Complete List Of Hoobastank Band Members

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From the garage-band days of Agoura Hills, California, Hoobastank grew into one of the most recognizable alternative rock acts of the early 2000s. The band was formed in 1994 by vocalist Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They originally performed under the name Hoobustank before adopting the spelling now associated with the group. Hoobastank spent its early years building a reputation on the Southern California club circuit, including performances at the Cobalt Cafe alongside other emerging local bands.

In 1998, Hoobastank independently released They Sure Don’t Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To, an album shaped by funk metal, ska punk, and a prominent saxophone presence. After signing with Island Records in 2000, the band moved toward the alternative rock sound heard on its self-titled 2001 major-label debut. Counting the independent album, Hoobastank has released seven full-length studio albums, followed by additional live, acoustic, compilation, and anniversary releases.

Hoobastank achieved mainstream success with Hoobastank, which was certified platinum in the United States and produced the singles “Crawling in the Dark,” “Running Away,” and “Remember Me.” The Reason, released in December 2003, peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and was certified double platinum. Its title track reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. At the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, the band received nominations for Best Rock Album and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, while Doug Robb and Dan Estrin were nominated for Song of the Year as the writers of “The Reason.”

Every Man for Himself followed in 2006 and was certified gold in the United States. Later studio releases included For(N)ever in 2009, Fight or Flight in 2012, and Push Pull in 2018. Hoobastank returned with the single “How Do You Sleep?” in June 2026, marking the band’s first new original song in eight years. Across the group’s history, Doug Robb, Dan Estrin, and Chris Hesse have remained its core, while Jesse Charland has served as bassist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist since 2009.

The lineup changed most often in the bass position following Markku Lappalainen’s departure in 2005. Matt McKenzie, Josh Moreau, and David Amezcua each performed with the band before Charland became the permanent bassist. Saxophonists Jeremy Wasser and Derek Kwan were also important members during Hoobastank’s early independent period. The current and former members are detailed below.

Doug Robb

Doug Robb was born on January 2, 1975, in Agoura Hills, California. He is Hoobastank’s lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and a co-founding member who has remained with the band since its formation in 1994. Robb’s path to forming Hoobastank began after he and guitarist Dan Estrin competed in a high school battle of the bands. After their earlier groups ended, the two musicians joined forces and recruited Markku Lappalainen and Chris Hesse.

Robb has provided lead vocals across all seven of Hoobastank’s full-length studio albums. On the 1998 independent debut, They Sure Don’t Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To, the group worked within a funk metal and ska punk framework. Following the band’s signing with Island Records, his voice became the center of the more polished alternative rock sound introduced on Hoobastank in 2001. The record featured “Crawling in the Dark,” “Running Away,” and “Remember Me,” and was certified platinum in the United States.

On The Reason, Robb co-wrote the title track with Dan Estrin. The song became the band’s signature recording, reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and earned the two writers a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year. Robb continued as the band’s lead singer and principal lyricist on Every Man for Himself, For(N)ever, Fight or Flight, and Push Pull. He also sang “Fist Bump,” the theme song for the 2017 video game Sonic Forces, and fronted Hoobastank’s 2026 single “How Do You Sleep?”

Outside Hoobastank, Robb provided vocals for a version of “Not Strong Enough” by the Finnish cello rock band Apocalyptica. He has frequently cited Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton as one of his most important vocal influences.

Dan Estrin

Dan Estrin is Hoobastank’s lead guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist, and a co-founding member. He grew up in Agoura Hills, California, and attended Agoura High School, where he met Doug Robb. Estrin has described hearing Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction during his youth as an important influence on his decision to pursue guitar seriously.

Estrin’s guitar work appears throughout Hoobastank’s seven full-length studio albums. The early independent album placed his playing inside a broader funk-influenced arrangement that included saxophone, while the self-titled 2001 album established his guitar as a defining part of the band’s major-label sound. His riffs helped drive songs such as “Crawling in the Dark,” “Running Away,” and “Out of Control.”

Estrin composed the musical foundation that led to “The Reason,” with Robb later adding the lyrics. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, while Estrin and Robb received a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year. Recording of the album was interrupted in August 2003 when Estrin suffered a serious head injury in a minibike accident, but he recovered and returned to the band.

Estrin continued contributing guitar, keyboards, songwriting, and backing vocals to Every Man for Himself, For(N)ever, Fight or Flight, and Push Pull. He remained part of Hoobastank’s active lineup when the band released “How Do You Sleep?” in 2026.

Chris Hesse

Chris Hesse is Hoobastank’s drummer, percussionist, backing vocalist, and a co-founding member. He grew up in Northern California and moved to the Los Angeles area in search of greater musical opportunities. Hesse began studying piano at approximately five years old before developing his skills on drums, percussion, and guitar. He joined Hoobastank after responding to a drummer-wanted advertisement placed by Doug Robb and Dan Estrin.

