Murderdolls ranked among best heavy metal supergroups
Murderdolls, the horror-punk act co-founded by Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison and Wednesday 13, earned a place on Louder Sound's ranking of the 10 best heavy metal supergroup projects that lived up to the hype, cementing the 2000s band's cult legacy beyond its short run. The recognition puts the campy, B-movie-inspired outfit alongside all-star acts such as Audioslave, Nailbomb, Killer Be Killed and Fantômas.
Key Takeaways
- Louder Sound named Murderdolls among the 10 best heavy metal supergroups that lived up to the hype.
- Joey Jordison and Wednesday 13 formed the band in 2002 during a Slipknot hiatus.
- Debut album Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls hit No. 1 on Billboard Heatseekers.
- After a 2010 reunion album, Murderdolls disbanded in 2011 following Soundwave Festival.
Why were Murderdolls called a supergroup?
According to coverage of the Yahoo Entertainment report, Murderdolls grew out of established rock resumes. Jordison, Slipknot's co-founder and drummer, launched the project as a side band after the group's intense 2001 touring cycle.
He paired with Wednesday 13, frontman of Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13. Static-X guitarist Tripp Eisen co-founded the group on lead guitar, with Eric Griffin on bass and Ben Graves on drums. Eisen left shortly after the debut album arrived.
Jordison's love of B-movie horror shaped the look: heavy makeup, theatrical costumes and macabre storytelling. That blend of star power and camp helped Louder Sound frame Murderdolls as a true metal supergroup, not just a one-off side project.
What albums defined Murderdolls' short career?
In 2002, the band released Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls on Roadrunner Records. Standouts included lead single "Dead in Hollywood," "Slit My Wrist" and a cover of Billy Idol's "White Wedding."
None of the songs cracked the main Billboard charts, but the album topped the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and is now seen as a cult classic of 2000s horror punk and glam metal.
After touring into 2004, Murderdolls paused for years. They returned in 2010 with Women and Children Last, again led by Jordison and Wednesday 13 with a new touring lineup. Their final show came at Soundwave Festival in 2011, ending a nine-year run of activity and hiatus.
How did early audiences react to the band?
Wednesday 13 later recalled that early U.S. crowds barely knew anyone but Jordison. "They had no idea who I was, or anybody else in the band," he said in remarks cited by Louder Sound. "It was all 'Joey, Joey, Joey!' Some of them did not like us, and they let us know."
The UK response was different. "It f—ng blew up. I felt like I was in The Beatles," he said, describing sudden fans who asked who the other guy on stage was. That overseas surge helped lock in the band's cult status.
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