Escape the Fate
- Post-hardcore
- metalcore
- screamo
- emo
- Big Noise
- Eleven Seven
- Universal
- DGC
- Interscope
- Polydor[1]
- Epitaph
- Beyond Unbroken
- Robert Ortiz
- Craig Mabbitt
- Thomas "TJ" Bell
- Erik Jensen
- Matti Hoffman
- Omar Espinosa
- Ronnie Radke
- Monte Money
- Michael Money
- Max Green
- Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft
Escape the Fate is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2004. Originally from Pahrump, Nevada, the group currently consists of lead vocalist Craig Mabbitt, guitarists Matti Hoffman and TJ Bell, bassist Erik Jensen and drummer Robert Ortiz. Ortiz is the only founding member remaining in the band.
The band released their debut album Dying Is Your Latest Fashion in 2006, fronted by founding lead singer Ronnie Radke. After Radke was sentenced to prison for his involvement in a 2006 killing, he was fired and replaced with Craig Mabbitt formerly of the band Blessthefall. Escape the Fate's second album This War Is Ours, their first with Mabbitt, was released in 2008 and debuted at No. 35 on the Billboard 200, selling 13,000 copies in the first week.
Their third album, Escape the Fate, came out in 2010 and reached No. 25 on the Billboard 200, their highest placement. In 2013, their fourth album Ungrateful was released, including "One for the Money", their highest-charting song on the U.S. Mainstream Rock charts.
Currently signed to John Feldmann's Big Noise label, the band's seventh album Chemical Warfare was released in 2021, and their eighth and most recent album Out of the Shadows was released in 2023.
History
Formation and Dying Is Your Latest Fashion (2004–2007)
Before forming Escape the Fate, founding vocalist Ronnie Radke, lead guitarist Bryan Monte Money, bassist Max Green, drummer Robert Ortiz, and rhythm guitarist Omar Espinosa were in multiple bands all together. Later, in 2004, Monte Money created Escape the Fate with Max Green and Ronnie Radke, then inviting Robert Ortiz and Omar Espinosa.
In September 2005, Escape the Fate won a local radio contest judged by My Chemical Romance. The gig awarded them the opportunity to open a show on the band's headlining tour with Alkaline Trio and Reggie and the Full Effect. As a result of their show on the tour and their self-released EP demo, this subsequently led to Escape the Fate's record deal with Epitaph. Following their record deal, the band released their debut EP titled There's No Sympathy for the Dead in May 2006, which included two songs that were later on their full-length album. The EP was produced by Michael Baskette and helped earn the band attention from record labels and fans alike.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Ronnie_Radke_at_the_2007_Vans_Warped_Tour_in_Denver.jpg/170px-Ronnie_Radke_at_the_2007_Vans_Warped_Tour_in_Denver.jpg)
Later in September 2006, the band released their first full-length album, Dying Is Your Latest Fashion, which charted moderately on Billboard's Heatseeker and Top Independent charts. On November 20, 2007, they released the Situations EP,[2][3] it was also the last extended play that Ronnie Radke and Omar Espinosa made with the band.[4][better source needed]
On November 6, 2007, rhythm guitarist Omar Espinosa left the band due to personal issues and started a band called Perfect Like Me (after leaving The Black and White City).[5] Later, Ronnie Radke was involved in an altercation in Las Vegas that resulted in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Cook.[6][7][8] While Radke did not shoot Cook, he was indicted on battery charges, while the man who shot Cook claimed self-defense. These charges against Radke, combined with Ronnie's past troubles with narcotics and rehab, led to a sentence of five years probation.[9] Radke failed to report to his probation officer and was arrested in June 2008, where he was sentenced to two years in prison. Radke was officially fired from Escape the Fate in mid-2008.
