Stabbing Westward

{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{For|the band's self-titled album|Stabbing Westward (album)}}

{{redirect|Bobby Amaro|the similarly named vocalist|Saliva (band) }}

{{Short description|American industrial rock band}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Stabbing Westward

| image = Stabbing Westward Austin, TX October 2024.jpg

| landscape = yes

| caption = Stabbing Westward performing in 2024

| origin = Macomb, Illinois, U.S.

| genre = {{hlist|Industrial rock|alternative rock}}

| years_active = 1985–2002
2016–present

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.stabbingwestward1.com/}}

| current_members = Christopher Hall
Walter Flakus
Bobby Amaro
Cyamak Ashtiani

| past_members = Jim Clanin
Andrew Hunter
Angelo Negrette
Chris Vrenna
David Suycott
Stuart Zechman
Mark Eliopulos
Jim Sellers
Andy Kubiszewski
Derrek Hawkins
Johnny Haro
Carlton Bost

}}

Stabbing Westward is an American industrial rock/alternative rock band. Christopher Hall and Walter Flakus formed the band in 1985{{cite web|url=http://www.axs.com/stabbing-westward-to-reunite-for-30th-anniversary-81498|title=Stabbing Westward to reunite for 30th anniversary|website=Axs.com|access-date=January 26, 2017}} in Macomb, Illinois. The band released an extended play in 1992, followed by four studio albums: Ungod (1994), Wither Blister Burn & Peel (1996), Darkest Days (1998), and Stabbing Westward (2001). The band announced a dissolution in February 2002.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metropolis-records.com/artist/the-dreaming|title=The Dreaming – Metropolis Records|website=Metropolis-records.com|access-date=July 7, 2017}} Two compilation albums were later released in 2003. Stabbing Westward reunited in 2016 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its formation{{Cite news|url=https://www.axs.com/kmfdm-stabbing-westward-to-headline-chicago-s-cold-waves-festival-2017-116726|title=KMFDM, Stabbing Westward to headline Chicago's Cold Waves Festival 2017|website=Axs.com|access-date=July 7, 2017|language=en-US}} and continued to perform live shows. The band's first new album in 21 years, Chasing Ghosts, was released in 2022.

History

=Early years (1985–1992)=

Christopher Hall and Walter Flakus formed the band Stabbing Westward when they were in college. They came up with the name while working at the college radio station WIUS-FM. It was allegedly from a 1950s speech regarding political fears of Communism "stabbing westward".{{Cite web|title=Entertainment Ave! The Concert Hall - A Question & Answer Interview with Andy Kubiszewski of Stabbing Westward, November 21, 1996.|url=https://entertainmentavenue.com/concert_hall/q_and_a/stabbing_westward/sw112196.htm|access-date=November 18, 2020|website=entertainmentavenue.com}} During an interview in 1996, Hall stated, "Since we went to Western Illinois University, [the name] Stabbing Westward had a certain 'kill everybody in the school' vibe to it! The school's way out in farm country and the country is really close minded. I was walking around like Robert Smith with real big hair, big baggy black clothes, black fingernail polish and eye makeup. They just didn't get it. We hated the town."Interview by George Lecorchick, R & R Reported, April 1996

Moving to Chicago, Illinois in 1985, the original lineup for Stabbing Westward consisted of Hall on bass and lead vocals, Flakus on keyboards, and Jim Clanin on guitars. Clanin would briefly be replaced on guitars by Andrew Hunter, and bassist Jim Sellers was added on as well. Angelo Negrette was also added as a live drummer.{{cite web |url=https://soundcloud.com/angelo-negrette/potus-stabbing-westward |title=Angelo Negrette's Page |access-date=June 5, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/chicago-il/angelo-negrette-8151887 |title=Angelo Negrette Obituary |date=February 4, 2019 |access-date=June 5, 2024}} This lineup of the band recorded the 1991 {{Cite web|url=https://www.stabbingwestward.com/blog/iwo-jesus-resurrected|title=IWO JESUS RESURRECTED|website=STABBING WESTWARD|language=en-US|access-date=April 25, 2019|archive-date=April 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425012321/https://www.stabbingwestward.com/blog/iwo-jesus-resurrected|url-status=dead}} extended play tape Iwo Jesus, and featured four songs: an early version of "Violent Mood Swings" (titled "Violent Mood Swing"), "P.O.M.F." (which contains elements of the later song "The Thing I Hate"), an early version of "Shame", and "Plastic Jesus". "Violent Mood Swing" was also included on the 1992 compilation CD The Cyberflesh Conspiracy.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/cyberflesh-conspiracy-mr0000133427|title=Cyberflesh Conspiracy - Various Artists - Release Info|website=AllMusic}}

The band's official website stated that "the original EP was recorded on an eight-track tape machine synched to an Emax II Sampler and an EMU SP1200 sampling drum machine. 100 copies were originally printed and sold both at local shows and in the legendary Wax Trax Record store in Chicago."

Hall took a brief break to tour with the band Die Warzau as that group's percussionist before continuing to work on Stabbing Westward. Hall, Flakus, and Sellers later recruited Chris Vrenna (Nine Inch Nails) on drums to replace Negrette,{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|page=420}} as Hall had met Vrenna when playing in Die Warzau. Vrenna played drums on all of the demo recordings that ultimately landed Stabbing Westward their record deal with Columbia Records. The demo recordings included "Violent Mood Swings", "Lies", and "Nothing". They were recorded at a studio in Evanston, Illinois. At the insistence of the band's record label, Stuart Zechman was brought in on guitar, as previous guitarist Hunter was no longer in the band. After Vrenna returned to Nine Inch Nails, the band hired David Suycott, who was a high school friend of Flakus.

=''Ungod'' (1993–1995)=

With a solidified lineup including Zechman on guitar and Suycott on drums, the band in 1993 recorded at Eden Studios in London with producer John Fryer. This resulted in their major label (Columbia Records) debut album, Ungod, which was released on February 15, 1994. The band landed an opening slot on Depeche Mode's Exotic Tour in summer 1994, and opened North American tour dates in fall 1994 for Killing Joke, but Stabbing Westward's album sales still didn't increase.

David Suycott abruptly dropped out of the band toward the end of the Ungod tour. Andy Kubiszewski was called in to replace Suycott's position for the remainder of the shows. This fast replacement required Kubiszewski to learn all of Suycott's parts while on his flight to meet with the band. Kubiszewski became a permanent fixture of Stabbing Westward.

The "Thread Mix" of the song "Violent Mood Swings" was included in the soundtrack to the 1994 film Clerks, and briefly appeared in the movie itself for one scene. The song "Nothing" was featured in the 1995 motion picture Bad Boys, but was not included on the film's soundtrack release. "Nothing" was later included in the credits of the movie Johnny Mnemonic and both it and "Lost" were featured on the movie's soundtrack. The songs "Lies", "Lost", and "Can't Happen Here" were also all featured in the first Mortal Kombat movie in 1995; however, these songs were not featured on the CD soundtrack.

=''Wither Blister Burn & Peel'' (1995–1997)=

When Stuart Zechman departed the band after the Ungod tour due to personal differences,{{cite web|url=http://www.entertainmentavenue.com/concert_hall/q_and_a/stabbing_westward/sw112196.htm|title=Entertainment Ave! The Concert Hall - A Question & Answer Interview with Andy Kubiszewski of Stabbing Westward, November 21, 1996|website=Entertainmentavenue.com|access-date=February 20, 2015}} the remaining band members found themselves without one of their major songwriters. New drummer Andy Kubiszewski took over some songwriting duties afterward. Prior to playing in Stabbing Westward, Kubiszewski had not only played drums in The The, recorded one song for Nine Inch Nails, and played in Prick, but had been the singer and songwriter in the Cleveland-based Exotic Birds. Shortly after Zechman's departure, Kubiszewski played the band dozens of demos and Exotic Birds recordings. Included were "What Do I Have to Do?", "Haunting Me", "Sometimes It Hurts", "Crushing Me", "Slipping Away", "Desperate Now", and "Goodbye". These tracks would later find space on both the Wither and Darkest Days albums. When the band headed to Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York, without a permanent guitar player, they decided to play all the guitar parts themselves, with Sellers and Kubiszewski taking on most of the guitar duties.

In 1996, the Wither Blister Burn & Peel LP became a success, landing them their first certified gold album, aided by the singles "Shame" and "What Do I Have to Do?" which granted the band heavy rotation on MTV, MuchMusic, and radio. Tour mates for this album included Sponge. "What Do I Have to Do?" was featured in 1997's Masterminds, as well as in the episode "Tempest" of Smallville years later. The band later recruited Mark Eliopulos after the Wither recording sessions were completed to handle the live element of the main guitar parts.

=''Darkest Days'' (1998–2000)=

Stabbing Westward relocated to Los Angeles, where they began work on the 1998 album, titled Darkest Days. Darkest Days was envisioned as a four-act story by the band (but never marketed as such). This is the only release featuring studio work by Mark Eliopulos. The first single "Save Yourself" had success yet the album failed to sell as well as its predecessor. Stabbing Westward continued to tour with bands like Placebo, The Cult, Monster Magnet, and Depeche Mode, while playing numerous summer festivals. Due to a broken collarbone, Kubiszewski was forced to sit out the remainder of the touring cycle. He was replaced for three dates by former drummer Chris Vrenna, then Johnny Haro for the remaining dates. Haro joined Econoline Crush after Kubiszewski's return.

