American Head Charge
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis , United States |
| Products | Albums, EPs, DVDs |
American Head Charge was a metal group originating from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band received two nominations at the Kerrang! Awards.
Origins and Early Years (1996–1999)
The band initially performed under several names such as Flux, Gestapo Pussy Ranch, and Warsaw Ghetto Pussy, all of which were temporary. The name Flux was abandoned due to potential copyright complications, while the others were discarded within half a year to avoid deterring record labels. Chad Hanks expressed in a 2001 interview, "I like three-word names." On the meaning behind the band's name, he remarked, "It doesn't carry any significance. That’s basically the whole point." Although often mistakenly associated with African Head Charge—Adrian Sherwood's dub project from the early 1980s—this similarity is purely coincidental. Hanks commented, "There really is a band called African Head Charge; originality is tough these days."
Trepanation Era (1999–2000)
Once adopting the name American Head Charge, the band emerged within the underground industrial metal genre with their independently released 1999 album Trepanation. The lineup at that time included Heacock and Hanks (who adopted the stage names Martin Cock and Banks), guitarist David Rogers, drummer Peter Harmon, and keyboardist/sampler Christopher Emery. Their profile rose through contributions to Dwell Records tribute compilations dedicated to industrial icons Ministry and Marilyn Manson. By late 1999, Wayne Kile (second guitar), Justin Fowler (keyboards), and Aaron Zilch (sampler) joined; Harmon departed while Emery transitioned to drums.
Performing as an opening act for System of a Down in Des Moines, Iowa during August 1999 led to wider recognition when bassist Shavo Odadjian recommended them to Rick Rubin of American Recordings. Within six months, American Head Charge secured a contract with American Recordings, distributed by Columbia Records.
The War of Art Period (2000–2002)
Following regional acclaim for Trepanation and their signing in 2000, the band moved to Los Angeles to work on their major-label debut under producer Rick Rubin at his Houdini Mansion. Released on August 28, 2001, The War of Art sold over 12,000 units during its first week in the U.S. and eventually surpassed 250,000 copies sold, although sales declined significantly after 9/11.
To support the release, American Head Charge embarked on extensive touring. Their professional debut occurred on Ozzy Osbourne's 2001 Ozzfest, where they played third on the "Second Stage." Subsequently, they joined the Pledge of Allegiance festival tour alongside Slipknot, No One, Mudvayne, Rammstein, and System of a Down. Guitarist Dave Rogers concluded this tour in New Jersey by performing nude on stage, which led to his arrest. In December 2001, they supported Slayer and Ohio groove metal outfit Chimaira during the American God Hates Us All tour lasting two months. Later performances included sharing bills with headliners such as Kittie, hardcore punk veterans Biohazard, and Texas-based stoner rockers Speedealer before undertaking a four-month tour through Scandinavia, Europe, the UK, and Japan with Slipknot as headliners.
In early April 2002, Wayne Kile departed from the group and was promptly replaced by Bryan Ottoson, formerly of Black Flood Diesel. Ottoson joined within a day and participated in shooting the music video for "Just So You Know."
The Feeding (2002–2007)
Following a two-year break caused by substance abuse problems involving three band members—two of whom sought rehabilitation—the group recommenced their songwriting and studio sessions. During the demo phase, producer Rick Rubin became increasingly unavailable, prompting the band to request a contract termination, which Rubin approved without resistance. In July 2004, they inked a deal with DRT Entertainment. Under the guidance of Greg Fidelman, who had engineered The War of Art, the band spent four months recording what they regarded as their most focused and disciplined project. Released on February 15, 2005, The Feeding included the radio single "Loyalty" and a music video for "Cowards," featuring former UFC competitor Chuck Lidell. Later, bassist Chad Hanks disclosed that the group never received any royalty payments from the label for this record.
Passing of guitarist Bryan Ottoson
Guitarist Bryan Ottoson passed away on April 19, 2005, at age 27 while touring alongside Mudvayne, Life of Agony, and Bloodsimple. His body was discovered on the band's tour bus in North Charleston, South Carolina, where a show was scheduled that evening. Authorities determined his death resulted from an accidental overdose of prescription medication; a bottle containing prescribed drugs was found in his sleeping area. Ottoson had been undergoing treatment for severe strep throat with penicillin and an undisclosed pain reliever.
Bandmates last saw Ottoson alive around 4 a.m. on April 18 as they departed Jessup, Maryland. Although police reports suggested he had consumed significant alcohol that night, bassist Chad Hanks contested this, stating they had only minimal drinks. Known for being a deep sleeper who often rested late before performances, Ottoson's death was confirmed by police around 6:30 p.m. on April 19 following their arrival.
Can't Stop The Machine (2007)
On April 3, 2007, American Head Charge unveiled their debut DVD titled Can't Stop the Machine through Nitrus Records. The package featured a 10-track CD containing live recordings and unreleased material, including a remix of "The War of Art." To promote the release, the band embarked on a two-month nationwide tour beginning May 5, culminating in a sold-out final show on September 14, 2007, at The Rock in Maplewood, Minnesota—marking their last performance together.
