Dax David Riggs (born October 15, 1973) is an American musician, best known for fronting the

sludge metal Sludge metal (also known as sludge or sludge doom) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that originated through combining elements of doom metal and hardcore punk. It is typically harsh and abrasive, often featuring shouted vocals, heavi ...

band

Acid Bath Acid Bath was an American sludge metal band from Houma, Louisiana, active from 1991 to 1997. Acid Bath combined doom metal roots with influences from hardcore punk, death metal, gothic rock, and blues to create the band's unique sound. Th ...

in the 1990s. He has been a part of many projects since then, including

Agents of Oblivion Agents of Oblivion was an American rock band from Louisiana that evolved from Acid Bath. Fronted by Dax Riggs, their sound displayed influences from swamp rock, psychedelic rock, blues rock, grunge and metal, among others. History After Aud ...

and

Deadboy & the Elephantmen Deadboy & the Elephantmen was an American indie rock band active from 2000 to 2007. Based in Houma, Louisiana, the band was fronted by Dax Riggs (formerly of Acid Bath and Agents of Oblivion). After disputes with an independent label over th ...

. In 2007 he began releasing material under his own name.

Bands

Corruption

Corruption was Riggs in his teens fronting a

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

band that played cover songs, though they never played a real gig.

Golgotha

Golgotha was the

sludge Sludge is a semi-solid slurry that can be produced from a range of industrial processes, from water treatment, wastewater treatment or on-site sanitation systems. For example, it can be produced as a settled suspension obtained from conventiona ...

/thrash metal foundation of what would later become

. The band released one demo, ''Wet Dreams of the Insane'' (1991), under that name before changing it. It featured Riggs as the lead vocalist, Mike Sanchez and Jerry "Boon" Businelli on guitar, Jimmy Kyle on drums, and Chad Pierce on bass.

Acid Bath

was a seminal

band from southern Louisiana. The band was marked by an unusual blend of sludge metal,

swamp blues Swamp blues is a type of Louisiana blues that developed in the Black communities of Southwest Louisiana in the 1950s.Malone, Evelyn Levingston, "Swamp Blues: Race And Vinyl From Southwest Louisiana" (2016). Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertatio ...

doom metal Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...

and

psychedelia Psychedelia refers to the psychedelic subculture of the 1960s and the psychedelic experience. This includes psychedelic art, psychedelic music and style of dress during that era. This was primarily generated by people who used psychedelic ...

. Singer Dax Riggs's voice could range from a guttural growl to a

Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as ...

-esque wail in mid-song. In the liner notes for their second album, ''

Paegan Terrorism Tactics ''Paegan Terrorism Tactics'' is the second and final studio album by American heavy metal band Acid Bath. It is the band's last album before their disbanding in 1997 due to the death of bassist Audie Pitre. The album was written while the band ...

'', the band thanked the ghost of Roy Orbison (as well as

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

) for his help in creating their sound. The band was also noted for Riggs's imaginative and distinctive lyrics which often featured themes of death and drugs.

Daisyhead & The Mooncrickets

Daisyhead & The Mooncrickets was a project of Riggs between 1995 and 1997 that never took off. Only two Daisyhead recordings are known to exist: ''

Skeletal Circus Derails ''Skeletal Circus Derails'' is the first known recording by Daisyhead & the Mooncrickets. It is a 6-song recording and is the namesake of Dax Riggs' fan sitSkeletalCircus.com Track listing # "The Skeletal Circus Derails" – 3:25 # "As Gone As Go ...

'', a six-song recording from 1995, and a self-titled 14-track album from 1997, where most of the songs are cut off before they end. They also detail a point in Riggs' career when he struggled for life after Acid Bath, which disbanded following the death of bassist

Audie Pitre Acid Bath was an American sludge metal band from Houma, Louisiana, active from 1991 to 1997. Acid Bath combined doom metal roots with influences from hardcore punk, death metal, gothic rock, and blues to create the band's unique sound. They br ...

in 1997. Toward the end of Daisyhead & The Mooncrickets, Riggs was pushing for a more melodic sound, which materializes in his subsequent bands

and

. That sound was first heard on the Daisyhead recordings.