Radke's incarceration and This War Is Ours (2008–2010)
The band hired Craig Mabbitt, who was searching for a new band after leaving Blessthefall. Mabbitt had played with Escape the Fate on the Black on Black Tour, while with Blessthefall. After several trial shows he became the official new singer and they entered the studio to record their second full-length album, This War Is Ours. The album was released on October 21, 2008. It was the first Escape the Fate release to feature Craig Mabbitt as the lead vocalist.[citation needed] On October 1, 2008, the band released "This War Is Ours (The Guillotine II)" for download.[10] Copies of the album were made available to buy on their tour with Chiodos and Silverstein, even before the album's official release date.[citation needed] The official video for "Something" was released to MTV on January 12, 2009.[citation needed]
The album debuted at No. 35 on the Billboard 200, selling 13,000 copies in the first week.[11] Before the tour for This War Is Ours, the band had never completed a full tour. The band later went on the This War Is Ours tour with Attack Attack!, Burn Halo, William Control, and Black Tide. The band then joined Hollywood Undead and Atreyu on their 2008 tour and toured Europe during December.[12]
In 2010, Epitaph Records announced the re-release of the This War Is Ours album in deluxe CD/DVD edition with a bonus disc with many different features not seen before. The CD included two new never before heard songs, later identified to be "Bad Blood" and "Behind the Mask", an acoustic version of "Harder Than You Know", and an unreleased remix of "This War Is Ours (The Guillotine II)" called "This War Is Mine", remixed by the Shawn Crahan. It also came with a DVD that featured the new music video to "This War Is Ours (The Guillotine II)", as well as "Something", "The Flood", and "10 Miles Wide", as well as a world tour documentary and a behind the music feature.[13] It released April 27, 2010.[14]
Escape the Fate spent the rest of 2010 touring Australia on the Soundwave Festival[15] and then Extreme Thing in the US.[16]
Self-titled album and departure of Max Green (2010–2012)
Escape the Fate began writing a third record in early 2010, which eventually became Escape the Fate, which was released in November 2010. For the album, the band left Epitaph and signed to major label Interscope and had the record produced by Don Gilmore. Max Green commented on the album, saying, "This record is the cure for the modern day music epidemic, We are wiping the slate clean and re-writing rock music as you know it." The album spawned four singles: "Massacre",[17] "Issues",[18] "City of Sin", and "Gorgeous Nightmare".
The debut on a major label also led to the band choosing to self-title the album.
In May, Escape the Fate joined the second half of the Raid The Nation tour headlined by Papa Roach with the absence of Max Green on bass. With no statement by the band on his replacement, it was later recognized by many as TJ Bell, who was at the time the current rhythm guitarist for the band Motionless in White. In later interviews with the band after Green's departure, it was clear his absence from the tour was due to his addiction with drugs. Bell would go on to fill in for Green on many subsequent tours before replacing Green permanently in 2012.[citation needed]
In mid-December 2011, the band re-entered the studio to work on the production of their fourth album.[19] Initially, the album was planned to be produced in full by John Feldmann and was scheduled for release some time in 2012.
Mabbitt commented that since they are recording their fourth album with John Feldmann again, who they worked with on their second album, This War Is Ours, the style of the upcoming album would be similar to This War Is Ours but would also have elements of their Escape the Fate album added. He also announced a tour, later revealed to be the This World is Ours Tour in South America with the metalcore band Attack Attack! as well as supporting acts The Word Alive and Mest. The tour would later be continued in the United States and Canada.[20] He revealed on February 7 that Escape the Fate was working with Fall Out Boy's lead singer Patrick Stump.[21] It was later revealed that they had made the song "Painting" together, which would be on the upcoming Escape the Fate album and actually titled "Picture Perfect".
On March 4, 2012, Green stated on his Twitter account that he was no longer playing in Escape the Fate. He did not give any specific reasons for his departure, but summarized that it was mainly due to personal and musical differences. He later announced that although he was no longer part of the band, he was still continuing to make music.[22][23] Mabbitt hinted in an interview with Alternative Press that Max Green's departure was due to drugs. Despite the sudden departure, Green and Escape the Fate remained on good terms, to the point where Green even attended a recent[when?] show by the band in Los Angeles. Green joined the band The Natural Born Killers and released their first song "Last Day".[24][25]
The band announced that their South American tour with Attack Attack! would be delayed until June because of Attack Attack! member Andrew Wetzel being diagnosed with pneumonia.
