Spineshank

Before Spineshank formed in 1996, bassist and vocalist Jonny Santos, guitarists Marlo Gonzalez and Tim Mankowski, and drummer Tommy Decker were members of a band called Basic Enigma. They released a demo EP in 1994 named Drunk With Power.{{cite AV media notes |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/28834399-Basic-Enigma-Drunk-With-Power/images |title=Drunk With Power Credits |type=liner notes |access-date=July 15, 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Spineshank |url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/6fmbbxNvgHkglIakp1Wrv4 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Spotify |language=en}} According to Decker, they learned "everything not to do" in Basic Enigma, and were heavily inspired by Pantera, Slayer, and White Zombie at the time. Upon hearing Fear Factory's Demanufacture, the band took a new approach, writing songs and recording them before actually playing them. This made them realize they needed to change the way they did things. Around the same time, Mike Sarkisyan replaced Mankowski on guitar.{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Tom |title=Spineshank's Tommy Decker on his approach to drumming and reconvening with Jonny Santos |url=https://www.westword.com/music/spineshanks-tommy-decker-on-his-approach-to-drumming-and-reconvening-with-jonny-santos-5696699 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Westword |language=en}} Santos initially played guitar in the band, but left the band for a period of time when he became a father, and when asked back, the band already had two guitar players, so he switched to bass, which he wasn't comfortable with; when auditioning singers, he jokingly sang "Seasons in the Abyss" inbetween waiting, prompting the rest of the band to insist him being the permanent singer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir4UOP0U4fk|title=Spineshank Was Homeless & Sleeping In A Car Before Getting Signed|date=June 8, 2025|via=YouTube}}

Basic Enigma later broke up but soon reformed as Spineshank. They then started recording demos and handed them out at several shows in Los Angeles. After the release of a demo in 1996, Gonzalez departed from the lineup; thus, Sarkisyan became the band's sole guitarist.{{cite AV media notes |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/16017523-Spineshank-SpineShank/images |title=SpineShank Credits |type=liner notes |access-date=July 15, 2024}} Eventually, Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares heard one of their demos and gave them a chance to open a show for Fear Factory and Coal Chamber at a concert held in Los Angeles with other notable bands such as Snot, Soulfly, Sepultura, and Danzig. As a result of these shows, Spineshank piqued the interest of the A&R director of Roadrunner Records, Kevin Estrada. Estrada liked them because of their experimentation but was hesitant to sign them due to their lack of a bass player, and he didn't like that Santos played the bass and sang because he felt playing the bass "inhibited" him from singing. After several lineup changes, the band eventually found Robert Garcia, who became their bass player.{{Cite podcast |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VOS4kB7hHPXvtotNWDs0B |title=Spineshank - Strictly Diesel (1998) [w/ Rob Garcia & Mike Sarkisyan of Spineshank and Kevin Estrada, A&R] |host=Meep Meep Podcast |date=March 2022 |time=3:00-7:00}}{{Cite web |date= |title=SpineShank Bio |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/spineshank/bio.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990128033238/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/spineshank/bio.htm |archive-date=1999-01-28 |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=roadrunnerrecords.com}}

Estrada worked with them on a song that later became "Detached," and after multiple performances, Estrada was pleased and wanted to do a demo deal. After speaking with Roadrunner, they were so impressed with the demos that they wanted to skip the demo deal and sign the band instead. Spineshank went on to sign a seven-album deal with Roadrunner, guaranteeing $30,000 for their first album plus an extra $10,000 for subsequent records with the label.{{Cite podcast |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VOS4kB7hHPXvtotNWDs0B |title=Spineshank - Strictly Diesel (1998) [w/ Rob Garcia & Mike Sarkisyan of Spineshank and Kevin Estrada, A&R] |host=Meep Meep Podcast |date=March 2022 |time=7:00-10:30}}{{sfn|Karpe|2021|p=155}}

Spineshank released their debut album Strictly Diesel on September 22, 1998. Fear Factory vocalist Burton C. Bell provides vocals on the track "Stain". Spineshank joined Fear Factory and Kilgore on a European tour that year.

