Stone Sour

Stone Sour
Company type	Rock band
Industry	Music
Predecessor	None
Founded	1992 in Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Defunct	2020 (indefinite hiatus)
Headquarters	Des Moines, United States
Key people	Corey Taylor (lead vocals, guitar), Josh Rand (guitar), Christian Martucci (guitar), Johny Chow (bass), Roy Mayorga (drums)
Products	Six studio albums, one live album
Number of employees	5 (band members as of 2015 onward)

Stone Sour was a rock group originating from Des Moines, Iowa, established in 1992. After disbanding in 1997, the band regrouped in 2000. From 2015 onward, the members comprised Corey Taylor (lead vocals, guitar), Josh Rand (guitar), Christian Martucci (guitar), Johny Chow (bass), and Roy Mayorga (drums). Previous members included drummer Joel Ekman and bassist Shawn Economaki, who exited in 2006 and 2011 respectively, while lead guitarist Jim Root left in 2014. Since 2020, the band has been on an indefinite break.

Throughout their career, Stone Sour produced six studio albums: Stone Sour (2002); Come What(ever) May (2006); Audio Secrecy (2010); House of Gold & Bones – Part 1 (2012); House of Gold & Bones – Part 2 (2013); and Hydrograd (2017). Additionally, they released a digital live album titled Live in Moscow in 2007. The album Hydrograd was the first to feature guitarist Martucci and bassist Chow.

The band received three Grammy nominations for Best Metal Performance for their singles "Get Inside" (2003), "Inhale" (2004), and "30/30-150" from the album Come What(ever) May (2007). By April 2017, Stone Sour had sold approximately 2.1 million albums in the United States.

Formation and early years (1992–1997)

Stone Sour was created by Corey Taylor, who later became known as the vocalist for Slipknot, along with former drummer Joel Ekman. The band's name was inspired by a cocktail menu found at a nearby bar. Shortly after formation, Taylor’s longtime acquaintance Shawn Economaki joined as bassist. During this early phase, Stone Sour recorded demo tapes in 1993 and 1994. In 1995, Jim Root—who would also join Slipknot—became part of the lineup. Their 1996 demo featured tracks that would eventually appear on their self-titled debut album released in 2002. The group went on hiatus in 1997 as Taylor and Root concentrated on Slipknot’s rising success and record deal acquisition.

Stone Sour and hiatus (2000–2004)

With Josh Rand joining in 2001, Stone Sour recorded their inaugural self-titled album in Cedar Falls. This release peaked at number 46 on the Billboard 200 chart. The song "Bother", which appeared on the soundtrack for the film Spider-Man credited solely to Taylor, reached number two on the Mainstream Rock Chart, number four on Modern Rock Tracks, and number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100. The subsequent single "Inhale" climbed to number eighteen on Mainstream Rock. Stone Sour received two Grammy nominations for Best Metal Performance for "Get Inside" and "Inhale" during 2003 and 2004 respectively. The debut album was certified Gold by the RIAA. Following a six-month tour supporting label mates Sinch and Chevelle, activity paused as Taylor and Root returned to work with Slipknot.

Come What(ever) May (2005–2007)

Stone Sour’s second studio effort, Come What(ever) May, was released in 2006. After drummer Joel Ekman left to care for his son battling cancer, Roy Mayorga—known for his work with Soulfly, later Amebix, and Hellyeah—was brought on board. The track "30/30-150" featured Shannon Larkin from Godsmack on drums. Debuting at number four on the Billboard 200 upon its August 1, 2006 release, the album sold 80,000 copies during its first week and garnered favorable reviews from critics. The band toured extensively over the following eighteen months and released the Live in Moscow live album exclusively via iTunes in August 2007.

The single "Sillyworld" reached number two on Mainstream Rock charts, while "Through Glass" not only topped that chart but also performed well across multiple rankings, including peaking at number thirty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100. Other singles like "Made of Scars" and "Zzyzx Rd." attained positions twenty-one and twenty-nine respectively on Mainstream Rock charts. In addition, Stone Sour earned a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance with "30/30-150" in 2006.

