Papa Roach is a hugely popular American rock band, originally formed in January 1993 in Vacaville, California, when lead vocalist Jacoby Shaddix and drummer Dave Buckner first met on a high school football field. The initial lineup also included guitarist Jerry Horton, bassist Will James, and a trombonist, Ben Luther, though the core members quickly solidified as Shaddix, Horton, and later, bassist Tobin Esperance who replaced James in 1996, and drummer Tony Palermo who joined in 2007. Their name is a tribute, as “Papa” comes from the nickname of Jacoby Shaddix’s maternal grandfather, Herbert Fischer, and “Roach” from his paternal grandfather, John Roatch, with the cockroach symbolising the band’s persistent longevity and ability to survive any adversity. They spent their early years intensely practising and touring, independently releasing several EPs before signing with DreamWorks Records in 1999.
The band’s musical style has seen an evolution, though they are most famously known for being pioneers of the nu metal genre in the early 2000s, blending hard rock with elements of rap-rock and alternative metal, particularly on their breakthrough album, Infest. Over time, their sound shifted more towards alternative rock and hard rock, with more recent albums incorporating electronic elements while still maintaining their punk rock energy. Their major hits include the seminal nu metal anthem “Last Resort,” a powerfully raw song about contemplating suicide, which was their breakthrough single from the triple-platinum Infest (2000). Other key tracks that achieved major success include “Broken Home,” “Between Angels and Insects,” the platinum-selling “Getting Away with Murder,” the multi-platinum hit “Scars,” and “Forever.”
A fascinating detail from their history is that before signing with DreamWorks, Warner Bros. turned down their demo, which actually contained future massive hits like “Last Resort.” When Infest exploded commercially, selling millions of copies, the band found themselves on a whirlwind tour, even meeting pop star Justin Timberlake during an appearance on MTV’s Total Request Live. The success of their music, particularly the brutally honest lyrics from Jacoby Shaddix about difficult topics like broken families and mental health struggles, has deeply resonated with fans worldwide, with many people reporting that songs like “Last Resort” saved their lives. Shaddix’s original stage name was Coby Dick, an alias inspired by the name of the band’s first tour van, Moby Dick, before he began using his birth name.
