Biography
Taproot achieved mainstream success in 2002 upon issuing Welcome, their second full-length release, which featured the major single "Poem" and placed the Ann Arbor, Michigan outfit at the leading edge of early-2000s mainstream rock. The quartet further refined its reflective fusion of nu-metal and post-grunge-leaning alternative rock on 2005's Billboard-charting Blue-Sky Research, yet Atlantic parted ways with the act the next year. Unfazed by the label setback and subsequent roster shifts, Taproot delivered three additional modestly performing albums before entering a recording break following 2012's The Episodes. Remaining active on the concert circuit, the group reentered the studio in 2023 to unveil SC\SSRS, its first collection of new material in eleven years.
The band formed in 1997 when vocalist Stephen Richards, guitarist Mike DeWolf, bassist Phil Lipscomb, and drummer Jarrod Montague joined forces. In 1998 the quartet mailed a demo to Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst without expecting a personal reply. Durst surprised them by responding and offering to secure an Interscope contract, but the delay prompted Taproot to sign with Atlantic Records instead. Feeling slighted, Durst aired his grievances publicly, though the group stayed focused on its debut album Gift, which surfaced in 2000. With backing from Jack Osbourne, Taproot earned a slot on the second stage of that year's Ozzfest and later shared bills with Deftones, Incubus, Papa Roach, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Disturbed, and Linkin Park.
The band spent seven months in Los Angeles tracking its follow-up with producer Toby Wright (Alice in Chains, Korn). Welcome, released in 2002, climbed to number 5 on the mainstream rock chart, reached number 17 on the Billboard 200, and delivered the act's biggest single, "Poem." Taproot brought Wright back for Blue-Sky Research, which contained three tracks co-written with Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan. Even though the album charted strongly on the mainstream rock tally, Atlantic dropped the band, which then pursued an independent path for its next project.
Our Long Road Home emerged in 2008 after being recorded in Ann Arbor with Tim Patalan at the helm; it debuted at number 65 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the mainstream rock hit "Wherever I Stand." Montague exited shortly afterward and was succeeded by Nick Fredell, whose first studio appearance came on 2010's aggressive Plead the Fifth, Taproot's initial release for Victory Records. The Episodes followed in 2012 and reached number 21 on the Billboard Hard Rock charts. Further personnel adjustments occurred when Fredell departed in 2013 and DeWolf left in 2015, leading to a recording hiatus and only sporadic live dates.
In 2023 Taproot reconvened with the original lineup of Richards, Lipscomb, and Montague, augmented by guitarist Taylor Roberts. Entirely produced and recorded by Richards, the band's seventh studio album SC\SSRS was initially considered for solo release until Lipscomb persuaded him to keep it a group effort; Montague's return on drums further solidified the decision.
The band formed in 1997 when vocalist Stephen Richards, guitarist Mike DeWolf, bassist Phil Lipscomb, and drummer Jarrod Montague joined forces. In 1998 the quartet mailed a demo to Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst without expecting a personal reply. Durst surprised them by responding and offering to secure an Interscope contract, but the delay prompted Taproot to sign with Atlantic Records instead. Feeling slighted, Durst aired his grievances publicly, though the group stayed focused on its debut album Gift, which surfaced in 2000. With backing from Jack Osbourne, Taproot earned a slot on the second stage of that year's Ozzfest and later shared bills with Deftones, Incubus, Papa Roach, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Disturbed, and Linkin Park.
The band spent seven months in Los Angeles tracking its follow-up with producer Toby Wright (Alice in Chains, Korn). Welcome, released in 2002, climbed to number 5 on the mainstream rock chart, reached number 17 on the Billboard 200, and delivered the act's biggest single, "Poem." Taproot brought Wright back for Blue-Sky Research, which contained three tracks co-written with Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan. Even though the album charted strongly on the mainstream rock tally, Atlantic dropped the band, which then pursued an independent path for its next project.
Our Long Road Home emerged in 2008 after being recorded in Ann Arbor with Tim Patalan at the helm; it debuted at number 65 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the mainstream rock hit "Wherever I Stand." Montague exited shortly afterward and was succeeded by Nick Fredell, whose first studio appearance came on 2010's aggressive Plead the Fifth, Taproot's initial release for Victory Records. The Episodes followed in 2012 and reached number 21 on the Billboard Hard Rock charts. Further personnel adjustments occurred when Fredell departed in 2013 and DeWolf left in 2015, leading to a recording hiatus and only sporadic live dates.
In 2023 Taproot reconvened with the original lineup of Richards, Lipscomb, and Montague, augmented by guitarist Taylor Roberts. Entirely produced and recorded by Richards, the band's seventh studio album SC\SSRS was initially considered for solo release until Lipscomb persuaded him to keep it a group effort; Montague's return on drums further solidified the decision.
Albums
SC\SSRS
2023
Best of Besides
2023
The Episodes
2012
Plead The Fifth
2010
Blue-Sky Research
2005
Welcome
2002
Gift
2000
Singles
