Mutha's Day Out
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | November 1991 in Batesville, Arkansas, United States |
| Defunct | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Batesville , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Mutha's Day Out was a rock and heavy metal ensemble from the United States, established in November 1991 in Batesville, Arkansas. The group consisted of vocalists Mikal Moore and Brice Stephens, guitarist Chuck Schaaf, bassist Jeff Morgan, and drummer Rodney Moffitt. Their sole album, My Soul is Wet, was released in 1993 through Chrysalis Records before the band dissolved.
Formation and Early Period (1991–1992)
The band originated in November 1991 when Mikal Moore (originally Michael Morehead) teamed up with his cousin Randy Cross. Drawing inspiration from artists like Luke Skyywalker, they aimed to fuse styles reminiscent of Faith No More, Beastie Boys, and Ozzy Osbourne. The name Mutha's Day Out, proposed by Brice Stephens, was taken from a daycare center in their hometown of Batesville. Bassist Jeff Morgan joined after parting ways with a previous band that included guitarist Chuck Schaaf. Initial members also featured drummer Matt Baker and guitarist Lance Branstetter, while Chuck served as a guitar technician. At this stage, the members' ages ranged between 15 and 21.
In January 1992, the band recorded a demo with three tracks—"Dry Water," "Love is a Hate Situation," and "What U See/We All Bleed Red"—at Easley McCain Recording located in Memphis, Tennessee. Soon after their debut appearance at the Crossroads Music Festival, where Karen DuMont from Chrysalis Records was present, they secured a recording contract along with studio time. Additionally, they signed a songwriting agreement with independent publisher Hit & Run Music Publishing, supported by Joey Gmerek and Dave Massey from their New York and London branches.
My Soul is Wet (1993)
Following the band's signing with Chrysalis, Randy Cross exited due to the pressures brought on by their swift ascent in the music industry. Drummer Matt Baker also left shortly thereafter. Despite having laid down 15 tracks with guitarist Lance Branstetter—who received writing credits on numerous songs—the label compelled the group to dismiss him. Chuck Schaaf replaced Lance on guitar, while drumming duties transitioned from BJ Rogers briefly before settling on 17-year-old Rodney Moffitt.
The album was dedicated to their late friend Greenforth Pham, who had tragically taken his own life. To honor him, they created the track "Green," which was later voted “Best Song” on the Mutha’s Day Out Facebook page in January 2024.
Released on October 19, 1993, My Soul is Wet was available on cassette, CD, and a limited vinyl edition in select regions. Chrysalis promoted four singles: "Locked," "My Soul is Wet," "Green," and "We All Bleed Red." Music videos were produced for the first three singles; notably, "Locked" appeared in an episode of Beavis and Butt-Head. On March 5, 1994, vocalists Mikal and Brice appeared on Headbangers Ball with host Riki Rachtman, where the "Locked" video was broadcast.
Touring Period (1993–1994)
From autumn 1993 through September 1994, Mutha's Day Out toured extensively across the United States and Europe. They served as opening acts for bands such as I Mother Earth, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Prong, Jackyl, Rollins Band, Terrorvision, Sugartooth, and BulletBoys. Despite bassist Jeff Morgan suffering a dislocated knee during a show in Birmingham, Alabama, he continued performing without interruption. To minimize expenses during their US tour segment, the band opted for stays in budget accommodations.
Among notable US performances was their October 9, 1993 hometown concert in Batesville before an audience of approximately 600; footage from this show was incorporated into the videos for “Locked” and “Green.” A complete live set recorded at Bogie’s in Boise, Idaho is accessible on YouTube. Their final live appearance took place on September 17, 1994, in Nyack, New York.
In Europe—especially France—the band developed a strong following around Paris. Their sole live EP was captured on May 12, 1994 at L’Arapaho inside Paris’s (now-closed) Virgin Megastore to an enthusiastic crowd and included five songs. Additionally, they performed at prominent festivals such as Winterthur in Switzerland and Roskilde Festival in Denmark.
Breakup (1994)
Following the conclusion of their final tour date, Mikal departed from the group—a choice that had been finalized with Chrysalis prior to the album launch. His contract required him to fulfill the tour commitments before leaving. After his departure, the remaining members opted to dissolve the band instead of seeking a replacement, largely because their musical visions no longer aligned. If the band had persisted, Chuck and Jeff intended to steer the songwriting toward a heavier, darker sound reminiscent of Kreator. After disbanding, Mikal obtained and continues to hold ownership rights to Mutha's Day Out.
Mortal Kombat (1995)
Mutha's Day Out appeared in the 1995 motion picture Mortal Kombat. While on tour, the band received an invitation to shoot a scene inside a Hollywood bomb shelter. According to accounts, French actor Christopher Lambert recommended them for this opportunity. Their appearance occurs early in the film during a nightclub scene set in Hong Kong, where they perform as Sonya pursues Kano.
Their song "What U See" is included on the soundtrack under the title "What U See/We All Bleed Red," presented as a four-minute looped track with a cowbell introduction and edited language—although some soundtrack editions retain explicit lyrics. The film earned over $100 million at the box office, and its soundtrack was certified platinum within six months. Lance received a platinum award recognizing his 50% contribution to songwriting alongside Mikal; however, Mikal himself did not receive an award.
Today
Currently, Mikal leads the Christian rock ensemble Circa 71 and is married with three daughters. Brice co-owned “The Pinto Coffee and Comida” restaurant in Batesville alongside his wife and has two daughters. Jeff lives in Little Rock, performing bass for Deadbird and drums for Rwake; he is married with two children. Chuck, previously involved with Rwake and a founding member of Deadbird, works in accounting and has two children. Rod resides in Batesville, employed in contracting after working for the city; he is married. Lance, who passed away in June 2021 at age 51, was engaged in chicken farming and owned a recording studio. Randy serves as a bank loan officer and teaches banking and accounting courses locally.
Reunion
In January 2012, Mikal revealed intentions for a reunion featuring Chuck and Jeff, incorporating a new drummer and eliminating backing vocals; however, no additional information was released.
In November 2019, an exclusive encore performance including Mikal, Brice, Chuck, and Jeff was planned following Deadbird’s set at the Mutants of the Monster Festival in Little Rock—marking their first collective stage appearance in over 25 years. Unfortunately, the event was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former
- Mikal Moore – lead vocals (1991–1994)
- Brice Stephens – vocals (1991–1994)
- Randy Cross – vocals (1991–1992)
- Chuck Schaaf – guitar (1992–1994)
- Lance Branstetter – guitar (1991–1992; died 2021)
- Jeff Morgan – bass (1991–1994)
- Rodney Moffitt – drums (1992–1994)
- Matt Baker – drums (1991–1992)
- BJ Rogers – drums (1992)
My Soul is Wet (1993)
- Recorded at The Warehouse Studio in Memphis, Tennessee with producer Eli Ball
- Released on October 19, 1993