Deadly Synns

**Deadly Synns** is a American nu metal band formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1998 by vocalist Jester Greed (real name Jakob "Jake" Bale) and guitarist ZigZag (real name Andrew Spears). Apart of the only two surviving bands of the original Atlanta nu metal scene, the band is well known for their dreadlocks, corpse paint and circus costumes, as well as their circus-esque concerts. They disbanded in 2004 after releasing two studio albums in 1999 and in 2002 but got back together in 2009 just in time for the debut album's 10th anniversary.

## Deadly Synns

### Genres

Nu metal, Alternative metal, Post-grunge, Groove metal

## Members

### Current members

Jester Greed, Crimson Curse, ZigZag, Bloodpup

## History

Jakob Bale (who would use the name Jester Greed) and Andrew Spears (who would use the name ZigZag) both served as night guards at the art museum, where they both retired following graduating college with music degrees. They soon met future bassist Skylar Kaufman (who would use the name Crimson Curse) at a Atlanta Toys R Us and recruited her as the bassist and future drummer Brandan Sims (who would use the name Bloodpup) at a Atlanta pizza joint and recruited him as the drummer. The band recorded a demo to send over to various labels, this task became a very tough sell, as they were rejected by several labels like MCA, Roadrunner and even Nothing Records. Eventually, they managed to catch the eye of Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell, who sent the band to a meeting with TVT and got them signed to the label. In 1999, the band released their debut studio album *Welcome to the Synn* which sold 205,000 copies worldwide. When the band went on Ozzfest, the band started donning corpse paint, dreadlocks and circus costumes to distinguish themselves from other nu metal bands. The band continued touring with the Synn Circus tour where they got a amazing reputation for having circus-esque concerts. These concerts were very popular with metalheads and fans of the circus aesthetic that, according to Jester Greed, even got fan girls mainly associated with boy bands, attracted to the band's sound and concerts. Jester Greed even went on to say that the main Jakob Bale person became known as a teenage heartthrob. In 2002, the band released their second studio album *Cabaret Massacre* which sold 156,495 copies worldwide and had the hit song *Rat Rod*. The band went on Nintendo Fusion Tour 2003 which they replaced Revis for that tour.

In 2004, the band announced their breakup on MySpace to recharge from touring and making music. Jakob and Andrew formed ZigZag Management which manages up and coming and newer bands. ZigZag Management has managed bands and artists like Gym Class Heroes, Amy Winehouse, Egypt Central and Job for a Cowboy. In 2009, rumors were buzzing about a possible reunion from Deadly Synns, where they would go back to their circus costumes, corpse paint, dreadlocks and circus-esque concerts. The rumors were confirmed true when the band reunited to perform the July 28, 2009 date of Vans Warped Tour on the main stage. In 2010, the band released their first studio album in eight years and their third studio album *DeTours* which sold 555,000 copies and was certified gold by the RIAA, being their first album with Rekords Rekords, after the band signed with the label in late 2009. The band went on the 2011 Honda Civic Tour as the opening act handpicked by Gerard Way and Tom DeLonge. In 2014, the band released their fourth studio album *NOTHING//NOWHERE//NOONE* which debuted a huge post-grunge influence, the band went on Vans Warped Tour 2015 on the Monster Energy stage and later went on their own tour called The Synn Circus Tour with the likes of Necronation, Taproot and Soundgarden from late 2015 to mid 2016. In 2017, the band released their fifth studio album *Violent Chains* which debuted a groove metal sound and was the beginning of a three album arc called *The Battle For The Circus*. The band went on the second Synn Circus Tour in 2018 with the likes of Bentley, Dope and Wednesday 13. In 2020, the band released their sixth studio album *Escape from Control* which was the second of The Battle For The Circus arc. The band went on tour with Jesterpose as the opening act in 2021, before releasing their seventh studio album *The Freedom* which was the third and final album of The Battle For The Circus arc, in 2022. In 2024, the band will release their eighth album *Delirious* and will go on their third Synn Circus tour along with the likes of Pipe, Egypt Central and The Union Underground.

## Members

Jester Greed \*real name Jakob Bale\*-lead vocals (1998-2004, 2009-present) \*has 8 different Yamaha microphones\*

Crimson Curse \*real name Skylar Kaufman\*-bass (1998-2004, 2009-present) \*plays a 5-string Jackson Warrior bass\*

ZigZag \*real name Andrew Spears\*-guitar (1998-2004, 2009-present) \*plays a 7-string B.C. Rich Zombie guitar with BOSS OC-3 and JHS Angry Charlie pedal\*

Bloodpup \*real name Brandan Sims\*-drums (1998-2004, 2009-present) \*plays a double bass 10 piece drum set by TAMA and MEINL\*

## Discography

*Welcome to the Synn (1999)*

*Cabaret Massacre (2002)*

*DeTours (2010)*

*NOTHING//NOWHERE//NOONE (2014)*

*Violent Chains (2017)*

*Escape from Control (2020)*

*The Freedom (2022)*

*Delirious (2024)*