The song "The Thing I Hate" was featured as the opening theme song in the Sony PlayStation game Duke Nukem: Time to Kill, which was released in September 1998. A remixed version of the song "Torn Apart" was featured on the Spawn movie soundtrack in July 1997. The song "Save Yourself" was featured in the 1998 films Urban Legend and Tekken, in addition to the 2012 True Blood Season 5 finale. The song "Haunting Me" was featured in the opening scenes of the 1998 teen horror flick The Faculty.

In 2000, the day before the band was to fly to Hawaii to record the follow-up to Darkest Days with producer Bob Rock, the band was dropped by Columbia Records.

=''Stabbing Westward'' and breakup (2001–2002)=

After signing with Koch Records, the new manager wanted the band to create an album with a heavy pop influence. Christopher Hall, Walter Flakus, and Mark Eliopulos fought against the decision. Mark Eliopulos was fired by the manager who then brought in Derrek Hawkins as both a studio and live musician, as well as a new producer, Ed Buller.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvzqzrpV4_o | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308201538/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvzqzrpV4_o| archive-date=March 8, 2016 |title=Christopher Hall Interviewed about Stabbing Westward & The Dreaming |publisher=YouTube |date=November 9, 2011 |access-date=February 20, 2015}}

The demo for the self-titled album was considered too dark. Old guitar parts from the demos were muted and new pop-driven riffs were created by the new guitarist.

The self-titled album, Stabbing Westward, was released on May 22, 2001, and featured the hit "So Far Away". The album did well in Australia, but ultimately failed to sell worldwide. Before a fifth LP could be recorded, the band did not sign for a new record deal and formally announced that they had disbanded on February 9, 2002.

=Post-breakup (2003–2015)=

  • Lead singer Christopher Hall formed the Los Angeles-based band The Dreaming in 2001. They released their debut album Etched In Blood in June 2008. Songs from the album received airplay on XM Satellite Radio and rock stations nationwide. The album was distributed in Hot Topic and Best Buy. The band spent three years touring as a headliner and co-headliners with bands such as Trust Company and Flaw. In November 2011, the band released its second album, Puppet. It reached No. 32 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/401935/dreaming/chart |title=The Dreaming - Chart history |publisher=Billboard |access-date=February 20, 2015}} Their third album, Rise Again, was released in February 2015. From the Ashes, a remix album, was released in June 2017.
  • Walter Flakus has been working with The Clay People and Chokt. He was the APD/Music Director/Afternoon host for Chicago alternative station 101 WKQX. He is now an afternoon DJ for Seattle alternative station 107.7 The End. He joined Hall's band The Dreaming in 2015.
  • Jim Sellers and his wife opened a natural foods market called Sellers Market in 2005. It appears to have closed in 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2012/10/30/sellers-markets-shutters-in-financial.html|title=Sellers Markets shutters in Financial District, prepares for express shops|last=Frojo|first=Renee|date=October 30, 2012|website=Bizjournals.com|access-date=July 7, 2017}}
  • Jim Clanin left the music industry. He owned and operated a Dairy Queen in Illinois.
  • Andy Kubiszewski has filled in as the drummer for a handful of Prick shows, joined a new project called Affected with Chris Schleyer, written and produced several songs for the popular Russian pop duo t.A.T.u., and has composed music for dozens of TV shows, including Monster Garage, Monster House, Ax Men, America's Toughest Jobs, The Colony, and most recently Storage Wars. Other film credits include Jam. Andy also composes the music to the popular Habla Blah Blah line of kids CDs.
  • Mark Eliopulos played guitar in the bands Violent New Breed, HTH, Super Model, and Brave Ulysses.
  • Johnny Haro joined Econoline Crush after briefly playing drums for Stabbing Westward. He eventually formed The Dreaming along with Christopher Hall.
  • Stuart Zechman retired from the music industry. He moved to New York and started a family.
  • David Suycott joined Machines of Loving Grace in 1995 as their new drummer. He continues to do production and remix work with various bands.
  • Derrek Hawkins continued to work in the music industry, notably contributing to the song "Outer Space" on Ace Frehley's 2009 solo album Anomaly.

In June 2010, a rumor was afloat that Stabbing Westward would reunite to tour and possibly work on new material;{{cite web|title=Stabbing Westward Reunited; Planning Tour This Year|url=http://tunelab.com:80/2010/06/08/stabbing-westward-reunited-planning-tour-this-year/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611150947/http://tunelab.com:80/2010/06/08/stabbing-westward-reunited-planning-tour-this-year/|archive-date=June 11, 2010|website=Tunelab.com|date=June 8, 2010|access-date=August 14, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Stabbing Westward "Reunion" Update|url=http://tunelab.com:80/2010/06/09/stabbing-westward-reunion-update/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615233337/http://tunelab.com:80/2010/06/09/stabbing-westward-reunion-update/|archive-date=June 15, 2010|website=Tunelab.com|date=June 9, 2010|access-date=August 14, 2018}} however, this proved false. In July 2012, a fan created a petition which asked frontman Christopher Hall to reconcile with his former Stabbing Westward bandmates for a reunion tour;{{cite web|last=Garcia |first=Mike |url=http://www.idioteq.com/stabbing-westward-reunion-in-the-works/ |title=STABBING WESTWARD reunion in the works? |website=Idioteq.com |access-date=February 20, 2015}} again, the reunion never happened.

Christopher Hall, Walter Flakus, and Johnny Haro reunited at one of The Dreaming's shows in Las Vegas on November 15, 2013.{{cite web |url=http://musictourreviews.com/2013/11/18/the-dreaming-4#sthash.L4XkAfFL.jlWzi2Nd.dpbs |title=» The Dreaming | Stabbing Westward Reunion |website=Musictourreviews.com |access-date=February 20, 2015 |archive-date=June 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611024556/http://musictourreviews.com/2013/11/18/the-dreaming-4#sthash.L4XkAfFL.jlWzi2Nd.dpbs |url-status=dead }} Flakus would later join The Dreaming on a permanent basis.

=Reunion and ''Chasing Ghosts'' (2015–present)=

Stabbing Westward reunited in 2015 after Eliopulos joined them onstage to play a set of Stabbing Westward songs when the Dreaming came through Chicago on their "Rise Again" tour on June 11, 2015. The band officially reunited for two shows, which coincided with the band's 30th anniversary. The first show took place in Chicago on September 22, 2016, as a part of the Cold Waves Festival, a charity festival benefiting suicide prevention causes. The lineup featured Christopher Hall, Walter Flakus, Mark Eliopulos, and Johnny Haro along with Carlton Bost (mainly known from The Dreaming, and also the reunited bands Orgy and Berlin). Jim Sellers did not take part in the reunion because of work commitments. The second show took place at Dracula's Ball in Philadelphia on October 31, 2016, at the Trocadero Theatre.{{cite web|url=http://www.draculasball.com|title=Dracula's Ball Halloween 2016|work=draculasball.com|access-date=January 26, 2017}}

In a January 2017 interview with audioBoom, Walter Flakus was asked if there would be more Stabbing Westward reunion shows in the future. His response was, "We'll see. I don't have anything planned yet, but I'm always open to opportunities. It was great to get back on stage and play those songs again."{{cite web|url=https://audioboom.com/posts/5468436-071-walt-flakus-on-stabbing-westward-s-rise-fall-and-rebirth-his-radio-career-and-filling-in-for-the-great-matt-pinfield|title=071 – WALT FLAKUS – on Stabbing Westward's rise, fall, and rebirth; his radio career; and filling in for the great Matt Pinfield|work=audioboom.com|access-date=January 26, 2017|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118062438/https://audioboom.com/posts/5468436-071-walt-flakus-on-stabbing-westward-s-rise-fall-and-rebirth-his-radio-career-and-filling-in-for-the-great-matt-pinfield|url-status=dead}} Dates for a full tour began to be announced in February 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.treesdallas.com/event/1420773-stabbing-westward-dallas/|title=Stabbing Westward - Tickets - Trees - Dallas, TX - April 28th, 2017|work=treesdallas.com|access-date=January 26, 2017|archive-date=January 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130094924/http://www.treesdallas.com/event/1420773-stabbing-westward-dallas/|url-status=dead}} The band also performed at the 2017 edition of Cold Waves Festival in Chicago, Illinois.{{cite web|url=http://music.mxdwn.com/2017/03/30/news/cold-waves-festival-announces-2017-lineup-featuring-front-242-kmfdm-and-stabbing-westward/|title=Cold Waves Festival Announces 2017 Lineup Featuring Front 242, KMFDM and Stabbing Westward|author=Lee, Christopher|date=March 30, 2017|work=music.mxdwn.com|access-date=April 7, 2017}}

The band released new material after their formation, such as a re-recorded version of the song "Plastic Jesus" (released on the Cold Waves V compilation on September 22, 2016) and an outtake from 2001 entitled "Home in You" (released on the Cold Waves VI compilation on September 28, 2017).