Spineshank's second album The Height of Callousness was released on October 10, 2000. Unlike their debut album, The Height of Callousness has a strong industrial metal influence. The band was featured at Ozzfest 2001, and toured with such artists as Disturbed, Hed PE, Orgy and Mudvayne in support of the album's release. The songs "Synthetic" and "New Disease" were released as singles in 2000 and 2001, respectively.

The band's third album Self-Destructive Pattern was released on September 9, 2003. The album's lead single "Smothered" was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Metal Performance (2004). Shortly after the album was released the band went on a European tour with Ill Niño and Chimaira. A show in the Netherlands was filmed on October 6, and was to become a DVD entitled Roadrage. However, it was never officially released.

In January 2004, it was reported that Santos had officially left Spineshank. Tommy Decker stated that the split was "amicable" and was mainly due to "musical differences", Decker later said a big part of why Santos left was because the band wanted "to go heavier" but Santos didn't.[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=17964 It's Official: SPINESHANK Part Ways With Vocalist JONNY SANTOS] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015074704/http://roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=17964 |date=October 15, 2007 }}. Posted January 9, 2004.[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=17994 SPINESHANK Drummer: 'We Wanted To Play Heavier Music Than JONNY Did'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015074709/http://roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=17994 |date=October 15, 2007 }}. Posted January 10, 2004. Santos later spoke about leaving Spineshank in a 2006 interview, stating: "I think that moment in time we weren't getting along the greatest. I was not happy with the direction of the music anymore, and I also think that the band had kind of just run its course. I think that Spineshank did what it was meant to do. I don't regret ever being in that band. It's some of the best memories of my life, but I think that the day was up."{{Cite web |date=2007-09-27 |title=Live-Metal.Net - Interviews: Silent Civilian |url=http://www.live-metal.net/features_interviews_silentcivilian.html |access-date=2023-07-13 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213101/http://www.live-metal.net/features_interviews_silentcivilian.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}

On January 17, 2004, Spineshank launched a search for a new vocalist,[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=18204 SPINESHANK Launch Singer Search] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015074722/http://roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=18204 |date=October 15, 2007 }}. Posted January 17, 2004. and on November 7, 2005, Spineshank's official website announced that they would be working with Brandon Espinoza. They also stated that they had already been working together for five months at the time, and had produced five songs. At the time, the band did not intend to continue to use the name Spineshank. Meanwhile, Santos went on to release two albums with his new band Silent Civilian.

On July 7, 2006, Espinoza posted an update on the band's message board, and stated that they were still in the process of writing material. Then, February 7, 2008, after almost two years of silence about the band, Espinoza announced that the band had broken up due to the lack of chemistry between its members.[http://xssboard.proboards55.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=news&thread=1202415989&page=1 Brandon Espinoza: Its sad to say but were parting ways...]. Posted February 7, 2008 Later on, in February 2008, the band (excluding Espinoza) announced open tryouts for a new unnamed project.[http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=34211 Ex-Spineshank Members Looking For Vocalist For New Band]. Metalunderground.com, Posted April 2, 2008.

{{Quote box

| quote = The thing is we broke up and the Grammy thing [happened] during the same week. Things were already in motion, and it was already kind of over at the time. I mean, we were burned out. It's weird because it never set in, and we never got to be "Grammy-nominated Spineshank." It was like, okay, we got this nomination and we're done.

| author = —Tommy Decker on the band being nominated for a Grammy

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In 2008, Spineshank reunited with Santos, and in August of that year recorded a demo. Drummer Tommy Decker said of the reunion, "First of all, you don't have to worry about us abandoning our sound; there will be plenty of electronics/loops/synths on this record. Jonny is also singing better than he ever has, so there will be a ton of singing and melody as well. This will definitely be heavier than our previous albums but it will not be all bashing. I can wholeheartedly promise you that we will not be trying to be anything we are not. This is simply going to be Spineshank five years later. There will be a few new elements but it will be undeniably us (for better or worse!!!). . . " Santos stated in an interview that Anger Denial Acceptance "will be the Spineshank record we always wanted to make, and not what the label wanted us to make" and that it won't be a "commercially-driven record".{{Citation |title=Spineshank Interview 2008 | date=May 10, 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg6znxP8NtM |access-date=2023-07-12 |language=en}}

On October 3, 2011, Spineshank debuted a new song "Murder Suicide" via Noisecreep.{{Cite web |url=http://www.noisecreep.com/2011/10/03/spineshank-murder-suicide-song/ |title=Spineshank Return with a Fury on 'Murder Suicide' -- Song Premiere - Noisecreep |access-date=October 3, 2011 |archive-date=October 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005153831/http://www.noisecreep.com/2011/10/03/spineshank-murder-suicide-song |url-status=dead }} On June 19, 2012, the band released Anger Denial Acceptance through Century Media.