In the aforementioned interview with Alternative Press, the band officially announced that touring members TJ Bell and Michael Money would join the band as official members. Mabbitt commented that Money would have already been an official member, but certain (and now former) members of the band refused to let him in. "When the band became a four-piece we still wanted rhythm so he was never officially given a spot in the band [because] some other members that aren't in the band anymore didn't want him to be," he said. "It got to the point where we were on a tour and he was playing behind the stage, then we got to Warped Tour and he was restricted to this little box and I'm sure it had some effect on Monte as well, [his brother] being in a band but not being an official part of it, so to see them happy and see that camaraderie, it's nice. We'll be stronger moving forward." Along with this, the band also revealed a possible September 2012 release date for their fourth studio album, and the band would be playing a new track from the album on the This World Is Ours tour, later to be revealed as "Live Fast, Die Beautiful".[26]
Recent works (2013–2022)
Robert Ortiz announced in an interview that the band was in the process of switching record labels, explaining that Interscope had too much creative control over the band and the band was unhappy with it.[27] On December 17, 2012, the band released a short clip of an upcoming track titled "Ungrateful", along with the official statement regarding joining Eleven Seven Music. Mabbitt commented on joining the label, "We are excited to be working with Allen and all the people at Eleven Seven Music and having Monster partner with us in 2013! We are stoked to get shit rolling again and we are thankful for all our fans that have stuck with us during this down time. We hope everyone is ready to go hard with us in 2013." Eleven Seven Music EVP Joe McFadden added, "We are extremely excited to have signed ESCAPE THE FATE. We've been watching them for some time now and we look forward to working with them as they define the future of rock and roll."[28]
The band headlined a free show in Hollywood, California, on January 6, 2013, to continue promoting the album.[29]
On September 16, 2013, the band issued a statement from their Facebook page stating that Monte and his brother had refused to go on the Wrong Side of Heaven tour with Five Finger Death Punch, and that they would be replacing them for the tour. Along with this it was announced that TJ Bell would be moving from his position as bass guitarist to rhythm guitar and the former bass guitarist and original member Max Green would be returning to the band for the tour. It was later announced in an Alternative Press video with lead singer Craig Mabbitt that Green would be returning to bass guitar permanently, as would Kevin Gruft as the new lead guitarist.[30]
On May 9, 2014, Green announced his second departure from the band, citing lack of fulfillment and passion as reasons.[31] On May 12, 2014, it was announced that Green had joined the former lead singer Ronnie Radke's current band, Falling in Reverse, which he also left only months after joining.[32]
The band announced that recording for their fifth studio album would begin on May 10, 2015.[33] On August 15, 2015, info on the band's upcoming album leaked online before the official announcement which was originally supposed to be made on August 18. On August 18, 2015, the band released the first single from their new album titled "Just a Memory". The album will be called Hate Me was released on October 30, 2015.[34]
In 2016, they covered the My Chemical Romance song, "Dead!", for a Rock Sound tribute album.[35]
On November 3, 2017, the band released the first single, "Empire", from their new album, I Am Human, which was set to be released on February 16, 2018,[36][37] but later postponed to March 30, 2018.[38] The band's single "Broken Heart" from I Am Human was later released, and as of July 2018, had peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart.[39]
Out of the Shadows and departure of Gruft (2022–present)
Shortly before a show in mid-September 2021, Kevin Gruft was absent from the band with Matti Hoffman taking his place as the lead guitarist. The band later removed Gruft from list of band members on their social media pages and added The Dead Rabbitts lead guitarist Erik Jensen as permanent bassist
In December 2022 the band announced that they would be joining the lineup of the "Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2023". A new photo of the band was revealed without Gruft, and the band has yet to release an official statement regarding Kevin Gruft's departure.[40]
Alongside a US tour, they shared their eighth studio album would be called Out of the Shadows and released September 1, 2023, their first album to be released under Big Noise Records. Their headlining tour in support of the record, entitled the Out of the Shadows Tour, took place between August 31 and October 7, with openers D.R.U.G.S, Point Up North, Stitched Up Heart, and Garzi. They are also slated to perform at the So What Fest in Dallas, Texas, on September 7, as well as Hellfest in France.
