You know that feeling when a song hits you right in the chest and suddenly you're back in 2005? For most of us, that song was "Wasteland." It was moody, it was heavy, and it catapulted a group of guys from Knoxville, Tennessee, straight onto the Billboard charts. But if you haven't kept tabs on the 10 years band members lately, you might be surprised to find that the lineup has been a bit of a revolving door over the last two decades. It’s not just a matter of "who's left," but rather how the band's identity has shifted as people walked away and, in some cases, came back.
Bands are messy. People grow up, they get tired of sleeping in vans, or they just realize they can't stand the person sitting next to them in the studio anymore. 10 Years is no exception. While some groups try to hide their internal drama behind PR statements, this band has been pretty open about the struggles of maintaining a cohesive unit while trying to evolve their sound from post-grunge alt-metal into something more progressive.
The Core That Never Quit
At the heart of everything is Jesse Hasek. Honestly, without Jesse, there is no 10 Years. He wasn’t even the original singer—that was Mike Todd—but Jesse is the voice that defined their success. He’s got this haunting, ethereal quality to his vocals that can pivot into a scream without feeling forced. It’s rare.
Brian Vodinh is the other half of that DNA. He’s primarily known as the drummer, but that’s a massive understatement. On many of their albums, specifically during the times when the lineup was thinning out, Brian was basically a one-man army. He’s played guitar, bass, and drums on the recordings. He and Jesse are the pillars. If one of them leaves, the name "10 Years" probably goes into a vault somewhere.
Then you have Matt Wantland. He was there at the start, left for a bit around the Feeding the Wolves era, and eventually found his way back. It’s kinda like a high school reunion that never ends. Having him back on guitar restored a bit of that "classic" feel that fans felt was missing during their mid-career experimental phase.
The Departures That Changed the Sound
It wasn't always a smooth ride. You can't talk about the 10 years band members without acknowledging the guys who aren't there anymore. Lewis Cosby, the original bassist, was a huge part of their visual and sonic identity during the The Autumn Effect and Division years. When he left, it felt like a limb was missing.
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Why do they leave? Usually, it's the grind. Touring is exhausting.
- Turek Ryan (bass) and Kyle Mayer (drums) stepped in during various periods.
- Ryan "Tater" Johnson was a staple on guitar for years. His departure was a big blow because his chemistry with Brian was what gave those early records their thick, atmospheric texture.
- Chad Huff is another name fans remember—he hopped between bass and guitar depending on what the band needed at the time.
When Tater left, things got quiet for a second. Fans wondered if the band was just going to fold. Instead, Jesse and Brian doubled down. They realized they didn't need a five-piece army to make a record; they just needed the right ideas.
Making Music When the Room is Empty
There was a period, specifically around the Minus the Machine and From Birth to Burial albums, where the "band" was more of a concept than a full room of people. Brian Vodinh ended up handling a staggering amount of the workload. He’s gone on record saying that at points, he was tracking almost all the instruments himself because the lineup was so unstable.
That’s a lot of pressure. It changes the music. When one person writes everything, it becomes more singular, maybe even a bit more experimental because there’s no one there to tell you "no." But you lose that "jam room" energy. That's why getting Matt Wantland back and solidified was such a turning point for their recent stuff like (Outer) Space and Violent Allies. It brought back the conversation between instruments.
The Knoxville Connection
10 Years has always been fiercely proud of being from Knoxville. They didn't move to LA to "make it." They stayed put. This local loyalty is probably why the 10 years band members have always felt like "regular guys." You can still catch them at local spots in Tennessee when they aren't on the road.
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This groundedness has helped them survive the industry's shift from physical CDs to streaming. They aren't chasing TikTok trends. They're making music for people who still value an album as a complete thought.
Why the Lineup Changes Matter to You
If you’re a casual listener, you might think, "Who cares who’s playing bass?" But for 10 Years, the lineup dictates the heaviness. When they have a full touring band, the live shows are visceral. When it's just the core duo in the studio, the songs tend to be more melodic and layered.
Currently, the touring lineup usually includes:
- Jesse Hasek: Vocals
- Brian Vodinh: Guitar / Backing Vocals (though he's the studio drummer)
- Matt Wantland: Guitar
- Chad Grennor: Bass (Touring)
- Luke Narey: Drums (Touring)
It’s a hybrid model. The "official" members are the ones who write and steer the ship, while the touring guys bring the thunder on stage. It’s a smart way to run a business in 2026. It keeps the overhead low and the creative vision sharp.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Band
A lot of people think 10 Years is a "Christian band." They aren't. Because Jesse uses a lot of spiritual metaphors and themes of rebirth, they got lumped into that category early on. The band has spent years clarifying that while they explore deep, sometimes spiritual questions, they aren't a faith-based act.
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Another misconception? That they broke up in 2010. Because they aren't all over mainstream radio like they were in the mid-2000s, people assume they vanished. In reality, they've been releasing albums consistently every two to three years. They have a massive, loyal underground following that sells out mid-sized venues across the Midwest and South.
The Evolution of "Wasteland"
It’s impossible to discuss the 10 years band members without mentioning how they feel about their biggest hit. Imagine playing the same song every night for twenty years. Some bands grow to hate it. 10 Years seems to have a respectful relationship with "Wasteland." They know it’s the reason they have a career.
But if you listen to their newer tracks like "The Shift" or "Novacaine," you can hear a band that is bored with 2005. They are pushing into drop-tunings and syncopated rhythms that sound more like modern Architects or Deftones than the post-grunge stuff they started with.
Action Steps for New and Old Fans
If you've lost track of the band over the years, don't just go back and play The Autumn Effect on repeat. You’re missing the best part of their evolution.
- Listen to 'Violent Allies' first. This 2020 album is arguably their most cohesive work since their debut. It features the "return to form" lineup and shows off Brian’s production skills.
- Check out Brian Vodinh’s side projects. If you want to see the musical genius behind the band, look into his solo work and his production credits. He’s the architect of the 10 Years sound.
- Follow Jesse Hasek on social media. He’s surprisingly accessible and often shares the "why" behind the lyrics, which adds a whole new layer to the songs.
- Catch a live show. Even if the lineup on stage isn't the one from the 2005 music video, the energy is arguably better now. They are tighter, more professional, and less worried about "looking" like rockstars.
The story of the 10 years band members is really a story of persistence. They survived the collapse of the record industry, multiple departures, and the changing whims of rock fans. They’re still here because the core—Jesse and Brian—decided that the music was worth the headache of constant reorganization. They didn't quit when it got hard; they just changed the seats on the bus and kept driving.