Filter (band)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 in Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
| Founder | Richard Patrick, Brian Liesegang |
| Headquarters | Cleveland , United States |
| Products | Rock music, studio albums |
Filter is a rock group from the United States, established in 1993 in Cleveland, Ohio by vocalist Richard Patrick alongside guitarist and programmer Brian Liesegang. Patrick initiated the band after departing from Nine Inch Nails, where he had served as their touring guitarist. Their first album, Short Bus (1995), earned platinum recognition, propelled by the popular track "Hey Man Nice Shot." After this initial success, the band's lineup underwent several transformations, with Patrick remaining as the only consistent member throughout.
Following Liesegang’s exit in 1997, Patrick completed the subsequent album with musicians who had toured during the Short Bus era and eventually became permanent members. The sophomore release, Title of Record (1999), achieved comparable success and included the well-known single "Take a Picture." Their third studio effort, The Amalgamut (2002), experienced diminished sales as Patrick entered rehab for substance abuse treatment just as touring was set to commence. The band paused activities during his recovery period, after which Patrick formed Army of Anyone, releasing one self-titled album before becoming inactive once more.
Filter was revitalized by Patrick with the release of Anthems for the Damned (2008), followed by The Trouble with Angels (2010) and The Sun Comes Out Tonight (2013), each featuring a revolving roster of musicians. Their seventh studio album, Crazy Eyes, was launched on April 8, 2016, introducing a fresh lineup. In 2018, Liesegang rejoined to collaborate on reBus, envisioned as a sequel to Short Bus. Nevertheless, due to the collapse of PledgeMusic, reBus was ultimately shelved, prompting Patrick to proceed independently with The Algorithm, which was released in August 2023.
Formation and Short Bus era (1993–1998)
During the production of The Downward Spiral, Richard Patrick left Nine Inch Nails to establish Filter alongside Brian Liesegang. They secured a contract with Reprise Records in 1994 and unveiled their debut album, Short Bus, in 1995. The record achieved commercial acclaim, highlighted by the single "Hey Man Nice Shot", which sparked controversy due to its alleged allusion to the public suicide of R. Budd Dwyer. Although rumors suggested connections to Kurt Cobain's death, the band refuted these claims. This track also featured on the soundtrack for Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight prior to the album’s release. To support live performances, Patrick and Liesegang brought in Geno Lenardo on guitar, Frank Cavanagh on bass, and Matt Walker on drums; Walker appeared in the music video for their follow-up single "Dose".
Between their first two albums, Filter gained prominence through contributions to various soundtracks. The song "Thanks Bro" appeared on Songs in the Key of X: Music from and Inspired by the X-Files, while "Jurassitol" was included on the The Crow: City of Angels soundtrack in 1996. That same year saw the release of Phenomenology, a home video compiling live footage, music videos, and interviews. Creative differences led to Liesegang’s departure in 1997 after collaborating with Filter on "(Can't You) Trip Like I Do" alongside The Crystal Method for the Spawn soundtrack. In 1998, Patrick retained ownership of the Filter name to record a cover version of Harry Nilsson's "One" for the soundtrack of The X-Files film.
Title of Record and The Amalgamut (1999–2002)
In 1999, Patrick unveiled Title of Record, featuring the return of Lenardo and Cavanagh, with Steve Gillis stepping in on drums after Walker departed to collaborate with The Smashing Pumpkins. This album marked a departure from industrial rock, yielding the band's most successful single, the ballad "Take a Picture", along with the tracks "Welcome to the Fold" and "The Best Things". The inspiration for "Take a Picture" came from an episode where Patrick, intoxicated, stripped during a flight. The song "Miss Blue" is said to allude to Smashing Pumpkins bassist D'arcy Wretzky, who also contributed vocals to "Cancer" and "Take a Picture".
Released in 2002, The Amalgamut included singles such as "Where Do We Go from Here?" and "American Cliché". The track "The Only Way (Is the Wrong Way)" was featured in advertisements for the Hummer H2 and appeared in the 2003 movie Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. Alan Bailey joined the lineup for the supporting tour, which was cut short when Patrick entered rehabilitation. He later commemorated his sobriety date—September 28, 2002—with a tattoo. Subsequently, Lenardo, Gillis, and Cavanagh exited the band.
Hiatus and side projects (2003–2007)
Patrick became part of the supergroup The Damning Well, contributing one track to the 2003 Underworld soundtrack. Despite speculation about a full album, Patrick clarified that most of the material transformed into Black Light Burns, except for "In Dreams," which was later included on Filter's album Anthems for the Damned.
He also established Army of Anyone alongside Korn drummer Ray Luzier and Stone Temple Pilots members Robert and Dean DeLeo. Their self-titled debut was released on November 14, 2006; however, due to disappointing sales and Patrick refocusing on Filter, the band disbanded by mid-2007.
