Stone Sour

Stone Sour

Stone Sour is an American rock band from Des Moines, United States, formed in 1992 by vocalist Corey Taylor and drummer Joel Ekman. The group is active from 1992 to 2020 and is associated with alternative metal, alternative rock, hard rock, heavy metal, nu metal and post-grunge. Its lineup changes over time, and members include Denny Harvey, Marty Smith, Tony S., Joel Ekman, Corey Taylor, Shawn Economaki, Todd Smith, B.J. Harrison, Josh Ryling, Jim Root, Bruce Swink, Josh Rand, Roy Mayorga, Johny Chow and Christian Martucci.

Formation and early years

Stone Sour first performs for five years before splitting in 1997. It later reunites in 2000. Early demo tapes appear in 1993, 1994 and 1996, and Jim Root joins in 1995. After the first break, Corey Taylor and Jim Root focus on Slipknot before Stone Sour returns.

Studio albums and singles

The band’s self-titled debut album, Stone Sour, is released in 2002. It reaches number 46 on the Billboard 200, is certified gold, and includes “Bother”, which appears on the Spider-Man soundtrack. The singles “Get Inside” and “Inhale” both receive Grammy Award nominations for Best Metal Performance in 2003 and 2004.

Come What(ever) May follows in 2006 and debuts at number four on the Billboard 200. It produces singles including “30/30-150”, “Through Glass”, “Sillyworld”, “Made of Scars” and “Zzyzx Rd.”. “Through Glass” reaches number one on the Mainstream Rock chart. During this period, Joel Ekman leaves and Roy Mayorga joins on drums.

Audio Secrecy is recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville with producer Nick Raskulinecz and released in 2010. The band then issues the two-part concept album project House of Gold & Bones, Part 1 and House of Gold & Bones, Part 2 in 2012 and 2013, alongside a four-part graphic novel series. Singles from this project include “Gone Sovereign”, “Absolute Zero” and “Do Me a Favor”.

Hydrograd is written and demoed in 2016 and released in 2017. Corey Taylor describes it as drawing on heavy metal and hard rock influences. Singles include “Fabuless”, “Song #3”, “Taipei Person/Allah Tea”, “Mercy” and later “St. Marie”.

Live releases, touring and side material

Stone Sour tours with acts including Sinch and Chevelle after its first album, and later appears at events such as Uproar Festival and Soundwave Festival, as well as on The Avalanche Tour. The live album Live in Moscow is released in 2007, and Hello, You Bastards: Live in Reno follows in 2019.

The band also records cover EPs from 2014. Meanwhile in Burbank... appears in 2015 and includes a cover of Metal Church’s “The Dark”. Straight Outta Burbank... is also released, with additional planned EPs later reduced.

Line-up changes

Stone Sour’s membership changes repeatedly. Josh Rand joins in 2001. Shawn Economaki leaves the touring lineup in 2011 and departs the band in 2012, with Johny Chow taking touring duties. Rachel Bolan contributes to studio work during the House of Gold & Bones period. Jim Root does not tour during parts of that era and later leaves because of musical differences. Christian Martucci, Johny Chow, Roy Mayorga and Josh Rand make up the later line-up from 2015.

Hiatus

The band enters an indefinite hiatus in 2020.