Blood on the Dance Floor (band)


Blood on the Dance Floor was an American electronic music group from Orlando, Florida, formed in 2006. The group's longest-standing lineup, from 2009–2016, consisted of Dahvie Vanity and Jayy Von Monroe. The group released nine studio albums before breaking up in 2016 following Von Monroe's departure. It was reformed by Vanity the following year, initially with Fallon Vendetta. After Vendetta's departure, Vanity became the sole member of the group. Since 2019, Vanity has been releasing music under the moniker Kawaii Monster.

History

Beginnings and first albums

Around September 2006, Jesus David Torres, also known as "Dahvie Vanity", on his 22nd birthday, started a trio called Love the Fashion with Christopher Mongillo and Rebecca Fugate. The group was originally nothing but a joke, which soon developed into Blood on the Dance Floor in 2007. The group self-released their first album, Let's Start a Riot, in April 2008. Not being able to tour, Mongillo and Fugate left the band while Vanity toured the Orlando, Florida area.
During the recording of their second album, It's Hard to be a Diamond in a Rhinestone World, Mongillo and Fugate left, and the band was picked up by producer and writer Rusty "Lixx" Wilmot. During the recording of this album, Garrett Marshal McLaughlin was recruited to do backup vocals and screaming. The CD was self-released in October 2008. Only 300 copies were made.

Extended plays and ''Epic'' (2009–2010)

Vanity and Ecstasy recorded the singles "Siq With a Q" and "Suicide Club" as a duo in 2008, and released three extended plays over the first half of 2009, I Scream I Scream, OMFG Sneak Peak, and Extended Play. The duo embarked on the OMFG Tour with other local bands Electric Valentine, Weston Buck, The Greenlight District, and The Crush in promotion of their upcoming album then titled OMFG.
As the OMFG tour continued and concluded without Vanity, Garrett was replaced by Jeremy Brian Griffis, known by his stage name "Jayy Von Monroe", at age 18. Along with Monroe, Vanity and the group's new drummer and rapper, Nick "Nasty" Wenzel, released "Horrifically Delicious".
Many of the songs originally recorded with Garrett intended for the upcoming album OMFG were re-recorded with new vocals by Jayyvon. The previous concept of the OMFG album was scrapped, and re-branded as EPIC, set for release in 2010. The band went on tour over spring and summer 2010 to promote the release of Epic. With Jeffree Star they recorded three songs for that album. However, the collaboration was short-lived since during the Looking Hot & Dangerous Tour, Star accused Vanity of being a pedophile and a predator, claiming to have witnessed suspect behavior. Star later chose to go back on his accusations and sweep what he claimed to have seen under the rug and later was featured on their 2014 single "Poison Apple", from the album Bitchcraft. As with the previous conflict with Garrett, the three singles featuring Jeffree's vocals were re-recorded with vocals by Jayyvon, and the original tracks were not featured on the final album.
In October 2010, the album Epic charted No. 5 on the dance/electronic Billboard chart. The band headlined the Epic Tour and the Epic Tour Part II in support of the album.

''All the Rage!!'', ''Evolution'' and ''The Anthem of the Outcast'' (2011–2012)

Even before the release of Epic, recording began for Blood on the Dance Floor's fourth album, All the Rage!!. The duo collaborated with several artists for the album, including Lady Nogrady, JJ Demon, and Nick Nasty. The album was preceded by several singles to promote the release, including "Bewitched", "Yo Ho", and "P.L.U.R." The band embarked on Warped Tour 2011 in June 2011, and released the album while on tour.
A music video for their hit single from the album, "Bewitched", featured Nicole "Lady" Nogrady, who later said that she felt disrespected by the band during production of the album as well as on the music video, and found herself having to confront the band directly in order for her name to appear on the credits of her work with them. The song was subsequently performed by other female vocalists in place of Nogrady at live shows, and was re-recorded with vocals by Haley Rose for their 2013 acoustic album Blood Unplugged.
The album peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart. At the end of 2011, the duo headlined the All the Rage Tour and was planning the 'Tis the Season to be Killing Tour.
In celebration of BOTDF's fourth anniversary, a digital compilation album entitled The Legend of Blood on the Dance Floor was set to be released on Halloween. The compilation's release date was pushed back, originally planned to be released as a CD, it was released as a soundcloud playlist instead. The compilation features remastered versions of songs from the band's first four albums.
Blood on the Dance Floor's fifth album, Evolution, was released on June 19, 2012 along with a deluxe edition that featured acoustic versions of two songs. Two music videos and four singles were released from the album.
The album featured tracks in collaboration with Haley Rose, Amelia Arsenic, Shawn Brandon, Joel Madden of the band Good Charlotte, Elena Vladimirova, and Deuce for the upcoming album.
As a thank you to the fans they released the three-song free EP Clubbed to Death! on June 20, 2012, for free through an app on Facebook. Their sixth EP, The Anthem of the Outcast, was released on October 30, 2012.

