The Infection (band)

September 1992 (as **The Infection**)

June 9th, 2021 (as The Infection (ft. William DuVall)

Anna Lake

Fred Durst

Mike Richards

Steven Neville-Ramsey

Victoria Jackson

Yolandi Visser

Tiki Taera

Patrick Star

2015-2017

2020-2021

*For the page that details the prelude to The Infection, check out **Wince***.

*****The Infection***** was an American-British rock band, formed in San Diego, California in 1986. It was originally founded by SpongeBob SquarePants & Sandy Cheeks.

The band helped to popularize grunge/alternative rock music in the San Diego area, and achieved its biggest success with such hit albums like Mockingbird, Shadows Descending, Traffic Jam, Disparate Realms and The Anime Album.

In late-2005, the group officially dissolved for the first time due to tensions with Reprise over creative control, and major exhaustion from touring. While the group did reunite for several concert tours from 2007-2012 as well as doing a cover album in 2010, they officially re-formed in 2015.

Following the deaths of Cheeks and SquarePants in 2017 and 2020, Alice In Chains vocalist William DuVall joined the group months later as well as Demi Lovato as a co-vocalist. However, a Los Angeles judge banned the new lineup from using the "Infection" name as they needed permission from the SquarePants-Cheeks estate. This prompted the band to subsequently reboot themselves in Summer 2021.

As of 2022, they have sold over 30 million records worldwide and have moved 13 million copies in the U.S.

## Musical style and influences

The Infection has been described as grunge, alternative rock, nu metal and hard rock. SpongeBob SquarePants has mentioned that his biggest influences in music was Metallica. While he is the primary songwriter, he looks to the other band members for organizational help.

During the Traffic Jam and Disparate Realms era of The Infection, the band was influenced by Bush and Smashing Pumpkins.

## Legacy

The band's 1997 album *Traffic Jam* was cited by Rolling Stone as the most important alternative rock album of the year.

It was also placed on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "Definitive 200" list of 200 classic albums and helped with bringing back mainstream interest in grunge and alternative rock, mainly in the San Diego scene and worldwide.

The group was cited as an influence by a variety of artists, including Highly Suspect.

## Band members

### Primary line-up

* SpongeBob SquarePants - lead guitar, lead vocals (1986-2020; died 2020)
* Sandy Cheeks - bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (1986-2017; died 2017); drums, percussion (1996)
* Yolandi Visser - vocals, rhythm guitar (1998-2021)
* Tiki Taera - keyboards, organ (2007-2008; 2014-2015; official member 2017-2018; 2021)
* Patrick Star - drums, percussion (1991-1996; 1998-2000; 2002-2021)

### Former members

* Anna Lake - keyboards (2001-2002; official member 2003-2005; 2011-2012)
* Demi Lovato - co-vocals, guitars, piano (2007-2011)
* Steve Burns - rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1996-1998; 2002-2005)
* Victoria Jackson - rhythm guitar (1992-1995; 2020-2021)
* Mike Richards - drums, percussion (1989-1991)
* Steven Neville-Ramsey - drums, percussion (1986-1989)

### Touring members

* Travis McKenzie - rhythm guitar (1991-1992)
* Taylor Hawkins - drums, percussion (1997-1998)
* Alfredo Hernández - drums, percussion (1996-1997)
* Miley Cyrus - keyboards, organ, vocals (2007-2008)
* Jimmy Chamberlin - drums, percussion (2000-2001)
* Roxy Petrucci - drums, percussion (1996)

## Discography

#### Wince

* *1989 - An Old Friend*
* *1990 - Paint Factory '90 (live album)*
* *1990 - Live at The Off Ramp (live album)*
* *1991 - Self-Titled*
* *2000 - The Last Run (live album)*

#### The Infection (SpongeBob SquarePants-Sandy Cheeks era)

* *1994 - Mockingbird*
* *1994 - Shadows Descending*
* *1995 - A Number Of My Lifes*
* *1997 - Traffic Jam*
* *2000 - Disparate Realms*
* *2002 - Self-Titled*
* *2005 - The Anime Album*
* *2010 - Grunge at the Dancefloor (cover album)*
* *2017 - Piece Of The Action*
* *2022 - Songs from Pandora's Box: Vol. I*

#### The Infection (William DuVall-Demi Lovato era)

* *2021 - Shiny Stars of Tomorrow*
* *2022 - Camera*

William DuVall • Demi Lovato • Kinga Glyk • Tiki Taera • Patrick Star

 (**SpongeBob SquarePants-Sandy Cheeks era**)
 (William DuVall-Demi Lovato era)
 Cover albums
 Live albums
 Associated acts
 Concert Tours
Shadows Descending Tour • A Number of My Lifes Tour • Traffic Jam Tour • The SpongeBob, Sandy, Patrick and Yolandi Tour • Disparate Realms Tour • Pop Disaster Tour • 2003-04 Tour • 2004 Germany Tour • The Messiah Tour • 2007-08 Tour • Jump Around Tour • 2011-12 Tour • Shiny Stars of Tomorrow Tour