Drew Fortier is an American musician and filmmaker. He is best known for his work with the Lucid; which he cofounded alongside Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge), David Ellefson (ex Megadeth), and Mike Heller (Fear Factory).
Biography
Fortier was raised in Chicago. He met hard rock band
Bang Tango in June 2011 where they offered to let him shoot a studio documentary while they were in Chicago recording their album
Pistol Whipped in the Bible Belt; Fortier agreed to the project which eventually grew from a studio documentary to a feature-length film about the band's career up to that point titled
. After completing the film, Fortier went on to join Bang Tango as second guitarist alongside
Rowan Robertson.
After Bang Tango, Fortier joined Chuck Mosley's band as guitarist up until his passing in November 2017 which led to him writing a memoir about his experiences with Bang Tango and Mosley titled Dark, Depressing, and Hilarious.
As an actor, Fortier appears in the films Her Name Was Christa, Brimstone Incorporated, and Dwellers which he also wrote, directed, and edited.
In 2021 he cofounded the Lucid alongside Sponge vocalist Vinnie Dombroski, ex Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, and Fear Factory drummer Mike Heller. The band released their debut self titled album in fall 2021.
Film career
Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie
Fortier took 4 years filming and editing what would become a documentary on 80's
hard rock band Bang Tango. Originally intended as a studio documentary, the scope of the film grew once original members of the band became involved and more information was revealed regarding the band's history. The film was never given an official release due to clearance issues regarding usage of Bang Tango's back catalogue of music in the film which is owned by Universal Music.
Aside from the inclusion of various members of Bang Tango throughout the band's career up to that point, interviews featured throughout the film include: Howard Benson, Riki Rachtman, Chris DeMakes, Mandy Lion, Andrew Wilkow, Chip Z'Nuff, as well as an opening narration by Twisted Sister Dee Snider.
The film had one free public screening in Fortier's hometown of Chicago, Illinois with Bang Tango in attendance in April 2015.
Fortier became a member of Bang Tango days later as the band's second guitarist.
Fortier released the film for free on YouTube in early 2016.
In June 2018, Fortier released an 11-minute deleted/extended scene from the film, which contained footage from being on the road with the band as well as more insight into how the band operates while on tour.
Reception
Reviews of the film were positive. The general consensus is that despite its low budget, the film still manages to get its point across in an unbiased, artistic, and engaging manner while being able to appeal to not only fans of the band or genre, but to anyone not familiar with Bang Tango.
Thanks. And Sorry: The Chuck Mosley Movie
Summer 2017, Fortier was recruited as guitarist for (Ex-Faith No More frontman)
Chuck Mosley's solo band. During his time with the band, Fortier and Mosley explored the idea of a potential documentary to where Mosley would be the subject. Prior to his passing in November 2017 Mosley confirmed with Fortier that a documentary about his life should be made. The film is being produced by Mosley's long time manager and percussionist, Douglas Esper.
In February 2018 it was announced that Thanks. And Sorry: The Chuck Mosley Movie was officially in production with a TBA release date.
Dwellers
In May 2019, it was announced that Fortier will be writing, directing, and starring in the found footage horror film
Dwellers which is being produced by
Megadeth bassist
David Ellefson and
Thom Hazaert via their newly formed production company Ellefson Films.
Along with Fortier, the film will also star James L. Edwards, Douglas Esper, Rick Jermain, and
Jeff Hatrix.
Ellefson and Hazaert will also be appearing in the film as featured cameos.
In August 2019, Ellefson Films released a 50-second teaser for the film which included a voice over from Canadian radio personality Mitch Lafon.
Ellefson Films hosted a Q&A panel at Rue Morgue's Frightmare in the Falls horror convention where Fortier and Ellefson revealed that the film will be a gritty found footage horror film that plays out as a documentary gone horribly wrong. Dwellers is described as being highly influenced by The Blair Witch Project and C.H.U.D.
The full trailer for Dwellers was released via Ellefson Films in November 2019.
Dwellers went on to be featured in various film festivals and won a selection of awards.
The film was released on Blu-ray/DVD/streaming October 12, 2021.
Other works
As a way to hone his filmmaking skills to aid the process of creating and completing
Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie, Fortier experimented with shooting and editing music videos for Bang Tango, which resulted in clips for their songs:
Live Life, I Like It, Bring on the World, and
Suck It Up from the
Pistol Whipped in the Bible Belt album.
