTV's Electronic Dance Music Artist of the Year. He has collaborated with Diplo and Boys Noize to form the groups Jack Ü and Dog Blood, respectively. It was announced on his 29th birthday that he had reunited with From First to Last to release a single named Make War. In 2017, Skrillex produced and mixed 8, the eighth studio album by rock band Incubus.

In Their Own Story

In 2004, Moore contacted Matt Good of From First to Last about playing guitar for the band on their debut album. After flying out to Georgia, Moore was heard singing by three studio producers and was then made lead singer. In June 2004, Epitaph Records released the band's first full-length record with their new bandmate, Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count. After performing on several successful tours, including the Vans Warped Tour and Dead by Dawn tour, they recorded their second album, Heroine, released in March 2006 on Epitaph. Moore started suffering vocal problems, causing the band to resign from several tours. After going through a successful vocal surgical procedure, Moore informed the band he would be permanently resigning to work on a solo career. FFTL's last show performed with Moore was in their hometown of Orlando at The House of Blues while touring with Atreyu. Moore announced he had left From First to Last to pursue a solo career, then launched a Myspace page displaying three demos ('Signal', 'Equinox', and 'Glow Worm'). This led to Moore's first performance since leaving From First to Last: on April 7, 2007, alongside harpist Carol Robbins, Moore played several original songs at a local art building.

Reader's Guide

To understand Skrillex's evolution, trace his journey from post-hardcore vocalist to electronic producer. After leaving From First to Last in 2007, he released demo CDs on the Team Sleep Tour, limited to about 30 per show, packaged in 'baby blue envelopes' each with a unique drawing by Moore. In February 2008, he joined the second annual AP Tour with All Time Low, The Rocket Summer, The Matches, and Forever the Sickest Kids, appearing on the cover of Alternative Press Magazine's annual '100 Bands You Need to Know' special. On April 7, 2009, he released Gypsyhook, a digital EP featuring three songs and four remixes. He toured with Hollywood Undead in April 2009 performing under the band name 'Sonny and the Blood Monkeys.' In 2010, Moore stated that the album Bells would not be released. Key milestones include: the free download release of My Name Is Skrillex on June 7, 2010; providing programming and vocals for Bring Me the Horizon's third studio album; the nationwide tour with Deadmau5; the 2011 'Project Blue Book Tour' where he unveiled 'First of the Year (Equinox)', 'Reptile', and his remix of Benny Benassi's 'Cinema'; and the release of the Bangarang EP on December 23, 2011. His debut studio album Recess (2014) peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, and his second and third albums, Quest for Fire and Don't Get Too Close, were released one day apart in 2023.

Did You Know?

• Moore was adopted at birth by family friends of his biological parents.
• Both of his parents were Scientologists.
• He learned he was adopted in 2004, and dropped out of his home school program when he was 16.
• The name 'Skrillex' has no meaning and was 'a stupid old online AOL screen name' according to Moore.
• Moore has won nine Grammy Awards, the most of any electronic dance music act.