Photo: Thatguy1987, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons¹⁷

Drew Fortier

American musician and filmmaker

Drew Fortier is an American musician and filmmaker. He is a co-founder and guitarist of the rock band the Lucid, alongside Vinnie Dombroski, David Ellefson, and Mike Heller, and has previously performed with Bang Tango and Chuck Mosley.²

From Wikipedia’s article on Drew Fortier (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Jul 14, 1987.¹

About

As a filmmaker, Fortier directed Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie and wrote, directed, and starred in the horror films Dwellers and Bunker Heights.

From Wikipedia’s article on Drew Fortier, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.²

Early life and education

Date not recordedReavis High School^{3 4}

Career

Occupation: writer, autobiographer, filmmaker, composer, film editor, guitarist, film actor, film director.⁶

Date not recordedFounded Ellefson Films⁵

Known for: Bunker Heights, Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie, Dwellers, The Lucid.^{7 8}

Film career

Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie

Fortier began filming Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie, a documentary about the hard rock band Bang Tango, after initially planning a studio documentary about the recording of the band's album Pistol Whipped in the Bible Belt. The project expanded to cover the band's history. A commercial release was prevented by music-clearance issues involving Bang Tango's back catalogue.

The film received a public screening in Chicago in April 2015, shortly before Fortier joined Bang Tango as the band's second guitarist. It was released for free on YouTube in 2016. In 2026, a restored HD and 4K edition was released on YouTube for the film's tenth anniversary.

Dwellers

In 2019, Fortier was announced as the writer, director, and star of the found-footage horror film Dwellers, produced by David Ellefson and Thom Hazaert through Ellefson Films. The film was conceived as a documentary that develops into a horror story and was influenced by The Blair Witch Project and C.H.U.D..

Dwellers was screened at several film festivals and received multiple awards. The film was released on Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming platforms on October 12, 2021.

Bunker Heights

Fortier wrote, directed, and stars as Derek Tucker in the horror film Bunker Heights. Dread Central described the film as a spiritual successor to the 1984 film C.H.U.D.. The film is scheduled to be released worldwide on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital by MVD Entertainment Group on October 13, 2026.

Music career

Bang Tango

In 2011, Fortier contributed additional guitar and backing vocals to Bang Tango's album Pistol Whipped in the Bible Belt, which was released the following year.

After completing Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie, Fortier performed with Bang Tango at a show in Chicago in April 2015. He was subsequently invited to perform with the band at the M3 Rock Festival in Maryland and joined the group as its second guitarist.

Fortier performed alongside guitarist Rowan Robertson, who said that adding a second guitarist helped fill out the band's sound.

ZFM

In 2015, Fortier co-founded ZFM with Chip Z'Nuff of Enuff Z'Nuff, Brynn Arens of Flipp, Mike Heller of Fear Factory, Stephen Shareaux of Kik Tracee, and K. L. Doty. Beginning in May 2025, the band released a series of singles and music videos, followed by the album Anthology in July.

Chuck Mosley

In 2017, Fortier joined former Faith No More vocalist Chuck Mosley's solo band as guitarist. During his time with the band, Fortier and Mosley discussed plans for a documentary about Mosley's life. Following Mosley's death in November 2017, the project was announced in 2018 as Thanks. And Sorry: The Chuck Mosley Movie.

The Lucid

In 2021, Fortier co-founded The Lucid with Sponge vocalist Vinnie Dombroski, former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, and Fear Factory drummer Mike Heller. The band released its debut album, The Lucid, in October 2021, preceded by the singles "Maggot Wind", "Damned", and "Hair".

In 2023, the Lucid released the EP Saddle Up and Ride. Violent J of Insane Clown Posse appeared on the title track and "Sweet Toof", a reworking of Faith No More's "Epic".

Acting career

Fortier made his acting debut as Nick Perkins in James L. Edwards' horror film Her Name Was Christa, released in 2020. He subsequently appeared in Dwellers and the horror anthology Brimstone Incorporated (2021), portraying Gregory Asmodeus in the latter.

In 2024, Fortier appeared as Brian Sands in Trivial and as Jack Murray in Side Effects May Vary. He later starred as Derek Tucker in the horror film Bunker Heights, which he also wrote and directed.

Writing career

Fortier published the autobiography Dark, Depressing, and Hilarious in 2018. In 2020, he co-wrote the thriller novel Rock Star Hitman with David Ellefson, which was released through the Ellefson Book Co.