Hellyeah
| Company type | Supergroup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2006 in Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Headquarters | Dallas , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Hellyeah, presented as HELLYEAH, was a heavy metal supergroup from the United States, established in Dallas, Texas, in 2006. The final roster consisted of lead singer Chad Gray, guitarists Christian Brady and Tom Maxwell, bassist Kyle Sanders, and drummer Roy Mayorga. The idea for the band was conceived during the 2000 Tattoo the Earth tour but was postponed due to conflicting schedules until mid-2006, when the group recorded their debut album. The self-titled record was produced at Chasin' Jason studio located in the backyard of Dimebag Darrell and entered the Billboard 200 chart at number 9, with initial sales of 45,000 copies. Between 2010 and 2019, they released five additional studio albums. As of 2021, Hellyeah remains on hiatus.
Origins and initial development
The inception of Hellyeah dates back to the Tattoo the Earth tour in 2000, which featured bands such as Mudvayne, Nothingface, Slayer, Slipknot, and Sevendust. During this tour, Tom Maxwell, guitarist for Nothingface, formed a friendship with Chad Gray, vocalist of Mudvayne, and they discussed creating a supergroup. Although conversations continued throughout subsequent tours, scheduling conflicts prevented immediate progress. Later on, Mudvayne guitarist Greg Tribbett joined after initiating contact with Maxwell. Initially, demos were recorded by Nothingface drummer Tommy Sickles; however, as the band sought a permanent drummer, he was replaced.
After repeated invitations despite his initial reluctance following the tragic death of his brother Dimebag Darrell, former Pantera and Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul joined the lineup. Paul attributed his decision to join to the band's focused energy and attitude.
Distinct from their previous bands that featured a single guitarist, Hellyeah incorporated two guitarists, creating a dynamic reminiscent of Iron Maiden's dual-guitar style. In 2006, with Mudvayne on break and Nothingface preparing a new release, members devoted time to this new endeavor.
Gray traveled to Nothingface’s studio in Baltimore where they swiftly composed "Waging War." Recording took place over several sessions at Paul's Arlington studio, adorned with memorabilia honoring his late brother. Songwriting was primarily led by Maxwell and Tribbett while Paul directed the overall vision and Gray contributed to arrangements.
To ensure comfort during sessions, Paul constructed a cabana-style recording space and also handled production duties. The recording process lasted about one month with intermittent breaks to maintain focus. The band selected "Hellyeah" as their name due to its assertive and energetic connotation—reflecting their straightforward demeanor and influences from classic rock acts like AC/DC and Metallica.
Hellyeah (2007–2008)
In March 2007, Revolver spotlighted Hellyeah. Their self-titled track received satellite radio play beginning February 2007; the lead single "You Wouldn't Know" reached number 5 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 35 on Hot Modern Rock Tracks. The follow-up single "Alcohaulin' Ass" peaked at number 7 on Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. Released on April 10, 2007 through Epic Records, their debut album Hellyeah entered the Billboard 200 at number 9 with nearly 45,000 copies sold initially. It also attained number 15 on Top Hard Rock Albums and number 3 on Top Rock Albums charts. By April 2009, US sales had reached 354,000 copies.
Critical reception was generally favorable. William Ruhlmann of Allmusic awarded three and a half stars, highlighting competent genre execution though noting it lacked innovation compared to members’ previous projects. Don Kaye from Blabbermouth.net gave it a 7/10 rating, commending tracks like "Matter of Time" and "One Thing" but felt it did not eclipse their main bands’ output. Andrew Depedro of KNAC described it as solid compositions by skilled musicians who are not defined solely by their former affiliations.
Following the album release party, bassist Jerry Montano was dismissed due to an altercation involving guitarist Tom Maxwell and multiple gun threats while intoxicated; the band's publicist cited “personal reasons on both sides.” Subsequently, Damageplan bassist Bob Zilla auditioned and promptly joined Hellyeah.
The band’s inaugural tour commenced in May 2007 with the Fire it Up tour that included performances at the Download Festival and an Australian leg in July. They also participated in the Family Values Tour alongside Korn and Evanescence, completing over thirty shows before concluding in Washington, D.C.. On November 13, 2007, they released a DVD titled Below the Belt, which featured a documentary along with music videos, studio footage, live tour clips, and interviews produced by band members together with Ryan Ziemba.
Stampede (2009–2010)
During spring 2010, Hellyeah embarked on a headline tour alongside Seether, Five Finger Death Punch, Drowning Pool, and Lacuna Coil, commencing on May 11 in Madison, WI. They also secured a spot on the main stage at the Download Festival 2010. The previous year, the band crafted their album Stampede within the comfort of drummer Vinnie Paul's home studio in Texas. This relaxed, collaborative setting contributed to the album’s eclectic fusion of rock, heavy metal, and Southern rock elements.
The recording environment featured on-site living spaces and video monitors positioned between rooms to maintain communication throughout tracking sessions. Paul emphasized the album's extensive musical range and the natural tempo of its creation process. Guitarist Tom Maxwell highlighted how residing together enabled immediate development of musical ideas.
On April 21, 2010, "Cowboy Way" was made available as a complimentary download, with its music video debuting on May 20. The lead single "Hell of a Time" was released on June 1, followed by its video premiere on June 16. "The Debt That All Men Pay" premiered on June 22. Released through Epic Records on July 13, Stampede moved 28,000 units during its first week, entering the Billboard 200 chart at No. 8—Hellyeah’s highest ranking to date.
Additionally, Hellyeah appeared at the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival, sharing the stage with headliners such as Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, Stone Sour, and Halestorm.