Hiatus (2007–2011)
Between 2007 and 2009, communication was infrequent; bassist Chad Hanks maintained fan engagement through his personal blog. In August 2008, Hanks revealed that substance abuse continued to impede progress; he himself remained sober since winter 2007 while vocalist Cameron Heacock entered rehab in April 2008.
In September 2008, the band briefly reunited in Los Angeles to work on their fourth studio album, completing one full track and initiating two demos. However, Heacock experienced creative block challenges while sustaining sobriety and missed a scheduled visit to Minneapolis in April 2009 intended to support songwriting efforts.
On August 11, 2009, American Head Charge formally disbanded due to Heacock's inability to continue musically. Co-founder Chad Hanks expressed regret but remained hopeful about recruiting new vocal talent. After receiving over 300 vocal auditions, most were deemed unsuitable. The band briefly collaborated with Dennis Sanders Jr. and later Josh Bradford; both partnerships ended without long-term commitment.
Unexpectedly, after two years of silence, Heacock reestablished contact by emailing Hanks demos featuring his vocals. Hanks described this outreach as sudden yet intriguing.
In January 2011, activity surfaced on the band's inactive MySpace page hinting at a possible reunion. However, by April the page reverted to displaying "RIP American Head Charge: 1998–2009." Shortly thereafter, Hanks announced via Twitter that the band had reformed with guitarist Karma Cheema, drummer Chris Emery, vocalist Cameron Heacock, keyboardist Justin Fowler, and himself preparing for rehearsals scheduled for July/August.
Reunion and Shoot (2011–2013)
On June 30, 2011, bassist Chad Hanks revealed intentions to rehearse and create new material, promoting the band's official Facebook platform. By October 6, 2011, American Head Charge welcomed guitarist Sin Quirin—previously associated with Ministry and Revolting Cocks—as a second guitarist for their "tourette" tour, which featured support from Wrecking Day, Gabriel and the Apocalypse, and Dead Horse Trauma. In February 2012, they participated in the Hed2Head Tour 3 alongside Mushroomhead and (Hed) PE.
The group produced the EP Shoot, initially titled Interstice. Its lead track, "Sugars of Someday," was launched on iTunes on May 9, 2012, with sales proceeds intended to fund their forthcoming album. Interestingly, this song was penned back in 2008 during a period of inactivity, with several vocalists contributing versions before Cameron Heacock returned to complete it.
The self-released five-track Shoot EP came out on July 23, 2013, followed by tours across the United States and the United Kingdom. The collection includes "Sugars of Someday," three new compositions—"Writhe," "Set Yourself on Fire," and "Sand"—plus a rendition of Patti Smith's "Rock N Roll Nigger."
Resurgence and Tango Umbrella (2013–2017)
In March 2014, American Head Charge initiated an Indiegogo campaign aiming to finance their fourth studio album under the production of Dave Fortman. Surpassing their target of $46,000, they raised $53,370 by offering fans exclusive perks such as autographed merchandise, VIP experiences, and personalized performances.
Following this successful crowdfunding effort, the band toured alongside Wayne Static and appeared at the Download Festival in June 2014 before recording sessions at Third Sky Studios in Kentucky. Later that year, they toured Europe with Soil and Hed P.E., then arranged a U.S. tour featuring Wayne Static and Powerman 5000. After Static passed away in November 2014, the remaining bands continued the tour as a tribute to him.
After extensive touring and recording commitments, the band took a short break but performed a holiday show on December 27 in Minneapolis. On December 9, they announced a spring tour supporting Coal Chamber, Filter, and Combichrist.
American Head Charge released Tango Umbrella on March 25, 2016, through Napalm Records. However, on July 15 of that year, guitarist Ted Hallows and drummer Chris Emery unexpectedly departed from the band via Facebook posts without prior consultation with Hanks or Heacock.
Death of co-founder/bassist Hanks, arrest of Heacock
Founding bassist Chad Hanks passed away at age 46 on November 12, 2017, after battling a terminal illness. A memorial and benefit concert took place on November 26, 2017, at Minneapolis’ First Avenue Mainroom featuring current and former members including Cameron Heacock, Justin Fowler, Karma Cheema, Aaron Zilch, Benji Helberg, and Dane Tuders. Bass technician Jordan Swanson handled bass duties while special vocal guests included Greg Chilton, Jake "Tox" Crooks, and Vince Ebertz. The event also showcased performances from Blue Felix, Black Flood Diesel, The Omega Sequence, Outside The Murder, Strate Jak It, and DJ Aaron Zilch—bands personally chosen by Hanks prior to his death. Former School of Rock students honored Hanks by performing two of his favorite tracks: Faith No More’s "Land of Sunshine" and Kiss’s "Strutter." This concert remains the band’s most recent live appearance.
