Orgy

Spawned by the fertile L.A. alt-metal scene, Orgy adds catchy melodic hooks to the familiar mix of crushingly loud riffs and electronic-tinged production. Formed in late 1997, Orgy consists of vocalist Jay Gordon, guitarist Ryan Shuck, guitar synthesist Amir Derakh, bassist Paige Haley, and drummer Bobby Hewitt. Shuck had collaborated on material with Korn lead singer Jonathan Davis, while Derakh had produced several records for already-signed L.A. bands, so it was no surprise that Orgy became the first band signed to Korn's Elementree subsidiary of Reprise Records. Their debut album, Candyass, was released in 1998. Their cover of New Order's "Blue Monday" and second single, "Stitches," instantly pushed them into the mainstream.

Dates supporting Love and Rockets and shows with Korn's Family Values Tour only fueled their popularity into the next year. Their experimental sci-fi sophomore effort Vapor Transmission, which hit number 16 on Billboard's Top 200, followed in 2000. Two years later, Jay Gordon and his dad, Lou Gordon, founded their own label, D1 Music. Founding drummer Bobby Hewitt also left the band for a three-month stint in Snake River Conspiracy, although he participated in the recording sessions for Orgy's third album. Punk Statik Paranoia was released in 2004.

The band eventually went on hiatus, with members Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck continuing to work together on projects like Julien-K and Dead by Sunrise. In 2010, it was announced that Gordon was going to continue on under the Orgy name without any of the original members. The new lineup, consisting of guitarists Carlton Bost and Ashburn Miller, bassist Nic Speck, and drummer Jamie Miller, resumed touring and working on new material in 2012. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi