List of Escape the Fate band members
Escape the Fate is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2005 and originally from Pahrump, Nevada. The group consists of Robert Ortiz (drummer and backing vocalist), Craig Mabbitt (lead vocalist), TJ Bell (rhythm guitarist, bassist and vocalist), Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft (lead guitarist, bassist, keyboardist and backing vocalist) and touring musician Erik Jensen (bassist and backing vocalist). The group was founded by original vocalist Ronnie Radke, bassist Max Green and lead guitarist Monte Money. The band has had 10 official members and 6 touring members and throughout 2010–2013 had a fluctuating lineup, and has recorded six album with four different studio lineups.
The band had their first lineup change when keyboardist and backing vocalist Carson Allen, left before the band's first studio album Dying is Your Latest Fashion, and lead guitarist Monte Money started playing keyboards along with guitar instead of getting a new keyboardist. The band's next lineup change came with rhythm guitarist Omar Espinosa left and was replaced by Monte Money's brother, Michael Money as a touring member and Monte played the rhythm guitar on records.[1]
Later, Ronnie Radke was involved in an altercation in Las Vegas that resulted in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Cook.[2][3][4] While Radke did not shoot Cook, he was indicted on battery charges, while the man who shot Cook claimed self-defense. These charges against Radke, combined with Ronnie's past troubles with narcotics and rehab, led to a sentence of five years' probation.[5] Radke failed to report to his parole officer and was arrested in June 2008, where he was sentenced to two years in prison. Radke was officially fired from Escape the Fate in mid-2008. Radke was then replaced by former blessthefall vocalist, Craig Mabbitt.
The band's next lineup change would come in late 2011, when the Money brothers and Max Green went on hiatus and were replaced by touring member Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft on lead guitar, TJ Bell on rhythm guitar and Zakk Sandler on bass. It was not an official departure at the time as the Money brother would return but Max Green would make his departure permanent. TJ Bell would then become an official member and switch to bass. In 2013 the band recorded their first album without Green and with Bell on bass. Later that year Monte and Michael would leave the band. TJ then switched to rhythm guitar, Kevin Gruft re-joined the band as a permanent member this time on lead guitar and Max Green returned to the band on bass.[6] In 2014 Green would leave once more, then joined former vocalist Ronnie Radke's band Falling in Reverse, and left that band as well months after joining.[7] Since 2014 the band has gone through a string of touring bassists who include Davey Richmond in (2014), Alex Torres (2014–2015), Tyler Burgess (2015), Max Georgiev (2015–2017) and currently since 2017, Erik Jensen. With the band not having an official bassist, TJ and Kevin played bass in addition to their regular instruments on Hate Me and I Am Human.
Official members
Current
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Craig Mabbitt | 2008–present | all Escape the Fate releases from This War Is Ours (2008) to present | ||
Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft |
|
|
all releases from Acoustic Sessions (EP) (2014) to present | |
TJ Bell |
2012–present (touring 2011–2012) |
|
all Escape the Fate release from Ungrateful (2013) to present | |
Robert Ortiz |
2004–present |
|
Former
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Carson Allen | 2005–2006 |
|
all Escape the Fate releases from Escape the Fate (EP) (2005) to Dying Is Your Latest Fashion (2006) | |
Omar Espinosa | 2004–2007 |
| ||
Ronnie Radke | 2004–2008 |
|
all Escape the Fate releases from Escape the Fate (EP) (2005) to Situations (EP) (2007) | |
Monte Money | 2004–2013 (hiatus 2011–2012) |
|
all Escape the fate releases from Escape the Fate (EP) (2005) to Ungrateful (2013) | |
Michael Money |
|
|
Ungrateful (2013) | |
Max Green | 2004–2012, 2012–2014 (hiatus 2011–2012) |
|
all Escape the Fate releases from Escape the Fate (EP) (2005) to Escape the Fate (2010) |
Other contributors
Touring
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Zakk Sandler |
2011–2012 |
|
none | |
Davey Richmond | 2014 | |||
Alex Torres | 2014–2015, 2015 | |||
Tyler Burgess | 2015 | |||
Max Georgiev | 2015–2017 | Hate Me | ||
Erik Jensen | 2017–present | none |
Session
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Baskette |
2005–2007 |
|
all Escape the Fate releases from There's No Sympathy For The Dead (EP) (2006) to Situations (EP) (2007) | |
Dave Holdredge | 2006 |
|
Dying Is Your Latest Fashion (2006) | |
Matt Appleton | 2008 |
|
This War Is Ours (2008) | |
John Feldmann | 2008, 2012-2013 |
|
This War Is Ours (2008) and Ungrateful (2013) | |
Kyle Moorman | 2008 |
|
This War Is Ours (2008) | |
Jess Neilson |
| |||
John 5 | 2010 |
|
Escape the Fate (2010) | |
Bart Hendrickson |
| |||
Howard Benson | 2015, 2017-2018 |
|
Hate Me (2015) and I Am Human (2018) |
Timeline
References
- "Omar Espinoza leaves Escape The Fate - Alternative Press". Altpress.com. November 6, 2007. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- "Las Vegas CityLife". Archives.lasvegascitylife.com. September 28, 2006. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
- "[Tragedy] Murder, suicide, music and drugs". Lasvegasweekly.com. February 23, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- "Escape The fate singer escapes jail". Kerrang.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- Jon Wiederhorn (September 28, 2011). "Ronnie Radke Reveals Six Things Not To Do in Jail". Revolvermag.com. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- "Exclusive: Falling In Reverse and Escape The Fate bury the hatchet with upcoming tour - Alternative Press". October 28, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
- ""I cant help feeling unfulfilled at the end of the day..." - bassist Max Green exits Escape The Fate - Alternative Press". May 9, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2018.