Audio Secrecy (2009–2011)

Stone Sour's third studio effort, Audio Secrecy, was produced by Nick Raskulinecz at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, who had also overseen their previous record. The album was released on September 7, 2010, reinforcing the band's strong foothold in the rock genre.

The band took part in the first-ever Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival, sharing the stage with groups such as Avenged Sevenfold and Hollywood Undead. Early in 2011, Stone Sour appeared at Australia's Soundwave Festival and led The Avalanche Tour, supported by Theory of a Deadman, Skillet, Halestorm, and Art of Dying. Additionally, a live DVD capturing their performance at the Brighton Centre in the UK was announced exclusively for fan club members.

Towards the end of 2011, Stone Sour joined Avenged Sevenfold, New Medicine, and Hollywood Undead for the "Nightmare After Christmas Tour." In April 2011, bassist Shawn Economaki stepped away from the tour due to personal reasons, with Jason Christopher stepping in temporarily. After drummer Roy Mayorga experienced a minor stroke, the band canceled their remaining headline dates in May but he made a full recovery. Their last performance of the year took place at Rock in Rio IV in Brazil, where Mike Portnoy (known for his work with Dream Theater and The Winery Dogs) filled in for Mayorga, who was absent due to family obligations.

House of Gold & Bones (2012–2013)

On March 27, 2012, Stone Sour released "The Pessimist" as a complimentary download via Facebook; this track had previously been exclusive to the iTunes deluxe edition of the Transformers: Dark of the Moon soundtrack. That same year, they also launched their first live DVD titled Live at Brighton, showcasing a 2010 concert.

In May 2012, bassist Shawn Economaki parted ways with the band on good terms and was succeeded in studio sessions by Rachel Bolan from Skid Row. Early that year, Stone Sour began work on their fourth album. Corey Taylor characterized it as a double or concept album, drawing comparisons to Pink Floyd’s The Wall combined with Alice in Chains' Dirt. The project was ultimately divided into two separate releases: House of Gold & Bones – Part 1, which came out on October 23, 2012, followed by Part 2 on April 9, 2013. To complement and deepen the storyline of these albums, a four-part graphic novel series was created.

From Part 1, singles "Gone Sovereign" and "Absolute Zero" were distributed to radio stations in August 2012. "Do Me a Favor" acted as the lead single for Part 2 and was made available digitally on February 12, 2013. Guitarist Josh Rand mentioned that an instrumental track from Part 1 remains unreleased but may be issued later after additional refinement.

Johny Chow joined as the touring bassist during the House of Gold & Bones era starting October 2012. The band appeared at both Soundwave Festival 2013 and Download Festival that year. Guitarist James Root did not participate in touring during winter 2013 due to his obligations with Slipknot's .5: The Gray Chapter. Subsequently, Root was dismissed from Stone Sour amid creative disagreements; he publicly criticized the band’s emphasis on "radio play and money," highlighting a clash with his own artistic priorities.

The Burbank EP duology (2014–2016)

On October 5, 2014, Stone Sour revealed on Facebook that they had started recording a covers EP entitled Meanwhile in Burbank..., which was later released on April 18, 2015. Corey Taylor shared that the idea of producing a covers project had been an ambition since the band’s debut album. The EP included a rendition of Metal Church's "The Dark," accompanied by an official video released on February 9, 2015. Taylor also announced intentions to produce two additional covers EPs named Straight Outta Burbank and No Sleep Till Burbank, featuring interpretations of songs by Rage Against The Machine, Mötley Crüe, Bad Brains, and Violent Femmes.

Following this, the second installment, Straight Outta Burbank..., was issued. By March 2016, Taylor suggested that only two EPs would likely be released, with other recorded tracks being reserved for future album projects.

Hydrograd (2017–2019)

By July 2016, Stone Sour had completed writing and demoing 18 tracks intended for their sixth full-length album, targeting a release around mid-2017. Recording sessions for Hydrograd commenced in early 2017; the album showcases a fusion of hard rock and heavy metal influences. Prior to the album launch, four singles—"Fabuless," "Song #3," "Taipei Person/Allah Tea," and a live version of "Mercy"—were released, followed by the single "St. Marie." Debuting globally on June 30, 2017, Hydrograd was met with generally favorable critiques and is regarded by Taylor as one of the band’s standout achievements.

