Son of Sam (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Todd Youth |
| Defunct | 2001, 2008 |
| Fate | Disbanded and reformed multiple times |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Todd Youth, Davey Havok, Steve Zing, London May, Ian Thorne |
| Products | Albums: Songs from the Earth (2001), Into the Night (2008) |
Son of Sam was a horror punk ensemble from the United States, initiated in 2000 as a side endeavor by Todd Youth during his period with Danzig. The original roster combined talents from Samhain, Danzig, and AFI. Their sound merged elements of horror punk with influences drawn from metal and deathrock. The band's name pays homage to the infamous serial killer David Berkowitz, known as "Son of Sam," while also alluding to the group Samhain.
History
In 1999, Youth became part of the Samhain reunion tour, stepping in for the original guitarist Pete "Damien" Marshall. Motivated by this experience, he composed an album inspired by Samhain's style and enlisted former Samhain musicians Steve Zing and London May for recording sessions. This venture, titled "Son of Sam," featured Davey Havok of AFI as the vocalist and lyricist, chosen because of his admiration for Samhain.
The band rapidly produced Songs from the Earth, which was issued by Nitro Records in 2001. The record included guest performances by Glenn Danzig on guitar and keyboards. Todd Youth characterized the album as a homage to Samhain, reflecting his deep appreciation for the band.
By 2007, there were intentions to create a sequel album; however, Havok opted out due to his obligations with AFI's label, Interscope. With Havok’s endorsement, Youth sought a new frontman. Ian Thorne, also known as Sky Vaughan-Jayne, assumed vocal duties, and the group signed with Horror High Records. Their sophomore release, Into the Night, came out in 2008, accompanied by a short tour across the United States.
Todd Youth passed away on October 27, 2018.
In March 2020, hints at a revival appeared on Son of Sam’s Facebook page listing Ian Thorne and Steve Zing as active members; however, no subsequent developments were announced. In 2024, London May and Steve Zing invited Colin and Taylor Young (associated with Twitching Tongues and God's Hate) to participate in a reunion effort that culminated solely in a demo recording of "Michael" before progress ceased.
Band members
- Davey Havok – vocals (2000–2001)
- Todd Youth – guitars (2000–2001, 2007–2008; deceased 2018)
- London May – drums (2000–2001, 2024)
- Steve Zing – bass (2000–2001, 2007–2008, 2020, 2024)
- Ian Thorne – vocals (2007–2008, 2020)
- Karl Rosqvist – drums (2007–2008)
- Colin Young – vocals (2024)
- Taylor Young – guitar (2024)
Albums
- Songs from the Earth (2001)
- Into the Night (2008)
Other
- Son of Sam (2001) – promotional CD distributed to radio stations featuring selections from Songs from the Earth
- Punkzilla: The Compilation (2002) – Nitro Records compilation including the track "Michael"