Biohazard is an American band formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1987. They are acknowledged as one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip hop. The earliest lineup consisted of bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld, guitarist Bobby Hambel, and drummer Anthony Meo. Guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei would join the band soon after, changing the band to a four-piece. Since February 2016, the lineup has consisted of Billy Graziadei, Bobby Hambel and Danny Schuler.
Early years
The band formed in Brooklyn in 1987. Their first demo, released in 1988, caused a stir with journalists who felt that some of the band's lyrics displayed fascist and white supremacist views, overlooking the fact that both Seinfeld and Schuler were, themselves, Jewish. The accusations of racism in their music were something strenuously denied by the band but in later interviews, Seinfeld and Graziadei explained that it had been a publicity stunt to win over the band Carnivore and their fans. Additionally, Seinfeld has defended the lyrics of songs such as "Master Race" and "America" as metaphors meant to shock and get the listener's attention and maintains that the band was never racist. The band has long since preached a message of tolerance and anti-racism. After the release of the first demo, Anthony Meo left the band and drummer Danny Schuler replaced him. A second demo tape followed in 1989.
Maze Records
In 1990, Biohazard signed a recording contract with Maze Records. The band's self-titled debut album was poorly promoted by the label and sold approximately 40,000 copies. The album's subject matter revolved around Brooklyn, gang-wars, drugs, and violence.
Roadrunner Records
In 1992, Biohazard signed with Roadrunner Records and released Urban Discipline, which gave the band national and worldwide attention in both the heavy metal and hardcore communities. The video for the song "Punishment" became the most played video in the history of MTV's Headbanger's Ball, and the album sold over one million copies. The band also began opening for larger acts such as House of Pain, Sick Of It All, Fishbone, and Kyuss.
In 1993, the hardcore rap group Onyx recorded an alternate "Bionyx" version of their hit single "Slam" with Biohazard as their backup band. This led to a collaboration on the title track of the Judgment Night soundtrack. The soundtrack would go on to sell over two million copies in the United States.
Warner Bros.
Months later, the band left Roadrunner Records and signed with Warner Bros. Records Inc. who released their third studio LP, State of the World Address. The album was produced by Ed Stasium in Los Angeles and contained the single "How It Is" featuring Sen Dog of Cypress Hill, for which a video was also shot. During their 1994 tour, the band made an appearance on the second stage at the Monsters of Rock festival held at Castle Donington. State of the World Address went on to sell over one million copies, and Rolling Stone magazine selected the Biohazard logo as the best logo of the year. This was the last Biohazard album with Bobby Hambel, who left due to differences with the rest of the band. Hambel spent time in White Devil, also featuring members of the Cro-Mags, before seemingly leaving the music business entirely. In late 1995, the band, along with Therapy? and Gunshot, contributed remixes to the Pitchshifter album The Remix War.
In 1998, Seinfeld began his acting career playing Jaz Hoyt on HBO's award-winning series Oz. The character was introduced in the second season and appeared throughout the series' sixth and final season.
Mercury Records
The band signed to Mercury Records and released their fifth studio album, New World Disorder, in 1999, once again with Ed Stasium as a producer. The relationship with Mercury Records soured quickly as the band felt betrayed and misunderstood by the label. They severed their ties with the label amidst the merger of Mercury Records, Island Records, Def Jam Records, and Polygram into the Universal Music Group.
SPV/Sanctuary Records
In the same year, Biohazard signed two new record deals with SPV/Steamhammer in Europe and Sanctuary Records for the remainder of the world. Despite the new record deals, the band took some personal time in order to work on other projects.
Graziadei briefly formed a trip hop project with Jenifer Bair of the Ohio band Hilo. After writing and recording approximately twenty songs for the project named Blu, Bair relocated to Los Angeles, California to continue an art career and the project dissolved. Graziadei also began work on a book, Tales From The Hardside. Schuler used his downtime to perform with New York band Among Thieves as a replacement drummer for the departing Will Shepler.
