Jonathan Davis and the SFA (Simply Fucking Amazings) was an American
alternative metal
Alternative metal (also known as alt-metal) is a genre of heavy metal music
Heavy metal (or simply metal) is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and United States. With r ...
band, formed as a side project for
Korn
Korn (stylized as KoЯn, or occasionally KoRn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream.
Originally formed in 1993 ...
frontman
Jonathan Davis
Jonathan Howsmon Davis (born January 18, 1971), also known as JD or JDevil, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of nu metal band Korn, who are considered a pioneering act of the ...
. The band functioned as a
musical collective
Musical collective is a phrase used to describe a group of musicians in which membership is flexible and creative control is shared.Liisa Ladouceur"Collegjthk ctive Souls" ''This Magazine'', November/December 2004. The concept is distinct from th ...
, with a rotating cast of musicians involved with the project centred around Davis' songwriting. Although the project never officially released any studio material, two live albums were released in the time the band was active: ''
Alone I Play
''Alone I Play'' is a live album by Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis, released on 10 November 2007. It was recorded and videotaped at Malibu's Woodshed Recorder on 7 November 2007, the day before Davis embarked on his first solo tour, the ''Alone I ...
'' in 2007, and ''Live at the Union Chapel'' in 2011.
History
In 2007, following the release of the
untitled Korn album
The untitled eighth studio album by American nu metal band Korn, often unofficially referred to as ''Korn II'', was released on July 31, 2007, by Virgin Records. It is the band's only studio release without an official drummer, released between t ...
, Davis formed the SFA as his first project in earnest outside of Korn. Davis'
bodyguard
A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects a person or a group of people — usually witnesses, high-ranking public officials or officers, w ...
and assistant, Loc, is believed to have come up with the name. The band went on their first tour of the United States in November 2007, followed by a European tour in May 2008. The band used their official website and a
Ustream
IBM Watson Media (formerly Ustream and IBM Cloud Video) is an American virtual events platform company which is a division of IBM. Prior to IBM acquisition, it had more than 180 employees across San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Budapest offices. ...
webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand. Essentially, web ...
to preview several demos from their upcoming album. Working titles include "Basic Needs", "Medicate", "Happiness", " Final Days", "Russia", "August 12", and "Gender", which was previously said to have been inspired by
Buffalo Bill
William Frederick Cody (February 26, 1846January 10, 1917), known as "Buffalo Bill", was an American soldier, Bison hunting, bison hunter, and showman. He was born in Le Claire, Iowa, Le Claire, Iowa Territory (now the U.S. state of Iowa), but ...
and ''
Silence of the Lambs''. The band also recorded 3 other untitled demos. Davis expressed interest with working with famed English producer
Guy Sigsworth
Guy Sigsworth is an English record producer and songwriter. During his career, he has worked with many artists, including Seal, Björk, Goldie, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kate Havnevik, Imogen Heap, Bebel Gilberto, Mozez, David Sylvian, Alanis M ...
on the SFA album. Korn drummer
Ray Luzier
Ray may refer to:
Fish
* Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea
* Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin
Science and mathematics
* Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point
* Ray (gra ...
was involved with the recording of the album, as was percussionist
Mike Dillon and
Black Light Burns
Black Light Burns is an American industrial rock band fronted by Wes Borland. Founded in 2005 after Borland departed Limp Bizkit, the band's lineup also includes Nick Annis, Dennis Sanders and Dylan Taylor. Their debut album, '' Cruel Melody'' ...
/
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rap rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Its lineup consists of lead vocalist Fred Durst, drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, turntablist DJ Lethal and bassist Sam Rivers. The band's music is marked by D ...
guitarist
Wes Borland
Wesley Louden Borland (born February 7, 1975) is an American rock musician. He is best known as the current guitarist and backing vocalist of the rap metal band Limp Bizkit, the lead vocalist and guitarist of the alternative and industrial rock ...
. Their debut album was planned for a release sometime in 2011, with a North American tour expected to follow. This, however, did not eventuate.
A
cover
Cover or covers may refer to:
Packaging
* Another name for a lid
* Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package
* Album cover, the front of the packaging
* Book cover or magazine cover
** Book design
** Back cover copy, part of co ...
of
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman (rapper), ...
's "
Got Money
"Got Money" is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne featuring fellow American rapper and singer T-Pain, released as the third single from the former's sixth studio album ''Tha Carter III'' (2008). Both artists use the Auto-Tune effect in the song ...