Agents of Oblivion

was the first of Riggs's post-Acid Bath projects to release any official recordings. The band first emerged with a five-song demo, featuring former Acid Bath guitarist Mike Sanchez on lead guitar. The demo included "Big Black Backwards", "Ash of the Mind", and other songs which would later appear on the band's 2000 self-titled debut. The album included the five demo songs in addition to "Riding the Wormhole", a new version of "The Skeletal Circus Derails", and a newer, faster version of Acid Bath's "Dead Girl". The album features a blend of spare, dark ballads interspersed with blues-based heavy metal, although the sound never reverts to the more aggressive stylings of Acid Bath. The band broke up after a short tour in support of the album.

Deadboy & the Elephantmen

was Riggs's next band, active from 2000 until 2007. Initially a solo project, it later morphed into a full band before eventually settling on a two-piece lineup of Riggs and drummer Tessie Brunet. The band toured on many festivals with various bands, including

Fiery Furnaces The Fiery Furnaces are an American indie rock band, formed in 2000 in Brooklyn, New York.. - ''In 2000 they moved Brooklyn... and began playing as the Fiery Furnaces late in the year''. - Allmusic The band's primary members are Matthew and Eleanor ...

Peaches The peach (''Prunus persica'') is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and others (the glossy-skinned, non-fuz ...

Eagles of Death Metal Eagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998. Founded by Jesse Hughes (vocals, guitar) and Josh Homme (drums), the band also includes a wide range of other musicians who perform both on the band's ...

Wolfmother Wolfmother is an Australian hard rock band from Sydney. Formed in 2004, the group is centred around vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, who is the only constant member of the line-up. The band has been through many personnel changes since ...

and

Heartless Bastards Heartless Bastards are an American rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2003. The band has released six albums. History Heartless Bastards originally started as a recording project of Erika Wennerstrom. She played most of the instruments and ...

, and released albums on Fat Possum Records.

T-Daks & His White Plastic Soul and Dax Riggs

Riggs's solo project started out under the name T-Daks & His White Plastic Soul. Riggs performed a handful of live shows under that name, mostly performing acoustic. After the breakup of

Deadboy & The Elephantmen Deadboy & the Elephantmen was an American indie rock band active from 2000 to 2007. Based in Houma, Louisiana, the band was fronted by Dax Riggs (formerly of Acid Bath and Agents of Oblivion). After disputes with an independent label over th ...

in early 2007, he stated that he would release future albums under his own name. His first solo album, ''We Sing of Only Blood or Love'', was released on Fat Possum Records in August 2007. His second album, ''Say Goodnight to the World'', was released on August 3, 2010 (also with Fat Possum Records).

Discography

with Acid Bath

* ''

When the Kite String Pops ''When the Kite String Pops'' is the debut album of American heavy metal band Acid Bath. Released on August 8, 1994, it is considered an underground classic, and an early example of sludge metal. The album's artwork is a self-portrait made by ...

'' (1994) * ''

'' (1996)

with Agents of Oblivion

* ''

'' (2000)

with Deadboy & the Elephantmen

*''

If This Is Hell, Then I'm Lucky ''If This Is Hell, Then I'm Lucky'' is the debut album by Deadboy & the Elephantmen, fronted by Dax Riggs, formerly of Acid Bath and Agents of Oblivion. The album was re-released on February 5, 2008 under Dax Riggs Dax David Riggs (born O ...

'' (2002; rereleased in 2008 as a solo Dax Riggs album) * ''

Song Mechanism Originally distributed through Deadboy & the Elephantmen Deadboy & the Elephantmen was an American indie rock band active from 2000 to 2007. Based in Houma, Louisiana, the band was fronted by Dax Riggs (formerly of Acid Bath and Agents of ...

'' EP (2004) * ''

We Are Night Sky ''We Are Night Sky'' is the second and final full-length album of Deadboy & the Elephantmen. It is also the first full-length album to feature drum kit, drummer Tessie Brunet. It is the first of the three records contract with Fat Possum Record ...

'' (2005)

Solo

* '' We Sing of Only Blood or Love'' (2007) * '' Say Goodnight to the World'' (2010)

References

External links

Official website

Official Dax Riggs poetry

Dax Riggs and Sammy Duet interview
!-- authorized video--> {{DEFAULTSORT:Riggs, Dax Living people 1973 births American heavy metal musicians American male singer-songwriters American rock songwriters American rock singers Singer-songwriters from Louisiana People from Houma, Louisiana Fat Possum Records artists 21st-century American singers 21st-century American male singers