Anthems for the Damned (2007–2009)
As Army of Anyone dissolved, Patrick commenced work on a new Filter album titled Anthems for the Damned. Released in May 2008, this record embraced a more somber tone reflecting his conflicted feelings about global events and personal experiences.
On March 7, 2008, Frank Cavanagh rejoined Filter as a live performer for the Operation Myspace concert held in Kuwait. However, he was unable to participate in the full tour due to his deployment to Iraq in April. During the March 10 show, Cavanagh—serving as a Sergeant and Paralegal in the U.S. Army Reserve—performed only on the band's hit "Hey, Man, Nice Shot."
Patrick announced a remix album titled Remixes for the Damned, which was released on November 21, 2008 in North America and internationally on December 1. The lead single from this collection was "I Keep Flowers Around (Love's Labour's Lost)."
A greatest hits compilation named The Very Best Things (1995–2008) followed on March 31, 2009. It featured fourteen selections from past albums and soundtracks but did not include any new songs.
The Trouble with Angels (2009–2011)
Shortly after releasing both remix and greatest hits albums, Filter began production on their fifth studio effort with producer Bob Marlette. Richard Patrick described this project as heavier than Anthems for the Damned, noting a departure from politically charged lyrics. He also highlighted an increased emphasis on industrial and electronic elements paired with reduced use of live drums.
Patrick shared via Filter's website that he had been recording music intended for film soundtracks. The band covered The Turtles' "Happy Together" for The Stepfather, which later appeared in promotional spots for Criminal Minds and Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of The Great Gatsby. Additionally, Filter contributed "Fades Like a Photograph" to the soundtrack of 2012, marking another collaboration between Patrick and former partner Brian Liesegang.
Between late 2009 and early 2010, Filter issued fourteen studio updates detailing progress on their new album. Final reports confirmed that recording had concluded. A preview playlist shared by Patrick contained tracks that ultimately did not appear on the finished record.
"The Inevitable Relapse" was released as the lead single on May 26 as a complimentary digital download through the band's official website. The album The Trouble with Angels was officially released on August 17, 2010 via Rocket Science Ventures.
Following this release, Filter recorded a rendition of ZZ Top's "Gimme All Your Lovin'" for inclusion in the compilation album ZZ Top: A Tribute from Friends.
The Sun Comes Out Tonight (2012–2013)
In April 2012, Patrick and Jonathan Radtke teamed up with producer Bob Marlette to begin work on Filter's sixth studio album, The Sun Comes Out Tonight. The lead single, "What Do You Say," was unveiled on April 2, 2013, while "We Hate It When You Get What You Want" was made available as a limited-time complimentary download. The full tracklist was revealed on March 18, 2013, with the album officially released on June 4, 2013. Following a tour alongside Stone Temple Pilots, bassist Phil Buckman departed from the group on October 1, 2013. Subsequently, Tim Kelleher (musician), previously with Thirty Seconds to Mars, joined Filter that same month.
Crazy Eyes (2014–2017)
In August 2014, Patrick shared intentions to record Filter’s seventh studio album later that year. Named Crazy Eyes, the project aimed for a swift production process targeting a 2015 release. Patrick planned to collaborate once more with Radtke and touring members Hayden Scott and Tim Kelleher. Though former guitarist Geno Lenardo was invited to participate, his recording involvement remained uncertain. Patrick also reunited with Brian Liesegang and producer Ben Grosse, both instrumental in earlier Filter works.
Recording sessions commenced in February 2015, followed by a tour with Coal Chamber during March and April. Fans were offered paid livestream access to studio work at rates of $175 per half-hour or $300 per hour.
On March 4, 2015, Radtke exited the band to pursue other ventures. Filter then announced a revamped touring lineup including Oumi Kapila, Ashley Dzerigian, and Chris Reeve. On March 30, a five-month PledgeMusic campaign was launched granting fans exclusive insight into the album’s development. By December 4, Patrick confirmed completion of Crazy Eyes, setting its release date for April 8, 2016.
The Algorithm and The Antidote (2018–present)
At the start of 2018, original member Brian Liesegang rejoined Filter after a 21-year hiatus to collaborate with Richard Patrick on their eighth studio album, provisionally titled ReBus, which aimed to revisit their initial style. A PledgeMusic campaign was initiated in October 2018 to finance production; however, following PledgeMusic’s bankruptcy, the project was abandoned in July 2019. Patrick then redirected efforts towards a twentieth anniversary edition of Title of Record and began creating a new album initially named They've Got Us Right Where They Want Us, At Each Other's Throats, with guitarist Jonny Radtke returning.
