If you’re not familiar with The Mendenhall Experiment yet, check out this mini bio of the band and then read on to see how the band has been and continues to beat the odds:
“If you asked me why I want to be a rock star…it’s not about the fame or money,” guitarist/ songwriter Brandon Mendenhall states. “I have a unique opportunity to inspire people and kids with disabilities with my playing, my music, and my story. I truly believe that’s what I was put on this earth to do.”
Born with Cerebral Palsy, an incurable neurological disorder affecting movement, coordination and, balance; Brandon Mendenhall faces numerous challenges. With limited movement on his left side and zero mobility in his left hand, the odds were stacked against him from birth.
However, inspired by acts such as Korn and Pantera, Brandon taught himself how to play guitar at the age of 19, rehabilitating his left hand without surgical intervention. “Once I was able to get a guitar in my hands, it changed my life,” he says. That passion for music sparked something in his soul and a dream began to form...a dream that was thought to be impossible: Brandon wanted to play guitar and form a band. He recalls, “My grandfather told me,‘You’ll never be a guitarist. Don’t even try.’ And that crushed me. Those words lit a fire in me. I was determined that I could do this.”
The Mendenhall Experiment was born as Brandon's own personal aspiration to be in a world-famous band while working within the limitations of Cerebral Palsy, knowing full well that the cards were stacked against finding musicians willing to work with him. Possessing a fierce desire to succeed, Brandon went to visit a friend in the Rock & Roll Mecca of Los Angeles- and never left, pursuing his dream with relentless tenacity and bulldog determination. Failure was not an option.XS ROCK: Tell me about the latest band news? Any new projects, live shows, or announcements?
Brandon Mendenhall: Our latest EP, “Chasing Ghosts,” just came out on December 5th, and we’ll be hitting the road to support the EP in 2026. Beyond that, we’ll have a brand new single and full-length album on the way.
XS ROCK: How long has the band been together?
Brandon Mendenhall: The Mendenhall Experiment was formed in August 2008.
XS ROCK: What was your primary motivation for starting or being in a band?
Brandon Mendenhall: The focus of The Mendenhall Experiment is to raise disability awareness and bring a model for inclusion worldwide.
XS ROCK: Which do you prefer? Writing new songs and recording or playing for a live audience?
Brandon Mendenhall: My preference is live shows and touring. I love engaging with our fans and bringing our music to them directly.
XS ROCK: Do you have any outrageous tour stories from the road?
Brandon Mendenhall: Getting asked by Phil Anselmo to perform “Walk” with Pantera at Inkcarceration 2023 (of course I did) with our road manager Scotty “Slam” Capipizzano.
XS ROCK: What’s the strangest request that you’ve ever received from one of your fans?
Brandon Mendenhall: We had a fan ask us to spread a loved one’s ashes at a major rock festival we were performing at. It was a heavy request, and we weren’t quite sure if it was morally right or even legal, so we respectfully declined.
XS ROCK: Were your parents supportive of your aspirations to play in a rock band?
Not at first. My Grandfather, who raised me, had forbidden me from playing an instrument, becoming a musician, and following music as a career. It lit a flame that started the internal fire in me to burn the whole world down with my music.
XS ROCK: What are your favorite tracks to play live?
Brandon Mendenhall: “BuryYour Casket”, and “Say It” are my favorite songs to play live because they are both on the heavier side of things.
XS ROCK: Which band or artist inspired you to perform? Why?
Brandon Mendenhall: Korn, Pantera, and NIN are my holy trinity of artistic inspiration; each one of these artists fundamentally shaped and inspired me to be the artist I am today. Without them, I wouldn’t be on this career path.
XS ROCK: If you could design a dream tour for your band, who would be on the bill?
Brandon Mendenhall: NIN, Korn, Spiritbox, and The Mendenhall Experiment
XS ROCK: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment so far?
Brandon Mendenhall: Our greatest accomplishment is becoming a leader in the disability awareness and inclusion space worldwide.
XS ROCK: If you weren’t performing in a band, what kind of career do you think you would have?
Brandon Mendenhall: Therapy or social work with children and young adults with disabilities. I also have a passion for financial trading and investing.
XS ROCK: What type of equipment do you use for live shows?
Brandon Mendenhall: We are raw and in your face, no tracks, just stacks.
We’re endorsed by Monster Energy, Ibanez Guitars, EVH Amplifiers, EMG Pickups, EverTune Bridges, and InTune Guitar Picks.
XS ROCK: What do you think of the current music scene?
Brandon Mendenhall: The current music scene, like the economy or the job market, is extremely difficult right now. You have to be exceptionally good at what you do to stand out.
XS ROCK: For anyone who doesn’t know you, what would they be surprised to know about you?
Brandon Mendenhall: I have Cerebral Palsy, our bass player Nathan Stockton has “Usher’s Syndrome”, leaving him partially blind and partially deaf, and our drummer Camron Casey is on the Autism Spectrum, along with our touring guitarist Logan Caige.
XS ROCK: If someone had never heard you before, how would you describe your sound?
Brandon Mendenhall: I refer to our sound as “Active Radio Metal”.
XS ROCK: Is there anything that you’d like to promote or say to your fans out there?
Brandon Mendenhall: Go check out our new EP “Chasing Ghosts” now and our award-winning documentary film “Mind Over Matter” at www.mindovermatterfilm.com
For more on The Mendenhall Experiment, visit:
www.themendenhallexperiment.com
https://www.facebook.com/TheMendenhallExperiment
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb-EcQKy6ZXoJsqMfVNfbQw
https://www.instagram.com/tmxofficial
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