Richard Cheese (Mark Jonathan Davis) Vocals Bobby Ricotta (Noel Melanio) Piano and Keyboards Frank Feta (Brian Fishler) Drums and Percussion
Former Members:
Jeff Novack Charles Byler David Adler Christopher Monaco Louis Allen
Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine is a cover band and comedy act based in Los Angeles, California, playing popular rap, rock, metal, and pop songs in a swanky lounge music and classical style. The band's name is a parody of the band Rage Against the Machine.
Since 2000, the band has played concerts around the United States and Europe, and has made numerous television appearances, including performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Fox News Channel, CNN, and as the house band on NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly and MTV's Say What? Karaoke series.
The band is currently in the midst of their 2008/2009 worldwide "Lounge The Vote/Farewell Tour", after the conclusion of which they have announced they will no longer tour. The band's official website stated that the reason for this is that Richard Cheese has some "vocal chord problems" and has been advised to suspend singing before the condition worsens.
The names are all pseudonyms, and new band members either adopt the pseudonym of the player they replace, or new names are developed. The only constant band member is Cheese himself, who is really a Los Angeles-based comedian and entrepreneur named Mark Jonathan Davis. When the drummer Buddy Gouda (Charles Byler) left the band in 2004, he was replaced by Brian Fishler and the stage name was changed to Frank Feta. The role of pianist and musical director Bobby Ricotta is currently played by Noel Melanio, but was previously played by David Adler. The role of bass player Gordon Brie was played by Louis Allen and was previously portrayed by Christopher Monaco. The band currently has no permanent bass player. The band has also hired numerous session musicians, including horn players Eric Jorgensen, Terry Landry and Lee Thornburg, plus theremin player Pamelia Kurstin.
Cheese's pseudonym is a slang reference to smegma, as Richard can be shortened to Dick, making his name "dick cheese". Davis has stated that this sophomoric pun has unfortunately stigmatized the band as "too controversial" for many mainstream opportunities.
Source: http://artists.letssingit.com/richard-cheese-8s3mf/biography
