Josh Todd

Josh Todd
Todd performing with Buckcherry in 2007
Background information
Born	(1970-04-04) April 4, 1970 Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, actor
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Eleven Seven, Atlantic, Dreamworks
Associated acts	Buckcherry

Josh Todd (born Joshua Todd Gruber, April 4, 1970 in Los Angeles, California) is an American musician and actor, best known as the lead singer of the rock band Buckcherry.^[1]

Background

Josh Todd grew up in Anaheim Hills, California, and later moved to Lake Forest, California. He attended high school at Trabuco Hills High School in Orange County, California, and graduated in 1989. Prior to his days in Buckcherry, Todd fronted the Hollywood glam rock band Slamhound. Slamhound was signed to Skydoor Records, an independent record company that was unsuccessful in releasing a Slamhound album even though the band recorded over a dozen songs with Josh as the lead singer. While in Slamhound, Josh honed his musical style, moving away from glam and more towards punk. In 1995, Josh met guitarist Keith Nelson through his tattoo artist. The two agreed to meet because of their shared love of AC/DC. They soon formed the band Sparrow, which later changed its name to Buckcherry. He later married Jasmine Lawson, an American actress and model. He is currently married to actress/model Mitzi Martin. They have 2 children.

Career

In 1999, even before the debut Buckcherry album had ever been released, Josh was featured in one of Rolling Stone's last issues of 1999 as "What's Hot In The New Millennium," which included a center-fold photograph of him.

In 1999, Buckcherry released their debut self-titled album, featuring the hit "Lit Up". The album had a very commercial sound, far away from the glam punk music of his earlier bands.

In 2001, the band released their second album Time Bomb. Josh and Keith went on to play a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne/Mötley Crüe drummer, Randy Castillo, alongside former Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum. The band, for that show, was named Cherry Roses. The band went on to record about ten songs under the name "The Project" before the others decided to replace Todd and Nelson with Scott Weiland and Dave Kushner, respectively. The band went on to become Velvet Revolver. One song, "Dirty Little Thing", was written during the time with Josh and Keith and gives the latter co-writing credits.

In 2003, Josh Todd formed TODD Entertainment, LLC and released the album You Made Me.

In 2005, Josh Todd reformed Buckcherry with Keith Nelson and new members Stevie D., Jimmy Ashurst, and Xavier Muriel.

In 2008, Todd was one of the four backing vocalists for the hard rock band Mötley Crüe for the gang vocal version of "Saints of Los Angeles".

Todd has released six albums with Buckcherry and one solo album. He also performed at the Canadian Live8 venue in Barrie, Ontario in 2005. He first joined Darryl McDaniels, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer of Aerosmith, and others on stage for a rendition of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" and then later joined all other performers on stage for a version of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World".

He has appeared in several movies in both credited and uncredited roles including playing the part of "Rudy" in the 2002 teen comedy The New Guy and several small parts in xXx and The Salton Sea. He has also appeared in the 2008 thriller Eagle Eye.

In 2008 Josh appeared on Escape the Fate's album This War Is Ours in the song "10 Miles Wide" and "Harder Than You Know". He was featured in the music video for "10 Miles Wide" in 2009.

Todd has been ranked in the Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists by Hit Parader (#98).

Tattoos

Josh Todd is known for his multitude of tattoos including a full backpiece, full sleeves and heavily inked chest, stomach and legs. A partial list of his tattoos follows:

• A suicide King of Hearts with the word "Love" above it and "Desire" below it covering his entire back.
• The word "CHAOS" above his navel and a black widow spider below.
• The word "Willow" in script across his upper-chest/collarbone area. Willow is the name of his youngest daughter. His other daughter is Sutherlan born on October 18, 1994 (currently 18). She lives in North Ga and attends UGA.
• The word "STAY" on his right knuckles and "GOLD" on his left knuckles, spelling out "Stay Gold" when put together, a reference to The Outsiders.
• Matching spiral tattoos on his shoulders, sometimes referred to as "Spiritual Headlights".
• Matching skulls over spider webs on his kneecaps.

Discography

Buckcherry

Solo

• You Made Me (2003)

Singles

Guest appearances

• 2002 – "The New Guy" the movie. He played the character Rudy.
• 2002 – "The Shield" series. Episode 1.6: "Cherrypoppers".
• 2003 – "Rain" – DJ Muggs – Dust
• 2006 – "Watchtower" – D.M.C. – Checks Thugs and Rock N Roll
• 2007 – "Blow" – Atreyu – Lead Sails Paper Anchor
• 2008 – "Saints of Los Angeles" – Mötley Crüe – Saints of Los Angeles
• 2008 – "10 Miles Wide" – Escape the Fate – This War Is Ours
• 2010 – "Bones (TV series)". Episode 5.19: "The Rocker in the Rinse Cycle"

References

External links

• Josh Todd Online Store.
• Josh Todd My Space Page
• Josh Todd Interviews and Videos