Ivan L. Moody
Encyclopedia
Ivan L. Moody, also known by the pseudonym
Ghost, is the singer for American Heavy metal
group Five Finger Death Punch
from Sacramento
, California
. He had performed for several bands before settling down with FFDP (or 5FDP.)
band Motograter
in 2002. They released their self-titled album Motograter
on June 24, 2003. They gained some mainstream success playing the second stage at Ozzfest 2003 and touring with bands like Korn
, Disturbed, Marilyn Manson
, Nothingface
, Slipknot
, Mushroomhead
, SkinCrawl, and Killswitch Engage
. Motograter went on a hiatus in 2006. Motograter played a one time re-union show in 2006 at the Delicious Rox Festival in which Ivan made it perfectly clear to fans and band members alike that he was finished with the band.
Soon after, Ivan joined the heavy metal
band Five Finger Death Punch
and his side project Ghost Machine
released their debut self-titled album
on July 26, 2005. Ghost Machine released their second album, Hypersensitive on November 21, 2006. That same year Five Finger Death Punch entered the studio to record their debut album at Next Level Studios and Complex Studios in Los Angeles, California with Steve Bruno and Mike Sarkisyan. The album was produced by guitarist Zoltan Bathory
and drummer Jeremy Spencer and was mixed by former Machine Head
and Soulfly
guitarist Logan Mader
. He also starred in the 2009 horror film Bled
playing the role of Incubus.
They achieved rapid commercial success: their debut album, The Way of the Fist (2007) has currently sold over 420,000 copies in the United States and spawned 3 top 10 hit singles. Their second album, War Is the Answer (2009), sold more than 44,006 copies in its first week of release, spawned 5 top 10 singles and has gone on to sell more than 500,000 copies to date. They have played many major tours and festivals including Korn's Family Values and Bitch We Have a Problem Tours, they played on the Jägermeister Stage (second stage) at Mayhem Festival in 2008 and played the main stage at Mayhem Festival in 2010. They also performed at Download Festival during both 2009 and 2010 and the Monster Stage (main stage) at Rock on the Range 2011.
He is featured in the new book Full Metal The 50 Most Influential Heavy Metal Songs of the '80s and the True Stories Behind Their Lyrics. In a new interview conducted exclusively for the book, Ivan Moody discusses the impact of Metallica's “Fade to Black” on him as a lyricist, in a full chapter about the song that also examines its social and cultural significance, both in 1983 and today.
Prior to Motograter, Ivan was in a band called Black Blood Orchestra. They have a MySpace Music page with four songs for stream: "Cold", "Red Moon of Vegas [Rough Cut]" (a Demo Version of Ghost Machine's "Vegas Moon"), "Black Blood" and "Sunspot ["Cold" Reprise)" (basically an Acoustic Version of "Cold").
. Five Finger Death Punch has won several awards including The Best New Band award at the 2009 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards
, the Most Promising Artist award from FMQB’s 2009 year-end Metal poll
. They were also nominated for the Best International Newcomer award at 2009 Kerrang! Awards and won the Best Breakthrough Band award at the 2010 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards
.
Motograter
There are also three Motograter Demos with Ivan on Vocals: "Flesh Burns (1999 Demo)", "Pile Driver (2000 Demo)", and "Failure {Live 2004)"
Ghost Machine
After "Hypersensitive", Ghost Machine started working on a Remix album that they had to put on the back burner because of the success of Five Finger Death Punch. Four Remixes were released for stream on the band's MySpace Music Remix page: "God Forbid (Black Cape Remix)", "Vegas Moon (Pete Murray Remix)", "Siesta Loca (Steven's Organic Drum Remix)" and "Burning Bridges (Depression Remix)".
Five Finger Death Punch
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Ghost, is the singer for American Heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
group Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2005, the group's name is derived from classic oriental martial arts cinema. The band originally consisted of vocalist Ivan Moody, guitarist Zoltan Bathory, guitarist Caleb Bingham, bassist Matt Snell,...
from Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He had performed for several bands before settling down with FFDP (or 5FDP.)
