Dave Novotny

Band: Saliva
Gear: SVT-4PRO, SVT-810E
Website: www.myspace.com/saliva

Following the wake made by emo-rock bands like Creed and Disturbed, Saliva’s post-grunge hard rock eschewed the self-loathing and inner conflict and put a clenched fist spin on nu-metal. Their self-released debut album Saliva sold 10,000 copies in their hometown of Memphis, attracting major label interest. Signing to Island Records, the band’s next two albums — Every Six Seconds and Back Into Your System — became modern chart hits with the concussion-inducing single “Click Click Boom” and their biggest hit to date, “Always.” The track “Rest In Pieces” was given to them by Motley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx.

Incorporating elements of grunge, industrial and plain ol’ metal, Saliva bassist Dave Novotny is the muscle behind the band’s flex, milling the riffs into a serrated edge. The slab-like riffs and bass made Saliva a go-to choice for numerous WWE PPV entrance music theme songs, movie soundtracks and video games.