Musical style and influences
Their music has been described by critics as metalcore,[41][42][43] post-hardcore,[44][45] emo,[45][46] and screamo.[47][48] The band is influenced by a wide array of artists such as Marilyn Manson, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe, Greeley Estates, the Used, Cannibal Corpse, Danzig, Thursday, Linkin Park, Korn, Eminem, Metallica, Blink-182, Journey, Buckcherry, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Underoath, System of a Down, DragonForce,[49] Michael Jackson, Queen, Van Halen, Dio, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith.[50]
Craig Mabbitt has said that he draws inspiration from almost all genres. He said in an interview, "These days, a good song is a good song, and are always influences, whether it be old or new".[51] Ortiz stated that there is a huge variety in the band's influences from metal bands like Metallica and Iron Maiden to the newer bands that they currently tour with, movie scores, or top 40 and rock songs.[52]
Band members
Current members
- Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals (2004–present)[53][54]
- Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals (2008–present)[54]
- Thomas "TJ" Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2014–present), bass (2012–2013, 2015–2021; studio only)[55][56][57]
- Erik Jensen – bass, backing vocals (2021–present)[58]
- Matti Hoffman – lead guitar (2021–present)
Discography
Studio albums
- Dying Is Your Latest Fashion (2006)
- This War Is Ours (2008)
- Escape the Fate (2010)
- Ungrateful (2013)
- Hate Me (2015)
- I Am Human (2018)
- Chemical Warfare (2021)
- Out of the Shadows (2023)
References
- ^ "Escape The Fate Announce Only One Special Show For London Van Escape The Fate Op Myspace". Blogs.myspace.com. August 2, 2010. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ "Situations - EP by Escape the Fate on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ^ "List of All Escape The Fate Songs Ever Made"section Situations (EP)"". Ultimate Guitar. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ^ "Situations - EP". abetterradio.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ^ "Omar Espinoza leaves Escape The Fate - Alternative Press". Altpress.com. November 6, 2007. Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- ^ "Las Vegas CityLife". Archives.lasvegascitylife.com. September 28, 2006. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
- ^ "[Tragedy] Murder, suicide, music and drugs". Lasvegasweekly.com. February 23, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ^ "Escape The fate singer escapes jail". Kerrang.com. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ^ Jon Wiederhorn (September 28, 2011). "Ronnie Radke Reveals Six Things Not To Do in Jail". Revolvermag.com. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ^ "Escape the Fate release another song for download". Myspace. October 1, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2011.[verification needed]
- ^ "AC/DC Debuts at No. 1 With 784,000". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
- ^ "Epitaph Blog » Blog Archive » Escape The Fate on tour with Hollywood Undead and Atreyu!". Epitaphblog.com. August 26, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ "ESCAPE THE FATE to Release 'This War Is Ours' Deluxe Edition on April 27th " News "". Puregrainaudio.com. March 16, 2010. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ "Craig Mabbitt Fansite". Super-Craig.net. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ "Escape The Fate Soundwave 2010 Bad Blood NEW SONG!". YouTube. February 20, 2010. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ "MySpace". Collect.myspace.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ "Escape The Fate release Massacre album". Musicremedy.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ Brian Willett. "Escape The Fate – Issues New Song From Upcoming Self-Titled Album".