On June 18, 2020, Filter released a music video for "Thoughts and Prayers," followed by the title track Murica in October that year. In October 2022, "For the Beaten" debuted as the lead single for an upcoming album scheduled for Spring 2023 via Golden Robot Records. Patrick later confirmed the album would retain the title They've Got Us Right Where They Want Us, At Each Other's Throats, excluding the prior singles "Thoughts and Prayers" and "Murica." On May 5, 2023, they unveiled "Face Down," coinciding with the album’s retitling to The Algorithm, set for release on August 25, 2023. July saw the arrival of a third single titled "Obliteration." That autumn, Filter supported Ministry as opening acts on the Freaks on Parade tour headlined by Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie across nineteen venues throughout the United States and Canada.
On June 13, 2025, Patrick announced that Filter’s ninth studio album, The Antidote, was underway and previewed a track named "Your Bark Is Bigger Than Your Bite." To promote The Algorithm: Ultra Edition, a remastered release featuring bonus content scheduled for August 8, 2025, Filter issued the single "All The Good" on July 11 of that year.
On August 1, 2025, Patrick appeared as a guest vocalist on Finger Eleven’s single "Blue Sky Mystery," also featuring in its official video. As of November 10, 2025, this song reached number six on the Canadian Rock Billboard charts.
Musical style and influences
Filter's musical identity has been characterized by a variety of genres including industrial rock, post-grunge, industrial metal, alternative rock, hard rock, electronic rock, alternative metal, nu metal, grunge, and pop rock. Their initial album, Short Bus, merged grunge with mainstream industrial sounds; critic Greg Kot observed that it "strikes a balance between grunge's melancholic melodic sensibility and the cold, mechanical rhythms of industrial rock." The prominent use of drum machines on this record drew inspiration from bands like Ministry and Big Black. Richard Patrick's early musical inspirations encompassed Pantera, Skinny Puppy, Butthole Surfers, Helmet, Soundgarden, Deftones, as well as the use of drop D tuning. Brian Liesegang departed after Short Bus due to differing artistic visions—while he leaned toward a more electronic approach, Patrick aimed for a heavier, guitar-centric direction.
Their sophomore release, Title of Record, expanded their sound by integrating elements such as folk, worldbeat, and psychedelic influences alongside their established industrial and grunge roots. The Amalgamut sustained this fusion of both mellow and intense tracks. The 2008 album Anthems for the Damned showcased their signature "heavy rock" style combining grunge, industrial, and 1980s rock elements. In 2013, The Sun Comes Out Tonight refreshed Filter's sound by introducing new harmonies and electronic textures. The 2016 album Crazy Eyes marked a pronounced return to industrial music inspirations, reflecting Patrick’s revived admiration for artists like Skinny Puppy and Ministry as well as contemporary electronic musicians such as deadmau5; he described this album’s style as "new industrial."
Current members
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:CSS image crop | Richard Patrick |
|
|
all releases |
| Jonathan Radtke |
|
|
| |
| Bobby Miller | 2014–present |
|
| |
| Elias Mallin |
|
drums | The Algorithm (2023) |
Former members
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Liesegang |
|
|
| |
| Template:CSS image crop | Frank Cavanagh | 1995–2002 (one off 2008) |
|
|
| Geno Lenardo | 1995–2002 | guitars | ||
| Template:CSS image crop | Matt Walker | 1995–1997 | drums | none |
| Steve Gillis | 1997–2002 |
| ||
| Template:CSS image crop | Mika Fineo | 2008–2012 |
The Trouble with Angels (2010) | |
| "Mitchell Marlow" | "2008–2010" | "guitars" | ||
| "John Spiker" | "2008–2010" | "bass" | ||
| "Phil Buckman" | "2010–2013" | "none" | ||
| "Rob Patterson" | "2010–2011" | "guitars" | ||
| "Tim Kelleher" | "2013–2015" | "bass" | ||
| "Jeff Fabb" | "2013–2014" | "drums" | ||
| "Chris Reeve" | "2015–2019" |
Crazy Eyes (2016) | ||
| "Ashley Dzerigian" | "bass" |
Crazy Eyes (2016) | ||
| "Oumi Kapila" | "2015–2017" | "guitars" | ||
| "Greg Garman" | "2019–2022" | "drums" |
Past live and session musicians
| Image | Name | Active years | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Bailey | 2002 | guitars | none | |
| Template:CSS image crop | John 5 | 2008 | Anthems for the Damned (2008) | |
| Template:CSS image crop | Josh Freese | drums | ||
| Charles Lee Salvaggio | bass | none | ||
| Template:CSS image crop | Jeff Friedl | 2012–2013 | drums | |
| Tosh Peterson | 2024 |
Discography
- Short Bus (1995)
- Title of Record (1999)
- The Amalgamut (2002)
- Anthems for the Damned (2008)
- The Trouble with Angels (2010)
- The Sun Comes Out Tonight (2013)
- Crazy Eyes (2016)
- The Algorithm (2023)
See also
- List of alternative music artists
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart