Crazy Town
{{short description|American rap rock band}}
{{about|the American rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Crazy Town
| image = Camden Rocks 2018- Crazy Town - 1.jpg
| landscape = yes
| caption = Crazy Town at Camden Rocks festival in 2018
| origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| alias = {{plainlist|
- CXT
- The Brimstone Sluggers (1995–1999)
- Crazy Town X (2017–2024)
}}
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Rap rock
- hip-hop
- nu metal
- {{nowrap|rap metal}}
- alternative rock
}}
| years_active = {{flatlist|
- 1995–2024{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|On hiatus, 2003-2007}}
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
- Columbia
- Membrane
}}
| past_members = {{plainlist|
- Shifty Shellshock
- Bret Mazur
- Adam Bravin
- Charles Lopez
- Adam Goldstein
- Omar Gusmao
- Hasma Angeleno
- Doug Miller
- Antonio Lorenzo Valli
- James Bradley Jr.
- Kraig Tyler
- Kyle Hollinger
- Ahmad Alkurabi
- Rick Dixon
- Elias Tannous
- Roland Banks
- Jarred Jackson
- Steven Hendricks
- Mark White
- Brian Selleck
- Simon Poulton
- Sean Heenan
- Bobby Reeves
}}
}}
Crazy Town (sometimes abbreviated as CXT) was an American rap rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1995 by Bret "Epic" Mazur and Shifty Shellshock (Seth Brooks Binzer). Their 2000 single "Butterfly", reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and helped their debut album, The Gift of Game (1999), sell over 1.6 million units. Their follow-up album, Darkhorse (2002), failed to achieve the same level of success, contributing to the band's breakup in 2003.
Mazur and Binzer reformed the band in 2007 and released their third album, The Brimstone Sluggers, in 2015. In 2017, Mazur left the band and Binzer changed its name to Crazy Town X. In March 2024, the band released the EP Flirting with Disaster. Binzer died in June 2024, leaving the future of the band unclear.
History
=Formation (1995–1999)=
Bret Mazur and Seth Binzer, who go by the names of Epic and Shifty Shellshock, respectively, started collaborating under the name of "The Brimstone Sluggers" in 1995 in Los Angeles, along with Adam Bravin (a.k.a. DJ Adam 12) who preceded DJ AM. However, they did not become serious about releasing any material until much later.{{cite magazine |last=Edwards |first=Gavin |title=Q&A: Shifty Shellshock of Crazy Town |magazine=Rolling Stone |date= March 15, 2001 |issue= 864 |page=35 }} By early 1999, Rust Epique, James Bradley Jr. (a.k.a. JBJ), Doug Miller, Adam Goldstein (a.k.a. DJ AM), and Antonio Lorenzo "Trouble" Valli joined the band. Prior to joining the band, Bradley was the drummer for jazz trumpeter Chuck Mangione from 1977 to 1981, and had been a member of the alternative rock band Mary's Danish in the early 1990s.{{cite magazine |last=Keeps |first=David |title=U are now Entering Crazy Town |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/u-are-now-entering-crazy-town-46206/ |date=August 2, 2001 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=March 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317120704/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/u-are-now-entering-crazy-town-46206/ |url-status=live }} Crazy Town's debut album, The Gift of Game, was released in November 1999, having been recorded earlier that year.
