Flotsam and Jetsam (band)

Flotsam and Jetsam
Flotsam and Jetsam at the Brutal Assault Festival in 2014
Flotsam and Jetsam at the Brutal Assault Festival in 2014
Background information
Also known asParadox (1981–1982)
Dredlox (1982–1983)
Dogz (1983–1984)
OriginPhoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Genres
Years active1981–present
Labels
MembersEric "A.K." Knutson
Michael Gilbert
Steve Conley
Ken Mary
Bill Bodily
Past membersMark Vazquez
Kevin Horton
Jason Newsted
Phil Rind
Troy Gregory
Jason Ward
Craig Nielsen
Mark Simpson
Edward Carlson
Kelly David-Smith
Jason Bittner
Michael Spencer
Websitewww.flotstildeath.com

Flotsam and Jetsam is an American thrash metal band that was formed in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1981. Before settling on its current name in 1984, the band had existed under three different names, Paradox, Dredlox and Dogz. Their current lineup includes vocalist Eric "A.K" Knutson, guitarists Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley, bassist Bill Bodily, and drummer Ken Mary. Flotsam and Jetsam went through several lineup changes over the years, leaving Knutson as the only constant member. They are also notable for featuring a then-unknown Jason Newsted, who was Flotsam and Jetsam's bassist from 1981 to 1986, when he left the band shortly after the release of their debut album to join Metallica.

Flotsam and Jetsam has released fifteen studio albums in their career, with the latest being 2024's I Am the Weapon. Despite not achieving similar levels of commercial success as some of their thrash metal contemporaries, the band emerged as part of the second wave of the genre in the mid-to-late 1980s (along with Sepultura, Testament and Death Angel),[1][2][3][4][5][6] and has enjoyed some moderate success in the United States, with two of their albums (1988's No Place for Disgrace and 1990's When the Storm Comes Down) entering the Billboard 200 chart,[7] and their fourth album Cuatro (1992) cracking the top 30 on the Heatseekers chart.[8]

  1. ^ "Programa Nº8 – Rock en Cadena". rockencadena.home.blog. June 5, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  2. ^ "Flotsam and Jetsam Tickets – Flotsam and Jetsam Concert Tickets and Tour Dates". Stubhub.com. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  3. ^ "Flotsam And Jetsam – RAM Entertainment". Ramentertainment.com. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "Artist of the Month- January 2020: ANNIHILATOR". Metalnation.com. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  5. ^ "A Look Back at Flotsam and Jetsam's 1986 Debut: "Doomsday for the Deceiver"". Metalmegalomania.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  6. ^ "Flotsam and Jetsam Writing New Album". Ultimate Guitar. June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  7. ^ "Flotsam and Jetsam – Billboard". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  8. ^ "Flotsam and Jetsam Chart History". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2017.