Jona Weinhofen formed metalcore band I Killed the Prom Queen in Adelaide in 2000 with drummer JJ Peters. The band released two LPs, one EP, a split EP, a demo and a live CD/DVD before splitting in 2007, with Weinhofen acting as manager from 2004 to 2007. After the departure of vocalist Ed Butcher from I Killed the Prom Queen, Weinhofen was invited to join American band Bleeding Through after the departure of Scott Danough. He played on their release Declaration and can be seen in their videos for "Death Anxiety" and "Germany". His new spot in Bleeding Through was one of several factors that caused the split of I Killed the Prom Queen in 2007. They briefly reunited in 2008 for their "Say Goodbye" farewell tour. Weinhofen left Bleeding Through midway through 2009 partly due to homesickness and discontent with living in America. Weinhofen replaced Curtis Ward in British band Bring Me the Horizon as a permanent member in March 2009. He was featured in the music video for "The Sadness Will Never End", which was released following the departure of Ward, and recorded with the group on their album There Is a HellBelieve Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret.. Weinhofen rejoined I Killed the Prom Queen when the band reunited in 2011 to play on the Destroy The Music Tour. The band also started working on a new studio album. Weinhofen was named one of the top 50 greatest guitar players in Australian history by Australian Guitar Magazine in May 2012. In 2012, Weinhofen had a guest solo spot on Mors Principium Est's album ...And Death Said Live, on the song "What the Future Holds". In January 2013, Weinhofen left Bring Me the Horizon for undisclosed reasons, which made way for I Killed the Prom Queen to become a full-time band once again.
Other work
Weinhofen has worked with Geelongdeath metal outfit The Red Shore in an advisory and managerial capacity. The former lead singer and bassist of The Red Shore, Jamie Hope, has since joined I Killed the Prom Queen.
Equipment
Weinhofen has been a long time user of Caparison Guitars. He has used the Dellinger, Horus, TAT and most notably, the Angelus. The company has released multiple Angelus CL13 guitars, which are production runs of his custom shop models. He is endorsed by LACE pickups. From the inception of I Killed the Prom Queen to present day, Weinhofen has used the Peavey 5150/6505, with Mesa/Boogie cabinets.
Weinhofen received media attention and social media backlash in December 2018 after describing traditional Chinesehot pot dishes as resembling "leftover dishwater" on Twitter. Reactions on social media included ridicule and accusations of ignorance, racism, and xenophobia, although some defended Weinhofen's statement.
