About Taproot
Taproot is an American alternative metal band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, formed in 1997. Its lineup consists of vocalist/guitarist Stephen Richards, bassist Phil Lipscomb, drummer Jarrod Montague, and guitarist Taylor Roberts. They are best known for their hit single "Poem", which peaked at No. 5 on the Mainstream Rock chart in 2002.
Taproot originally consisted of Richards, Lipscomb, Montague, and guitarist Mike DeWolf. After a few independent releases in the late 1990s, they signed to the major label Atlantic Records in 1999. Their debut album on the label, Gift, was released in 2000. Both of the album's singles, "Again & Again" and "I", attained moderate success. Taproot's breakthrough came in 2002, with the album Welcome, which featured the lead single "Poem" as it peaked at No. 5 on the Mainstream Rock chart and No. 10 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Ultimately, Welcome sold over 500,000 copies. The release of 2005's Blue-Sky Research produced the single "Calling", which peaked at No. 11 on the Mainstream Rock chart. However, the album did not match its predecessor's success. As a result, Atlantic and Taproot parted ways in 2006.
The band released Our Long Road Home in 2008, which was immediately followed by drummer Montague's departure and the addition of Nick Fredell. Taproot then released Plead the Fifth in 2010, which featured the moderately successful single "Fractured ", followed by The Episodes, in 2012. Subsequently, Fredell was replaced on drums by Dave Coughlin in 2013, and guitarist DeWolf was replaced by Dave Lizzio in 2015. The band's seventh album, SC\SSRS, came out in 2023. The record's announcement coincided with the return of Montague on drums and the addition of Taylor Roberts on guitar.
Taproot was formed in 1997 in Ann Arbor, Michigan by vocalist Stephen Richards, guitarist Mike DeWolf, bassist Phil Lipscomb, and drummer Jarrod Montague. The band earned a following with their live performances. Shortly after forming, they recorded their first demos at Woodshed Studios in Oak Park, Michigan, with Tim Pak. In 1998, Taproot sent their demo to Limp Bizkit frontman, Fred Durst, after seeing a request for demos on their first album. Impressed with the material, Durst offered to get Taproot a recording contract through Interscope Records. However, after extended negotiations, Taproot decided to look elsewhere and finally landed a deal with Atlantic Records. Durst heavily cursed the band on vocalist Richards' answering machine.
"Hey man, you fucked up. You don't ever bite the hand that feeds in this business, bro . . . Took you under my wing, brought you to my house, talked about you on FM radio and press, and you embarrassed me and the Interscope family. Your association with Limp Bizkit doesn't exist. Your manager slings our name around, he's gonna be blackballed and probably be erased, and you will, too. He's a fucking idiot. You're gonna fucking learn from this time right here I hope you let your band know that you just fucked yourself. You need to be associated with somebody in this business, to put you out there and believe in you. Now you got enemies. Don't fucking show up at my shows cause if you do, you're gonna get fucked. You and your fucking punk ass man. You're learning right now exactly how to ruin your career before it gets started. All the luck, brother, fuck you."
Durst also allegedly put some blame on System of a Down, who assisted Taproot in securing the Atlantic deal. It is also alleged that Durst kicked System of a Down off the 1999 Family Values Tour. Taproot independently released their debut album, ...Something More Than Nothing , the EP Mentobe , and their second record, Upon Us around this time.
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