Complete List Of Vended Band Members

Feature Photo: ChrisJamesRyanPhotography / Shutterstock.com

Born from the metal-saturated streets of Des Moines, Iowa, Vended emerged in 2018 as a force determined to carve their own path in heavy music. The band features two members who are sons of members of Slipknot: singer Griffin Taylor is the son of Corey Taylor, and drummer Simon Crahan is the son of Shawn “Clown” Crahan. Vended was formed in 2018 by Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan when they were teenagers; the duo then recruited Jeremiah Pugh, Cole Espeland, and Connor Grodzicki. That original five-member lineup remained intact until September 2025, when Grodzicki left the band for personal reasons. Guitarist Jayden Scovel joined the touring lineup later in 2025 and continued performing with Vended through their 2026 shows.

Vended released the EP What Is It//Kill It in 2021, as well as several stand-alone singles. The band’s self-titled debut album was released on September 20, 2024, with 13 tracks produced by Chris Collier. While specific chart positions and major awards have not been widely documented, the band has achieved significant milestones including sold-out shows and major festival appearances. Their name is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable: “ven-DEAD”, and is based on the word vendetta.

The band avoided touring during their first few years due to their young age. Their first live performance was in Des Moines on March 8, 2020, just before being forced to go on hiatus by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since emerging from the pandemic, Vended has toured extensively, including major festival appearances and supporting tours with established acts like Jinjer, P.O.D., Slipknot, Mudvayne, and Static-X. In 2026, the band continued its international touring schedule with European festival and headline dates, including appearances at Wacken Open Air and Bloodstock.

Griffin Taylor

Griffin Taylor joined Vended as the founding vocalist in 2018 alongside Simon Crahan. As the son of Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor, Griffin initially faced uncertainty about pursuing music as a career path. Griffin Taylor didn’t even know if he wanted to be a musician before forming the band Vended. “People were like, ‘So are you gonna get into music just like your dad?’ I didn’t even know if I wanted to be a musician as a kid,” the vocalist confessed. “I wanted to be a florist, a video game designer and a police officer, and I think at least two of those things are still on the table.”

Griffin has been with Vended since its inception and appears on all of the band’s recorded material, including the 2021 EP “What Is It//Kill It” and their 2024 self-titled debut album. Vended released their first recording, the single “Asylum”, on September 21, 2021. Griffin’s vocal contributions to the band include powerful performances on tracks like “Asylum,” “Burn My Misery,” “Ded to Me,” and the more recent singles “Am I The Only One,” “The Far Side,” and “Nihilism.” He has been instrumental in establishing Vended’s aggressive vocal style, which combines elements of nu-metal and modern metal.

“I started learning how to scream in middle school and my dad was out in Vegas.” Griffin has emphasized his independence in developing his vocal technique, maintaining that he learned his screaming abilities largely on his own without extensive coaching from his father. Outside of Vended, Griffin has made notable appearances with Slipknot, including joining his father on stage to perform “Custer” during Slipknot’s European tour. Griffin Taylor shared a stage with Slipknot in Bucharest, Romania, when Corey Taylor invited him out for guest vocals on “Custer.” The younger Taylor has consistently worked to establish his own identity separate from his famous father, focusing on building Vended’s independent career and reputation.

Simon Crahan

Simon Crahan co-founded Vended in 2018 as the band’s drummer, partnering with Griffin Taylor to form the core of what would become the five-piece metal outfit. As the son of Slipknot percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan, Simon grew up immersed in the world of professional metal music but has been adamant about forging his own path. “My dad never showed me how to play the drums,” Simon Crahan continues. “Maybe he showed me little things, but I learned that shit by myself – we all learned this shit by ourselves.”

Simon has remained with Vended throughout their entire history and appears on all recorded releases, from their debut single “Asylum” through their 2024 self-titled album. His drumming forms the backbone of Vended’s sound, providing the rhythmic foundation for tracks across both their EP and full-length releases. The rhythm section relies on speed, power, and precision. Simon’s contributions to Vended’s albums include powerful percussion work that drives songs like “Bloodline,” “Antibody,” and “Overall,” demonstrating his ability to blend technical proficiency with raw energy.

Simon has consistently pushed back against the idea that his musical ability was handed to him because of his father. He has said that Shawn Crahan never taught him how to play drums beyond occasional small pointers, and that he developed his playing largely on his own. Beyond Vended, Simon has had unique opportunities to tour alongside Slipknot, allowing him to spend time with his father while both bands perform. He has been vocal about addressing criticism regarding nepotism, consistently defending the band’s independent achievements and musical abilities. Simon’s career highlights include performing at major festivals like Knotfest, Wacken Open Air, and Bloodstock and supporting established acts across international tours.

Jeremiah Pugh

Jeremiah Pugh joined Vended as their bassist in 2018, recruited by founding members Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan to complete the band’s rhythm section. Vended was formed in 2018 by Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan when they were teenagers; the duo then recruited Jeremiah Pugh, Cole Espeland, and Connor Grodzicki. As one of the original five members, Jeremiah has been part of Vended’s journey from their basement beginnings in Des Moines to their emergence as a recognized force in modern metal.