On August 17, 2018, Johnny Haro had been "let go" from the band, and will not be participating in any further band activities. In his Facebook post of that date, he stated that "The Dreaming is done." Stabbing Westward announced Bobby Amaro, from Orgy, as a replacement for Haro. The band embarked on a U.S. tour from October to December 2018 by celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of Darkest Days and performing most of the album, along with other songs.

In June 2019, the ensemble stated via their Facebook page that they were working on a new album,{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/stabbingwestwrd/posts/2397166530345032 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/192440274151013/2397166530345032 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Stabbing Westward|website=Facebook.com}}{{cbignore}} with Eliopulos via his Facebook site stating that he has left the band.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2603431573042158&set=a.101044543280886&type=3&theater|title=Log In or Sign Up to View|website=Facebook.com}} In early 2020, 19 years after the band's self-titled album, the first proper release of all new material was put out by the band, titled Dead and Gone.

In May 2020, the band announced their signing to label COP International for their forthcoming studio album Chasing Ghosts, the band's first full studio album since 2001. The lead single was "I Am Nothing" and the album was released on March 18, 2022.{{Cite web|last=Price|first=Jason|url=https://www.iconvsicon.com/2022/03/14/chasing-ghosts-christopher-hall-on-the-long-strange-road-to-stabbing-westwards-most-pure-album/|title=Chasing Ghosts|website=IconvsIcon|date=March 14, 2022}}{{cbignore}}

Musical style and influences

Stabbing Westward is most commonly described as industrial rock{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-11-20-9811200083-story.html |title=Stabbing Westward Offers Industrial Rock With a Difference |work=Chicago Tribune |last=Klein |first=Joshua |date=November 20, 1998 |access-date=February 29, 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1452248/stabbing-westward-cut-out/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920234443/http://www.mtv.com/news/1452248/stabbing-westward-cut-out/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 20, 2018 |title=Stabbing Westward Cut Out |publisher=MTV |date=February 11, 2002 |access-date=February 29, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/cdreviews/dead-and-gone/ |title=CD Reviews - Dead And Gone Stabbing Westward |website=Blabbermouth.net |date=January 20, 2020 |access-date=February 29, 2020}} and alternative rock,{{Cite web |last=Feinerman |first=Drew |date=2020-05-21 |title=Stabbing Westward Enlists John Fryer to Produce First New LP in Almost 20 Years Wasteland - |url=https://music.mxdwn.com/2020/05/21/news/stabbing-westward-enlists-john-fryer-to-produce-first-new-lp-in-almost-20-years-wasteland/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=mxdwn Music |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Ungod - Stabbing Westward | Songs, Reviews, Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ungod-mw0000109111 |access-date=November 21, 2021 |website=AllMusic}}{{Cite web |last=Childers |first=Chad |date=2019-12-08 |title=Stabbing Westward Eye First New Music Since 2001 |url=https://loudwire.com/stabbing-westward-new-music-2020/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Loudwire}} but also as industrial metal{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/darkest-days-mw0000030841 |title=Darkest Days - Stabbing Westward |website=AllMusic |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |access-date=February 29, 2020}}{{cite web|first= Anton|last=Chirtsov|title= 17 Best Industrial Metal Bands|website= Ultimate Guitar |date= 16 May 2017 |access-date= 8 June 2022 |url= https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/17_best_industrial_metal_bands-59129}} and alternative metal.{{cite web |url=https://hmmagazine.com/feature/the-birthday-massacre/ |title=Through the Eyes of Fascination|magazine=HM|last=Voight |first=Andrew|access-date=May 12, 2022}} The group has often been compared to Nine Inch Nails; according to Alan Escher of AllMusic, however, the band "owe more to the British synth poppers Depeche Mode than anyone." Christopher Hall's vocals have been compared to Nine Inch Nails singer Trent Reznor.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/wither-blister-burn-peel-mw0000179957 |title=Wither Blister Burn & Peel - Stabbing Westward |website=AllMusic |last=Escher |first=Alan |access-date=February 29, 2020}} Stabbing Westward's debut album Ungod has been described by Escher as "lo-fi aggro-synth assault". Stabbing Westward moved to a very guitar-driven sound on Wither Blister Burn & Peel. The self-titled album in 2001 shows a less heavy and more melodic sound than previous albums.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/stabbing-westward-mw0000002551 |title=Stabbing Westward - Stabbing Westward |website=AllMusic |last=Jonas |first=Liana |access-date=February 29, 2020}} Stabbing Westward's influences include Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Soundgarden, The Cure, Bauhaus, The Sisters of Mercy, Joy Division, and Pearl Jam.{{cite web |url=https://www.coolmagazineonline.com/christopher-hall |title=The Man Behind The Music and The Mayhem - Interview with Chris Hall |work=Cool Magazine |access-date=February 29, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://crypticrock.com/interview-christopher-hall-of-stabbing-westward/ |title=Interview - Christopher Hall of Stabbing Westward |publisher=Cryptic Rock |date=October 9, 2018 |access-date=February 29, 2020}}

