Formed during the Orange County punk explosion, the Southern CA-based outfit zebrahead is still going strong as they turn the page to a new chapter of the band’s long career. “As long as people come out to shows and listen, we will continue to tour the world and release music,” says bassist Ben Osmundson. With almost 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, it is safe to say the world is still listening!
Speaking of going strong, the band is set to release a string of songs and videos leading to the 2026 release of a new EP, the follow-up to their EP releases III, II & I.
In addition to Osmundson, zebrahead includes vocalist/rapper Ali Tabatabaee, vocalist/guitarist Adrian Estrella, drummer Ed Udhus, and guitarist Dan Palmer.
zebrahead is truly a band of brothers who signed to Columbia Records when they were barely out of high school, early on in their career. Since their inception they have shared highs and lows, sold over two million albums to date, survived label changes, earned a Grammy nomination from a collaboration with Motorhead, and engaged in nonstop touring across the globe.
Taking things into their own hands, they have embraced a completely DIY approach for almost 10 years now and love the freedom it allows them. “It’s more fun when there is no boss,” Osmundson laughs. He continues, “And honestly, that has been the approach that has kept the band alive. Cause why do it if it isn’t fun?”
Their shows keep getting bigger and the songs keep getting heavier. Melody and riffs are what the band loves to combine, and they have really focused on that for the last few years, letting themselves go in every direction in the music they are feeling and creating. The live show is where zebrahead really excels and it has garnered them a loyal and rabid fanbase as they continue to sell out venues across the globe.
When asked about the new music, Tabatabaee says, "Brace yourselves for a sonic explosion of adrenaline-pumping anthems and relentlessly catchy hooks that'll have you moshing in the pit and making unforgettable new memories with your closest friends.”
Estrella adds, “These next new songs are the culmination of working together now for a few years and truly understanding our writing process. In my opinion, it’s a massive step forward, and I can’t wait for everyone to scream along with us!”
It all started with the release of the Yellow EP on indie label Dr. Dream in May 1998. The buzz began, and zebrahead signed to major label Columbia and released their full-length debut, Waste of Mind, later that same year. Their sophomore album, Playmate of the Year, hit in mid-2000 to rave reviews, and the album's infectious title track garnered airplay on some of the planet's biggest alternative stations. The Stupid Fat Americans EP was released as a Japanese exclusive the next year. Then came the 2003 release of zebrahead's critically acclaimed MFZB, which garnered the highest-testing alternative song for months running with “Rescue Me,” and the album went gold in Japan. The band spent the summer of 2006 on the Vans Warped Tour, and Broadcast to the World was released. The album went gold in Japan in just a month's time. In 2008, the band released Phoenix with a warning from Absolute Punk: “listen with caution as your face may melt right off of your head.” Panty Raid followed in 2009, Get Nice in 2011, and Call Your Friends in 2013.
Way More Beer, a live CD/DVD filmed in Koln, Germany, was released in 2014 and captured the pure chaos and energy of the zebrahead experience. A year later, the band celebrated their 20th anniversary with a re-recorded classics album titled zebrahead - The Early Years – Revisited. That same year, they also wrote and recorded Out of Control with friends Man With A Mission, a collaborative EP from both bands with the title track used as the theme song for the movie Mad Max: Fury Road. Later that year came Walk the Plank. In 2017, the band released The Bonus Brothers, an album comprised of import-only bonus tracks. Brain Invaders was released in 2019 worldwide on MFZB Records and the Avex Group in Japan.
Throughout all that life threw at them, Zebrahead’s touring raged on, and the band continued to bring their explosive live show to festivals like Reading/Leeds, Wacken, Download, Southside, Rock AM Ring/Park, Summersonic, Punkspring, Fuji Rock, Groezrock, Pukkelpop, Slam Dunk, Sonisphere, Hurricane, Greenfield, Nova Rock, Tsunami, and Highfield, to name a few.
As they get set to once again bring their distinctive fun-filled sound to the masses with new music and lots of touring, the future is bright for the band and their worldwide family of fans and friends.
Palmer puts it all into perspective, “We plan to do two things with these new songs: kick ass and chew bubble gum! And we’re all out of bubble gum!”