This led to Fortier, through word of mouth, being hired to produce and edit promotional videos for such acts as:
Vince Neil, Slaughter, Queensrÿche,
Great White, Kix, Autograph, Lynch Mob, Vixen,
Marty Casey,
Les Warner,
David Ellefson,
Mark Slaughter,
Jesse Camp,
Doll Skin, A Killer's Confession, and more.
After completing Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie, Fortier was in talks with Fear Factory for a proposed documentary on the band's career. A treatment for the film was drafted which led to meeting with members of the band to speak further about the idea. It was ultimately decided that due to the band's ongoing litigation with former members, it was not the right time for a film to be made.
Music career
Bang Tango
After completing and screening
in April 2015, Fortier would go on to join the film's subject,
Bang Tango, as their second guitarist making his live debut with the band at the 2015 edition of the M3 Festival in Maryland.
The decision to bring Fortier into the band was at the suggestion of
Rowan Robertson who, as Bang Tango's lead guitarist, felt the band should be represented as having two guitarists to properly perform the material which was originally written and recorded with two guitarists.
Despite having Fortier become a member of the band, frontman Joe Leste' showed disdain toward Fortier in the press regarding the way Leste' had been portrayed in the film.
Fortier took a year long break performing with the band to work for Megadeth Bassist David Ellefson's EMP Label Group as their Operations Coordinator. Fortier worked closely with Ellefson and the label's Operations Director Thom Hazaert up until he returned to Bang Tango in August 2017.
ZFM
In 2015, Fortier co-founded ZFM along with Chip Z'Nuff (Enuff Z'Nuff),
Brynn Arens (Flipp),
Mike Heller (
Fear Factory),
Stephen Shareaux (
Kik Tracee), and K. L. Doty.
In May 2025, ZFM debuted their single "Poppy" along with a July 18th release date for their album 'anthology'.
Chuck Mosley
Fortier joined Chuck Mosley's solo band early summer 2017. It was during this time that plans for a documentary on Mosley's life were discussed which would become
Thanks. And Sorry: The Chuck Mosley Movie.
The Lucid
In September 2021 it was revealed that a new band consisting of Sponge vocalist
Vinnie Dombroski, ex-
Megadeth bassist
David Ellefson,
Fear Factory drummer
Mike Heller, and Fortier on guitar. The Lucid announced their debut single
Maggot Wind along with an October 15 release date for their debut self titled album. The band released two more singles, "Damned" and "Hair", leading up to the release of their eponymous debut.
In 2023 the Lucid released a 5 track EP titled Saddle Up and Ride. The release has a guest performance from Violent J (Insane Clown Posse) on its title track as well as "Sweet Toof" which is a reworking of the Faith No More song "Epic".
Other works
In 2011, while shooting
Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie and 4 years prior to joining the band, Fortier performed additional guitar and backing vocals on Bang Tango's
Pistol Whipped in the Bible Belt album. His lead guitar parts can be heard in the choruses of the track
Live Life, and his backing vocals can be heard in the choruses of the song
Boombox Seance.
In June 2018, Fortier joined 90's hard rock band
Flipp as their guitarist for a one-off show in Minnesota.
Acting career
In 2017, Fortier made his acting debut in the horror film Her Name Was Christa, written by, directed by, and starring James L. Edwards who would go on to become a frequent collaborator of Fortier's.
Her Name Was Christa
July 2017, Fortier was cast as a lead role in the
Horror film Her Name Was Christa.
Directed by, written, and starring James L. Edwards, the film was released in February 2020 to very polarized reviews.
Brimstone Incorporated
In 2021, Fortier co-starred in the low budget horror anthology
Brimstone Incorporated as Gregory Asmodeus, who is the main character of the film's wraparound story. Fortier was praised by critics for his work in the film with Horror Society opining that, "Fortier was phenomenal as the sleazy corporate goon over interviewing the recently deceased. I really loved the character and the energy he gave him."
HorrorNews.net commented, "Drew Fortier did an amazing job as Gregory. You can tell he had a blast with the role and his performance is top-notch."
Trivial
In fall of 2021, it was announced that Fortier would be starring in the revenge horror film
Trivial along with Sasha Graham.
Writing career
Dark, Depressing, and Hilarious
Fortier wrote an autobiography titled
Dark, Depressing, and Hilarious which covers his career up until 2018.
Rock Star Hitman
In November 2020 it was announced that Fortier along with
Megadeth bassist
David Ellefson had co-written a fiction thriller novel titled
Rock Star Hitman released in December 2020 via The Ellefson Book Co.
