Vocalist Brandon Boyd, drummer Jose Pasillas and guitarist Mike Einziger met in elementary school. They grew up together surfing and skateboarding. In Calabasas High School, at the age of fifteen, they formed the band with bassist Alex Katunich. After struggling to decide on a band name, Mike found the word "incubus" in a thesaurus, and adopted it as the band's new name (the word is actually the name for a mythological demon that is belived to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women). Incubus immediately began writing music and started to play more and more frequently, graduating from parties to small clubs. A mathematics and music teacher, Joanne Stanulonis was responsible for booking their shows between 1993 and 1994. Their first pay to play gig was booked by Joanne Stanulonis at the Roxy, too. While in the 11th grade, Mike found a $100 bill on the ground, and with that money, the band did their first "Pay to Play" gig in Hollywood at the Roxy. They also performed at dozens of shows at other sunset strip clubs such as the Whisky and The Troubadour, also booked by Joanne Stanulonis, who was also the band's photographer (see www.amazoninstitute.com and the page "About the Founder" for pictures of the band in their early years) at gigs booked by Joanne Stanulonis. Many of these performances were sold out due to Stanulonis' promotion of the band.
In 1993, Joanne Stanulonis introduced Incubus to Jim Wirt, a local record producer and musician. Wirt offered to record demos for the band during unbooked studio times and the band recorded their first album, the funk-based Fungus Amongus. Joanne Stanulonis arranged this free recording time in a room that cost over $700/day at the time.
However, due to lack of label interest, Incubus released their first full length album on their own label, with Einziger paying for the first pressing of 1,000 disks out of his own pocket.
Throughout 1994 Incubus were regular performers at the now closed San Fernando Valley music club "Mancini's", often playing all-ages free Sunday night shows known as "Club Engine Sludge". They also were on the bill for a sold-out show that featured the bands Skinflint and headliner Unwritten Law.
In 1995, Gavin Koppell saw the band play and asked if they would be interested in using some of his tracks, which incorporated the use of turntables. Gavin joined full-time after his first rehearsal. Shortly thereafter, Incubus' unusual amalgamation of styles and high-energy shows, combined with its growing fan base, attracted labels and put the band in the enviable position of a bidding war. Incubus finally landed a record deal with Immortal/Epic Records. Touring throughout 1996, Incubus established themselves as a top draw live act, gaining a dedicated following all over the United States. To start off the new year, Immortal Records released Incubus' EP entitled Enjoy Incubus on January 7, 1997. The EP featured re-recordings of four tracks from Fungus Amongus, plus two recently written tracks. These were the first recordings to include the newly acquired Gavin Koppell a.k.a. 'DJ Lyfe'. After the release of Enjoy Incubus, the band completed several mini-tours in its support. Their first major tour was with Korn in Europe.
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