Vinnie Dombroski
Mark "Vinnie" Dombroski (born December 4, 1962) is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist and main songwriter for the American rock band Sponge.[1] He also fronted the short-lived supergroup Spys4Darwin, and has been a member of several Detroit-based bands throughout his career.[2]
Vinnie Dombroski | |
|---|---|
 Dombroski performing with The Orbitsuns at the 6th Annual Detroit Fall Beer Festival in Eastern Market, Detroit on October 24, 2014 | |
| Born | Mark Dombrowski December 4, 1962 |
| Other names | Vin Dombroski Vinnie Dombrowski Vin E. Vinnie D'Cobra |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, producer |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Labels | |
Dombroski is also the lead vocalist and co-founder of The Lucid alongside bassist David Ellefson (ex Megadeth), guitarist Drew Fortier (ex Bang Tango), and drummer Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Raven).[3]
Early life
Vinnie Dombroski was born on December 4, 1962 in Detroit, Michigan. He began playing the guitar and drums at an early age, and when he was 13-years-old he performed locally in Detroit with his friend Lee in a two-piece band called The Cryptons.
Career
Dombroski began his music career as a drummer with the bands Warp Drive and Loudhouse before finding mainstream success as the lead vocalist of Sponge. In addition to Sponge, he is also the frontman of Crud, The Orbitsuns, Diamondbuck, and The Lucid. Sponge released their ninth studio album, Lavatorium, on August 6, 2021.[4]
Musical style and influences
AllMusic described Sponge's sound as being a "versatile blend of classic hard rock and punchy alt-pop with a thin metal veneer".[5] Some of the musical influences that Dombroski has cited include the MC5, The Stooges, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, The Velvet Underground, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, Aerosmith, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Fear, The Psychedelic Furs, and Hank Williams.[6][7][8] In concert he has also performed songs by Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass, the Ramones, Lou Reed, AC/DC, and Pink Floyd.[9]
Personal life
Dombroski has two daughters named Mina and Adalee, and a son named Noah. He has two more sons from a previous marriage named Jason and Steve.
Discography
Sponge
| Year | Title | Label | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Rotting Piñata | Sony |
|
| 1996 | Wax Ecstatic | ||
| 1999 | New Pop Sunday | Beyond | |
| 2003 | For All the Drugs in the World | Idol | |
| 2005 | The Man | ||
| 2007 | Galore Galore | Bellum | |
| 2013 | Stop the Bleeding | Three One Three, The End | |
| 2016 | The Beer Sessions | Three One Three | |
| 2021 | Lavatorium | Cleopatra | |
The Orbitsuns
- The Orbitsuns (2002)
- Dollars and Dice (2006)
- Redneck Disco Revisited (2008)
- First Drink of the Day (2010)
- Give The Orbitsuns What They Want (2012)
- Xs Over Our Eyes (2015)
Crud
- Devil at the Wheel (2005)
- Crud on Monster Island (2010)
Diamondbuck
- South Detroit Honky Tonks and Other UFOs (2018)
- The House of Weird Smells (2021)[10]
Lalar V, The Orbitsuns, and Jennifer Westwood
- Lalar V (2016)
The Sons of Perdition
- Long Walk With the Devil (2008)
Spys4Darwin
- Microfish (2001)
Maypops
- Spirits of Agnew (2000)
Sharecroppers of Soul
- Sharecroppers of Soul (1996)
Loudhouse
- For Crying Out Loud (1991)
Warp Drive
- Gimme Gimme (1988)
Singles
- "An Angel Drank My Whiskey" (2010)
- "The Leaving" (2010)
References
- Vinnie Dombroski at IMDb
- "Vinnie Dombroski discography". Discogs. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
- Childers, Chad. "David Ellefson Launches New Band The Lucid, Reveal First Song + Album Details". Loudwire. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- Price, Jason (July 6, 2021). "Sponge Announce Lavatorium Album, Release First Single Video for Stitch". Icon vs. Icon. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- Huey, Steve. "Sponge Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- "Sponge interview". Cryptic Rock. June 26, 2013.
- "Sponge is "Under the Influence"". Pittsburgh Music Magazine. March 12, 2018.
- "Vinnie Dombroski interview". Pollstar. July 24, 2013.
- "Sponge live". Setlist. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
- Graff, Gary (July 10, 2021). "Diamondbuck is Sponge frontman's new musical best friend". The Oakland Press. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- Blabbermouth (December 23, 2022). "DAVID ELLEFSON's THE LUCID Collaborates With INSANE CLOWN POSSE's VIOLENT J On 'Saddle Up And Ride' EP". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved January 10, 2023.