=''The Gift of Game'' and "Butterfly" (1999–2001)=
The release of The Gift of Game was followed by a tour support slot for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Guitarist Rust Epique left the band while the album was being mixed, and Crazy Town was joined by Kraig Tyler shortly after. The first two singles from The Gift of Game, "Toxic" and "Darkside", were released but failed to chart.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1551815/where-ya-been-city-high-crazy-town.jhtml |title=Where Ya Been?: City High Drop Out, Crazy Town Stop The Insanity |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=February 8, 2007 |work=MTV |archive-date=April 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428020752/http://www.mtv.com/news/1551815/where-ya-been-city-high-drop-out-crazy-town-stop-the-insanity/ |url-status=dead}}
In 2000, Crazy Town was signed to tour with Ozzfest; however, they were forced to withdraw after only two weeks when Binzer was arrested after he threw a chair through a window while he was drunk.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427579/crazy-town-leaves-ozzfest-after-arrest.jhtml |title=Crazy Town Leaves Ozzfest After Arrest |last=Johnson |first=Tina |date=July 13, 2000 |work=MTV |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401162902/http://www.mtv.com/news/1427579/crazy-town-leaves-ozzfest-after-arrest/ |url-status=dead}} Crazy Town then released their third single in 2001, "Butterfly" (which uses samples from Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Pretty Little Ditty"). It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Soundscan reports 100,000 album sales of The Gift of Game prior to the release of "Butterfly"; after "Butterfly" reached number 1, sales exceeded 1.5 million.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/77197/billboard-bits-crazy-town-nelly-ny-metropolis-fest |title=News on Crazy Town, Nelly, NY Metropolis Fest |last=Jeckell |first=Barry |date=January 10, 2002 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126050648/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/77197/billboard-bits-crazy-town-nelly-ny-metropolis-fest |url-status=live}}
Crazy Town toured with Ozzfest in 2001.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1458830/crazy-town-hope-to-put-an-end-to-butterfly-boys-taunts/ |title=Crazy Town Hope To Put An End To 'Butterfly Boys' Taunts |last=D'Angelo |first=Joe |date=November 22, 2002 |work=MTV |archive-date=October 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010011530/http://www.mtv.com/news/1458830/crazy-town-hope-to-put-an-end-to-butterfly-boys-taunts/ |url-status=dead}} They were received with mixed reviews; many people in the Ozzfest crowd mockingly called them "The Butterfly Boys".{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1439313/crazy-town-join-ozzfest/ |title=Crazy Town Join Ozzfest |last=D'Angelo |first=Joe |date=February 12, 2001 |work=MTV |archive-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822015450/http://www.mtv.com/news/1439313/crazy-town-join-ozzfest/ |url-status=dead}} A fourth single, "Revolving Door", was released with limited success. In 2001 Crazy Town also made a cameo appearance in the music video for "Bad Boy for Life" by P. Diddy, Black Rob and Mark Curry.
=''Darkhorse'' (2001–2003)=
Their second album, Darkhorse, was produced by Howard Benson and released on November 12, 2002.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457740/crazy-town-ride-darkhorse.jhtml |title=Crazy Town Take On All Comers With Darkhorse |last=Wiederhorn |first=Joe |date=September 23, 2002 |work=MTV |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212213231/http://www.mtv.com/news/1457740/crazy-town-take-on-all-comers-with-darkhorse/ |url-status=dead}} Benson's influence resulted in a more rock-oriented sound. Prior to recording the album, drummer James Bradley Jr. eventually left the band and was replaced by Kyle Hollinger. The album achieved little commercial success, spawning only two singles: "Drowning", which became a minor hit in the U.S., UK, Austria, and Germany, and "Hurt You So Bad", which failed to chart at all. Shortly after the release of Darkhorse the band broke up in 2003, citing amongst other things, pressure from their record company for a "Butterfly" follow-up.
=Hiatus (2003–2007)=
During Crazy Town's hiatus, Bret Mazur went on to form The Pharmacy, a record-producing company. Shortly after leaving Crazy Town, Rust Epique formed a band which would eventually go by the name pre)Thing. He died of a heart attack shortly before their debut album 22nd Century Lifestyle was released in 2004.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ex-crazy-town-guitarist-dead-20040310/ |title=Ex-Crazy Town Guitarist Dead |last=Swanson |first=David|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 10, 2004 |archive-date=May 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529114936/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ex-crazy-town-guitarist-dead-92139/ |url-status=live}} Binzer contributed vocals to Paul Oakenfold's 2002 single Starry Eyed Surprise. He released his first solo album in 2004, Happy Love Sick, under his alias Shifty Shellshock. Kraig Tyler joined Eric Powell's industrial band 16Volt.
