Watch MUSHROOMHEAD's New Lineup Perform Live For First Time
March 27, 2018Fan-filmed video footage of MUSHROOMHEAD's March 17 concert at Music Lynxx in Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio can be seen below. The show marked the band's first appearance with new vocalist Steve Rauckhorst (bassist of PITCH BLACK FORECAST) and guitarist Tommy "Tankx" Shaffner (also of VENTANA).
Guitarist Tommy Church announced his departure from MUSHROOMHEAD on March 9. The musician had been with the band since 2012.
Church made his recording debut with MUSHROOMHEAD on the band's eighth studio album, "The Righteous & The Butterfly", which was released in May 2014 via Megaforce Records.
Church's exit from MUSHROOMHEAD came only a day after co-vocalist Jeffrey Nothing, also known as Jeff Hatrix (born Jeffrey Lewis Hetrick),said he was leaving the Cleveland, Ohio metal band he co-founded in 1993 with Steve "Skinny" Felton.
MUSHROOMHEAD turntablist Richard "Stitch" Thomas said about the band's most recent lineup change: "I know a lot of you are angry and confused on the latest news, but this is not news to us. We were made aware that Jeff and Church were leaving and a plan was in motion to make a proper transition. They both decided to let the cat out of the bag on Facebook before a proper press release was made. This was not part of the plan discussed.
"I'm not going to explain or air out the bands personal business and I’m not going to engage in any smearing of the two members that have recently departed.
"I have been a MUSHROOMHEAD fan since 1994 and am honored to be a member of this band the last 17 years.
"None of you know what happens behind the scenes or how people's personalities and involvement in the band changes as years go on. Your assumptions and negative comments are quite disheartening, this is why I truly hate this social media era — everyone gets to judge you before you even have a chance to figure out what to say.
"If I learned anything, it's that MUSHROOMHEAD lives on no matter what and that is what we are doing right now.
"If there is ever a day that I step down, it will still continue without me.
"The replacements for both members have been in place for quite awile, the new singer was even endorsed by Mr. Nothing over a month ago.
"Both of these gentlemen are longtime friends of mine, they are talented musicians and have been in the mosh pits at MUSHROOMHEAD concerts since 1996. They are huge fans of the band and are going to breathe new life into MUSHROOMHEAD, carrying on its legacy into the next chapter. I'm very excited to be sharing the stage with them moving into the future."
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