After several years of silence, on February 16, 2016, Mike Sarkisyan in an online interview said that the band had completed what they had set out to do and that there were no plans to continue the band.{{Cite web |url=https://www.buzzsprout.com/48505/352877-ep-28-mike-sarkisyan-spineshank |title=Talk Toomey - Ep. 28 Mike Sarkisyan (Spineshank) |access-date=September 8, 2019 |archive-date=March 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328012907/https://www.buzzsprout.com/48505/352877-ep-28-mike-sarkisyan-spineshank |url-status=dead }}

In July 2020, Spineshank's former label Warner Music Group (who owns Roadrunner Records) released "Infected", a song that was originally a b-side on the Japanese release of their 2003 album Self-Destructive Pattern, to Spotify.{{cite web |title=NEWS: Spineshank single "Infected" surfaces! |url=https://metalnoise.net/2020/07/news-spineshank-single-infected-surfaces |website=Metalnoise.net |access-date=September 16, 2020}} The song had leaked to online outlets well over a decade prior.

In January 2025, Spineshank announced a reunion specifically for the September festival Louder Than Life. In addition to Santos, Garcia, and Decker, the lineup also featured Tommy Decker, Jr. on guitar (since Sarkisyan essentially retired from the music industry) and Jason Hager on guitar as well (founding member of the band Chimaira).{{cite web |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/spineshank-reunites-announces-appearance-at-2025-louder-than-life-festival |title=Spineshank Reunites, Announced Appearance at 2025 Louder Than Life Festival |website=Blabbermouth.net |date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=January 31, 2025}} The new lineup has also recorded a new song.{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/spineshank-is-bringing-back-electronic-aspect-on-upcoming-new-song-its-gotta-be-heavy-and-have-a-hook|title=SPINESHANK Is Bringing Back 'Electronic Aspect' On Upcoming New Song: 'It's Gotta Be Heavy' And 'Have A Hook'|date=June 9, 2025|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}

Spineshank has been described as nu metal,{{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/159 159–162]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bravenuworld00tomm/page/159}}{{cite magazine|title= 28 Nu-Metal Era Bands You Probably Forgot All About |magazine= NME |access-date= February 13, 2016 |url= http://www.nme.com/photos/30-nu-metal-bands-you-d-forgotten/321759#/photo/1}} industrial metal,{{Cite web |last=Chichester |first=Sammi |date=5 December 2012 |title=Mike Sarkisyan of Spineshank Picks His Five Favorite Albums of the Year |url=http://www.revolvermag.com/news/mike-sarkisyan-of-spineshank-picks-his-five-favorite-albums-of-the-year.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620010606/http://www.revolvermag.com/news/mike-sarkisyan-of-spineshank-picks-his-five-favorite-albums-of-the-year.html |archive-date=20 June 2017 |website=Revolver}} and alternative metal.{{cite magazine | url=http://loudwire.com/spineshank-nothing-left-for-me-exclusive-video-premiere/ | title=Spineshank, 'Nothing Left for Me' – Exclusive Video Premiere | magazine=Loudwire | date=June 19, 2012 | access-date=November 7, 2015 | author=Riddle, Tree}} They have been compared to the likes of Fear Factory, Orgy, Static-X, Coal Chamber, and System of a Down.{{Cite book |last=Udo |first=Tommy |title=Brave Nu World |publisher=London : Sanctuary |year=2002 |pages=159–160}}

Jonny Santos has cited Robb Flynn, James Hetfield, and Tom Araya as his "biggest heroes", but was inspired to start playing guitar by Randy Rhoads, and Eddie Van Halen. Slash also had a big influence on Santos as a kid, stating "That's why most of my playing is all in pretty much, like, pentatonic patterns. I stay in a certain box that I feel really comfortable with, and I use my wah pedal quite a bit. Slash, to me, is just, like, God." Santos has also cited Sepultura, Machine Head, Ministry, and Godflesh as influences for Spineshank.