In 2002, Seinfeld became engaged to porn star Tera Patrick. Patrick had never heard of Seinfeld prior to seeing one of his nude scenes on Oz. After making several phone calls, Patrick was able to contact Seinfeld, who had never heard of her either, and the two began dating.
The band had to cancel scheduled European festival dates when Carmine Vincent underwent major surgery. The band did manage to find a temporary guitarist, Scott Roberts, formerly of the Cro-Mags and the Spudmonsters, in time to join the Eastpak Resistance Tour with Agnostic Front, Hatebreed, Discipline, Death Threat, Born From Pain and All Boro Kings.
With more downtime due to Seinfeld's illness, Graziadei and Schuler collaborated to mix Life of Agony's live comeback album, River Runs Again: Live 2003. Once Seinfeld was healthy again, the band toured Japan and North America, headlining over bands such as Hatebreed, Agnostic Front, Throwdown, and Full Blown Chaos.
Once home, Seinfeld began recording and circulating demos for his own trip hop project named Triplesicks. For a brief time, Graziadei and his wife moved to Brazil where their daughter was born. While there, Graziadei struck up a friendship with drummer Fernandao Schafer. After jamming together in the studio, Schafer formed the band Ink which Graziadei would eventually produce and later join. It wasn't long before Ink was renamed Endrah and an EP titled DEMONstration was released. Once Graziadei returned to New York City, the logistical problems of traveling back and forth caused Graziadei to quit Endrah.
In early 2004, Graziadei teamed up with gabber DJ Rob Gee to help write and produce his music. When a few albums were completed, Graziadei joined Schuler, Roberts, DJ Starscream (aka Sid Wilson of Slipknot), Jeff Anthony, and Keith Rooney, both of Gutwrench, to form Ampt. The band combined gabber music with hardcore and heavy metal. After writing several songs and putting together a live band, Graziadei and Schuler left the project in order to continue with Biohazard. Ampt has gone through several additional lineup changes since.
Also in 2004, Seinfeld, now residing in Los Angeles, California, married his fiancée of two years, Tera Patrick.
Temporarily disbanded
In the meantime, Graziadei had formed another new band with former members of Kitte and The Groovenics. Originally named Rodek, the band eventually changed their name to Suicide City. In October 2004, Graziadei announced that Means To An End had been the final Biohazard album and that he would continue playing with Suicide City as his main focus. One month later, on the Biohazard website, it was announced that there would in fact be a 2005 Biohazard tour.
In 2005, Seinfeld and Patrick formed The Tera Patrick Agency with the goal of representing talent in both the adult and mainstream entertainment business. That same year, Suicide City released their first EP, Not My Year, and continued to tour as an opening act for acts such as Danzig, Taking Back Sunday, Mindless Self Indulgence, Otep and Gwar. The band's full-length album, Frenzy, followed in 2009.
In January 2006, Danny Schuler announced his resignation from Biohazard and the formation of Bloodclot with singer Jon Joseph of the Cro-Mags, guitarist Scott Roberts and bassist Craig Setari of Sick of it All. Roberts later announced that he would also be leaving the band to focus on Bloodclot with Schuler. That same month, Graziadei announced that Biohazard would not go on a farewell tour after all.
In March 2007, Evan Seinfeld debuted his new band, The Spyderz, as an opening act for a Buckcherry performance. The band was originally named White Line Fever, until it was discovered that a UK band already owned the name. The Spyderz also featured guitarist John Monte, formerly of Ministry and M.O.D.. In October 2008, Seinfeld also briefly joined Tattooed Millionaires as a bassist and co-vocalist. Seinfeld and Tera Patrick separated in 2009 and divorced in 2010.
