Escape the Fate is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2005 and originally from Pahrump, Nevada. The group consists of drummer Robert Ortiz, vocalist Craig Mabbitt, rhythm guitarist and bassist Erik Jensen, and lead guitarist Matti Hoffman. The group was founded by original vocalist Ronnie Radke, bassist Max Green, and lead guitarist Monte Money. The band has had 11 official members and 7 touring members and throughout 2010–2022 had a fluctuating lineup and has recorded eight albums with five different studio lineups.

History The band had their first lineup change when keyboardist and backing vocalist Carson Allen, left before the band's first studio album Dying Is Your Latest Fashion, and lead guitarist Monte Money started playing keyboards along with guitar instead of getting a new keyboardist. The band's next lineup change came when rhythm guitarist Omar Espinosa left and was replaced by Monte Money's brother, Michael Money as a touring member and Monte played the rhythm guitar on records.

Later, Ronnie Radke was involved in an altercation in Las Vegas that resulted in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Cook. While Radke did not shoot Cook, he was indicted on battery charges, while the man who shot Cook claimed self-defense. These charges against Radke, combined with Ronnie's past troubles with narcotics and rehab, led to a sentence of five years' probation. Radke failed to report to his parole officer and was arrested in June 2008, where he was sentenced to two years in prison. Radke was officially fired from Escape the Fate in mid-2008. Radke was then replaced by former blessthefall vocalist, Craig Mabbitt.

The band's next lineup change would come in late 2011 when the Money brothers and Max Green went on hiatus and were replaced by touring members Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft on lead guitar, TJ Bell on rhythm guitar and Zakk Sandler on bass. It was not an official departure at the time as the Money brother would return but Max Green would make his departure permanent. TJ Bell would then become an official member and switch to bass. In 2013 the band recorded their first album without Green and with Bell on bass. Later that year Monte and Michael would leave the band. TJ then switched back to rhythm guitar, Kevin Gruft re-joined the band as a permanent member on lead guitar and Max Green returned to the band on bass. In 2014 Green would leave once more, joining former vocalist Ronnie Radke's band Falling in Reverse, and left that band months after joining. Since 2014, the band has gone through a string of touring bassists who include Davey Richmond (2014), Alex Torres (2014–2015), Tyler Burgess (2015), Max Georgiev (2015–2017) and Erik Jensen since 2017. With the band not having an official bassist, Gruft played bass in addition to lead guitar and keyboards on Hate Me (2015) to Chemical Warfare (2021).

The band line-up next changed in late 2021, as Robert Ortiz and Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft went on hiatus and were replaced by touring members Blake Bailey on drums and Matti Hoffman on lead guitar. Robert Ortiz returned after recovering from injury, but Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft did not confirm his departure, and the band subsequently removed him from their social pages and added Erik Jensen as permanent bassist after 5 years touring with the band. Matti Hoffman was also added as the new lead guitarist.

Official members

Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRobert Ortiz2004–presentall Escape the Fate releasesCraig Mabbitt2008–presentlead vocalsall Escape the Fate releases from This War Is Ours (2008) to presentErik Jensen2021–present all Escape the Fate releases from Out of the Shadows (2023) to presentMatti Hoffman2021–presentlead guitar

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMonte Money2004–2013all Escape the fate releases from Escape the Fate (EP) (2005) to Ungrateful (2013)Max Greenall Escape the Fate releases from Escape the Fate (EP) (2005) to Escape the Fate (2010)Ronnie Radke2004–2008lead vocalsall Escape the Fate releases from Escape the Fate (EP) (2005) to Situations (EP) (2007)Omar Espinosa2004–2007all Escape the Fate releases from Escape the Fate (EP) (2005) to Dying Is Your Latest Fashion (2006)Carson Allen 2005–2006Michael Money2012–2013 rhythm guitar all Escape the Fate releases from Escape the Fate (2010) to Ungrateful (2013)TJ Bell2012–2025 all Escape the Fate release from Ungrateful (2013) to Out of the Shadows (2023)Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft2013–2021 all releases from Acoustic Sessions (EP) (2014) to Chemical Warfare (2021)

Other contributors

Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsZakk Sandler2011–2012Davey Richmond2014Alex Torres2014–2015Tyler Burgess2015Max Georgiev2015–2017Blake Bailey2021–2022

Session ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMichael Baskette2005–2007all Escape the Fate releases from There's No Sympathy For The Dead (EP) (2006) to Situations (EP) (2007)Dave Holdredge2006celloDying Is Your Latest Fashion (2006)Matt Appleton2008This War Is Ours (2008)Kyle MoormankalimbaJess NeilsonfluteJohn FeldmannJohn 52010Escape the Fate (2010)Bart HendricksonHoward Benson2015–2018Brandon Saller2013–2021Travis Barker2021Chemical Warfare (2021)

Timeline

Line-ups PeriodMembersStudio and live releases2004 – 2006 Ronnie Radke – lead vocals Monte Money – lead guitar, backing vocals Omar Espinosa – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Max Green – bass, vocals Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Carson Allen – keyboards, backing vocals2006 – November 2007 Ronnie Radke – lead vocals Monte Money – lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards Omar Espinosa – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Max Green – bass, vocals Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals There's No Sympathy for the Dead (2006) Dying Is Your Latest Fashion (2006) Situations EP (2007)November 2007 – mid 2008 Ronnie Radke – lead vocals Monte Money – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards Max Green – bass, vocals Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Michael Money – rhythm guitar mid 2008 – late 2011 Monte Money – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards Max Green – bass, vocals Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Michael Money – rhythm guitar Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals This War Is Ours (2008) Escape the Fate (2010) Issues Remixes EP (2011)late 2011 – 2012 Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft – lead guitar backing vocals TJ Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Zakk Sandler – bass, backing vocals 2012 – October 2013 Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals TJ Bell – bass, backing vocals Monte Money – lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards Michael Money – rhythm guitar Ungrateful (2013)October 2013 – May 2014 Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals TJ Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft – lead guitar backing vocals, keyboards Max Green – bass, backing vocals Hate Me (2015)May 2014 – late 2014 Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals TJ Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, studio bass Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft – lead guitar backing vocals, keyboards, studio bass Davey Richmond – bass, backing vocals late 2014 – 2015 Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals TJ Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, studio bass Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft – lead guitar backing vocals, keyboards, studio bass Alex Torres – bass, backing vocals 2015 Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals TJ Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, studio bass Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft – lead guitar backing vocals, keyboards, studio bass Tyler Burgess – bass, backing vocals 2015 – 2017 Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals TJ Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft – lead guitar backing vocals, keyboards, studio bass Max Georgiev – bass, backing vocals I Am Human (2018) Chemical Warfare (2021)2017 – 2021 Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals TJ Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft – lead guitar backing vocals, keyboards, studio bass Erik Jensen – bass, backing vocals 2021 – 2022 Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals TJ Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Erik Jensen – bass, backing vocals Matti Hoffman – lead guitar Blake Bailey – drums 2022 – 2025 Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals TJ Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Erik Jensen – bass, backing vocals Matti Hoffman – lead guitar Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals Out of the Shadows (2023)2025 – present Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals Erik Jensen – rhythm guitar, bass, backing vocals Matti Hoffman – lead guitar Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals

References