Members

File:Christopher Hall @pharmadiver.jpg|Christopher Hall

File:Walter Flakus Welcome to Rockville July 2024.jpg|Walter Flakus

File:Bobby Amaro Welcome to Rockville May 2024.jpg|Bobby Amaro

File:Cyamak Ashtiani Inkcarceration July 2024 pharmadiver.jpg|Cyamak Ashtiani

= Current =

  • Christopher Hall – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, drum machine programming (1985–2002, 2016–present)
  • Walter Flakus – keyboards, programming, backing vocals, guitars (1985–2002, 2016–present)
  • Bobby Amaro – drums (2018–present)
  • Cyamak Ashtiani – guitars, backing vocals (2024–present)

= Former =

  • Jim Clanin – guitars (1985–1990)
  • Andrew Hunter – guitars (1990–1991)
  • Angelo Negrette – drums (1990–1991; died 2019)
  • Chris Vrenna – drums (1992, 1998)
  • David Suycott – drums (1993–1994)
  • Stuart Zechman – guitars (1993–1995)
  • Jim Sellers – bass (1990–2002)
  • Andy Kubiszewski – drums, guitars, keyboards, backing vocals (1994–1998, 1998–2002)
  • Derrek Hawkins – guitars, backing vocals (1999–2002)
  • Johnny Haro – drums (1998, 2016–2018)
  • Mark Eliopulos – guitars, backing vocals (1995–1999, 2016–2019)
  • Carlton Bost – bass, guitars (2016–2024)

= Timeline =

Color denotes main live duty.

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bar:Mark text:"Mark Eliopulos"

bar:Derrek text:"Derrek Hawkins"

bar:Cyamak text:"Cyamak Ashtiani"

bar:Jim text:"Jim Sellers"

bar:Carlton text:"Carlton Bost"

bar:Angelo text:"Angelo Negrette"

bar:Chris2 text:"Chris Vrenna"

bar:David text:"David Suycott"

bar:Andy text:"Andy Kubiszewski"

bar:Johnny text:"Johnny Haro"

bar:Bobby text:"Bobby Amaro"

PlotData =

width:11

bar:Chris from:01/01/1986 till:02/09/2002 color:vocals

bar:Chris from:01/01/1986 till:02/09/2002 color:keys width:3

bar:Chris from:09/01/2016 till:end color:vocals

bar:Chris from:09/01/2016 till:end color:keys width:3

bar:Stuart from:03/01/1993 till:03/01/1995 color:guitar

bar:Mark from:10/01/1995 till:10/01/1999 color:guitar

bar:Mark from:09/01/2016 till:08/01/2019 color:guitar

bar:Derrek from:10/01/1999 till:02/09/2002 color:guitar

bar:Jim from:01/01/1990 till:02/09/2002 color:bass

bar:Walter from:01/01/1986 till:02/09/2002 color:keys

bar:Walter from:01/01/1986 till:02/09/2002 color:guitar width:3

bar:Walter from:09/01/2016 till:end color:keys

bar:Walter from:09/01/2016 till:end color:guitar width:3

bar:Jim2 from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1990 color:guitar

bar:Chris2 from:08/01/1992 till:12/01/1992 color:drums

bar:Andrew from:01/01/1990 till:08/01/1992 color:guitar

bar:Angelo from:01/01/1990 till:08/01/1992 color:drums

bar:Chris2 from:05/01/1998 till:05/20/1998 color:drums

bar:Johnny from:05/21/1998 till:09/01/1998 color:drums

bar:Johnny from:09/01/2016 till:04/01/2018 color:drums

bar:David from:03/01/1993 till:10/01/1994 color:drums

bar:Andy from:10/01/1994 till:05/01/1998 color:drums

bar:Andy from:09/01/1998 till:02/09/2002 color:drums

bar:Carlton from:09/01/2016 till:01/01/2024 color:bass

bar:Carlton from:09/01/2016 till:01/01/2024 color:guitar width:3

bar:Cyamak from:01/01/2024 till:end color:guitar

bar:Bobby from:04/01/2018 till:end color:drums

}}

Discography

{{Infobox artist discography

| Artist = Stabbing Westward

| Studio = 5

| Compilation = 2

| Music videos = 11

| EP = 3

| Singles = 13

}}

= Studio albums =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
rowspan="2" | Year