Reunion and departure of Seinfeld
In January 2008, the classic lineup of Evan Seinfeld, Billy Graziadei, Danny Schuler and Bobby Hambel made the announcement that rehearsals had begun for a 2008 summer tour to commemorate the band's 20th anniversary. They toured Australia and New Zealand in April with Chimaira, Throwdown, Bloodsimple and headliners Korn to celebrate their newly declared reunion. The band also took part in Persistence Tour 2009, and announced at one of their shows that they were working on a new record. It was also noted that the album would be dedicated to Type O Negative frontman Peter Steele who died in April 2010. Biohazard brought in producer Toby Wright to work on the album and after several months at Graziadei's Firewater Studios in Los Angeles, the band completed their recording sessions.
In June 2011, Biohazard announced that they had amicably parted ways with Evan Seinfeld.Scott Roberts returned to replace Seinfeld for two UK dates but no decision regarding a permanent replacement was made. In August 2011, the band announced that they were searching for a full-time singer to replace Seinfeld and opened auditions to the public.In September 2011, three months after his departure from Biohazard, Seinfeld joined Los Angeles-based heavy metal band, Attika 7, which also featured Tony Campos, formerly of Soulfly and Static-X, and Rusty Coones. Attika 7 began recording their debut album for THC Music/Rocket Science in February 2012.[12] After several lineup changes, including the departure of Campos, the band's debut album, Blood of my Enemies, was released in 2013. Seinfeld also continues to work in adult entertainment as Spyder Jonez, most notably through his production company, Iron Cross Entertainment and Teravison, the production company he co-owns with his former wife, Tera Patrick, as well as his own "Rockstar Pornstar" website.
In July 2015, Schuler indicated that the band is actively working on a new album. On February 10, 2016, the band announced that upcoming shows have been cancelled, and Scott Roberts is no longer a member of the band.
On June 23, 2017, the debut album from Graziadei's new band Powerflo was released. Graziadei formed the band with Sen Dog (Senen Reyes) of Cypress Hill, Rogelio Lozano of Downset., and Christian Olde Wolbers of Fear Factory.
Biohazard is an American band formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1987. They are acknowledged as one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip hop. The earliest lineup consisted of bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld, guitarist Bobby Hambel, and drummer Anthony Meo. Guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei would join the band soon after, changing the band to a four-piece. Since February 2016, the lineup has consisted of Billy Graziadei, Bobby Hambel and Danny Schuler.
Early years
The band formed in Brooklyn in 1987. Their first demo, released in 1988, caused a stir with journalists who felt that some of the band's lyrics displayed fascist and white supremacist views, overlooking the fact that both Seinfeld and Schuler were, themselves, Jewish. The accusations of racism in their music were something strenuously denied by the band but in later interviews, Seinfeld and Graziadei explained that it had been a publicity stunt to win over the band Carnivore and their fans. Additionally, Seinfeld has defended the lyrics of songs such as "Master Race" and "America" as metaphors meant to shock and get the listener's attention and maintains that the band was never racist. The band has long since preached a message of tolerance and anti-racism. After the release of the first demo, Anthony Meo left the band and drummer Danny Schuler replaced him. A second demo tape followed in 1989.
Maze Records
In 1990, Biohazard signed a recording contract with Maze Records. The band's self-titled debut album was poorly promoted by the label and sold approximately 40,000 copies. The album's subject matter revolved around Brooklyn, gang-wars, drugs, and violence.
Roadrunner Records
In 1992, Biohazard signed with Roadrunner Records and released Urban Discipline, which gave the band national and worldwide attention in both the heavy metal and hardcore communities. The video for the song "Punishment" became the most played video in the history of MTV's Headbanger's Ball, and the album sold over one million copies. The band also began opening for larger acts such as House of Pain, Sick Of It All, Fishbone, and Kyuss.
In 1993, the hardcore rap group Onyx recorded an alternate "Bionyx" version of their hit single "Slam" with Biohazard as their backup band. This led to a collaboration on the title track of the Judgment Night soundtrack. The soundtrack would go on to sell over two million copies in the United States.
