Wednesday 13

Wednesday 13 are a United States horror punk band fronted by Wednesday 13, who is also known for work with Maniac Spider Trash, Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13, Murderdolls and Bourbon Crow. The band forms in 2004 and continues to play. Its current line-up includes Wednesday 13, Eric Griffin and Kyle Castronovo.

Style and writing

The band plays horror punk with glam metal elements, and is also described as blending death rock and punk. Its lyrics draw heavily on horror films. Wednesday 13 writes all of the music and lyrics, and also performs the guitars, bass, keyboards and vocals on the recordings.

Formation and early line-up

After Murderdolls goes on hiatus, Wednesday 13 tours the United Kingdom in March 2004 on the Graveyard A Go-Go run with live members from Florida horror punk band Death Becomes You. When he returns to North Carolina in June 2004, he begins assembling a more permanent group under the Wednesday 13 name. Former Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 member Ikky joins on guitar, with the band also drawing on the influence of acts such as KISS and Alice Cooper.

In September 2004, Ikky is replaced by Matt Montgomery, also known as Piggy D. Earlier live players include Nicodemous on bass, Christopher Lee on drums and Gory on guitar.

Recordings and tours

The band tours Europe in November 2004 on the Look What The Bats Dragged In tour, with some dates supported by Viking Skull. In 2005 it releases its debut album, Transylvania 90210: Songs of Death, Dying, and the Dead, and makes a promotional video for I Walked With A Zombie using footage from Night of the Living Dead. After the album’s release, the band tours the United Kingdom on Tour from the Crypt.

Also in 2005, Wednesday 13 play the main stage at Download Festival at Donington and open some shows for Alice Cooper, one of the group’s key influences. The band later signs to Rykodisc after leaving Roadrunner Records and releases Fang Bang with the label. The discography also includes Skeletons, The Bloodwork EP and the live release Fuck It! We’ll Do It Live.

Line-up changes

In 2006, Kid Kid leaves to focus on a solo project. Argyle Goolsby of Blitzkid fills in for three live shows before a permanent replacement is found. Piggy D and Ghastly also leave, and Wednesday 13 says that he remains on good terms with former members. A special line-up is then assembled for a cancer research benefit concert and the following gig, reuniting Wednesday 13 with Murderdolls bandmate Eric Griffin for the first time since 2003. That line-up includes drummer Racci Shay and bassist Brix from Dope, though Brix later leaves and Nato Manor joins on bass. After Eric Griffin leaves, J-Sin Trioxin joins on guitar.

Later touring

The band tours with Vains of Jenna in early 2007 and later announces a summer US tour with The 69 Eyes, Fair to Midland and Night Kills the Day. During the European tour in 2007, Racci Shay is replaced by a Combichrist drummer for the remainder of the run after his father dies, and a second guitarist is added while Wednesday 13 recovers from injuries.