Career
Moody performed with a few small bands before joining the industrial metalIndustrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
band Motograter
Motograter
Motograter was an American Nu-Metal band formed in 1995. They are best known for their homemade instrument the "motograter" - designed with industrial cable and guitar pieces that creates a very deep bass sound...
in 2002. They released their self-titled album Motograter
Motograter (album)
Motograter is the self-titled debut album released by the nu metal band Motograter on June 24, 2003. Although the album has a total of 22 tracks, half of them are short, static tracks, which are all the names of the tracks reversed. For instance, Eman On is a reversed version of No Name, and a...
on June 24, 2003. They gained some mainstream success playing the second stage at Ozzfest 2003 and touring with bands like Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, Disturbed, Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (band)
Marilyn Manson is an American metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by Brian Warner and Scott Putesky, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their uniquely theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early '90s. This attention...
, Nothingface
Nothingface
Nothingface was a four-piece metal band from Washington, D.C. noted for having graphic lyrics and occasionally using political themes in their later works, as well as polyrhythmic songs.-First Run:...
, Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
, Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead is an American industrial metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in Cleveland Warehouse District, the band's music can be described as a synthesis of alternative music, heavy metal, and electro-industrial...
, SkinCrawl, and Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
. Motograter went on a hiatus in 2006. Motograter played a one time re-union show in 2006 at the Delicious Rox Festival in which Ivan made it perfectly clear to fans and band members alike that he was finished with the band.
Soon after, Ivan joined the heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2005, the group's name is derived from classic oriental martial arts cinema. The band originally consisted of vocalist Ivan Moody, guitarist Zoltan Bathory, guitarist Caleb Bingham, bassist Matt Snell,...
and his side project Ghost Machine
Ghost Machine
Ghost Machine is a five-piece music group from the United States. The band is also notable for featuring two members from Motograter, vocalist Ivan Moody , also vocalist for Five Finger Death Punch, and drummer Chris "Crispy" Binns, and John Stevens of The Clay People.-History:Ghost Machine came...
released their debut self-titled album
Ghost Machine (album)
Ghost Machine is the self titled debut album by the five-piece music group Ghost Machine. The album was released on July 26, 2005 via the band's own label Black Blood Records. It however can be purchased from major online retailers such as Amazon.com and CD Universe.The album contains a total of 13...
on July 26, 2005. Ghost Machine released their second album, Hypersensitive on November 21, 2006. That same year Five Finger Death Punch entered the studio to record their debut album at Next Level Studios and Complex Studios in Los Angeles, California with Steve Bruno and Mike Sarkisyan. The album was produced by guitarist Zoltan Bathory
Zoltan Bathory
Zoltán Báthory is a Hungarian-born musician. He is the co-founder and one of the main songwriters for the Los Angeles-based hard rock band Five Finger Death Punch.-Career:...
and drummer Jeremy Spencer and was mixed by former Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
and Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
guitarist Logan Mader
Logan Mader
Logan Mader was born on November 16, 1970 in Montreal, Canada. Logan is best known for his work as a guitarist in the heavy metal band Machine Head, who formed in Oakland, California in 1992. Their 1994 debut, Burn My Eyes, was released by Roadrunner Records and quickly became the top-selling...
. He also starred in the 2009 horror film Bled
Bled (film)
Bled is a 2009 horror film directed by Christopher Hutson and written by Sxv'leithan Essex.-Plot:Sai, a young artist living in a downtown warehouse delves into an ancient world of blood and lust...
playing the role of Incubus.
They achieved rapid commercial success: their debut album, The Way of the Fist (2007) has currently sold over 420,000 copies in the United States and spawned 3 top 10 hit singles. Their second album, War Is the Answer (2009), sold more than 44,006 copies in its first week of release, spawned 5 top 10 singles and has gone on to sell more than 500,000 copies to date. They have played many major tours and festivals including Korn's Family Values and Bitch We Have a Problem Tours, they played on the Jägermeister Stage (second stage) at Mayhem Festival in 2008 and played the main stage at Mayhem Festival in 2010. They also performed at Download Festival during both 2009 and 2010 and the Monster Stage (main stage) at Rock on the Range 2011.