Warner Bros.
Months later, the band left Roadrunner Records and signed with Warner Bros. Records Inc. who released their third studio LP, State of the World Address. The album was produced by Ed Stasium in Los Angeles and contained the single "How It Is" featuring Sen Dog of Cypress Hill, for which a video was also shot. During their 1994 tour, the band made an appearance on the second stage at the Monsters of Rock festival held at Castle Donington. State of the World Address went on to sell over one million copies, and Rolling Stone magazine selected the Biohazard logo as the best logo of the year. This was the last Biohazard album with Bobby Hambel, who left due to differences with the rest of the band. Hambel spent time in White Devil, also featuring members of the Cro-Mags, before seemingly leaving the music business entirely. In late 1995, the band, along with Therapy? and Gunshot, contributed remixes to the Pitchshifter album The Remix War.
In 1998, Seinfeld began his acting career playing Jaz Hoyt on HBO's award-winning series Oz. The character was introduced in the second season and appeared throughout the series' sixth and final season.
Mercury Records
The band signed to Mercury Records and released their fifth studio album, New World Disorder, in 1999, once again with Ed Stasium as a producer. The relationship with Mercury Records soured quickly as the band felt betrayed and misunderstood by the label. They severed their ties with the label amidst the merger of Mercury Records, Island Records, Def Jam Records, and Polygram into the Universal Music Group.
SPV/Sanctuary Records
In the same year, Biohazard signed two new record deals with SPV/Steamhammer in Europe and Sanctuary Records for the remainder of the world. Despite the new record deals, the band took some personal time in order to work on other projects.
Graziadei briefly formed a trip hop project with Jenifer Bair of the Ohio band Hilo. After writing and recording approximately twenty songs for the project named Blu, Bair relocated to Los Angeles, California to continue an art career and the project dissolved. Graziadei also began work on a book, Tales From The Hardside. Schuler used his downtime to perform with New York band Among Thieves as a replacement drummer for the departing Will Shepler.
In 2002, Seinfeld became engaged to porn star Tera Patrick. Patrick had never heard of Seinfeld prior to seeing one of his nude scenes on Oz. After making several phone calls, Patrick was able to contact Seinfeld, who had never heard of her either, and the two began dating.
The band had to cancel scheduled European festival dates when Carmine Vincent underwent major surgery. The band did manage to find a temporary guitarist, Scott Roberts, formerly of the Cro-Mags and the Spudmonsters, in time to join the Eastpak Resistance Tour with Agnostic Front, Hatebreed, Discipline, Death Threat, Born From Pain and All Boro Kings.
With more downtime due to Seinfeld's illness, Graziadei and Schuler collaborated to mix Life of Agony's live comeback album, River Runs Again: Live 2003. Once Seinfeld was healthy again, the band toured Japan and North America, headlining over bands such as Hatebreed, Agnostic Front, Throwdown, and Full Blown Chaos.
Once home, Seinfeld began recording and circulating demos for his own trip hop project named Triplesicks. For a brief time, Graziadei and his wife moved to Brazil where their daughter was born. While there, Graziadei struck up a friendship with drummer Fernandao Schafer. After jamming together in the studio, Schafer formed the band Ink which Graziadei would eventually produce and later join. It wasn't long before Ink was renamed Endrah and an EP titled DEMONstration was released. Once Graziadei returned to New York City, the logistical problems of traveling back and forth caused Graziadei to quit Endrah.
In early 2004, Graziadei teamed up with gabber DJ Rob Gee to help write and produce his music. When a few albums were completed, Graziadei joined Schuler, Roberts, DJ Starscream (aka Sid Wilson of Slipknot), Jeff Anthony, and Keith Rooney, both of Gutwrench, to form Ampt. The band combined gabber music with hardcore and heavy metal. After writing several songs and putting together a live band, Graziadei and Schuler left the project in order to continue with Biohazard. Ampt has gone through several additional lineup changes since.
