Dreadlocks have been in metal for years and there are some heavy hitters like Brian Fair of Shadows Fall and Karen Crisis but there is one thing for sure… there is nothing more nü-metal than a member with dreadlocks. Today we dive into the 13 best dreads in the genre.
Chi Cheng (Deftones)
Chi was a foundational piece of Deftones and one of the nicest human beings in the scene. I believe Chi's dreads were less for fashion and more for his spiritual roots. He did do the unthinkable and brush them out eventually, but we won't hold that against him. Always remember to Buckle Up for Chi. He is missed. An honorable mention here is Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno, who did come out of the gates with a messy head of dreads… but they were short lived.
Max Cavalera (ex-Sepultura, Soulfly, etc.)
Max was an innovator not only in the music that became nü-metal, but his look was born of his Brazilian roots. Max started out with a head full of dreads that eventually morphed into one giant platypus tail that he eventually cut off in 2020. R.I.P. to whatever that was.
Korn
Can you pick one member of Korn for a dreads list? Korn as a band were the daddies of nü-metal and nü-metal fashion. Jonathan and Munky came out of the gates with the dreads that inspired a legion of fans. Head would soon follow and even Fieldy had his period of dreads. Ray, you need to get with the program!
Chris Kael (Five Finger Death Punch)
How does a man with a bald head end up on this list, you ask? You make due with what you have and Chris rocks the beard dreads. His Cthulhu appearance is one of the more original looks on the list and he can bang his dreads with the best of them. So for that alone he makes the list of best dreads in nü-metal.
Brandon Boyd (Incubus)
Before Brandon became the heartthrob of many nü-metal ladies, he sported a healthy head of locks. Brandon went from every guy that you might find on your couch to teen heartthrob before the release of Incubus' commercial monster, Make Yourself. You may want to distance yourself from your nü-metal past, but we remember, Brandon… we remember. Another honorable mention here is Incubus' DJ Kilmore. The man has dreads for days and will windmill them throughout the entire set. If you aren't careful, you may get your $18 beer smacked out of your hand in the lawn seats.
Lajon Witherspoon (Sevendust)
Not only does Lajon have one of the most powerful voices in nü-metal, he has an amazing head of dreads. Another one of the scenes originals, Lajon hit on the first Sevendust record with his locks and influenced many. He did go through a period without them but like the saying goes "if you love something set it free and if it comes back it was meant to be." I'm pretty sure that was about hair all along.
Sonny Sandoval (P.O.D.)
Not only did the songs of P.O.D. get us through the tough times of 9/11, Sonny's lyrics helped heal some heavy wounds. He is another member of this list that is very spiritual and his dreads are heavenly. Sonny is the only member of the list to have a day named for him. June 23rd is Sonny Sandoval Day in San Diego. June 24th is Sonny Sandoval Dread Day Worldwide (citation needed).
Dope
When Dope hit the scene in 1997 every member of the band had dreads. The day you join the band, Edsel throws you in a chair and gets to work. Virus would join the band and go with the dread mohawk, which is a first for the list. Hard to top a band with all members having the same hair style.
Nonpoint
Similar to Dope these days, Nonpoint is 3/5 dreads. Singer Elias has always rocked the hairstyle, but recent additions to the band have added to the equation. Rasheed and Jason have come with some luscious locks and if the Detroit Lions are doing well, Jason will have those tips blue! Robb and Adam need to step their dread game up and get this to 5 for 5!
Logan Mader (ex-Machine Head, Once Human)
Logan Mader makes the list for his contributions to not only the dread game but the no shirt game. During his time in Machine Head, Logan was a pioneer in the "tie them up and look like a pineapple" style. Logan would briefly play with Soulfly and I wonder what hair tips he had Max at the time.
Cristian Machado (ex-Ill Niňo, Lions At The Gate)
Ill Niño was another band with many members with the famed hairstyle, but for this list we are focusing on Cristian. The now-Lions At The Gate vocalist is the latin lover of the group. Cristian rocks the dreads with the intensity of a nü-metal Enrique Iglesias. I would not advise letting your lady go to his next show alone.
Jared Gomes (Hed PE)
The Hed PE frontman is a road dog and mainstay in the nü-metal world. The man has not stopped since the release of the debut album in 1997, even when his peers dropped by the wayside. M.C.U.D. may have cut his hair along the way but he has never lost the passion for the genre. Hed PE is or will be playing a town near you, you can count on that. Death, Taxes, Hed PE!
Devin Townsend
Not nü-metal! But any man with a dreadlock skullet makes the list! The absolute stones on this man to walk out on stage with that hairstyle makes him the hero we not only need, but the hero we deserve. Let's start the petition now for Devin to bring the skullet back.
