Norma Jean

Norma Jean (formerly known as Luti-Kriss) is an American metalcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.

Since their inception in 1997, numerous lineup changes have left the band with no original members.

Norma Jean formed in 1997 under the name Luti-Kriss with Josh Scogin on vocals, guitarists Scottie Henry and Chris Day, Josh Swofford on bass, Mick Bailey on turntables, and Daniel Davison on drums.

The band recorded a split EP with Travail that was released in 1999 through Pluto Records.

Luti-Kriss's songs from the split would later be released on 5ep, which was released on July 25, 2000, through Pluto Records.

The sound of theses EPs differed greatly from future releases, featuring an aggressive nu metal and rap metal style.

Shortly after the release of 5ep, Swofford would leave the band and be replaced by Josh Doolittle.

The band then would start working on the debut album Throwing Myself, with Bailey leaving during the album's production.

Evolving from Luti-Kriss, the original Norma Jean lineup consisted of the final Luti-Kriss lineup, utilizing additional percussion on recordings instead of turntables.

Drummer Daniel Davison, explained that the band got their name from actress Marilyn Monroe, whose real name is Norma Jeane Baker.

It was not until after they decided upon that name that they "were looking at a book" which apparently claimed that "Norma" means "pattern", and "Jean" means "God's grace and mercy", combined into "Patterns of grace and mercy".

In 2002 the band released Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child on Solid State Records.

Their original vocalist Josh Scogin left the band shortly after the release of Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child, stating that "it was just something that I felt led to do."

Scogin has been known to join in with Norma Jean During live performances to sing "Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste" since his departure.

Original bassist Joshua Doolittle also left the band around the same time as Scogin.

Doolittle was replaced by Jake Schultz.

Scogin left the band and later went on to start the Chariot; he was replaced by Brad Norris for about a year and nine months.

Brad Norris was later replaced by Cory Brandan, formerly of the bands Eso-Charis, Living Sacrifice and Uses Fire.

In March 2005 they released their second album, titled O God, the Aftermath.

It was also Cory Brandan's first album performance for Norma Jean.

To date, Norma Jean has released nine studio albums and received a Grammy Award nomination in 2006 for Best Recording Package for their second album O' God, the Aftermath.

The band's name is derived from the real name of actress Marilyn Monroe.

The artwork for the band's second album, O God, the Aftermath was nominated for Best Recording Package at the Grammy Awards of 2006.

The artwork was designed by Asterisk studios in Seattle, Washington.

Redeemer, their third album, was recorded with producer Ross Robinson.

On September 21, 2007, original drummer Daniel Davison announced that he would be leaving the band after their current tour ended, via the band's official website.

His last show was on November 7, 2007, at Irving Plaza in New York, NY.

On December 17, 2007, Norma Jean announced that they would start writing for their new album, The Anti Mother, in January, record in April, and will be playing the entire 2008 Warped Tour.

Writing was officially announced on January 24.

On February 13, Norma Jean announced in a Myspace bulletin that they were "about 6 songs deep."

They wrote a song with Page Hamilton of Helmet, and collaborated with Deftones' frontman Chino Moreno.

The band described the two songs they wrote with Moreno as diverse and anti-traditional.

In early to mid February, they announced that their replacement drummer would be Chris Raines, who is also the drummer for the band Spitfire.

On August 5, 2008, Norma Jean released The Anti Mother.

Prior to leaving for their headlining tour, Norma Jean shot a music video for "Robots 3 Humans 0", with music video director Daniel Chesnut.

On January 3, 2009, Norma Jean announced on their official website that they would be writing songs for their next album.

The band's upcoming fifth studio album was said to be a return "back to [their] roots."

On April 5, 2009, Norma Jean announced on their website that they had dropped off their current tour due to a myriad of reasons.

On November 3, 2009, Norma Jean announced that they would be parting ways with longtime label Solid State and signing a deal with independent label Razor & Tie with plans to release an album in the summer of 2010.

Norma Jean announced that a title for one of their new songs will be "Kill More Presidents" and have encouraged fans to film the live performance of this song.