On November 6, 2019, Stone Sour announced their inaugural live album titled Hello, You Bastards: Live in Reno, which was released on December 13 and expanded their discography with live performance recordings.

Indefinite hiatus (2020–present)

Corey Taylor declared on August 10, 2020, during an appearance on The Green Room with Neil Griffiths podcast that Stone Sour would be entering an indefinite hiatus. He expressed that "Stone Sour has kinda run its course for now," explaining that the band collectively chose to pause activities to allow members to focus on individual endeavors.

Musical style

Stone Sour's music is defined by genres such as alternative metal, hard rock, post-grunge, and alternative rock. Their sound incorporates driving double bass drum rhythms, powerful guitar riffs, harmonized guitar parts, along with a vocal mix of melodic singing and aggressive screaming. Guitarist Josh Rand highlights the integration of metal and thrash metal influences that differentiate this work from his contributions to Slipknot.

Their concept albums House of Gold & Bones - Part 1 and Part 2 have drawn parallels to progressive rock acts due to their narrative-driven approach. Rand clarified that although inspired by progressive storytelling techniques, Stone Sour remains true to their fundamental style while evolving their sound to produce cohesive albums rather than focusing solely on individual tracks.

Band members

Final lineup

Corey Taylor – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano (1992–1993, 1994–1997, 2000–2020)
Josh Rand – rhythm and lead guitar (1993, 2000–2020), bass (2000–2001)
Roy Mayorga – drums, keyboards (2006–2020)
Johny Chow – bass guitar, backing vocals (2012–2020)
Christian Martucci – lead guitar, backing vocals (2014–2020)

Previous members

Denny Harvey – lead guitar (1992, 1993; guest appearance in 1994)
Marty Smith – lead guitar (1992–1993)
Tony S. – bass (1992–1993)
Todd Smith – bass (1993)
Josh Ryling – lead guitar (1994–1995)
B.J. Harrison – rhythm guitar (1994)
Bruce Swink – rhythm guitar (1997)
Joel Ekman – drums (1992–1993, 1994–1997, 2000–2006)
Shawn Economaki – lead guitar (1993), bass (1994–1997, 2000–2012)
Jim Root – lead guitar (1996–1997, 2001–2014), backing vocals (2002–2003, 2012–2013)

Former touring musicians

Jason Christopher – bass guitar, backing vocals (2011)
Mike Portnoy – drums (2011)
Jonah Nimoy – guitar (2018)
R.J. Ronquillo – guitar (2018)

Timeline (2000–2020)

Recording timeline

Position	Album
Position	Stone Sour (2002)	Come What(ever) May (2006)	Audio Secrecy (2010)	House of Gold & Bones – Part 1 (2012)	House of Gold & Bones – Part 2 (2013)	Hydrograd (2017)
Lead vocals, additional guitar	Corey Taylor
Lead guitar	Jim Root					Christian Martucci
Rhythm guitar	Josh Rand
Bass	Shawn Economaki/Josh Rand	Shawn Economaki		Rachel Bolan (session musician)		Johny Chow
Drums	Joel Ekman/Dan Spain	Roy Mayorga

Discography

Studio albums

Awards and recognitions

Grammy Awards

|- | || "Get Inside" || Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance || |- | || "Inhale" || Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance || |- | || "30/30-150" || Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance ||

Revolver Golden Gods

|- | 2013 || Roy Mayorga || Golden Gods Award for Best Drummer || |- | 2013 || Corey Taylor || Golden Gods Award for Best Vocalist || |- | 2012 || "House of Gold & Bones - Part 1" || Golden Gods Award for Album of the Year ||

Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards

|- | 2013 || Stone Sour || Best International Band ||

Loudwire Music Awards

|- | 2012 || Stone Sour || Rock Band of the Year || |- | rowspan="3" | 2017 || Stone Sour || Hard Rock Artist of the Year || |- | Hydrograd || Hard Rock Album of the Year || |- | Corey Taylor || Best Vocalist ||

Bandit Rock Awards

|- | 2018 || Hydrograd || Best International Album ||

External links