Jacoby Shaddix

Jacoby Shaddix
Background information
Birth name	Jacoby Dakota Shaddix
Also known as	Coby Dick Jonny Vodka John Doe Jacobo Insonico />
Born	(1976-07-28) July 28, 1976
Genres	Alternative rock, hard rock, alternative metal, nu metal, rapcore, punk rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, bass guitar, drums, clarinet
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Eleven Seven Music, DGC/Interscope, Geffen, DreamWorks
Website	www.paparoach.com

Jacoby Dakota Shaddix (birth-date; July 28, 1976) was born in Mariposa, California and is the lead singer for the successful rap rock group; Papa Roach, as well as the lead singer for (generally considered defunct) post-hardcore band; Fight the Sky under the name of 'John Doe'. Shaddix was also the host of MTV show 'Scarred'.

Early life

Jacoby Shaddix suffered a rough childhood with his parents divorcing when he was just six years old, which Jacoby references in the song Broken Home. Jacoby has 2 younger brothers, Trevor and Bryson. In his youth he went to Vacaville High School where he played the clarinet in the school orchestra. Upon meeting Dave Buckner they founded Papa Roach in 1993. Jacoby started out playing drums but found quickly that Dave was much better than him. Jacoby then decided to pick up bass to play a part in a band but his bass was stolen. After this he defaulted to singing. While 17, Shaddix started to work as a dish washer to be able to finance his apartment with a friend. This job changed to a janitor in a hospital until he gave it all up for Papa Roach in 1999 so he could dedicate himself to the music he liked.

Personal life

On July 16, 1996, Shaddix married his high-school sweetheart, Kelly Shaddix, with whom he has two sons, Makaile Cielo Shaddix, born March 24, 2002 and Jagger Monroe Shaddix, born September 13, 2004. Jacoby has had a rocky relationship with wife Kelly. He has written about their dysfunctional relationship in the songs She Loves Me Not, Time and Time Again and Decompression Period. Jacoby regularly brings Kelly and his sons on tour with him. On June 14th 2012, during a live web-chat, Jacoby revealed that his wife had left him while the band were halfway through making their new album.

Addiction

Although he has had a past with drugs, Jacoby's main problem has always been alcohol. In an early interview, he admitted he needed alcohol to help him deal with not seeing his family on tour. "I've got a little photo album of my baby,every day I just look at it and go, 'You're so cute, man. I love you. And then I also need a bottle of vodka." Jacoby has wrote about his battles with alcohol in the songs Binge, Black Clouds and Scars. Jacoby has said in a few interviews that he used to be "a cutter for a while, and it really just got to a point. I was suicidal, and then I wanted to die, and then I realized that I didn’t want to die. It was just like this whole - I was just in a cloud, so I had to get sober."[1] "Scars" is about an act of self-mutilation he committed in Vegas, which required 11 staples in his head, due to binge drinking. He currently doesn't drink alcohol and only smokes marijuana occasionally.

Music career

Papa Roach

Main article: Papa Roach

Jacoby is the founding member of Papa Roach. He formed the band along with drummer Dave Buckner, bassist Will James, and trombonist Ben Luther, in 1993.Ben was then replaced by Jerry Horton, Will by Tobin Esperance and Dave by Tony Palermo, leaving Jacoby the only original member in the band. The band's name Papa Roach, derives from Jacoby's step-grandfather, Howard William Roatch, who had the nickname Papa Roach. Howard committed suicide in 2006 because he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Papa Roach wrote the song Roses On My Grave in memory of him. Before releasing their debut album Infest, Papa Roach released an EP in 1994 entitled Potatoes For Christmas. In 1997, they released their first full album, entiltled Old Friends From Young Years.

Fight the Sky

Main article: Fight the Sky

Shaddix also has a side-project that he started in 2002 in Sacramento, California, the post-hardcore band Fight the Sky.

Scarred

Previously the host of the MTV show Scarred, Jacoby had to stop due to the band's constant touring.

Appearance

Shaddix has many tattoos. One of the first tattoos he got was when he was 21 years old, his wife's name across his left arm. "Born To Rock" is bared across the top of his chest. On his left knuckles he has "Love" and on his right knuckles he has "Hate". On the left side of his chest, he has a Queen surrounded by water, and on the right is a king surrounded by flames. Jacoby says this represents the good and evil in him. On his right arm he has a scroll which reads, "Here Lies Jacoby Dakota Shaddix" and underneath reads, "Born With Nothing, Die With Everything", which is also the name of one of the band's songs from LoveHateTragedy. His sons' names are tattooed on his wrist. On his left arm he has a house in flames, which references the band's song Broken Home, and a coffin which references their song "Harder Than A Coffin Nail". On his neck, Jacoby has the chinese symbol for love, which he spoke about in an episode of MTV Cribs.

Pseudonyms

Shaddix has used various pseudonyms throughout his career including Coby Dick, Johnny Vodka, John Doe and Dakota Gold.

Discography

Papa Roach

Main article: Papa Roach discography

• Old Friends from Young Years (1997)
• Infest (2000)
• Lovehatetragedy (2002)
• Getting Away with Murder (2004)
• The Paramour Sessions (2006)
• Metamorphosis (2009)
• Time for Annihilation (2010)
• The Connection (2012)

Fight the Sky

• Seven Deadly Songs

Other appearances

• "Conquer the World" - Die Trying's self-titled album (2003)
• "Americans" - X-Clan's album Return from Mecca (2007)
• "Smoke on the Water" - Carlos Santana's album Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time (2010)
• "Warning" - Skindred's album Union Black (2011)
• "End of the world" Shahnaz"