! rowspan="2" | Title

! colspan="4" | Chart positions

! rowspan="2"| Certifications
(sales thresholds)

! rowspan="2"| Sales

style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US
{{cite magazine|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/stabbing-westward/chart-history/billboard-200|title=Stabbing Westward - Chart History|date=January 22, 2015|access-date=February 17, 2015}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Heat.
{{cite magazine|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/stabbing-westward/chart-history/heatseekers-albums|title=Stabbing Westward - Chart History|access-date=February 17, 2015}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Ind.
{{cite magazine|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/stabbing-westward/chart-history/independent-albums|title=Stabbing Westward - Chart History|access-date=February 17, 2015}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS
Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:

  • Top 100 peaks to December 2010: {{cite Ryan|page=265}}
  • "Save Yourself": {{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/Iix4X2U.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 04 Oct 1998|website=Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA)|access-date=October 20, 2016}}
1994

| style="text-align:left;"| Ungod

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

|

  • US: 150,000{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1048524/ask-billboard|title=Ask Billboard|work=billboard.com|date=January 6, 2007|access-date=January 26, 2017}}
1996

| style="text-align:left;"| Wither Blister Burn & Peel

  • Released: January 23, 1996
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: CD, LP, MC

| 67

| 1

| —

| —

|

  • RIAA: Gold{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?&artist=%22stabbing%20westward%22 |title=RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - September 03, 2015 |website=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=April 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904024728/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php |archive-date=September 4, 2015 }}

|

  • US: 747,000
1998

| style="text-align:left;"| Darkest Days

  • Released: April 7, 1998
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: CD, HDCD, LP, MC

| 52

| —

| —

| 79

|

  • RIAA: Gold

|

  • US: 502,000
2001

| style="text-align:left;"| Stabbing Westward

  • Released: May 22, 2001
  • Label: Koch
  • Format: CD, MC

| 47

| —

| 2

| 97

|

|

  • US: 140,000
2022

| style="text-align:left;"| Chasing Ghosts{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/stabbingwestwrd/posts/429621971868833 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/100044631000298/429621971868833 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Stabbing Westward Facebook Page|website=Facebook|date=October 22, 2021 |access-date=November 21, 2021}}{{cbignore}}

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

|

colspan="8" style="font-size:85%; text-align:center;"| "-" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

= EPs =

class=wikitable
Year

! Name

! Label

1992

|Iwo Jesus

| rowspan="3" |Self-released

2019

|Iwo Jesus{{Cite web|url=https://www.stabbingwestward.com/buyep|title=BUY EP|date=2019|website=STABBING WESTWARD|language=en-US|access-date=April 25, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Stabbing-Westward-Iwo-Jesus/release/11823692|title=Stabbing Westward - Iwo Jesus|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=April 25, 2019}}

rowspan="2" |2020

|Dead and Gone{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/stabbing-westward-new-music-2020/|title=Stabbing Westward Eye First New Music Since 2001|first=Chad|last=Childers|website=Loudwire|date=December 8, 2019 }}

Hallowed Hymns{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/stabbing-westward-drops-surprise-covers-ep-hallowed-hymns/|title=STABBING WESTWARD Drops Surprise Covers EP 'Hallowed Hymns'|website=Blabbermouth|date=October 30, 2020}}

| COP International

= Compilation albums =

class=wikitable
Year

! Name

! Label

rowspan=2|2003

|The Essential Stabbing Westward

|rowspan=2|Sony

What Do I Have to Do?

= Singles =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
rowspan="2" |Year

! rowspan="2" |Song

! colspan="4" |Chart positions

! rowspan="2" |Album

style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Airplay
{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/280261/stabbing-westward/chart?f=350|title=Stabbing Westward - Chart History|access-date=February 17, 2015}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Modern
{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/280261/stabbing-westward/chart?f=377|title=Stabbing Westward - Chart History|access-date=February 17, 2015}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Main.
{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/280261/stabbing-westward/chart?f=376|title=Stabbing Westward - Chart History|access-date=February 17, 2015}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS

1993

| style="text-align:left;"|"Violent Mood Swings"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/composition/4ed1cd3d-526e-4bf1-be98-4913602169df-Violent-Mood-Swings|title=Violent Mood Swings|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=April 25, 2019}}

| —

| —

| —

| —

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="4"|Ungod{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Stabbing-Westward-Ungod/master/30195|title=Stabbing Westward - Ungod|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=April 25, 2019}}{{Citation|title=Ungod|date=December 9, 2018|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ungod&oldid=872897321|work=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=April 25, 2019}}

rowspan="3"|1994

| style="text-align:left;"|"Control"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Stabbing-Westward-Control/release/928672|title=Control|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=May 30, 2019}}

| —

| —

| —

| —

style="text-align:left;"|"Lies"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/composition/65d4c161-e74a-4e68-b9ae-3e8ab1f3ef10-Lies|title=Lies|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=April 25, 2019}}

| —

| —

| —

| —

style="text-align:left;"|"Nothing"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/composition/5769479a-0972-4f14-83b7-79221e2a53cf-Nothing|title=Nothing|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=April 25, 2019}}

| —

| —

| —

| —

rowspan="2"|1996

| style="text-align:left;"|"What Do I Have to Do?"

| 60

| 11

| 7

| —

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|Wither Blister Burn & Peel

style="text-align:left;"|"Shame"

| 69

| 14

| 7

| —

rowspan="2"|1998

| style="text-align:left;"|"Sometimes It Hurts"

| —

| 39

| 20

| —

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"|Darkest Days

style="text-align:left;"|"Save Yourself"

| —

| 20

| 4

| 64

1999

| style="text-align:left;"|"Haunting Me"

| —

| 34

| 19

| —

2001

| style="text-align:left;"|"So Far Away"

| —

| 21

| 23

| 85

| style="text-align:left;"|Stabbing Westward

2020

| style="text-align:left;"|"Dead and Gone"{{cite web|website=Consequence|last=Kaufman|first=Spencer|url=https://consequence.net/2020/01/stabbing-westward-dead-gone-ep-stream/|title=Stabbing Westward Release Dead & Gone EP, Unveil Video for Title Track|date=January 3, 2020|access-date=June 10, 2021}}

| —

| —

| —

| —

| style="text-align:left;"|Dead and Gone

2021

| style="text-align:left;"|"I Am Nothing"{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/20882623-Stabbing-Westward-I-Am-Nothing|title=Stabbing Westward - I Am Nothing (2021, CD) - Discogs|website=Discogs }}

| —

| —

| —

| —

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|Chasing Ghosts

2022

| style="text-align:left;"|"Ghost"{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/21920338-Stabbing-Westward-Ghost|title=Stabbing Westward - Ghost (2022, CD) - Discogs|website=Discogs }}

| —

| —

| —

| —

colspan="14" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

  • The songs "What Do I Have to Do?" and "Shame" were not released as commercial singles, and they charted on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay as they received airplay.

== Promotional singles ==

class=wikitable
Year

! Song

! Album

1996

|"I Don't Believe"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/composition/d7072309-65f2-4aa0-b75d-5c34b33d2a5b-I-Dont-Believe-Radio-Edit|title=I Don't Believe (Radio Edit)|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=April 25, 2019}}

|Wither Blister Burn & Peel

2001

|"Angel"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/composition/128fe396-a76e-4b70-ab2f-dff051925878-Angel|title=Angel|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=April 25, 2019}}

|Stabbing Westward

== Other songs ==

{{unreferenced section|date=December 2018}}

  • "Dawn" was featured on the Escape from L.A. soundtrack in 1996.
  • "Torn Apart" (Josh Wink Remix) was featured on the Spawn soundtrack in 1997.
  • "So Wrong" was featured on the Bride of Chucky soundtrack in 1998.
  • "Top of the World" (The Carpenters cover) was featured on the Triple M Musical Challenge II compilation in 2001.
  • "Bizarre Love Triangle" (New Order cover) was featured on the Not Another Teen Movie soundtrack in 2001.
  • "Plastic Jesus" (re-recorded song, originally from the Iwo Jesus extended play) was featured on the Cold Waves V compilation in 2016.
  • "Home In You" was featured on the Cold Waves VI compilation in 2017.

= Music videos =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of music videos

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Director

rowspan="2"| 1994

! scope="row" | "Lies"

| Peter Christopherson

scope="row" | "Nothing"

| Julie Hermelin

rowspan="2"| 1996

! scope="row" | "What Do I Have To Do?"

| Josh Taft

scope="row" | "Shame"

| Paul Cunningham

rowspan="2"| 1998

! scope="row" | "Sometimes It Hurts"

| Kevin Kerslake

scope="row" | "Save Yourself"

| Matt Donaldson

2001

! scope="row" | "So Far Away"

| Shawn Foster

rowspan="3"| 2020

! scope="row" | "Dead and Gone"

| rowspan="2"| Vincente Cordero

scope="row" | "Crawl"
scope="row" | "Cold"

| rowspan="2"| Christopher Hall

2022

! scope="row" | "Ghost"

References

{{Reflist}}