Murderdolls
American horror punk band blending punk rock and horror imagery.
Murderdolls came together in Hollywood, California in 2002 as an American rock band. Wednesday 13 and Joey Jordison served as the core members, while Ben Graves, Acey Slade, Eric Griffin, and Tripp Eisen toured with them at various points. Two albums came from the group: *Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls* hit shelves in 2002, and *Women and Children Last* followed on August 31, 2010. The band struggled to gain traction in the United States at first, but their album and singles found audiences in Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. An interview with Wednesday 13 in July 2013 confirmed that the band had split.
The group’s sound drew from punk rock and 1970s hard rock acts like Kiss and Alice Cooper. Horror movies heavily influenced their imagery and references. Lyrically, they took a tongue-in-cheek approach, touching on necrophilia, grave robbing, and cross-dressing. Critics and fans often described them as “Mötley Crüe meets the Misfits.”
Some trace the band’s roots to 1994, when Joey Jordison played in a Des Moines, Iowa band called The Rejects, fronted by vocalist Dizzy Draztik. That group’s sound resembled what Murderdolls would later develop, but without the horror-themed lyrics. The Rejects broke up after Slipknot signed to a major label. During the 1999 Ozzfest tour, Jordison met Tripp Eisen and asked if he wanted to join a project reviving The Rejects with Draztik. Eisen agreed, and his friend Racci Shay—from Dope and the Genitorturers—played drums. A bassist named Ian, who had played with Acey Slade’s band the Vampire Love Dolls, also performed live with them.
Dizzy Draztik introduced Jordison to the music of the Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13, a horror punk band from Charlotte, North Carolina fronted by Wednesday 13. Draztik convinced the group to invite Wednesday 13 to play with The Rejects; the pair had considered bringing him in before Eisen joined. Wednesday joined in November 2001 as a bassist. Eisen later claimed he suggested bringing in his friend Acey Slade around that time, but the idea was rejected. When Dizzy left to care for his ailing mother, Wednesday 13 moved to frontman. The band renamed themselves Murderdolls and adopted a horror theme. Wednesday 13 became the main creative force, and most tracks on the debut album were re-recordings from his previous band, Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13.
Wedn
- formed
- 2002
- origin
- Hollywood, California, United States
- genre
- Punk rock, horror punk
- years_active
- 2002–2004, 2010–2013
- labels
- Roadrunner Records
- associated_acts
- Slipknot, Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13, Static-X
Lore & Background
The band's origins trace back to a Des Moines, Iowa-based band called The Rejects, which included Joey Jordison and vocalist Dizzy Draztik. After Draztik introduced Jordison to the music of Wednesday 13's band Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13, Wednesday 13 joined the Rejects as a bassist in November 2001. When Draztik left to care for his ailing mother, Wednesday 13 became frontman, and the band renamed itself Murderdolls. Most tracks on their debut album were re-recordings of Wednesday 13's earlier work with Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13.
The band's first album, Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls, was recorded primarily by Wednesday 13 and Joey Jordison playing all instruments and vocals, with Tripp Eisen contributing some guitar solos. Touring members Ben Graves and Eric Griffin joined in late March 2002 but did not play on the album. The band played their first show as Murderdolls on July 30, 2002, in San Diego. After extensive touring through 2002–2003, including festivals like Big Day Out, Download Festival, and Rock am Ring, the band went on indefinite hiatus in January 2004. They reunited in 2010 to release Women and Children Last on August 31, 2010, before splitting in 2013.
Reader's Guide
Murderdolls occupy a distinctive niche in early 2000s rock as a horror-themed side project that blended punk rock with 1970s hard rock influences like Kiss and Alice Cooper. Their sound, often described by critics as 'Mötley Crüe meets the Misfits,' combined tongue-in-cheek lyrics about necrophilia, grave robbing, and cross-dressing with a theatrical stage presence. The band's significance lies partly in its connection to Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison, which helped draw attention to Wednesday 13's songwriting. Their debut album introduced a wider audience to Wednesday 13's earlier material from Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13. Though short-lived, Murderdolls left a mark on horror punk and influenced later acts in the genre. Their legacy is also tied to the band's ability to maintain a cult following despite limited commercial success in the United States, with stronger reception in Europe, the UK, Australia, and Japan.
Did You Know?
- The band's debut album, Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls, consisted mostly of re-recordings of songs Wednesday 13 had previously written for his earlier band Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13.
- The music video for the single 'Dead in Hollywood' featured a guest appearance by Marilyn Manson.
- Murderdolls performed a cover of Billy Idol's 'White Wedding' on the UK chart show Top of the Pops.
- The band's first show as Murderdolls was on July 30, 2002, at San Diego's Epicenter club.
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