Burning Passion

**Burning Passion** was a American rap metal band formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1997 by vocalist Erik Stuck and drummer Matt Smith. The band is well known for being one of the first wave of bands of the Atlanta nu metal scene. They broke up in 2006 due to the members wanting to explore other ventures.

## Members

### Past members

Erik Stuck, Rodney Bolton, Zak Navarro, Blake Castle, Matt Smith

## History

Erik Stuck and Matt Smith were two guys that graduated high school and Matt had separate band before Burning Passion called *Hot Tub Sex* which released one album before breaking up and Erik also had a separate band before Burning Passion called *Wound Socket* (not to be confused with Woonsocket) which released one mixtape and one album before breaking up the same time as Hot Tub Sex's disbandment. Erik Stuck and Matt Smith became friends and recruited bassist Rodney Bolton, rhythm guitarist Zak Navarro and lead guitarist Blake Castle to be apart of the band, being called Burning Passion. They played shows within the Atlanta nu metal scene. The band recorded a demo in September which caught the eye of TVT Records, who signed the band to a three album deal. In 1998, the band released their debut studio album *Pissed Off Squirrel* which sold 800,000 copies worldwide and was certified gold by the RIAA in late 1998. Their song *Rat Races and Bunny Slaughter* was featured on a episode of Home Movies in 1999 and on a episode of South Park in 2000, while bonus track *T166375,* a rap rock version of The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers, was featured on the soundtrack album to The Tigger Movie but was not featured in the movie in anyway or form other than a bonus feature. Also in 2000, the band released their second studio album *Starcade* which sold 140,000 copies worldwide and wasn't as successful as Pissed Off Squirrel. The band toured on 2001's Family Values tour. In 2004, the band released their third and final studio album *Method Acting* which sold only 4,000 copies worldwide. The band were soon dropped by their label, the band members wanted to do different things, in 2006, the band recorded the song *Gamble Crown* as a secondary theme song for the James Bond movie Casino Royale before disbanding that same year after nearly a decade of being together. In 2017, the band reunited to perform at the Coca Cola Roxy to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band's formation with a sold out crowd to go along with it. The band would reunite again to join Korn for Coming Undone and Ded for Dead To Me at Inkcarceration Music and Tattoo Festival in 2022 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their formation. In late 2023, the band announced their final one-off reunion at Sick New World in 2024.

## Members

Erik Stuck-lead vocals (1997-2006, 2017, 2022, 2024) \*had 8 different Yamaha microphones\*

Rodney Bolton-bass (1997-2006, 2017, 2022, 2024) \*played a Gibson 5-string Explorer bass\*

Zak Navarro-rhythm guitar (1997-2006, 2017, 2022, 2024) \*played a Peavey 7-string Black Wolfgang guitar with BOSS DS-1 pedal\*

Blake Castle-lead guitar (1997-2006, 2017, 2022, 2024) \*played a ESP 7-string Alien Blood Viper guitar with BOSS DS-2 pedal\*

Matt Smith-drums (1997-2006, 2017, 2022, 2024) \*played double bass 9 piece drum set by Ludwig and MEINL\*

## Discography

*Pissed Off Squirrel (1998)*

*Starcade (2000)*

*Method Acting (2004)*