Route 66 sign in Pontiac, Illinois

When you think of rock bands from Illinois, what comes to mind?  Generally, people think of the fantastic collection of artists that hail from the Chicago metro area.  (For more on Chicagoland bands, click here.)  What about downstate?  Mudvayne is the only band to have achieved national success, but there others who call the area home.  Here are six from downstate Illinois.

Mudvayne

Mudvayne

Mudvayne at Aftershock Festival in 2021. Photographer: Ed.Gein1984. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Mudvayne formed in Peoria in 1996.  It is known for complex guitar riffs and for the members’ makeup and costumes while performing.  The look changes from album to album and is abandoned for most of the band’s music videos.

The band has released five albums and is working on a sixth.  It took a break from 2010-2021, with its most recent album, Mudvayne, released in 2009.

Mudvayne’s song “Forget to Remember” off the album Lost and Found appeared on the Saw II soundtrack.

Current members are Chad Gray (frontman), Greg Tribbett (guitar), Ryan Martinie (bass) and Matthew McDonough (drums).

The Didjits

Album art for the The Didjits album Hey Judester.

Album art for the The Didjits album Hey Judester.

The Didjits are from Mattoon, and were active in the 1980s and ’90s, releasing five albums.  The band broke up in 1994, reuniting briefly in 2006.

Icon for Hire

Icon For Hire

Icon For Hire 2011. Photographer: JackMasonSmith. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Icon for Hire formed in 2007 in Decatur. Current members are Ariel Bloomer (frontwoman) and Shawn Jump (guitar and keyboard).  The band has released six albums.

Minsk

Minsk formed in Peoria in 2002.  Current members are Christopher Bennett, Timothy Mead, Aaron Austin, Zachary Livingston and Ryan Thomas.  The band has released four albums.

Planes Mistaken for Stars

Planes Mistaken for Stars

Planes Mistaken for Stars performing at Sant Feliu Fest 2006 at Sant Feliu de Guíxols in Spain. Photographer: Marc Fuyà. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Planes Mistaken for Stars formed in Peoria in 1997.  Current members are Chuck French (guitar), Neil Keener (bass) and Mike Ricketts (drums). The band has released four albums.

Trouble

Trouble

Trouble live at Jalometalli 2008 in Oulu. Photographer: Cecil. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license.

Trouble is from Aurora.  The band formed in 1979 and has undergone a number of hiatuses.  Current band members are Kyle Thomas (frontman), Bruce Franklin (guitars), Rick Wartell (guitar), Rob Hultz  (bass) and Mark Lira (drums). The band has released eight albums, most recently in 2013.

Here’s the 4-1-1

This blog is a companion piece to Rock Star Romance available in eBook, paperback and hardcover.  A college grad still reeling from an amicable breakup falls for a rock star who’s given up on love in this contemporary, second-chance romance.  Buy now.

To listen to the songs mentioned in Rock Star Romance, follow The Rock Star’s Wife on Spotify.

For more information on the licenses mentioned on this page, visit https://creativecommons.org/about/cclicenses/.

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