Jarrod Montague drums in Taproot, Michigan nu metal. Montague met the other musicians (vocalist Stephen Richards, guitarist Michael DeWolf and bass player Philip Lipscomb)at the University of Michigan in 1997 after playing in various thrash and death metal bands.



A demo, "Pimp Ass Sounds", was followed by a self-financed album, "Something More Than Nothing", and an EP, "Mentobe", which was later reissued with bonus tracks as "Upon Us".



Their demo was sent to Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst, who liked what he heard and offered to produce and album and negotiate a contract. However, the offer was not taken up. Nonetheless, Taproot signed to the Velvet Hammer division of Atlantic Records and recorded Gift, which was released in 2000.



A show with Anthrax and Henry Rollins led to the band being asked to perform for Ozzy Osbourne's travelling festival, the Ozzfest. Partly thanks to Jarrod Montague's exquisite drumming Taproot remain widely tipped for mainstream success.