=Reformation (2007–2011)=
In late 2007, Crazy Town announced that the remaining members had reformed and were working on a new studio album, tentatively titled Crazy Town is Back, which would be released sometime in 2008,{{cite web|last=Harris |first=Chris |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1575877/kris-kross-crazy-town-emf-extreme-and-more-unmemorable-reunions-in-our-year-end-top-10s/|title=Kris Kross, Crazy Town, EMF, Extreme And More Unmemorable Reunions, In Our Year-End Top 10s - Music, Celebrity, Artist News |work=MTV |date=December 5, 2007 |archive-date=June 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607204212/http://www.mtv.com/news/1575877/kris-kross-crazy-town-emf-extreme-and-more-unmemorable-reunions-in-our-year-end-top-10s/ |url-status=dead}} though no such release was ever made. On August 26, 2009, Crazy Town performed at Les Deux, in Hollywood, California, on stage together for the first time in five years.{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celebrity-studded-red-carpet-event-62045737.html |title=Celebrity Studded Red Carpet Event |date=August 25, 2009 |work=PR Newswire |archive-date=May 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140528190001/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celebrity-studded-red-carpet-event-62045737.html |url-status=dead}} On August 28, 2009, former member DJ AM was found dead in his apartment, of an accidental drug overdose.{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/celebrity/dj-am-found-dead-in-new-york-city/|title=DJ AM Found Dead in New York City|last=Oh|first=Eunice |date=August 28, 2009|magazine=People |archive-date=May 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525202033/https://people.com/celebrity/dj-am-found-dead-in-new-york-city/ |url-status=live}} On August 7, 2010, Crazy Town played together at the festival SRH FEST 2010 in California.{{cite web |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/crazy-town-reunites-for-srh-fest-august-7th-in-san-bernardino-ca/7350904 |title=Crazy Town Reunites for SRH Fest August 7th in San Bernardino, CA |author=Sciarretto, Amy |date=August 3, 2010 |work=Artistdirect |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718014805/http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/crazy-town-reunites-for-srh-fest-august-7th-in-san-bernardino-ca/7350904 |url-status=dead}} Throughout 2011, Crazy Town released a new song, "My Place", on YouTube, as well as two new songs, "Hard to Get" and "Hit That Switch", on their Myspace page.
=''The Brimstone Sluggers'' (2013–2017)=
In 2013, Shifty and Epic said that Crazy Town were in the studio recording a new album, entitled The Brimstone Sluggers.{{cite web |url=http://noisecreep.com/crazy-town-reunite-new-album-the-brimstone-sluggers/ |title=Crazy Town Reunite for New Album 'The Brimstone Sluggers' |last=Srisavasdi |first=Greg |date=August 21, 2013 |work=Noise Creep |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125042402/https://noisecreep.com/crazy-town-reunite-new-album-the-brimstone-sluggers/ |url-status=live}} On December 18, 2014, Crazy Town released their first official single from the album, "Megatron". The song was used as the theme song for Impact Wrestling during its run on Destination America in 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestling.net/article.php?1-23-Moore-s-TNA-Impact-Wrestling-TV-Report-Lashley-and-MVP-street-brawl-Feast-or-Fired-James-Storm-vs.-Matt-Hardy-Havok-vs.-Gail-Kim-Jeremy-Borash-vs.-EC3-40628 |title=1/23 Moore's TNA Impact Wrestling TV Report: Lashley and MVP street brawl, Feast or Fired, James Storm vs. Matt Hardy, Havok vs. Gail Kim, Jeremy Borash vs. EC3 |last=Moore |first=John |date=January 24, 2015 |work=ProWrestling |archive-date=January 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106204659/https://prowrestling.net/article.php?1-23-Moore-s-TNA-Impact-Wrestling-TV-Report-Lashley-and-MVP-street-brawl-Feast-or-Fired-James-Storm-vs.-Matt-Hardy-Havok-vs.-Gail-Kim-Jeremy-Borash-vs.-EC3-40628 |url-status=dead}}
