Hailed on their appearance in 2000 as the new hope of nu metal, Michigan, USA’s Taproot spent a couple of years as a college band while building a reputation as a powerful live draw. The quartet, Steve Richards (b. Stephen Richards, USA; vocals), Michael DeWolf (b. 5 July 1976, USA), Philip Lipscomb (b. 2 September 1976, USA; bass) and Jarrod Montague (b. 28 January 1976, USA; drums) met at the University of Michigan in 1997 after playing in various thrash and death metal bands. A demo, Pimp Ass Sounds, was followed by a self-financed album, Something More Than Nothing, and an EP, Mentobe, which was later reissued with bonus tracks as Upon Us. A demo was sent to Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst, who liked what he heard and offered to produce and album and negotiate a contract. However, the offer was not taken up. Nonetheless, Taproot signed to the Velvet Hammer division of Atlantic Records and recorded Gift, which was released in 2000. A show with Anthrax and Henry Rollins led to the band being asked to perform a showcase for Ozzy Osbourne’s teenage son Jack (who selects the bands that appear on his father’s travelling festival, the Ozzfest), and Taproot duly secured a slot on the tour. Widely tipped for mainstream success, the quartet broke into the mainstream Top 20 in 2002 with their third album, Welcome. ex-Smashing Pumpkins mastermind Billy Corgan helped add a more melodic edge to the band’s fourth album. Released in August 2005, Blue-Sky Research provided further evidence that Taproot were leaving their nu metal past behind them and developing into an impressive modern rock band.