Health
In May 2022 it was revealed that Fortier had been diagnosed with Testicular cancer leading to him to have surgery removing his right testicle; as of June 2022, he is cancer free.
Filmography
Feature films
Acting roles
|
| 2020 | Her Name Was Christa | Nick Perkins | |
| Back Again | The Assistant | Short film |
| 2021 | Dwellers | Drew | |
| Brimstone Incorporated | Gregory Asmodeus | |
| 2024 | Trivial | Brian Sands | |
| 2024 | Side Effects May Vary | Jack Murray | |
| 2025 | Bunker Heights | Derek Tucker | |
| 2025 | Satan's Peak | Noel Campbell | |
| TBA | Dementophobia | | |
| TBA | Wish Made Final | Cain | Short film |
| TBA | Deadly Endings | The Angel | |
Music videos
|
|
| 2011 | "Live Life" | Bang Tango | | | | |
| 2012 | "I Like It" | Bang Tango | | | | |
| "Suck It Up" | Bang Tango | | | | |
| "Bring on the World" | Bang Tango | | | | |
| 2013 | "Lies" | Mark Knight and the Unsung Heroes | | | | |
| "Sink Your Teeth Into" | Mark Knight and the Unsung Heroes | | | |
| 2016 | "How at the Moon" | Green Denim | | | | Intro by Lloyd Kaufman |
| 2021 | "Stitch" | Sponge | | | | Directed by James L. Edwards |
| 2022 | "Deaths of Despair" | The Lucid | | | | |
| "Hair" | The Lucid | | | | Directed by Hannah Fierman |
| 2024 | "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" | Sponge | | | | Morrissey cover |
| "Fade into You" | Sponge | | | | Co-directed with Hannah Fierman, Mazzy Star cover |
| "No Excuses" | Sponge | | | | Alice in Chains cover |
Discography
With Bang Tango
-
Pistol Whipped in the Bible Belt (2012) - additional guitars and backing vocals
With Obszön Geschöpf
-
Master Of Giallo (2018) - guitar on the song "The Death Kiss"
With Ellefson
-
No Cover (2020) - lead and rhythm guitar on cover of "Downed"; originally by Cheap Trick (hidden bonus track)
-
Ah! Leah! (2024) - lead and rhythm guitar on cover of "Ah! Leah!"; originally by Donnie Iris
With The Lucid
-
The Lucid (2021)
-
Saddle Up and Ride (2023)
With Ellefson Z'Nuff
-
Downed (2025) - lead and rhythm guitar on remixed cover of "Downed" originally by Cheap Trick
With ZFM
Bibliography
-
Dark, Depressing, and Hilarious: My Bittersweet Journey In and Out of the Music Business
-
2018 Hardcover
-
2018 Paperback
-
2018 Paperback (Amazon Edition)
-
Rock Star Hitman
-
2020 Hardcover
-
2020 Paperback
Accolades
Fortier has received numerous awards internationally for the film Dwellers.
|
| 2021 | Mad Monster Film Fest | Best Horror Film | Dwellers | |
| Bridgefest | Best Horror Film | |
| Screamwriting Festival | Best Horror Film | |
| Vegas Movie Awards | Best Horror Film | |
| LA Sci-Fi & Horror Festival | Best Actor | |
| Horrorhound Film Festival | Midnight Madness Drinking Game | |
| The Thing in the Basement Horror Fest | Best Director | |
| Best Feature Film | |
| Hollywood Blood Horror Fest | Best Documentary | |
| Five Continents International Film Festival | Best Horror Feature Film | |
| Best Editing Feature Film | |
| Best Screenplay Feature Film | |
| Horror Bowl Movie Awards | Most Disturbing Scenes | |
| Crypticon Film Fest | Most Shocking Indie Film (Minneapolis) | |
| Most Shocking Indie Film (Kansas City) | |
| National Independent Film Association | Best Microbudget Film | |
| 2022 | Rome International Movie Awards | Best Actor | |
| Best Director | |
| Best Documentary | |
| White Unicorn International Film Festival | Best Horror Feature Film | |
| Dreamachine International Film Festival | Best Music Video | The Lucid - "Hair" | |
| Diamond Bell International Film Festival | Best Music Video | |
| Vegas Movie Awards | Best Song | |
| Best Ensemble | |
| Black Swan International Film Festival | Best Music Video | |
| Horror Bowl Movie Awards | Best Horror Music Video | |
External links
