Dave Wyndorf

David Albert Wyndorf (born October 28, 1956) is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of hard rock band Monster Magnet. He is the band's frontman, songwriter and only remaining founding member. Monster Magnet has released eleven studio albums and is considered one of the pioneers of the stoner rock genre. Prior to forming Monster Magnet, Wyndorf was the frontman of punk band Shrapnel.

Early life Wyndorf was born in Red Bank, New Jersey on October 28, 1956 and grew up in a family of eight children. Although the family was poor, Wyndorf has stated that his childhood was idyllic. After learning how to play guitar, Wyndorf started writing songs and formed a new project called Love Monster. The band's second album, Superjudge, was released in 1993 through major label A&M Records. Although the album was not a commercial success, it would become an influential release in the stoner rock genre like its predecessor. With the release of Monster Magnet's third studio album, Dopes to Infinity, in 1995, the band achieved their first hit single with the song "Negasonic Teenage Warhead". Following the band's tour in support of the album, Wyndorf traveled to Las Vegas for 21 days where he wrote the songs for the band's next album, Powertrip. Released in 1998, the album would become Monster Magnet's commercial breakthrough, spearheaded by the single "Space Lord". Peaking at number 97 on the Billboard 200, Powertrip was certified gold by the RIAA in January 1999 and became a multi-platinum record. Although God Says No reached number 153 on the Billboard 200, promotional support by the band's label was lacking and the album polarized fans. After being dropped by A&M, Monster Magnet's sixth studio album, Monolithic Baby!, was released through German independent label SPV in May 2004. An upcoming European tour for Monster Magnet was subsequently canceled. His management released the following statement:"The battle with one's inner demons is the most personal fight any of us can undertake. The fight is at times a lonely, confusing journey. On the evening of February 27, Dave Wyndorf suffered a setback in his own fight and was hospitalized due to a drug overdose. His full recovery is expected. We ask that all those he has encountered over the years or simply affected by his music to take a moment to think good thoughts of and for him and his family. With the grace of God and those who love him we are all confident that Dave will rebound from this setback and continue to play and make great rock and roll." He stated that he was prescribed anxiolytics due to suffering from insomnia while touring, which he began to use regularly. Following his overdose, Wyndorf began working on Monster Magnet's next album, 4-Way Diablo, released in November 2007.

After extensive touring in 2008 and 2009, Monster Magnet returned to the studio to record new material. The album Mastermind was released in October 2010, peaking at number 165 on the Billboard 200. During Monster Magnet's tours in 2011 and 2012, the band performed the albums Dopes to Infinity and Spine of God in their entirety. The band's ninth studio album, Last Patrol, was released in October 2013. Wyndorf later described the band's recent albums as "long-form psych records that were decidedly melancholy" and made a return to a more rock-oriented sound for their 2018 album Mindfucker. In May 2021, Monster Magnet released the album A Better Dystopia, consisting of cover songs by psychedelic rock and garage rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.

Personal life Having spent most of his career writing about drugs, Wyndorf now upholds that drugs are not an inspiration for music nor a gateway into creativity.

Discography

With Monster Magnet Studio albums

Spine of God (1991) Superjudge (1993) Dopes to Infinity (1995) Powertrip (1998) God Says No (2000) Monolithic Baby! (2004) 4-Way Diablo (2007) Mastermind (2010) Last Patrol (2013) Mindfucker (2018) A Better Dystopia (2021)

Studio EPs

Monster Magnet (1990) Tab (1991) Love Monster (2001) Remix/redux albums

Milking the Stars: A Re-Imagining of Last Patrol (2014) Cobras and Fire (The Mastermind Redux) (2015)

Compilation albums

It's a Satanic Drug Thing...You Wouldn't Understand (1992) Greatest Hits (2003) The Best of Monster Magnet – The Millennium Collection (2007) Space Lords (2012)

With Shrapnel Studio EPs

Shrapnel (1984)

Other appearances

We Will Fall: The Iggy Pop Tribute (1997) – "Gimme Danger" For the Masses (1998) – "Black Celebration" Nativity in Black II (2000) – "Into the Void" New Tales to Tell: A Tribute to Love and Rockets (2009) – "Mirror People"