The Brimstone Sluggers was released on August 28, 2015. DJ AM appears as a featured artist on the track "Born to Raise Hell", which was released as a single in August 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.iconvsicon.com/2015/08/06/crazy-town-release-born-to-raise-hell-featuring-j-angel-dj-am-from-the-brimstone-sluggers-album/ |title=Crazy Town Release "Born To Raise Hell" Featuring J. Angel & DJ AM From 'The Brimstone Sluggers' Album |date=August 6, 2015 |work=Icon Versus Icon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124062354/https://www.iconvsicon.com/2015/08/06/crazy-town-release-born-to-raise-hell-featuring-j-angel-dj-am-from-the-brimstone-sluggers-album/ |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/album-stream-crazy-town-the-brimstone-sluggers/11788039 |title=Album Stream: Crazy Town 'The Brimstone Sluggers' |last=Sciarretto |first=Amy |date=August 28, 2015 |work=Artistdirect |archive-date=June 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160609152019/http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/album-stream-crazy-town-the-brimstone-sluggers/11788039 |url-status=dead}} In 2016, lead guitarist Elias Tannous{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/@darius_25167/elias-tannous-a-guitarist-for-crazy-town-x-f104034404d7 |title=The Story of Elias Tannous- Guitarist for CrazyTown X |last=Washington |first=Darius |date=May 18, 2020 |work=Medium |archive-date=July 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710052625/https://medium.com/@darius_25167/elias-tannous-a-guitarist-for-crazy-town-x-f104034404d7 |url-status=live}} was added to the lineup and from August till October 2016, the band toured with the Make America Rock Again concert, alongside other artists who had success throughout the 2000s.{{cite web |url=http://loudwire.com/trapt-saliva-alien-ant-farm-more-make-america-rock-again-tour/ |title=Trapt, Saliva, Puddle of Mudd, P.O.D., Alien Ant Farm and More Lead 'Make America Rock Again' Tour |last=Bowar |first=Chad |date=May 18, 2016 |work=Loudwire |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160718214723/http://loudwire.com/trapt-saliva-alien-ant-farm-more-make-america-rock-again-tour/ |archive-date=July 18, 2016 |url-status=live}} Throughout the tour, Epic would perform and was temporarily replaced by Bobby Reeves, an ex-vocalist of Adema.
=Mazur's departure, lineup change, ''Crazy Town X'' and Binzer's death (2017–2024)=
In January 2017, after a year of hiatus from the band, Epic announced through his Facebook post that he will no longer tour with the band.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/officialcrazytown/posts/638407856362788 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/148083192061926/638407856362788 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=To all of our fans and friends...|last=Mazur |first=Bret |date=January 10, 2017 |work=Crazy Town (via Facebook) |access-date=January 11, 2017}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/bret.mazur.12/posts/10202578548661312?match=Y3JhenkgdG93bixjcmF6eSx0b3du |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/1724439136/10202578548661312 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Statement from Epic...|last=Mazur |first=Bret |date=January 10, 2017 |work=Bret Mazur (via Facebook) |access-date=January 11, 2017}}{{cbignore}} Epic intended to still be involved with Crazy Town, though not as a band member. Shifty decided to add an "X" next to the band's name. When asked about the letter's significance on their Instagram account, the band stated "the X is used by gangs to symbolize a territory that has just been won".{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BkJ0wkpHw9X/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BkJ0wkpHw9X |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Instagram post |last=Binzer |first=Seth |date=June 18, 2018 |work=Instagram }}{{cbignore}}
On November 3, 2019, Crazy Town's van, carrying Binzer and band members Elias Tannous and Roland Banks, crashed into a moose during a tour stop in Ontario, Canada. All three were treated for bruises and cuts at the hospital.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/03/us/crazy-town-tour-crash-moose-trnd/index.html |title=Crazy Town band members bloodied after their tour van crashed into a moose |last=Levenson |first=Eric |date=November 3, 2019 |work=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106235240/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/03/us/crazy-town-tour-crash-moose-trnd/index.html |archive-date=November 6, 2019 |url-status=live}}
