Zebrahead

Zebrahead is an American rock group from La Habra in Orange County, California. Formed in 1996, the band develops a sound that mixes punk rock, pop punk and hip hop, with rapped and sung vocals used together as part of its core style.

Formation and line-up

The group forms in 1996 with rapper Ali Tabatabaee, bassist Ben Osmundson, drummer Ed Udhus, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Justin Mauriello and guitarist Greg Bergdorf. Its line-up later includes lead guitarist Dan Palmer, Matty Lewis and Adrian Estrella. The verified line-up includes Justin Mauriello, Greg Bergdorf, Ben Osmundson, Ali Tabatabaee, Ed Udhus, Matty Lewis and Dan Palmer.

Early releases and breakthrough

The band’s first recorded material includes the demo One More Hit, which features the song “Check”. Its self-titled debut album appears in 1998 on Doctor Dream Records, followed later the same year by the major-label release Waste of Mind. That album includes “Get Back”, which charts on the US Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, and a version of “Check” that appears on the soundtrack to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3.

Albums and later work

Playmate of the Year appears in 2000 and charts on the US Top Heatseekers chart. The EP Stupid Fat Americans follows in 2001. In 2003, the band releases MFZB, which moves towards a heavier punk rock sound and becomes a gold record in Japan. A companion release, Waste of MFZB, appears in Japan in 2004.

Justin Mauriello leaves in 2004 and Matty Lewis joins in 2005, making his first appearance on Broadcast to the World in 2006. The band then releases Phoenix in 2008 and the EP Not the New Album before it. In 2009, it releases the cover album Panty Raid, which consists of songs originally performed by female artists.

Get Nice! follows in 2011 and charts on the US Top Heatseekers chart. Call Your Friends appears in 2013, around the time Greg Bergdorf leaves and Dan Palmer replaces him. The live DVD Way More Beer is released in 2014. For the band’s twentieth anniversary, Greatest Hits? – Volume 1 appears in 2015, along with The Early Years - Revisited, which contains re-recorded versions of earlier songs. Later in 2015, Walk the Plank is released. In 2017, the compilation The Bonus Brothers appears, collecting tracks that were previously exclusive to Japanese editions. Brain Invaders follows in 2019.

Collaborations and recent releases

Ali Tabatabaee and Matty Lewis perform “His World” for the 2006 video game Sonic the Hedgehog. Lewis leaves the band in 2021 and Adrian Estrella replaces him as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. That year the band releases the single “Lay Me to Rest” and the EP III. The EPs II and I follow in 2023 and 2024, with Estrella as co-lead vocalist.

Touring

Zebrahead tours internationally and appears at the Warped Tour and Download Festival.