Current lineup

• Jonny Santos – lead vocals (1996–2004, 2008–2016, 2025–present)
• Robert Garcia – bass, backing vocals (1997–2016, 2025–present)
• Tommy Decker – drums, programming, keyboards (1996–2016, 2025–present)
• Tommy Decker, Jr. – guitar (2025–present)
• Jason Hager – guitar (2025–present)

Former members

• Marlo Gonzalez – guitar (1996)
• Brandon Espinoza – vocals (2005–2007){{Cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2018/04/30/news/minus-knives-ex-factory-81-spineshank-release-debut-album-preview-available/|title=Minus Knives (Ex-Factory 81/Spineshank) Release Debut Album, Preview Available|date=April 30, 2018|website=Theprp.com}}
• Mike Sarkisyan – guitar, piano (1996–2016)

Timeline

{{#tag:timeline|

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Period = from:01/01/1996 till:{{#time: m/d/Y}}

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Colors =

id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals

id:guitar value:teal legend:Guitar

id:bass value:blue legend:Bass

id:drums value:orange legend:Drums

id:Lines1 value:black legend:Studio_albums

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at:10/10/2000 color:Lines1 layer:back

at:09/09/2003 color:Lines1 layer:back

at:06/19/2012 color:Lines1 layer:back

BarData =

bar:Santos text:"Jonny Santos"

bar:Espinoza text:"Brandon Espinoza"

bar:Gonzalez text:"Marlo Gonzalez"

bar:Sarkisyan text:"Mike Sarkisyan"

bar:DeckerJr text:"Tommy Decker, Jr."

bar:Hager text:"Jason Hager"

bar:Garcia text:"Robert Garcia"

bar:Decker text:"Tommy Decker"

PlotData=

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bar:Santos from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2016 color:vocals

bar:Santos from:01/01/2025 till:end color:vocals

bar:Espinoza from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2007 color:vocals

bar:Gonzalez from:01/01/1996 till:12/31/1996 color:guitar

bar:Sarkisyan from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/2016 color:guitar

bar:DeckerJr from:01/01/2025 till:end color:guitar

bar:Hager from:01/01/2025 till:end color:guitar

bar:Garcia from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2016 color:bass

bar:Garcia from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2016 color:vocals width:3

bar:Garcia from:01/01/2025 till:end color:bass

bar:Garcia from:01/01/2025 till:end color:vocals width:3

bar:Decker from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2016 color:drums

bar:Decker from:01/01/2025 till:end color:drums

}}

{{Infobox artist discography

| Artist = Spineshank

| Studio = 4

| Compilation = 1

| Singles = 7

}}

• The song "New Disease" was featured in the soundtrack for the movie 3000 Miles to Graceland, and the video games Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder in 2001 and MX Superfly in 2002.
• The song "Synthetic" was featured in the video games MX Superfly in 2002 and Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home in 2003.
• In the 2002 black comedy film The Rules of Attraction (based on the 1987 book of the same name), a Height of Callousness poster is displayed in Marc's bedroom, a junkie played by former child-star Fred Savage.
• The song "Beginning of the End" was featured on the soundtrack of the 2003 film Freddy vs. Jason and "Slavery" was used in the film, but not included on the soundtrack.
• The song "Smothered" was featured in the video game Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home.
• The song "Cyanide 2600" was used in the film Resident Evil.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Karpe |first=Matt |title=Nu Metal: A Definitive Guide |publisher=Sonicbond Publishing |year=2021 |isbn=9781789520637 |location=UK |pages=153–159 |language=en |chapter=Spineshank}}

• [https://myspace.com/spineshank Spineshank] on Myspace
• {{allmusic}}

{{Spineshank}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1996 establishments in California

Category:American alternative metal musical groups

Category:American industrial metal musical groups

Category:Century Media Records artists

Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles

Category:Musical groups established in 1996

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2004

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2008

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2016

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2025

Category:Musical quartets from California

Category:Nu metal musical groups from California

Category:Roadrunner Records artists