Crazy Town were kicked off a 2023 tour with Hed PE after a bloody fight between Binzer and Reeves outside a venue in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/crazy-town-bloody-fight-singer-guitarist-booted-nu-metal-madness-tour-1235315620/ |title=Bloody Crazy Town Fight Between Singer, Guitarist Throws 'Nu-Metal Madness' Tour Into Chaos |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=April 26, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508180507/https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/crazy-town-bloody-fight-singer-guitarist-booted-nu-metal-madness-tour-1235315620/ |archive-date=May 8, 2023}}{{cite web | url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/04/25/crazy-town-members-get-in-physical-altercation-over-missed-performance/ | title=Crazy Town Members Get in Physical Altercation over Missed Performance | date=April 25, 2023 |work=MetalSucks |last=Shadows |first=Em |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519145603/https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/04/25/crazy-town-members-get-in-physical-altercation-over-missed-performance/ |archive-date=19 May 2024 |url-status=live}}
Crazy Town released an EP titled Flirting With Disaster in March 2024.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/25/entertainment/shifty-shellshock-death/index.html |title=Seth Binzer, lead singer for Crazy Town who was known as ‘Shifty Shellshock,’ dead at 49 |last=Rosenbloom |first=Ali |date=25 June 2024 |work=CNN}} At the time, Crazy Town's members were Binzer, Mark White, Rick Dixon and Sean Heenan.{{cite web |url=https://krushkillrecords.com/exploring-crazy-towns-new-ep-flirting-with-disaster/ |title=Exploring Crazy Town’s New EP "Flirting With Disaster" |date=20 March 2024 |work=Krushkill Records}}
On June 24, 2024, Binzer was found dead in his home from an accidental drug overdose.{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/shifty-shellshock-crazy-town-dead-obituary-1235046223/ |title=Shifty Shellshock, Frontman of Crazy Town, Dead at 49 |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=June 25, 2024 |work=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626210205/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/shifty-shellshock-crazy-town-dead-obituary-1235046223/ |archive-date=June 26, 2024 |url-status=live}}
Musical style and legacy
Billboard categorized Crazy Town as a rock and hip hop band.[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/78756/crazy-town-survives-troubles-to-see-success "Crazy Town Survives Troubles To See Success"], Billboard, January 16, 2001. The band described themselves as "hip-hop kids who needed a bit of rock in their sound", instead of a rock band that added hip hop to their sound,{{cite book|first=Tommy|last=Udo|title=Brave Nu World|year=2002|publisher=Sanctuary Publishing|isbn=1-86074-415-X|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bravenuworld00tomm/page/187 187–88]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bravenuworld00tomm/page/187}} reflecting the band members' background working in Los Angeles hip hop. The band fused "hip-hop's lyrical attitude and rhythmic sass with the muscle of live rock instrumentation." They developed their rap rock sound in the Los Angeles underground music scene, anticipating nu metal.{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/everything-you-need-to-know-about-crazy-town-getting-back-together-4643941|title=Everything You Need to Know About Crazy Town Getting Back Together|author=Chaz Kangas|work=L.A. Weekly|date=May 13, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150812031809/http://www.laweekly.com/music/everything-you-need-to-know-about-crazy-town-getting-back-together-4643941 |archive-date=August 12, 2015}} According to AllMusic, "Crazy Town's music and image reflected one of the most dynamic and volatile sociocultural environments on the planet—Los Angeles—where the urban squalor of the South Central district exists just minutes away from the glitz of Beverly Hills."{{cite web|last=Nimmervoll|first=Ed|title=Crazy Town - Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/crazy-town-p383978/biography|website=AllMusic|access-date=May 28, 2014}} The band's influences include N.W.A, Cypress Hill, Ice-T and the Cure. Crazy Town's music is defined by "pronged rapping [...] urban angst/street-fighting, bitch-bonking [lyrics]" which are "punctuated [with] bone-crushing [...] guitar riffs."{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews//4825
|title=Crazy Town : The Gift Of Game |date=September 12, 2005 |work=NME |access-date=July 31, 2015}} Due to looking more like a hip hop crew than a metal band, Crazy Town inspired more ire from metal purists than any other rap rock group. It was commonly perceived that the band's target audience was 13-year-old boys "vicariously living out their fantasies of being a bad-ass tattooed pimp" through the band's rap lyrics.