- ^ "Escape The Fate Interview 2011 Craig Mabbitt". YouTube. October 11, 2011. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ^ "This World Is Ours tour". Escape the Fate. February 6, 2012. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
- ^ "Escape the Fate working on song with Patrick Stump". Hollywood Waste. February 7, 2012. Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
- ^ "Max Green departed from ETF". Hollywood Waste. March 4, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ^ "Max Green continues music career". Hollywood Waste. March 4, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ^ "LAST DAY by The Natural Born Killers on SoundCloud - Hear the world's sounds". Soundcloud.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ^ "Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ "Exclusive Interview: Escape The Fate on their new lineup and their make or break fourth album". Alternative Press. April 4, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
- ^ "Interview with Escape the Fate's Robert Ortiz". PropertyofZack. May 14, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ "Escape The Fate Signs With Eleven Seven Music". Blabbermouth.Net. December 17, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ^ "ESCAPE THE FATE ANNOUNCE FREE SHOW IN LA". SMNNews. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
- ^ "Ronnie Radke, Craig Mabbitt Interview". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ^ ""I cant help feeling unfulfilled at the end of the day..." - bassist Max Green exits Escape The Fate". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ ""Creating memories together again"—Max Green (ex-Escape The Fate) joins Falling in Reverse". Altpress.com. May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
- ^ "Escape The Fate - Facebook". facebook.com. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ "Escape the Fate "Hate Me" Album Details". Kingdom Leaks. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ "Introducing... 'Rock Sound Presents: The Black Parade'". Rock Sound. August 8, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
- ^ "Escape the Fate announce new album". Alternative Press. November 2, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
- ^ "Escape The Fate Build an 'Empire' on New Song, Announce Album". Loudwire. November 2, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "Escape The Fate's New Album "I Am Human" Delayed To March". February 3, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
- ^ "Escape the Fate Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "Escape the Fate makes their second appearance at Blue Ridge Rock Festival". Twitter. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ "Review: Escape The Fate - Ungrateful". May 23, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- ^ "new Escape The Fate album in 2018 - Ghost Cult Magazine". Ghost Cult Magazine. December 6, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- ^ "Escape the Fate, 'Hate Me' - Album Review". Loudwire. October 30, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- ^ "Escape the Fate News - Escape the Fate's Self Titled Album Review". Artists.letssingit.com. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ^ a b Apar, Corey (September 26, 2006). "Dying Is Your Latest Fashion - Escape the Fate : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ^ Glynn, Lee (July 10, 2006). "Escape the Fate: There's No Sympathy for the Dead (review)". Gigwise. Archived from the original on August 14, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
Las Vegas 5 piece emo hardcore outfit known as Escape the Fate, release their debut EP...Shunning the typical fashionably suicidal aesthetic that seems to come part and parcel with most emo bands, Escape the Fate are awesome musicians...These Las Vegas boys will surely break free from the stigma attached to the Emo label as their sound is fresh, violent and full of promise.
- ^ Apar, Corey. "Escape The Fate" (band bio). AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ^ Love, Bret (May 23, 2006). "There's No Sympathy for the Dead - Escape the Fate : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ^ "Escape The Fate in 2008". November 22, 2008. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ "Les Meilleures Caméras".
- ^ Staff, TWRY. "On The Record With Escape The Fate". Daily Music News. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ "[Exclusive] Escape The Fate Interview". Undertow Press. May 10, 2013. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
- ^ "Robert Ortiz of Escape The Fate". Modern Drummer Magazine. February 4, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ a b "Escape the Fate". billboard.com. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "Q: Who played bass on the album and will you guys get an official bassist?". google.com. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "TJ Bell quits Motionless In White". Under the Gun Review. Archived from the original on June 27, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ ""I definitely felt very, very betrayed"—Escape The Fate talk Max Green's departure". Alternative Press. June 18, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "Erik Jensen on Instagram: "This is gonna be a kickass month with the guys in @escapethefate!! Who's excited to see ETF with @wearepalisades and @settostunband"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
External links
- Official website
- v
- t
- e
- Robert Ortiz
- Craig Mabbitt
- TJ Bell
- Erik Jensen
- Matti Hoffman
- Ronnie Radke
- Omar Espinosa
- Bryan "Monte" Money
- Max Green
- Michael Money
- Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft
- Dying Is Your Latest Fashion
- This War Is Ours
- Escape the Fate
- Ungrateful
- Hate Me
- I Am Human
- Chemical Warfare
- Out of the Shadows
- There's No Sympathy for the Dead
- Situations EP
- Issues Remixes
- "Issues"
- "Broken Heart"