Geiz

**Geiz** are an American all-female heavy metal band currently based in Detroit, Michigan, formed in Santa Barbara, California in 2000. The band is mainly noted for launching the music career of Katy Perry, who left the band in 2007 to start a successful solo career and Olivia Jean from the Black Belles was her replacement.

## Geiz

### Origin

Detroit, Michigan, U.S. (formerly Santa Barbara, California, U.S.)

### Genres

Heavy metal, Nu metal, Alternative metal, Metalcore (early)

### Labels

Fueled by Ramen, Eyeball, Digital Warning

## Members

### Current members

Olivia Jean, Bianca Ryan, Amy Houka, Laura Paul

## History

The band was formed by four high school students Katy Hudson (who went under the pseudonym of Katy Perry), Bianca Ryan, Amy Houka and Selena Jacobs after the four discovered all female groups Kittie and Burnward. The band was signed by Digital Warning Records in late 2000. In 2001, the band released their debut album *Nothing More* and opened for Burnward's tour with Kittie, Spike 1000 and Otep and went on Ozzfest 2001. In 2002, the band recorded their second album. This album, 2003's *Meth Coffee* distanced the band from their metalcore roots.

The band went on tour with Twisted Method, Kittie, Helmet and Wicked Wisdom as the supporting acts. The band were dropped by Digital Warning after their four year contract was not renewed, Geiz were later picked up by Eyeball Records and the band began working on their third album which released in 2006. This album was called *Crucify Your Actions* and was the final album to feature Katy Perry and the final album. Geiz went on hiatus in 2007 with Bianca and Amy focusing on their post-grunge/hard rock side project called Mercy Watson with Bianca Ryan on vocals, Sean Yseult on bass, Amy Houka on guitar and Mercedes Lander on drums, Katy Perry with her pop solo career and Laura Paul focusing with Simple Plan. In 2012 the band reunited for a new album under Eyeball Records called *Haushi* which means Fuck in Hausa. This album was initially a one-off reunion but got back together with Olivia Jean as the new vocalist.

In 2015, the band released their fifth album *Monster NRG* which featured more of a garage-goth influence thanks to Olivia Jean's past band The Black Belles. However, with Olivia Jean, the band moved to Detroit, Michigan, the band went on tour with Sleep Token as the opening act in 2016 including a 15th anniversary show with Katy Perry coming back as a one-off thing. In 2018, the band released their sixth album *Decaydance* which was the first album with Fueled by Ramen after the band was signed to the label in late 2017. In late 2018, the band went on tour with Bad Omens as the opening act. In 2020, the band released their seventh self-titled album and played a virtual concert in Minecraft. In 2021, longtime drummer Selena Jacobs left the band after 21 years saying "My mental health needs to be more important to me", Laura Paul was her replacement, leaving Bianca Ryan and Amy Houka the only original members left. On April 21, 2023, the band released their eighth album called *Steed Son Best Friends*, starting on May 24th 2023, the band is going on the Grrls of Metal Tour with Kittie, Otep and Spiritbox.

## Influences

Genres the band is currently put under are heavy metal, nu metal, alternative metal and garage-goth. Their earlier work is considered metalcore. The band is influenced by Nirvana, Pantera, Kittie, Burnward, Animus and Nexus. Other influences include Weezer, White Zombie, Orgy, Tool, Helmet, Korn, Slayer, Type O Negative and Sepultura.

## Members

### Current

Olivia Jean-lead vocals (2012-present) \*has 8 different Shure microphones\*

Bianca Ryan-bass (2000-present) \*plays a 5 string Gibson Thunderbird Ebony bass\*

Amy Houka-guitar (2000-present) \*plays a 7 string Ibanez Iron Label S guitar with DOD Supra Extreme Distortion pedal\*

Laura Paul-drums (2021-present) \*plays a 9 piece drum set by Sawtooth and ZBT\*

### Former

Katy Perry-lead vocals (2000-2007, 2016) \*had 8 different Yamaha microphones\*

Selena Jacobs-drums (2000-2021) \*played a 9 piece drum set by Tama and Meinl\*

## Discography

*Nothing More (2001)*

*Meth Coffee (2003)*

*Crucify Your Actions (2006)*

*Haushi (2012)*

*Monster NRG (2015)*

*Decaydance (2018)*

*Geiz (2020)*

*Steed Son Best Friends (2023)*