Sonny Moore

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Moore began his career in 2004 after contacting Matt Good of From First to Last about playing guitar. After flying out to Georgia, he was heard singing by three studio producers and was made lead singer. In June 2004, Epitaph Records released the band's first full-length record with Moore, 'Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count'. Their second album, 'Heroine', was released in March 2006. (Note: The band's debut album, 'Aesthetic', was released in 2003 with a different vocalist.) Moore suffered vocal problems and underwent a successful surgical procedure. He left the band in 2007 to pursue a solo career, launching a Myspace page displaying three demos ("Signal", "Equinox", and "Glow Worm"). On April 7, 2007, alongside harpist Carol Robbins, Moore played several original songs at a local art building. After months of releasing demos via Myspace, he played on the Team Sleep Tour with a full band, making demo CDs available limited to about 30 per show, packaged in "baby blue envelopes" with unique drawings by Moore.

In Their Own Story

In 2008, Moore began producing and performing under the alias "Skrillex" at clubs in the Los Angeles area. The name, according to Moore, has no meaning and was "a stupid old online AOL screen name". On June 7, 2010, Moore released his official Skrillex debut EP, My Name Is Skrillex, as a free download. He provided programming and vocals for UK metalcore band Bring Me the Horizon on their third studio album, There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret. Later in the year, Sonny began a nationwide tour with Deadmau5 after being signed to Mau5trap recordings and released his second EP, Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites. Moore kicked off the "Project Blue Book Tour" in 2011 with support from Porter Robinson, Tommy Lee and DJ Aero. On August 17, 2011, he announced his label, Owsla. At the 54th Grammy Awards, he won Best Dance/Electronic Album, Best Dance Recording, and Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical, as well as a nomination for Best New Artist.

Reader's Guide

The primary mission behind the Skrillex moniker is to push the boundaries of bass music through relentless experimentation and high-energy performance. Key moments include his nationwide tour with Deadmau5 after being signed to Mau5trap recordings, and the "Project Blue Book Tour" in 2011 with support from Porter Robinson, Tommy Lee and DJ Aero. On this tour he unveiled several new songs including "First of the Year (Equinox)", "Reptile", and "Cinema" (remix of a Benny Benassi track). "Reptile" was featured in the TV commercial for Mortal Kombat 9. In April 2011, Spin premiered "Get Up", an exclusive new track from Korn that was produced by Skrillex. On April 15, 2011, KoRn joined Skrillex on stage for his set at Coachella 2011. On August 17, 2011, he announced his label, Owsla, whose first releases came from Bristol-based dubstep producers KOAN Sound, then-electro-house producer Porter Robinson, singer-songwriter Alvin Risk, and San Francisco-based M Machine.

Did You Know?

• Moore was adopted at birth by family friends of his biological parents.
• Only his adoptive mother was a Scientologist; his adoptive father was not.
• He learned he was adopted at age 14 (around 2002), and dropped out of public school when he was 16, after which he was homeschooled.
• Moore has won nine Grammy Awards, the most of any electronic dance music act.
• It was announced on his 29th birthday that he reunited with From First to Last to release a single named 'Make War'.