About the band's lyrics, Shifty Shellshock said: "We're just having a good time. We're not like political or anything. I can be very sarcastic just like a little punk, we talk a lot of trash. We have some points, like 'learn from your mistakes', 'check yourself', you know, 'don't get taken advantage of'. Real simple things, nothing too overwhelming".{{Cite web |date=2000-06-21 |title=Crazy Town |url=https://ink19.com/2000/06/magazine/interviews/zmkxit-crazy-town |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Ink 19 |language=en-US}}
Although they were best known for having a rap metal sound, their biggest hit, "Butterfly", had a hip hop sound.[http://www.complex.com/music/2013/04/every-no-1-rap-song-in-hot-100-history/butterfly Every #1 rap song in Hot 100 history: "Butterfly" (2001)]. Complex (April 1, 2013). "Crazy Town were more known as an alt-rap-metal group, but their biggest song was decidedly hip-hop." Reporting on the song's success in 2001, The Oklahoman wrote, "The song, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart last month, was one of those welcome surprises: a deft blend of hip-hop and rock that didn't sound like Red Bull-fueled 'roid rage. Built around a sample of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Pretty Little Ditty,' 'Butterfly' was hard enough to please the Bizkit eaters but smooth enough to seduce pop fans."[https://m.newsok.com/article/2738191/staying-crazy-band-careful-about-butterfly-image Staying Crazy Band careful about 'Butterfly' image] newsok.com (April 20, 2001) Their third album, The Brimstone Sluggers, saw the band displaying an alternative hip hop sound reflective of their musical roots.[https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brimstone-sluggers-mw0002862890 The Brimstone Sluggers]. Allmusic. "The Brimstone Sluggers finds Crazy Town returning to their roots and dialing back the guitars in favor of a more alternative hip-hop approach"{{cite web |url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/crazy_town/the_brimstone_sluggers/index.html |title=The Brimstone Sluggers Review |date=7 September 2015 |work=Ultimate Guitar Archive |access-date=1 November 2023}}
About the band's legacy in nu metal, I'm Music Magazine said: "Crazy Town is often only thought of as a 'one hit wonder' by way too many people. The band has never truly received the credit that they deserve for their influence on the nu metal scene".{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Johnny |title=Interview ~ Elias "ET" Tannous of Crazy Town |url=https://im-musicmagazine.com/f/interview-elias-et-tannous-of-crazy-town |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=I'm Music Magazine |language=en-US}} Radio.com included the band on a list titled "Top 10 Alt-Rock One-Hit Wonders".{{cite web|author=Scott T. Sterling|url=http://radio.com/2013/05/01/top-10-alt-rock-one-hit-wonders/|title=Top 10 Alt-Rock One-Hit Wonders|website=Radio.com|date=May 1, 2013|access-date=July 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150718013005/http://radio.com/2013/05/01/top-10-alt-rock-one-hit-wonders/|archive-date=July 18, 2015|url-status=dead}}
Members
;Final lineup
- Seth "Shifty" Binzer – vocals (1995 - 2024; his death)
- Steven "Epic" Hendricks – guitars (2023–2024)
- DJ Rick One (Rick Dixon) – turntables (2010–2013, 2015–2017, 2018–2024)
- Mark White – guitars (2023–2024)
- Brian "Ruby" Selleck – bass (2023–2024)
- Sean Heenan – drums (2023–2024)
;Former members
- Bret "Epic" Mazur – vocals, bass, keyboards, piano, turntables, beatboxing (1995 - 2017)
- Adam "DJ Adam 12" Bravin – turntables, samples, programming, keyboards (1995–1996)
- Charles "Rust Epique" Lopez – guitars (1999–2000; died 2004)
- Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein – turntables, samples, programming, keyboards (1999–2000, 2001; died 2009)
- Doug "Faydoe Deelay" Miller – bass (1999–2003)
- James "JBJ" Bradley Jr. – drums (1999–2001)
- Antonio Lorenzo "Trouble" Valli – lead guitar (1999–2003)
- Kraig "Squirrel" Tyler – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2000–2003)
- Kyle Hollinger – drums (2001–2003)
- Ahmad "Deadsie" Alkurabi – guitars (2014–2015)
- Omar Gusmao – guitars (2015–2016)
- Nick "Dax" Diiorio – bass, backing vocals (2014–2017)
- Elias "ET" Tannous – guitars, backing vocals (2016–2023)