", featuring guitarist
James Root
James Donald Root (born October 2, 1971) is an American guitarist. He is one of two guitarists for heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #4, as well as the former lead guitarist for rock band Stone Sour.
Life and career
Ro ...
(
Slipknot and
Stone Sour
Stone Sour is an American rock band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1992. The band performed for five years before disbanding in 1997. They reunited in 2000 and since 2015, the group has consisted of Corey Taylor (lead vocals, guitar), Josh Rand ...
), was made available for free download on the band's official website. The release was accompanied by a message from Davis to "download the track I've been remixing the past few days. It's not representative of the album I'm working on but it was just something fun I wanted to try."
According to MTV News,
select songs on Jonathan Davis and the SFA's debut had been co-written by acclaimed songwriting team,
The Matrix
''The Matrix'' is a 1999 science fiction action film written and directed by the Wachowskis. It is the first installment in ''The Matrix'' film series, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantolia ...
, who had previously worked on Korn's 2005 album,
''See You on the Other Side''.
In January 2011, Jonathan uploaded three full-length songs from the album on
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform and music sharing website that enables its users to upload, promote, and share audio. Founded in 2007 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, SoundCloud is one of the largest music streaming se ...
: "Medicate", "Happiness" and "Final Days".
In April 2014, guitarist Shane Gibson died following complications from a
blood clotting disorder.
In December 2017, Davis confirmed that his debut solo album was to be released in 2018. He also stated that the SFA was no more, having dissolved the band after the death of Shane Gibson.
''
Black Labyrinth
''Black Labyrinth'' is the debut solo studio album by American vocalist Jonathan Davis (best known as the frontman of nu metal band Korn). The album was released on May 25, 2018, through Sumerian Records.
The first single, "What It Is", was rele ...
'' was ultimately released on May 25, 2018 solely under Davis' name, but featuring contributions from the SFA band musicians.
Members
*
Jonathan Davis
Jonathan Howsmon Davis (born January 18, 1971), also known as JD or JDevil, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of nu metal band Korn, who are considered a pioneering act of the ...
– lead vocals, multiple instruments
(2007–2014)
The SFA
Jonathan Davis stated on his webcast that the SFA was an ever-changing lineup of musicians. Some musicians were listed as "on break", as they never officially "quit" the SFA, but were not working with the band at the time.
Michael Jochum
Michael Jochum is an American rock/jazz/nu metal drummer. Although a session musician early in his career, he gained more recognition as a touring member of the band Korn.
He started as a musician in the late 1970s as a member of the jazz roc ...
was relieved of his duties after relocating to Denver, Colorado to be closer to his family.
*
Shenkar –
double violin, backing vocals
(2007–2014)
*
Miles Mosley
Miles Mosley is an American musician, producer and composer from Hollywood, California. He is known for his vocal and bass skills, as well as his abilities as a composer, arranger and music producer. He is also a founding member of the West C ...
–
contrabass
Contrabass (from it, contrabbasso) refers to several musical instruments of very low pitch—generally one octave below bass register instruments. While the term most commonly refers to the double bass (which is the bass instrument in the orchest ...
, occasional
keyboard
Keyboard may refer to:
Text input
* Keyboard, part of a typewriter
* Computer keyboard
** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping
** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware
Music
* Musi ...
s, backing vocals
(2007–2014)
*
Ray Luzier
Ray may refer to:
Fish
* Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea
* Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin
Science and mathematics
* Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point
* Ray (gra ...
– drums,
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...
(2008–2014)
*
Wes Borland
Wesley Louden Borland (born February 7, 1975) is an American rock musician. He is best known as the current guitarist and backing vocalist of the rap metal band Limp Bizkit, the lead vocalist and guitarist of the alternative and industrial rock ...
–
session guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
s
(2008)
*
Michael Jochum
Michael Jochum is an American rock/jazz/nu metal drummer. Although a session musician early in his career, he gained more recognition as a touring member of the band Korn.
He started as a musician in the late 1970s as a member of the jazz roc ...
– drums, percussion
(2007–2008)
*
Shane Gibson –
acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...
, backing vocals
(2007–2014; his death)
*
Zac Baird
Zachary Baird (born February 16, 1971) is an American keyboardist known for collaborating with the nu metal band Korn.http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1051801/korn-goes-experimental-vents-anger-on-new-album ''Korn Goes Experimental, Vents ...
– keyboards, backing vocals
(2007–2014)
Timeline
Discography
Live albums
References
{{Authority control
Musical groups established in 2007
Alternative metal supergroups
Korn solo projects
American alternative metal musical groups
American electronic rock musical groups