High school friends Brandon Boyd, Jose Pasillas II, Mike Einziger and Alex Katunich [a.k.a. Dirk Lance] were already familiar faces on the local San Fernando Valley circuit by graduation time, 1995. Turntablist DJ Lyfe joined the line-up soon thereafter, and the band's independent release, Fungus Amongus, debuted in November. With this release, a wider fan base got the idea of what Incubus could do. High-energy punk/funk post-metal and shamelessly self-promoting rockers, Incubus' rising reputation as more than post-Korn flakes led to major label releases Enjoy Incubus and S.C.I.E.N.C.E by the end of 1997 and an Ozzfest appearance in 1998. Morning View in 2001 confirmed their stardom, and Crow Left of the Murder in 2003 presented a still-maturing, socially conscious, jazz-influenced metal featuring bassist Ben Kenney, Lance's permanent replacement.