- Hasma Angeleno – bass, backing vocals (2017–2022)
- Kevin Kapler – drums (2014–2017)
- Roland Banks – drums, percussion (2017–2022)
- Jarred "Party Time" Jackson – guitars, bass (2022–2023)
;Touring/session members
- Boondock – vocals (2016–2017)
- Bobby Reeves – vocals (2016–2023)
- Pigsy - bass, vocals (2020 Aus/NZ Tour)
=Timeline=
{{#tag:timeline|
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Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1995 till:24/06/2024
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ScaleMajor = increment:4 start:1995
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1995
Colors =
id:band value:skyblue legend:Band_name
id:vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals
id:backing value:pink legend:Backing_vocals
id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:perc value:claret legend:Percussion
id:tables value:lavender legend:Turntables
id:album value:black legend:Studio_album
id:bars value:gray(0.93)
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at:09/11/1999 color:album
at:12/11/2002 color:album
at:28/08/2015 color:album
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bar:BS text:"The Brimstone Sluggers"
bar:CT text:"Crazy Town"
bar:CTX text:"Crazy Town X"
bar:Shifty text:"Seth Binzer"
bar:Epic text:"Bret Mazur"
bar:DJ_Adam text:"Adam Bravin"
bar:DJ_Am text:"Adam Goldstein"
bar:R1CKONE text:"Rick Dixon"
bar:Trouble text:"Antonio Lorenzo Valli"
bar:Deadsie text:"Ahmad Alkurabi"
bar:ET text:"Elias Tannous"
bar:Rust_Epique text:"Charles Lopez"
bar:Squirrel text:"Kraig Tyler"
bar:Dallinferno text:"Filippo Dallinferno"
bar:Jackson text:"Jarred Jackson"
bar:Hendricks text:"Steven Hendricks"
bar:White text:"Mark White"
bar:Faydoe_Deelay text:"Doug Miller"
bar:Dax text:"Nick Diiorio"
bar:Hasma text:"Hasma Angeleno"
bar:Selleck text:"Brian Selleck"
bar:JBJ text:"James Bradley Jr."
bar:Kyle text:"Kyle Hollinger"
bar:Kevin text:"Kevin Kapler"
bar:Chris text:"Chris Barber"
bar:Roland text:"Roland Banks"
bar:Heenan text:"Sean Heenan"
PlotData=
width:11
bar:BS from:start till:01/01/1999 color:band
bar:CT from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2003 color:band
bar:CT from:11/01/2007 till:04/01/2017 color:band
bar:CTX from:04/01/2017 till:end color:band
bar:Shifty from:start till:01/01/2003 color:vocals
bar:Shifty from:11/01/2007 till:18/06/2024 color:vocals
bar:R1CKONE from:01/01/2018 till:end color:tables
bar:ET from:01/01/2016 till:18/08/2022 color:guitar
bar:Dallinferno from:01/01/2018 till:18/08/2022 color:guitar
bar:Roland from:01/01/2017 till:01/01/2018 color:perc
bar:Roland from:01/01/2018 till:18/08/2022 color:drums
bar:Hasma from:01/01/2017 till:18/08/2022 color:bass
bar:Chris from:01/01/2017 till:01/01/2018 color:drums
bar:Epic from:start till:01/01/2003 color:vocals
bar:Epic from:11/01/2007 till:01/01/2017 color:vocals
bar:DJ_Adam from:start till:01/01/1996 color:tables
bar:Rust_Epique from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 color:guitar
bar:DJ_Am from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 color:tables
bar:JBJ from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2001 color:drums
bar:Faydoe_Deelay from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2003 color:bass
bar:Trouble from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2003 color:guitar
bar:Squirrel from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2003 color:guitar
bar:Kyle from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2003 color:drums
bar:R1CKONE from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2013 color:tables
bar:R1CKONE from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2017 color:tables
bar:Deadsie from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2015 color:guitar
bar:Dax from:01/01/2014 till:04/01/2017 color:bass
bar:Kevin from:01/01/2014 till:04/01/2017 color:drums
bar:Hendricks from:01/08/2023 till:end color:guitar
bar:White from:01/01/2023 till:end color:guitar
bar:Selleck from:01/01/2023 till:end color:bass
bar:Heenan from:01/01/2023 till:end color:drums
bar:Jackson from:08/07/2022 till:01/01/2023 color:bass
bar:Jackson from:01/01/2023 till:01/08/2023 color:guitar
width:3
bar:R1CKONE from:01/01/2018 till:end color:backing
bar:ET from:01/01/2016 till:18/08/2022 color:backing
bar:Dallinferno from:01/01/2018 till:18/08/2022 color:backing