On April 11, 2018, vocalist Cameron Heacock was apprehended in Costa Mesa, California for driving a stolen van containing over a dozen stolen guitars—including nine taken from a Guitar Center in Fountain Valley—as well as a stolen motorcycle and other items.
American Head Charge had planned performances in 2020 but canceled them due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective article published by Racket in 2023 noted that members have since pursued different careers; Justin Fowler declared that the band is "done."
Soft White Underbelly Interview
On November 15, 2025, the YouTube series Soft White Underbelly published an extensive 45-minute conversation with Cameron. During the interview, he reflected on the band's beginnings, the passing of fellow members, and his personal battles with addiction and homelessness.
Honors and awards
American Head Charge was honored with a star on the exterior wall of Minneapolis’s renowned nightclub First Avenue. This accolade is reserved for artists who have either sold out shows or made a significant impact on the venue’s cultural legacy. It stands as one of the highest public distinctions for performers in Minneapolis.
Band members
- Final lineup
- Cameron Heacock – lead vocals (1996–2009, 2011–2017)
- Chad Hanks (Banks) – bass guitar (1996–2009, 2011–2017; deceased)
- Justin Fowler – keyboards, samples, backing vocals (1999–2009, 2011–2017)
- Karma Singh Cheema – guitar (2004–2005, 2007–2009, 2011–2017)
- Benji Helberg – guitar (2005–2009, 2016–2017)
- Jeremiah "Major Trauma" Stratton – drums (2016–2017)
- Former members
- Peter Harmon – drums (1996–1999)
- Dave Rogers – guitar (1996–2003)
- Chris Emery – keyboards, samples (1996–1999), drums (1999–2006, 2011–2016)
- Wayne Kile – guitar (1999–2002)
- Aaron Zilch – samples (1999–2003, one-off 2017)
- Bryan Ottoson – guitar (2002–2005; deceased)
- Nick Quijano – guitar (2005–2007)
- Dane Tuders – drums (2006–2009, one-off 2017)
- Sin Quirin – guitar (2011–2012)
- Ted Hallows – guitar (2013–2016)
- Touring musicians
- Anthony Burke – guitar (2006, 2012)
- Krister Pihl – guitar (2012)
- Michael Dwyer – bass (2017)
- Jordan Swanson – bass (2017)
Timeline
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Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Positions | Sales Figures | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 |
US Heatseekers |
US Independent |
US Rock |
Scotland | UK | UK Rock & Metal | |||
| Trepanation |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| The War of Art |
|
118 | 1 | — | — | 81 | 90 | 11 |
|
| The Feeding |
|
— | 11 | 15 | — | — | 115 | 7 | |
| Tango Umbrella |
|
— | 8 | 30 | 43 | — | — | 16 | |
EPs
| EP Title | Release Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoot |
| ||
DVD
| Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| US Heatseekers | ||
| Can't Stop the Machine |
|
31 |
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Rankings | Associated Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland (SCO) | UK Singles Chart (UK) | UK Rock & Metal Chart (UK Rock) | |||
| "Just So You Know" | 2002 | 44 | 52 | 3 | The War of Art |
| "All Wrapped Up" | — | — | — | ||
| "Loyalty" | 2005 | — | — | — |
The Feeding |
| "Sugars of Someday" | 2012 | — | style=text-align:center;""—" | "—" | "Shoot EP" |
| "Drowning Under Everything" | "2017" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "Tango Umbrella" |
Music videos
| Song | Director | Album | Label | Notes |
| "Just So You Know" | Kevin Kerslake | The War of Art | American Recordings | The debut official music video by American Head Charge. |
| "All Wrapped Up" | Thomas Mignone | Video withheld from release due to graphic content. | ||
| "Loyalty" | Mike Sloat | The Feeding | DRT Entertainment/Nitrus | The initial official video produced for The Feeding. |
| "Cowards" | Includes appearance by UFC competitor Chuck Liddell; an unofficial video related to The Feeding. | |||
| "Perfectionist" | Tango Umbrella | Napalm Records | The first authorized lyric video from Tango Umbrella. | |
| "Let All the World Believe" | Bobby Czzowitz | The premiere official video issued from Tango Umbrella. | ||
| "Drowning Under Everything" | Paul von Stoetzel | The second authorized video released for Tango Umbrella. |
Compilation appearances
| Release date | Track | Compilation | Label | Details |
| January 25, 2000 | "Filth Pig" | Devilswork: A Tribute to Ministry | Dwell Records | Cover version of a song by Ministry. |
| June 6, 2000 | "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" | Anthems of Rust and Decay: A Tribute to Marilyn Manson | Dwell Records | Interpretation of a track originally by Marilyn Manson. |
| August 25, 2001 | "Reach and Touch" (Live) | Ozzfest 2001: The Second Millennium | Sony Records | |
| March 26, 2002 | "Seamless" (Live) | Pledge of Allegiance Tour: Live Concert Recording | Columbia Records | |
| August 24, 2004 | "Cowards" | UFC: Ultimate Beatdowns, Vol. 1 | DRT Entertainment | An early version with alternate mixing from The Feeding. |