Jeremiah appears on all of Vended’s recorded output, providing the low-end foundation for both their 2021 EP “What Is It//Kill It” and their 2024 self-titled debut album. The core element at the band’s heart – in the music, message, and theatricality – is authenticity. His bass work contributes significantly to Vended’s heavy sound, anchoring tracks like “Burn My Misery,” “Ded to Me,” and the newer material including “Serenity” and “Disparager.” Pugh and Crahan have the rhythm section in vicious lock, demonstrating the tight musical partnership between the bassist and drummer.

While Jeremiah does not come from a musical family like Griffin and Simon, he has proven himself as an integral part of Vended’s sound and success. His background prior to joining Vended and specific musical training remain less documented in public sources, but his contributions to the band’s aggressive, precision-driven sound are evident throughout their catalog. Outside of Vended, Jeremiah has participated in the band’s extensive touring, including major festival appearances and support tours with established metal acts. He continues to be an active member of the band as they work toward their stated goal of “world domination” in the metal scene.

Cole Espeland

Cole Espeland joined Vended as their lead guitarist in 2018, completing the band’s five-member lineup as one of the original recruits brought in by Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan. The original five-member lineup featured Cole Espeland on lead guitar, Griffin Taylor on vocals, Simon Crahan on drums, Jeremiah Pugh on bass, and Connor Grodzicki on rhythm guitar. As the band’s lead guitarist, Cole has been responsible for crafting many of the intricate solos and melodic elements that complement Vended’s heavy foundation.

Cole has contributed to all of Vended’s recorded material since their formation, appearing on both the 2021 EP “What Is It//Kill It” and their 2024 self-titled debut album. Espeland and Grodzicki bring an enthralling combination of frantic, wah-laden lead work and freight-train thrash to the table. His guitar work is featured prominently across tracks like “Asylum,” their breakthrough single, as well as more recent material including “Am I The Only One,” “The Far Side,” and “Nihilism.” The result is ferocious and driving guitar work with heavy solos. Cole’s lead guitar contributions help establish Vended’s modern take on nu-metal and heavy music.

While specific details about Cole’s musical background before joining Vended remain limited in public sources, his technical proficiency and creative contributions to the band’s sound are evident throughout their catalog. It’s a clever arrangement, too – leaving space for each of them to exert a little muscle. He has remained a consistent presence in Vended’s lineup throughout their growth from local Des Moines act to internationally touring band. Outside of Vended, Cole has participated in the band’s extensive touring schedule, including performances at major festivals like Knotfest and Bloodstock, as well as supporting tours with established metal acts across multiple continents. His continued involvement in the band demonstrates his commitment to their shared goal of becoming a major force in contemporary metal music.

Jayden Scovel

Jayden Scovel joined Vended on rhythm guitar following Connor Grodzicki’s departure in September 2025. By October 2025, Scovel was performing with the band during its tour with Mudvayne and Static-X, joining Griffin Taylor, Simon Crahan, Jeremiah Pugh, and Cole Espeland onstage. His addition restored Vended to a five-member live lineup and allowed the group to continue its dual-guitar approach without interrupting its touring schedule.

Scovel remained with Vended through the band’s 2026 European touring run. He performed with the group at Bloodstock Open Air in England in August 2026, as well as during the broader summer festival schedule that included Wacken Open Air and other European dates. Before joining Vended, Scovel had recorded guitar with the metal band False Providence. His arrival represents the first personnel change in Vended’s history and begins the band’s second lineup era after seven years with the original five members.

Connor Grodzicki (Former Member)

Connor Grodzicki joined Vended as their rhythm guitarist in 2018, recruited along with Cole Espeland to complete the band’s dual-guitar attack. Vended was formed in 2018 by Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan when they were teenagers; the duo then recruited Jeremiah Pugh, Cole Espeland, and Connor Grodzicki. As one of the original five members, Connor was integral to establishing Vended’s heavy, rhythmically driven sound that combines elements of nu-metal with modern metal aggression. He remained with the band until September 5, 2025, when Vended announced that he had departed for personal reasons.

Connor appears on all of Vended’s recorded releases through the band’s 2024 self-titled debut album, contributing rhythm guitar work to the 2021 EP What Is It//Kill It and the full-length album. Espeland and Grodzicki brought an enthralling combination of frantic lead work and freight-train thrash to the band’s early sound. His rhythm guitar provides the chordal foundation for tracks across both releases, supporting songs like “Bloodline,” “Antibody,” and “Overall” from their EP, as well as newer material including “Paint The Skin,” “Going Up,” and “Pitiful.” Connor’s guitar work helped create the wall of sound that defined Vended’s first era.

While details about Connor’s musical background prior to Vended are not extensively documented, his partnership with lead guitarist Cole Espeland was crucial to the band’s original guitar-driven sound. He was part of Vended’s extensive touring history, including major festival appearances and support slots with established acts like Jinjer and P.O.D. His contributions remain part of the band’s complete recorded catalog through 2024, and Vended publicly thanked him for the time, energy, and work he put into the group when his departure was announced in 2025.

Updated October 4, 2026