Dance Gavin Dance · Daily Hub

About

Dance Gavin Dance is an American rock band from Sacramento, California, formed in 2005. It consists of lead guitarist Will Swan, drummer Matthew Mingus, harsh vocalist Jon Mess, and lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Andrew Wells. The band formerly included lead vocalists Jonny Craig, Kurt Travis, and Tilian Pearson, and the lineup has changed numerous times since their inception. Swan, Mingus, and Mess are the only band members who have appeared on every studio album, with the exception of one album for Mess.

The band released their debut extended play (EP), Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean, in 2006 and signed to Rise Records thereafter. Their debut studio album, Downtown Battle Mountain, was released in May 2007. Craig and guitarist Sean O'Sullivan left the group and were replaced by Kurt Travis and Zachary Garren, respectively. They released their album, Dance Gavin Dance, in August 2008. Vocalist Jon Mess and bassist Eric Lodge left the group before the album's release, with Lodge being replaced by Jason Ellis. Happiness, the group's third studio album, was released in June 2009.
In 2010, Jonny Craig, Jon Mess and Eric Lodge returned to the band and recorded their fourth studio album, Downtown Battle Mountain II (2011). Craig and Lodge departed from the group the following year, which led to bassist Tim Feerick, guitarist Josh Benton, and former Tides of Man vocalist Tilian Pearson joining the band. They released their fifth studio album, Acceptance Speech (2013); Benton left the band shortly after the album's release. Their sixth studio album, Instant Gratification, was released in April 2015. The following year, the group released the live album, Tree City Sessions, and their seventh studio album, Mothership, the latter charting at number 13 on the Billboard 200. They released their eighth studio album, Artificial Selection, in June 2018, placing at number 15 on the Billboard 200. In 2020, they released their ninth studio album, Afterburner in April, which placed at number 14 on the Billboard 200, and Tree City Sessions 2 in December.
Bassist Tim Feerick died in 2022, prior to the release of the band's tenth album, Jackpot Juicer, leading to Sianvar and Royal Coda guitarist Sergio Medina taking over on live bass duties. Pearson underwent a brief hiatus from the band in 2022 following sexual assault allegations before parting ways with the band in 2024.
The band has achieved four top-twenty albums in the US, including one top 10.

From Dance Gavin Dance on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Members

Jon Mess 2005–2008, 2010–now · original member lead vocals
Matt Mingus 2005–now · original member drums (drum set), percussion
Will Swan 2005–now, 2008–2010 · original member background vocals, guitar, lead vocals
Andrew Wells 2022–now, 2024–now electric guitar, lead vocals
Jonny Craig 2005–2007, 2010–2012 · original member · former lead vocals
Eric Lodge 2005–2008, 2010–2012 · original member · former bass guitar
Sean O’Sullivan 2006–2007 · former guitar
Zachary Garren 2007–2010 · former guitar
Kurt Travis 2007–2010 · former lead vocals
Jason Ellis 2008–2009 · former bass guitar
Tim Feerick 2009–2010, 2012–2022 · former bass guitar
Josh Benton 2010–2014 · former guitar
Tilian 2012–2024 · former lead vocals