The Muggs

Formed in 2000 around the talents of guitarist/vocalist Danny Methric, bassist/backing vocalist Tony DeNardo, and drummer Matt Rost, Detroit-based blues-rock juggernaut the Muggs spent the early part of the new century building a devoted army of local fans. In September 2001, just as the train was getting rolling, tragedy struck when the 28-year-old DeNardo suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, nearly ending his life. After two years of intense physical therapy, DeNardo emerged victorious, but with a paralyzed right hand. Determined to pick right back up where they started, DeNardo began playing his basslines on a Fender Rhodes piano and the Muggs 2.0 were ready hit the stage. After signing with local indie label Times Beach Records in 2005, the Muggs released their eponymous debut and hit the road. That road eventually led to an audition for the FOX reality TV show The Next Great American Band, for which they were chosen out of over 10,000 applicants. They managed to last four episodes before heading home, where Methric was crowned Outstanding Rock/Pop Instrumentalist and the Muggs were voted Outstanding Rock Artist/Group at the 2008 Detroit Music Awards. Their critically acclaimed sophomore release, On with the Show, arrived shortly thereafter in May 2008.

from Wikipedia:

The Muggs or the Ugliest Band in the World is an American blues-rock band from Detroit, Michigan. Formed in February 2000 by guitarist Danny Methric, bassist Tony DeNardo and drummer Matt Rost. They were ranked in December 2008 on the 100 Hot Unsigned Band by Music Connection Magazine. They won several awards including the Best Blues Artist and the Best Rock Band for 2007, and they have over 86,000 fans on Myspace.

History

Early Years (2000-2004)

Danny Methric and Tony DeNardo got together and decided to form a more bluesy band than their previous bands had been. They found drummer Matt Rost who agreed to join the band. In October 2000, the band recorded their first EP demo to play to help get gigs. In March 2001, they were invited to play the Hamtramck Blowout, a music festival that involves hundreds of Detroit bands at nearly twenty different bars in Hamtramk City in Detroit, and continued playing more shows until September. In August 2001 they played the last Gold Dollar show ever and Cadieux Café's "Mussel Beach Music Festival." September 2 was their last show before Tony suffered from a hemorrhagic stroke that nearly ended his life. He was completely paralyzed on his right side and unable to speak. DeNardo survived his stroke but was in bad shape. The other members decided to not replace him. Instead, they became involved with several other groups until Tony recovered. These bands and projects included Over Under Sideways Down, the Kingsnakes, The Go, and the Paybacks. After three fundraisers for DeNardo, he was able to go to Southern California. Tony decided to try his bass lines on a Rhodes keyboard bass after a suggestion from the Muggs' old friend Matt Smith, from the band Outrageous Cherry. They returned to rock together after DeNardo got out of the hospital, and then were signed with indie label Times Beach Records.

The Muggs (2005-2007)

They released their self-titled album in 2005, after having their songs on the documentary rockumentary. During a tour in Spain they were voted the Best Blues Artist/Group for 2007 in the Feb 28th, 2007 issue of Real Detroit Weekly. In August 2007, the band was selected to audition for the Fox T.V. show, The Next Great American Band and made it to the Top 12 out of 10,000+ applicants. The band appeared on The Next Great American Band for four episodes and got to play two originals for the entire nation to see: Should’ve Learned My Lesson from their first CD, and Slow Curve from their not then yet released yet second CD. In February 2008 they won Best Rock Band of 2007 and, at the 2008 Detroit Music Awards, won Outstanding Rock Artist/Group award. Danny Methric won the Outstanding Rock/Pop Instrumentalist award as a guitarist.

On With The Show (2008-2009)

On May 9, 2008, the band released "On With The Show," their second CD. The album received a 8/10 article from Classic Rock Magazine. The band then opened for a variety of rock bands including Mountain, Robin Trower, Cactus, Savoy Brown, Ten Years After, Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple/Black Sabbath, Johnny Lang, Candlebox, North Mississippi Allstars, the Verve Pipe, Electric Six, and the Detroit Cobras. In October 2009, Matt Rost stepped down as drummer of The Muggs. Todd Glass, one of the most sought after drummers in Detroit replaced Rost.

Born Ugly (2010-present)

In late 2010, the band, now with Glass on drums, entered the studio to begin recording their third CD, entitled "Born Ugly." The official release date was April 29, 2011.

List of Awards

100 Hot Unsigned Bands ("Music Connection")Best Blues Artist/Group for 2007 ("Real Detroit Weekly")Best Rock Band of 2007 on February 2008Outstanding Rock Artist/Group 2008 Detroit Music Awards Danny Methric won the Outstanding Rock/Pop Instrumentalist 2008 award for electric guitar playing.Outstanding Rock Album-On With The Show 2009 Detroit Music Awards