Soulfly is an American heavy metal band from Phoenix, Arizona. Formed by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Max Cavalera following his departure from Sepultura in 1997, the group originally included lead guitarist Jackson Bandeira, bassist Marcelo "Cello" Dias and drummer Roy "Rata" Mayorga. Bandeira left after the recording of the band's self-titled debut album, with former Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader taking his place in April 1998 for the album's touring cycle. Mader had left by the following January, with Mikey Doling joining in his place. Mayorga departed the group in July 1999, with Joe Nunez announced as his replacement in November. Nunez performed on the 2000 album Primitive, but left the following October due to concerns with his "financial arrangement with the group". Mayorga returned in his place.

In September 2003, Dias was fired from Soulfly by Cavalera and his wife Gloria (the band's manager), which prompted Doling and Mayorga to leave. The departed members were quickly replaced by returning drummer Nunez, Primer 55 guitarist Bobby Burns on bass, and former Ill Niño guitarist Marc Rizzo. The group's lineup subsequently remained stable for a number of years, before Burns left in July 2010, shortly after the release of Omen. Fireball Ministry's Johny Chow filled in for a string of tour dates, before Tony Campos (formerly of Static-X) joined as Burns' full-time replacement in 2011. Shortly after Campos' addition, Nunez left Soulfly and was replaced temporarily by Cavalera's son Zyon. Borknagar's David Kinkade subsequently joined in September, performing on the group's eighth studio album Enslaved.

Kinkade played his final show with Soulfly on October 23, 2012, when he decided to retire from music. Zyon Cavalera subsequently returned to the band in Kinkade's place. In May 2015, Campos left Soulfly to join Fear Factory, with Havok's Mike Leon taking over a few months later. In August 2021, it was announced lead guitarist Marc Rizzo had left the band, and that his replacement on the 2021 North American tour would be Dino Cazares of Fear Factory, Cazares continued to tour with the band into 2022. On January 5, 2023, the band announced Mike DeLeon of Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals as the band's new touring guitarist. It was later revealed that other guitarists were also planned to cover many of the tour dates for 2023, although DeLeon has stayed with the band since.

In April 2025, the band parted ways with Mike Leon, Igor Cavalera Jr. was announced as his touring replacement at the same time. The next month Chase Bryant of Warbringer was announced to be touring with the band.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMax Cavalera1997–presentall releasesZyon Cavaleraall releases from Enslaved (2012) – one track only onwardsMike DeLeon2025–present Chama (2025)

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMarcelo "Cello" Dias1997–2003Roy "Mata" MayorgaJackson Bandeira1997–1998Logan Mader1998–1999Tribe (1999)Mikey Doling1999–2003Joe NunezPrimitive (2000) and all Soulfly releases from Prophecy (2004) to Omen (2010)Marc Rizzo2003–2021all Soulfly releases from Prophecy (2004) to Ritual (2018)Bobby Burns2003–2010all Soulfly releases from Prophecy (2004) to Omen (2010)Tony Campos2011–2015David Kinkade2011–2012Enslaved (2012)Mike Leon2015–2025all releases from Ritual (2018) onwards

Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsNotesJason Roeder1999drumsRoeder performed drums after the departure of Roy Mayorga on the Bring da Shit to North America tour.Dave ChavarriChavarri performed drums after the departure of Roy Mayorga and before Joe Nunez joined the band.David EllefsonbassEllefson substituted for Bobby Burns in Soulfly several times, as well as performing on Prophecy.Dan Lilker2006Lilker filled in for Bobby Burns in late 2006, when the regular bassist was recovering from a stroke.Johny Chow2010–2011Chow performed with Soulfly after the departure of Bobby Burns in 2010 until Tony Campos joined in 2011.Kanky LoradrumsLora has substituted for Zyon Cavalera on several tours between 2013 and 2016.Igor Amadeus CavaleraFollowing the departure of Tony Campos, Cavalera played bass on a UK tour in 2015. He later contributed keyboards and co-lead vocals during a North American tour in 2017 and 2018 on which the band performed Nailbomb's Point Blank in full. He has also filled in on bass after Mike Leon's departure in 2025.Dino Cazares2021–2022Cazares joined the band in August 2021 after the rumored departure of Marc Rizzo. Cazares had previously made guest live appearances during the Soulfly touring cycle.Chase Bryant2025–presentbassBryant is playing bass on the band's Spring tour.

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1997 – April 1998Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Cello Dias – bass, percussion, backing vocals Roy Mayorga – drums, percussion, backing vocals Jackson Bandeira – lead guitar, backing vocalsSoulfly (1998) Tribe (1999) April 1998 – January 1999Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Cello Dias – bass, percussion, backing vocals Roy Mayorga – drums, percussion, backing vocals Logan Mader – lead guitar, backing vocals Tribe (1999)January – July 1999Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Cello Dias – bass, percussion, backing vocals Roy Mayorga – drums, percussion, backing vocals Mikey Doling – lead guitar, backing vocalsnoneJuly – November 1999Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Cello Dias – bass, percussion, backing vocals Mikey Doling – lead guitar, backing vocals Dave Chavarri – drums November 1999 – October 2001Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Cello Dias – bass, percussion, backing vocals Mikey Doling – lead guitar, backing vocals Joe Nunez – drums, percussionPrimitive (2000) The Song RemainsInsane (2005) October 2001 – September 2003Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Cello Dias – bass, percussion, backing vocals Mikey Doling – lead guitar, percussion, backing vocals Roy Mayorga – drums, percussion, backing vocals3 (2002)September 2003 – July 2010Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Joe Nunez – drums, percussion Bobby Burns – bass, backing vocals Marc Rizzo – lead guitarProphecy (2004) Dark Ages (2005) The Song Remains Insane (2005) Conquer (2008) Omen (2010)July 2010 – June 2011Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Joe Nunez – drums, percussion Marc Rizzo – lead guitar Johny Chow – bass noneJune – July 2011Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Joe Nunez – drums, percussion Marc Rizzo – lead guitar Tony Campos – bass, backing vocalsJuly – September 2011Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Marc Rizzo – lead guitar Tony Campos – bass, backing vocals Zyon Cavalera – drums, percussion September 2011 – October 2012Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Marc Rizzo – lead guitar Tony Campos – bass, backing vocals David Kinkade – drums, percussionEnslaved (2012)November 2012 – May 2015Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Marc Rizzo – lead and flamenco guitars Tony Campos – bass, backing vocals Zyon Cavalera – drums, percussionSavages (2013) Archangel (2015)May – September 2015Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Marc Rizzo – lead guitar Zyon Cavalera – drums, percussion Igor Amadeus Cavalera – bass, backing vocals noneSeptember 2015 – August 2021Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Marc Rizzo – lead guitar Zyon Cavalera – drums, percussion Mike Leon – bass, backing vocalsRitual (2018) August 2021 – January 2023Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Zyon Cavalera – drums, percussion Mike Leon – bass, backing vocals Dino Cazares – lead guitar, backing vocals Totem (2022) January 2023 – April 2025Max Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau Zyon Cavalera – drums, percussion Mike Leon – bass, backing vocals Mike DeLeon – lead guitar none April 2025 – presentMax Cavalera – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, sitar, berimbau, bass Zyon Cavalera – drums, percussion Mike DeLeon – lead guitar, backing vocals Igor Amadeus Cavalera – bass, backing vocals Chama (2025)

References

External links Soulfly official website