He is featured in the new book Full Metal The 50 Most Influential Heavy Metal Songs of the '80s and the True Stories Behind Their Lyrics. In a new interview conducted exclusively for the book, Ivan Moody discusses the impact of Metallica's “Fade to Black” on him as a lyricist, in a full chapter about the song that also examines its social and cultural significance, both in 1983 and today.
Prior to Motograter, Ivan was in a band called Black Blood Orchestra. They have a MySpace Music page with four songs for stream: "Cold", "Red Moon of Vegas [Rough Cut]" (a Demo Version of Ghost Machine's "Vegas Moon"), "Black Blood" and "Sunspot ["Cold" Reprise)" (basically an Acoustic Version of "Cold").
Awards and nominations
Motograter was voted the best band of 2003 by Hit ParaderHit Parader
Hit Parader is an American music magazine focusing on the genres of hard rock, pop, and heavy metal.The magazine was originally started as a pop song lyric magazine by Charlton Publications in 1942. Charlton sold off the magazine before the company went under in 1991...
. Five Finger Death Punch has won several awards including The Best New Band award at the 2009 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
, the Most Promising Artist award from FMQB’s 2009 year-end Metal poll
FMQB
Friday Morning Quarterback is a trade magazine which covers the Radio and Music industries in the United States. Its coverage includes programming, management, promotion, marketing, and airplay for music formatted radio. The magazine was founded in 1968 by Kal Rudman and is read by over 10,000...
. They were also nominated for the Best International Newcomer award at 2009 Kerrang! Awards and won the Best Breakthrough Band award at the 2010 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
.
Discography
TOIZ- 2002
Motograter
- 2003: MotograterMotograter (album)Motograter is the self-titled debut album released by the nu metal band Motograter on June 24, 2003. Although the album has a total of 22 tracks, half of them are short, static tracks, which are all the names of the tracks reversed. For instance, Eman On is a reversed version of No Name, and a...
There are also three Motograter Demos with Ivan on Vocals: "Flesh Burns (1999 Demo)", "Pile Driver (2000 Demo)", and "Failure {Live 2004)"
Ghost Machine
- 2005: Ghost MachineGhost Machine (album)Ghost Machine is the self titled debut album by the five-piece music group Ghost Machine. The album was released on July 26, 2005 via the band's own label Black Blood Records. It however can be purchased from major online retailers such as Amazon.com and CD Universe.The album contains a total of 13...
- 2006: Hypersensitive
After "Hypersensitive", Ghost Machine started working on a Remix album that they had to put on the back burner because of the success of Five Finger Death Punch. Four Remixes were released for stream on the band's MySpace Music Remix page: "God Forbid (Black Cape Remix)", "Vegas Moon (Pete Murray Remix)", "Siesta Loca (Steven's Organic Drum Remix)" and "Burning Bridges (Depression Remix)".
Five Finger Death Punch
- 2007: The Way of the FistThe Way of the FistThe Way of the Fist is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch, released on July 31, 2007. The album sold 3,800 copies in its first week of release The Way of the Fist made its Billboard 200 debut on August 18, 2007 at #199 and peaked at #107...
- 2009: War Is the AnswerWar Is the AnswerWar Is the Answer is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch. It was released on September 22, 2009 through Prospect Park Records. The album debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200 selling approximately 44,000 copies in its first week...
- 2011: American CapitalistAmerican Capitalist-Track Listing:-The Pride:"The Pride" is a song by American heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch. It is the third track on their third album American Capitalist. It has been considered a list song. In an interview, guitarist Zoltan Bathory clarified the meaning of the song. "You can be a...