Exploring the Unconventional Passions of Incubus' Brandon Boyd

Incubus Brandon Boyd Has a Surprising Fascination With Fungi

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Brandon Boyd, the lead singer of the rock band Incubus, has a wide range of interests beyond music.

One of his passions is plants and fungi. He finds them fascinating and could talk about them all day if given the chance.

The musician shared his passions for collecting books, tattoos, painting, writing, accents, surfing, and his cherished French bulldog, Bruce, who lived a remarkable 15 years and three months!

His enduring love for music has been one of his greatest joys. In 1991, at the age of 15, Boyd co-founded the band Incubus with Michael Einziger and José Pasillas. Now, almost 33 years later, the Grammy-nominated band continues to perform in stadiums nationwide.

Boyd from Incubus reveals that the band has sold around 23 to 24 million albums. He jokingly suspects that their parents may have bought most, if not all, of those albums and are keeping them in their garages.

Want to discover 25 things you may not know about Boyd? Keep reading below:

1. I cry on airplanes [watching] bad movies.

Incubus Brandon Boyd Has a Surprising Fascination With Fungi

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2. I’ve been collecting books since I was a kid. I love the opportunity to interact with other people’s brains, and reading is a perfect way to do so.

3. I love cartoons.

4. I’ve been collecting tattoos since I was 15.

I started Moonlight Arts Collective, a fine art print company, three years ago. We specialize in limited edition, hand-signed print editions of original art by musicians, actors, comedians, athletes, and more.

I have a deep fascination with plants and fungi. Given the chance, I could talk about them all day long.

Incubus Brandon Boyd Has a Surprising Fascination With Fungi

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I am a painter who has been creating art for as long as I can remember. I have been showcasing my works since the early 2000s. Currently, my latest gallery show can be seen in Dallas at Samuel-Lynne Galleries.

I enjoy writing so much that I decided to share more of my thoughts and ideas on the Substack platform.

9. I have released three solo albums: The Wild Trapeze in 2010, Sons of the Sea in 2013, and Echoes & Cocoons in 2022.

10. I started Incubus with Michael Einziger and José Pasillas when we were 15 years old in 1991, making our band almost 33 years old.

I have a strong interest in accents, dialects, and languages, as well as in how other animals communicate.

I spent my childhood in L.A. without ever pursuing acting until recently. Last year, I had a blast playing the role of White Jesus on Reservation Dogs.

I started surfing when I was just 10 years old.

[Incubus] has sold around 23 to 24 million albums. I have a feeling that our parents probably bought most, if not all, of those albums and have them stored in their garages.

15. I love horror films a lot. I think they can be like works of art when they are made really well!

16. I remember the first time I felt the power of music. It was when my grandpa Isaac would gently strum his nylon-string guitar and sing in Spanish as we drifted off to sleep.

Incubus Brandon Boyd Has a Surprising Fascination With Fungi

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17. As a baby, I got burned badly by a pot of coffee. The scars are still there, but funny enough, I absolutely adore coffee now.

18. I have a bunion that I playfully named Paul. Get the joke?

19. I have named my kneecaps Chet and Garrison.

20. When my mother was pregnant in art school, she painted a self-portrait as the virgin mother. This painting used to scare my brothers and me when we were kids, and we would avoid being near it for years. Now, I have it hanging in my home.

21. I’ve made a jigsaw puzzle and a memory game.

22. I love to go on long walks and purposefully get lost.

When I was 6 years old, I was scared that the Big Bad Wolf lived in my toilet. I was so afraid that I wouldn't go to the bathroom by myself for almost a whole year. I even paid my younger brother some of my chore money to come with me.

I might have had the oldest French bulldog ever! My beloved dog Bruce lived to be 15 years and three months, which is pretty impressive for a French bulldog.

25. In August, Incubus is doing a 10-arena tour in the U.S., where we’ll perform Morning View in its entirety each night.

Editor's P/S:

Brandon Boyd, the captivating frontman of Incubus, emerges as a multifaceted individual beyond his musical prowess. His eclectic passions, ranging from horticulture to literature and artistic pursuits, paint a vibrant portrait of a creative soul. His unwavering love for nature manifests in his fascination with plants and fungi, inspiring countless hours of animated conversations. Boyd's artistic endeavors extend to writing, painting, and collecting tattoos, reflecting his thirst for self-expression and connection with fellow artists.

Beneath the stage persona, Boyd's personal life reveals a man of depth and humor. From his childhood fear of the Big Bad Wolf in the toilet to his playful nicknames for his kneecaps, he exudes a charming quirkiness that endears him to audiences. His love for his beloved French bulldog, Bruce, who lived an extraordinary life of 15 years, serves as a testament to his compassionate nature. As Boyd embarks on the upcoming Incubus tour, performing "Morning View" in its entirety, fans will not only witness his musical brilliance but also the culmination of his diverse interests and the enduring spirit that defines Brandon Boyd as an artist and a human being.