Also in 2004, Seinfeld, now residing in Los Angeles, California, married his fiancée of two years, Tera Patrick.
Temporarily disbanded
In the meantime, Graziadei had formed another new band with former members of Kitte and The Groovenics. Originally named Rodek, the band eventually changed their name to Suicide City. In October 2004, Graziadei announced that Means To An End had been the final Biohazard album and that he would continue playing with Suicide City as his main focus. One month later, on the Biohazard website, it was announced that there would in fact be a 2005 Biohazard tour.
In 2005, Seinfeld and Patrick formed The Tera Patrick Agency with the goal of representing talent in both the adult and mainstream entertainment business. That same year, Suicide City released their first EP, Not My Year, and continued to tour as an opening act for acts such as Danzig, Taking Back Sunday, Mindless Self Indulgence, Otep and Gwar. The band's full-length album, Frenzy, followed in 2009.
In January 2006, Danny Schuler announced his resignation from Biohazard and the formation of Bloodclot with singer Jon Joseph of the Cro-Mags, guitarist Scott Roberts and bassist Craig Setari of Sick of it All. Roberts later announced that he would also be leaving the band to focus on Bloodclot with Schuler. That same month, Graziadei announced that Biohazard would not go on a farewell tour after all.
In March 2007, Evan Seinfeld debuted his new band, The Spyderz, as an opening act for a Buckcherry performance. The band was originally named White Line Fever, until it was discovered that a UK band already owned the name. The Spyderz also featured guitarist John Monte, formerly of Ministry and M.O.D.. In October 2008, Seinfeld also briefly joined Tattooed Millionaires as a bassist and co-vocalist. Seinfeld and Tera Patrick separated in 2009 and divorced in 2010.
Reunion and departure of Seinfeld
In January 2008, the classic lineup of Evan Seinfeld, Billy Graziadei, Danny Schuler and Bobby Hambel made the announcement that rehearsals had begun for a 2008 summer tour to commemorate the band's 20th anniversary. They toured Australia and New Zealand in April with Chimaira, Throwdown, Bloodsimple and headliners Korn to celebrate their newly declared reunion. The band also took part in Persistence Tour 2009, and announced at one of their shows that they were working on a new record. It was also noted that the album would be dedicated to Type O Negative frontman Peter Steele who died in April 2010. Biohazard brought in producer Toby Wright to work on the album and after several months at Graziadei's Firewater Studios in Los Angeles, the band completed their recording sessions.
In June 2011, Biohazard announced that they had amicably parted ways with Evan Seinfeld.Scott Roberts returned to replace Seinfeld for two UK dates but no decision regarding a permanent replacement was made. In August 2011, the band announced that they were searching for a full-time singer to replace Seinfeld and opened auditions to the public.In September 2011, three months after his departure from Biohazard, Seinfeld joined Los Angeles-based heavy metal band, Attika 7, which also featured Tony Campos, formerly of Soulfly and Static-X, and Rusty Coones. Attika 7 began recording their debut album for THC Music/Rocket Science in February 2012.[12] After several lineup changes, including the departure of Campos, the band's debut album, Blood of my Enemies, was released in 2013. Seinfeld also continues to work in adult entertainment as Spyder Jonez, most notably through his production company, Iron Cross Entertainment and Teravison, the production company he co-owns with his former wife, Tera Patrick, as well as his own "Rockstar Pornstar" website.
In July 2015, Schuler indicated that the band is actively working on a new album. On February 10, 2016, the band announced that upcoming shows have been cancelled, and Scott Roberts is no longer a member of the band.
On June 23, 2017, the debut album from Graziadei's new band Powerflo was released. Graziadei formed the band with Sen Dog (Senen Reyes) of Cypress Hill, Rogelio Lozano of Downset., and Christian Olde Wolbers of Fear Factory.
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