The Buzzhorn
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee, Wisconsin , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
The Buzzhorn was a post-grunge group originating from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, established in 1997. The ensemble consisted of Bert Zweber on guitar, Ryan Mueller handling vocals and guitar, Todd Joseph playing bass, and Rob Bueno on drums. Their sole major-label release, Disconnected, was issued in 2002 under Atlantic Records. Their track "Ordinary" gained recognition through its inclusion in the 2002 video game Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2. The band dissolved in 2003 after fulfilling their contractual obligations with Atlantic but briefly reunited in 2014.
Early years and independent work (1997–2001)
Starting their live performances in Milwaukee venues in 1997, The Buzzhorn self-produced their first album, A Complete Package of Action-Packed Tragedies, in 1998, which was well-received by local critics. After releasing an independent EP in 2000, they secured a contract with Atlantic Records in January 2001.
Disconnected release and subsequent disbandment (2002–2003)
In 2002, the band debuted the single "Ordinary" and followed it with the full-length album Disconnected, produced by Howard Benson, known for his work with artists such as Papa Roach and P.O.D.. The album garnered positive critical reception, including a four-star rating from Metal Edge and being named "the new hard rock rookies of the year" by Hit Parader. To promote the album, they toured alongside bands like Seether, Injected, Deftones, and Jerry Cantrell.
Sales of Disconnected reached around 10,000 copies, largely fueled by the song’s presence on the soundtrack of Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2. The band cited insufficient promotional efforts by Atlantic Records—especially when compared to the label’s backing of groups like Taproot—as a factor limiting their commercial breakthrough. After completing their deal with Atlantic, The Buzzhorn parted ways in 2003.
Activities following breakup and brief reunion (2004–2014)
Following the end of their contract, Todd Joseph moved to California to focus on production work and other ventures. Bert Zweber became part of Milwaukee’s King Gun, a group formed by former members of the hard rock band Big Dumb Dick; King Gun released a three-track demo in 2004 before disbanding. In 2008, Big Dumb Dick was revived by its lead singer who brought Zweber back as guitarist.
Speculation about a reunion surfaced in October 2011 via the band’s unofficial Facebook page, suggesting that original members Ryan Mueller (vocals), Todd Joseph (bass), Bert Zweber (guitar), and Rob Bueno (drums) would regroup. By December 2012, Joseph confirmed that six new songs had been composed with recording planned for early 2013. On August 5, 2014, Joseph announced a one-off reunion performance scheduled for September 13 at Milwaukee’s The Bottle to commemorate the venue’s tenth anniversary. No additional information regarding further band activities has been released since then.
Later endeavors (2014–present)
In 2015, Todd Joseph shifted his career towards tour management for bands such as Violent Femmes and Vintage Trouble. In 2016, Bert Zweber joined Milwaukee-based Black Belt Theatre as their guitarist. Meanwhile, Rob Bueno and Ryan Mueller have remained musically inactive and continue to reside in Milwaukee.
Albums
| Release Date | Album Title | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | A Thorough Collection of Dynamic Misfortunes | Independent Release |
| 2000 | The Buzzhorn (EP) | Independent Release |
| August 6, 2002 | Disconnected | Atlantic Records / WEA |