bar:Hasma from:01/01/2017 till:18/08/2022 color:backing
bar:Epic from:start till:01/01/2003 color:keys
bar:Epic from:11/01/2007 till:04/01/2017 color:keys
bar:DJ_Adam from:start till:01/01/1996 color:keys
bar:DJ_Am from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 color:keys
bar:Squirrel from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2003 color:backing
bar:R1CKONE from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2013 color:backing
bar:R1CKONE from:01/01/2015 till:04/01/2017 color:backing
bar:Dax from:01/01/2014 till:04/01/2017 color:backing
bar:Roland from:01/01/2018 till:18/08/2022 color:perc
}}
Discography
=Studio albums and extended plays=
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="13"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US {{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/crazy-town-mn0000110011/awards | title=Crazy Town – Awards | work=AllMusic | access-date=May 28, 2014}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | AUS ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | AUT ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | FIN ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | GER ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NOR ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NLD ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NZ ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SWE ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SWI ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Toxic"{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/toxic-mw0000944842 | title=Toxic – Crazy Town | work=AllMusic | access-date=May 28, 2014}}
| 1999 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | | rowspan="4"| The Gift of Game |
| scope="row"| "Darkside"{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/tales-from-the-darkside-mw0000969212 | title=Tales from the Darkside – Crazy Town | work=AllMusic | access-date=May 28, 2014}}
| rowspan="2" | 2000 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Butterfly"
| 1 || 1 || 21 || 4 || 1 || 2 || 1 || 1 || 8 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 3 |
|
| scope="row"| "Revolving Door"
| 2001 | — || — || — || 76 || 29 || 19 || 26 || — || 71 || — || 46 || 43 || 23 | |
| scope="row"| "Drowning"
| 2002 | — || 24 || 24 || 72 || 45 || — || 45 || — || — || — || — || — || 50 | | rowspan="2"| Darkhorse |
| scope="row"| "Hurt You So Bad"{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/hurt-you-so-bad-mw0000336306 | title=Hurt You So Bad – Crazy Town | work=AllMusic | access-date=May 28, 2014}}
| 2003 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Lemonface"
| 2013 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | | rowspan="5"| The Brimstone Sluggers |
| scope="row"| "Megatron"
| 2014 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Backpack"
| rowspan="2"| 2015 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Born to Raise Hell"
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Come Inside"
| 2016 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "The Life I Chose" {{small|(featuring Hyro the Hero)}} | 2020 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | | rowspan="6" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "Fly Away" {{small|(featuring Tanner Alexander)}} | rowspan="2" | 2021 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Butterfly 2021" {{small|(featuring Ekoh)}} | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Leeches" {{small|(featuring Ray Garrison)}} | 2022 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Faded" {{small|(featuring We Are PIGS)}} | 2023 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Lighthouse" {{small|(with Silos and Judge & Jury)}} | 2024 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| colspan="18" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Notes
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{crazy}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1995 establishments in California
Category:American rap metal musical groups
Category:American rap rock groups
Category:Columbia Records artists
Category:Hip-hop groups from California
Category:Musical groups established in 1995
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2003
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2007