Hesse has performed on all seven of Hoobastank’s full-length studio albums, beginning with They Sure Don’t Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To and continuing through Push Pull. His drumming helped define the harder rhythmic approach of the self-titled 2001 album and the more melodic sound of The Reason. He remained a constant member through the band’s Island Records years, its later independent work, and the 2026 release of “How Do You Sleep?”

In addition to performing, Hesse has worked as a producer, mixer, mastering engineer, and recording engineer. He has handled studio work for Hoobastank and outside artists while continuing to serve as the group’s drummer.

Jesse Charland

Jesse Charland is Hoobastank’s current bassist, keyboardist, backing vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. He joined the band in 2009 after several musicians had filled the bass position following Markku Lappalainen’s departure. Charland is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied classical performance. His formal training included work with Lawrence Wolfe of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Mark McCormick of the United States Coast Guard Band.

Charland joined Hoobastank after the recording of For(N)ever. His first credited release with the group was the 2010 acoustic album Is This the Day?, on which he performed bass and backing vocals. His first full-length studio album with the band was Fight or Flight in 2012, followed by Push Pull in 2018. In addition to bass, he has contributed keyboards, programming, backing vocals, songwriting, and sound-design elements to the band’s work.

Outside Hoobastank, Charland has worked as a session musician and remote collaborator, performing bass, guitar, synthesizer, and programming for other artists. He has also been associated with projects including Giants of Rome and Something Bot Metro.

Markku Lappalainen

Markku Lappalainen was Hoobastank’s original bassist and a founding member of the band in 1994. He helped shape the group’s early Southern California sound and performed on the independent album They Sure Don’t Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To. Lappalainen also participated in the sessions for the unreleased album Forward, which was completed before Hoobastank’s major-label debut but ultimately shelved as the band moved away from its saxophone-driven early style.

Lappalainen played bass on Hoobastank and The Reason, the two releases that established the band internationally. His work can be heard on songs including “Crawling in the Dark,” “Running Away,” “Out of Control,” “Same Direction,” and “The Reason.” He remained with Hoobastank through the touring cycle for The Reason and left the band following its 2005 summer tour.

His tenure covered the group’s development from an independent Agoura Hills band into a platinum-selling international rock act, making him a central figure in Hoobastank’s original lineup and early success.

Jeremy Wasser

Jeremy Wasser served as a saxophonist during Hoobastank’s early independent period and contributed significantly to the band’s original funk metal and ska punk sound. He performed on the 1998 self-released album They Sure Don’t Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To and also served as its executive producer.

Wasser remained involved during the recording of Forward, the unreleased album completed before Hoobastank’s major-label debut. As the band shifted toward a four-piece alternative rock sound, the saxophone became less central to its direction, and Wasser left around 2000. Before his work with Hoobastank, he performed the “Summer Romance” saxophone solo on Incubus’ 1997 album S.C.I.E.N.C.E.

In 2013, Wasser made a one-night return with Hoobastank during the Sunset Strip Music Festival at the Whisky a Go Go, reconnecting the band’s modern lineup with its early independent period.

Derek Kwan

Derek Kwan performed saxophone with Hoobastank during the band’s early independent years alongside Jeremy Wasser. His membership dated from approximately 1997 through 1999, when the group’s music still incorporated funk metal, ska punk, and horn-based arrangements.

Kwan contributed during the era surrounding They Sure Don’t Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To and departed as Hoobastank began moving away from the saxophone-heavy sound of its earliest recordings. Limited public information is available about his later musical activities.

Matt McKenzie

Matt McKenzie served as a temporary touring bassist for Hoobastank after Markku Lappalainen left following the band’s 2005 summer tour. McKenzie, known for his work with Tsunami Bomb, filled the position for the remaining dates that year while Hoobastank considered its long-term options.

His time with the group was limited to live performances, and he did not record a Hoobastank studio album. Josh Moreau succeeded him as the band’s touring bassist in 2006.

Josh Moreau

Josh Moreau joined Hoobastank as a touring bassist in 2006 and remained with the group through 2008. He appeared with the band during the promotional and touring period for Every Man for Himself, which debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in the United States.

Moreau did not perform the studio bass parts on Every Man for Himself; those recordings featured session bassists Paul Bushnell and Chris Chaney. Moreau instead became the visible touring bassist during the album cycle and appeared in the band’s live performances and promotional work. After leaving Hoobastank, he continued a wide-ranging career as a touring and session musician with artists including Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Puscifer, and AWOLNATION.

David Amezcua

David Amezcua served as Hoobastank’s touring bassist during the transition between Josh Moreau’s departure and Jesse Charland’s arrival. He performed with the group from 2008 into 2009 while the band was completing and promoting For(N)ever.

Amezcua was not the principal studio bassist on For(N)ever, which featured session musician Paul Bushnell. His role was primarily connected to live performances during a period of continuing change in the bass position.

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Updated August 1, 2026.

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