Saliva is an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996. Saliva was founded in Bartlett, Tennessee (a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee) in September 1996 by former members of local bands Roxy Blue, Blackbone, and Gemini Clan. The original line-up featured vocalist Josey Scott Sappington, drummer Todd Poole, bassist Dave Novotny and guitarists Chris D’Abaldo and Wayne Swinny. The band played their first show on Halloween, October 31, 1996, with Sappington dressed in a nun costume and Novotny dressed in a voodoo costume
Saliva released their self-titled debut album in 1997 through Rockingchair Records, a label owned and operated by Mark Yoshida. The release was recorded and produced by Bill Pappas at Rockingchair Studios.
They were signed to Island Def Jam Records and went on to release their second studio album Every Six Seconds.
Saliva later released their third studio album titled Back into Your System in 2002, which reached No. 19 on the Billboard 200. Back into Your System launched one of Saliva’s most successful songs, “Always”, reaching No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Modern Rock Chart.
Three years after Survival of the Sickest, Saliva released Blood Stained Love Story in 2007, repeating Back into Your System’s chart performance at No. 19 on the Billboard 200. Its first single, “Ladies and Gentlemen”, peaked at No. 2 on the Mainstream Rock Chart.
Their last original member, Wayne Swinny died on March 22, 2023.
When did Bobby Amaru join Saliva?
In early January 2012, it was announced that Bobby Amaru has joined Saliva as the new vocalist. According to Wayne, “he is a 28-year-old singer, songwriter, producer from Jacksonville, Florida who has a GREAT voice and will not only bring some fresh blood into the band but will also put a new spin on the Saliva sound.” Amaru was the frontman of his solo band Amaru, as well as the drummer for Burn Season.