Murderdolls (2002-2004 / 2010-2011)

The Murderdolls originally came from the idea of Joey Jordison when he was in a band known as The Rejects. The Rejects split up when Joey decides to the leave the band as his newer and more aggressive band Slipknot was signing a record deal. At some point in 1999 Joey decide to do another side project and bring The Rejects back. He met with past vocalist Dizzy Draztik, guitar player from Static X named Tripp Eisen, drummer from Dope Racci Shay, and some unknown bassist named Ian at that time.

Dizzy introduced Joey to the music of The Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13 and talked him into inviting front man Wednesday 13 in 2001 to be the new bassist. Not long after Dizzy left the band to take of personal matters with his mother and Wednesday 13 moved from bass to vocals for the band. At this time the band changed their name also to Murderdolls and took over where the Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13 left off. the image of band was a cross between Motley Crue (in the 83 era) meets Marilyn Manson.

The band started to play their music and started to create some new material with the same horror themes.  The first record was started to be done and it was made up mostly of old Wednesday 13 songs.

In 2002 after the record was done they brought in a new drummer Ben Graves and a bass player named Eric Griffon. The record was seen as a EP called Right to Remain Violent. Not long after they released a full length records called Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls.

 

(Early Group Shots 2002 of Murderdolls when Tripp Eisen was in the band.)

Not long after the release of the record and some shows Tripp Eisen announced that he will be going to back to his old band Static X and was replaced with new guitarist Acey Slade from Dope. Twiggy was a possible option as he was just fired by Manson but they went with Acey. The band went on to do a very successful tour run in support of the record with bands like Iron Maiden and the Foo Fighters. 

In 2003 the band released an EP single for the Billy Idol remake of White Wedding. They kept touring successfully until the beginning of 2004 when Joey announced that he was going to work more on the Slipknot project but Wednesday 13 and Joey both said the band did not break up.

(Murderdolls during the Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls era with Acey Slade.)

After a long break in the band as Joey kept working with Slipknot and Wednesday 13 did a pile of solo records and other projects, in 2010 they both announced that they were going to work on a new record. The band was mostly new except for Joey and Wednesday but they brought back Racci Shay and Jason “”Shakes” West later on  drums and new members guitarist Roman Surman and bassist Jack Tankersley. The second record was called Women & Children Last and was a much darker CD.

Murderdolls 2010-2011 era (Roman, Jason, Joey, W13, Jack)

(Murderdolls tour poster)

The band did some touring with Guns n’ Roses, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie and Ozzfest in the UK. Before the band got into the North American side of the tour Joey decided to join Rob Zombie and deal with the death of past Slipknot member Paul Gray.

(Murderdolls UK Poster)

In 2011 Wednesday 13 announced that the Murderdolls were split for good.

Murderdolls 2010 era (W13/Joey)

In 2018 after the passing of Ben Ghoul Graves from his battle of cancer, they had a 1 show reunion of some members. Wednesday 13, Acey Slade and Eric Griffon got together and paid respect with a opening set list.

Murderdolls 1 night semi reunion for Ben the Ghoul Graves in 2018.

 

 

 

 

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