Five Finger Death Punch frontman Ivan Moody recently addressed rumors about reuniting with Motograter. He called out former band member Michael ‘The Kidd’ Stewart for starting the speculation, based on a statement shared on Instagram.
Moody’s statement focused on his decision to purchase the Motograter trademark. He expressed frustration with former members spreading rumors about the band.
“Through the years I’ve watched, the last two decades I’ve watched that project whittle out into dust on a memory. And it hurt. And knowing that there was so much involved with that and the way that there was so much potential and it was X’d out,” Moody said.
He explained his decision to acquire the band’s intellectual property to protect it from further misuse.
“When [Noah ‘Shark’ Robertson (Motograter drummer) and I] started talking, it became very evident to me that there was a lot of people in play. And there was a lot of crap, man. So I decided to buy it. And that’s what I did. I bought the trademark for Motograter and the Machine. And I patented it, the whole spiel. That way, nobody could take it anymore and it couldn’t be abused or misused,” he continued.
Moody then directly addressed Stewart. He expressed his anger over the rumors.
“First and foremost, to Michael ‘The Kidd’ Stewart, you bottom-feeding bubbleheaded boob. How dare you step on my toes, spreading rumors and causing commotion. I was so pissed off when I read all that man. This Michael fucking Stewart guy. Who the f*ck do you think you are dude? F*cking peon,” he stated.
The controversy stems from recent speculation about Moody’s involvement with his former band. The band has a complex history spanning over two decades.
Metal Injection reported that Motograter formed in 1995 and has had a famously turbulent history. The band broke up and reformed multiple times between 2005 and 2018. The band’s unstable trajectory has been marked by lineup changes and internal conflicts that ultimately led to its dissolution.
Recent photos that fueled reunion rumors actually stemmed from Moody meeting former Motograter associates for his birthday celebration. Loudwire revealed that these gatherings involved discussions about producing a record with Robertson. They were not indicative of a full band reunion as many fans speculated.
Moody’s acquisition of the Motograter trademark represents more than just business protection. Loudwire noted that he subsequently transferred the trademark to original drummer Chris “Crispy” Binns. Moody called Binns “the most undercredited and underrated player of Motograter.” This move demonstrates Moody’s commitment to preserving the band’s legacy while ensuring it remains in the hands of founding members.
The statement clarifies Moody’s position regarding any potential Motograter reunion and his ownership of the band’s trademark. It effectively puts an end to speculation about his return to the group that helped launch his metal career.