''Bad Blood'', ''Cruel Pornography'', ''Scissors'' & Von Monroe's departure (2013–2016)

Rumors of a breakup in 2013 proved to be a hoax. Bad Blood was slated for release in September 2013. On February 18, 2013, the lead single "I Refuse to Sink! " was released, followed by the second single, "Crucified by Your Lies", and a third, "Something Grimm", on July 2, 2013.
Andrew "Drew" Apathy joined in early 2014, and a new EP, Bitchcraft, was released in June 2014. Their single "We're Takin over!" featuring Deuce was released February 7.
Blood on the Dance Floor released their first single off their EP Cruel Pornography: "The Sexorcist". In August, they released their new project and started planning the "Reign of Blood" tour. On February 14, 2016, the band released the single "Safe Word" on iTunes.
Mid-2016 marked the end of producing and co-writing by Rusty Wilmot.
In April 2016, Blood on the Dance Floor announced a 24-date tour with Steven Joseph and BrokenCYDE. On August 17, BOTDF released their September 30-scheduled album Scissors on Apple Music.
On September 14, 2016, Dahvie Vanity said that the group would be disbanding after one final tour as a result of Jayy's departure earlier that month. For a while afterwards, Vanity created and worked on a new project called Sinners Are Winners, releasing an EP titled For Beginners and full-length The Invocation.

''Kawaii Monster'' and ''Haunted'' (2017–present)

In April 2017, Vanity announced there would be a new member, and that Blood on the Dance Floor would be returning on May 5 of that year. In May 2017, it was revealed that Dahvie's girlfriend, Fallon Vendetta, had temporarily joined Blood on the Dance Floor. They have since released the singles "Resurrection Spell", "Love Like Voodoo", "Six Feet Under", "Yo Ho 2 ", "Ghosting" and "Destroy". Their album Kawaii Monster was released on October 31, 2017. Kawaii Monster pre-orders included a second disc, a remastered edition of Let's Start a Riot. The band also released an exclusive EP titled You Are the Heart. In 2018, they released an album titled Haunted, followed by Cinema Erotica and You Are the Heart. Vendetta departed the group shortly afterward while Vanity continues to release music under the Kawaii Monster name.

Musical style and influences

The group's style couples hypersexual lyrics with electronica or electronic, but also heavily incorporates electropop, dance-pop, and crunkcore.
Vanity stated in an interview that American synth-pop artist Jeffree Star is a huge influence on BOTDF.

Sexual assault allegations against Dahvie Vanity

Since 2009, at least 21 women have made sexual assault and rape allegations against Vanity. Former bandmates Garrett Ecstasy, who left the band in 2009, and Jayy Von Monroe, who left in 2016, have described Vanity as a sexual predator, while lead vocalist Ash Costello, lead guitarist Nikki Misery and Jeffree Star have stated that they observed Vanity engage in questionable or illegal sexual behavior during a "Vans Warped Tour" and "All the Rage Tour 2012" around the early 2010s. Many of the accusers were underage during the alleged attacks. In response to the allegations, Combichrist removed Blood on the Dance Floor from their tour in 2014. Merchandising website Big Cartel removed the band's products in 2018 in response to the allegations, while Spotify and Google Play removed the band's music in April 2019. Vanity has responded to the accusations on multiple occasions, usually with denial or evasion.
In early 2020 American television journalist Chris Hansen announced an investigation on Vanity, including having multiple interviews with those who claim Vanity abused or raped them. The FBI has confirmed that they are also currently investigating the allegations against Vanity.

Members

Final line-up
Former members
Touring musicians
Timeline

Discography

Albums as ''Blood on the Dance Floor''