Band of Brothers (2011–2012)
Hellyeah completed their album Band of Brothers, which was produced by Jeremy Parker—recognized for his collaborations with Godsmack and Evanescence. The recording took place at drummer Vinnie Paul's VP's Upstairs Studio located in Arlington, Texas. Released on July 17, 2012, via Eleven Seven Music, this album marked their first after parting ways with Epic Records. The digital single "War In Me" was issued on April 3, 2012. The title track "Band of Brothers" followed as a single accompanied by a music video in May 2012.
Hellyeah performed at the Download Festival on June 16, 2013, and subsequently at the Graspop Metal Meeting on June 30, 2013. In July of that year, they were part of the lineup for the Gigantour.
Lineup changes, Blood for Blood and Unden!able (2013–2016)
Towards the end of 2013, Hellyeah announced they were working on a new album. By 2014, they unveiled Blood for Blood, which was released on June 10. Following this release, guitarist Greg Tribbett and bassist Bob "Zilla" Kakaha exited the band and were succeeded by Christian Brady (formerly of Magna-Fi) and Kyle Sanders (previously with Skrew and Bloodsimple), respectively. Afterward, the group toured alongside Adrenaline Mob.
In 2015, Hellyeah debuted the music video for "Hush," supporting the "No More" initiative against domestic violence. That same year, they took part in the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival with headliners including Slayer and other prominent metal acts.
The band released "Human" in 2016 as a single from their fifth studio album Unden!able, which was officially launched on June 3. Guitarist Tom Maxwell described this record as "moody, dark and crushing," showcasing fresh musical directions. A notable feature is their rendition of Phil Collins' "I Don't Care Anymore," which incorporates previously recorded guitar parts from Dimebag Darrell captured before his passing.
Welcome Home, Passing of Vinnie Paul, and Introduction of New Drummer (2017–2020)
On October 26, 2017, the group revealed their intention to commence work on their sixth studio album in early November.
Vinnie Paul passed away on June 22, 2018, due to dilated cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease. Before his death, he completed the drum recordings for the album at The Hideout studio located in Las Vegas.
The band announced on March 14, 2019, that the album would be released on June 28, accompanied by the single "333."
On May 6, 2019, Hellyeah disclosed that Stone Sour's drummer Roy Mayorga would perform with them on May 11 for a tribute concert honoring Vinnie Paul. Just a week later, Mayorga was officially confirmed as Hellyeah’s new drummer. Additionally, the band revealed the album title as Welcome Home and postponed its release date to September 27.
Hiatus Period (2021–present)
In May 2021, Roy Mayorga shared on The New York Hardcore Chronicles Live! podcast that Hellyeah had entered a hiatus. This pause was partially attributed to Gray's renewed involvement with Mudvayne, who had announced their reunion and upcoming performances after more than ten years the previous month.
Musical Style
Hellyeah is recognized within the genres of groove metal and alternative metal. The band's late drummer, Vinnie Paul, described their musical approach as "a familiar groove combined with a fresh sound." Reviewer Don Kaye from Blabbermouth.net observed that the band prefers an aggressive, full-throttle style rather than adopting the complexity found in Mudvayne or the angular sound associated with Nothingface. Nevertheless, certain tracks such as "Star" and "Thank You" come close to sounding formulaic. Andrew Depedro of KNAC.com pointed out that "'Alcohaulin' Ass'" demonstrates Gray's skill as an outlaw country-inspired vocalist despite its repetitive lyrics.
Band Members
Final Lineup
- Chad Gray – lead vocals (2006–2021)
- Tom Maxwell – rhythm guitar (2006–2021), lead guitar (2014)
- Christian Brady – lead guitar, backing vocals (2014–2021)
- Kyle Sanders – bass guitar, backing vocals (2014–2021)
- Roy Mayorga – drums (2019–2021)
Past Members
- Greg Tribbett – lead guitar, backing vocals (2006–2014)
- Jerry Montano – bass guitar, backing vocals (2006–2007)
- Bob Zilla – bass guitar, backing vocals (2007–2014)
- Vinnie Paul – drums (2006–2018; deceased)
Former Session Musicians
- Kevin Churko – bass guitar (2014)
Timeline
Recording History
| Role | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hellyeah (2007) |
Stampede (2010) |
Band of Brothers (2012) |
Blood for Blood (2014) |
Undeniable (2016) |
Welcome Home (2019) | |
| Lead vocals | Chad Gray | |||||
| Lead guitar | Greg Tribbett | Tom Maxwell | Christian Brady | |||
| Rhythm guitar | Tom Maxwell | |||||
| Bass | Jerry Montano | Bob Zilla | Kevin Churko | Kyle Sanders | ||
| Drums | Vinnie Paul | |||||
Discography
- Hellyeah (2007)
- Stampede (2010)
- Band of Brothers (2012)
- Blood for Blood (2014)
- Undeniable (2016)
- Welcome Home (2019)
Accolades
| Organization | Year | Award Category | Nominee / Entry | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loudwire Music Awards | 2014 | Best Rock Album | Blood for Blood | Template:Nominated |
| Best Rock Song | "Moth" | Template:Nominated | ||
| Best Rock Band | Hellyeah | Template:Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Best Rock Video | "Hush" | Template:Nominated | |
| 2017 | Best Drummer | Vinnie Paul | Template:Nominated |
External links
- Articles with short description
- Hellyeah
- 2006 establishments in Texas
- Musical groups established in 2006
- Musical groups disestablished in 2021
- Musical quintets from Texas
- American groove metal musical groups
- American alternative metal musical groups
- Heavy metal musical groups from Texas
- Musical groups from Dallas
- American heavy metal supergroups
- Epic Records artists