Atreyu have had nine official members since the metalcore band formed in Yorba Linda, California, in 1998. The current line-up is guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, lead vocalist Brandon Saller, bassist and unclean vocalist Marc “Porter” McKnight and drummer Kyle Rosa. The former members are original frontman Alex Varkatzas and three early bassists, Brian O’Donnell, Kyle Stanley and Chris Thomson.
The band, originally called Retribution, took its name from the character Atreju in Michael Ende’s The Neverending Story, signed with Victory Records in 2001 and has released ten studio albums, from Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses (2002) to The End Is Not the End (2026). Here is every member, with roles and years.
Dan Jacobs – Guitar, Backing Vocals (1998–2011, 2014–present)
Dan Jacobs is a founding guitarist and has been in the band for its whole active history, through the 2011 break and the 2014 return. He has described himself as a really big ’80s rock fan and says he tries to apply that to Atreyu’s music.
Brandon Saller – Lead Vocals, Keyboards (2001–2011, 2014–present); Drums (1998–2011, 2014–2020)
Brandon Saller was the band’s original drummer and began singing as a second, clean-vocal singer on the 2002 debut album. In October 2020, after Alex Varkatzas left, the band announced that Saller would focus on singing only, and he has been lead vocalist since, adding some unclean vocals from 2020. His side project Hell or Highwater released Begin Again in 2011.
Travis Miguel – Guitar, Backing Vocals (2000–2011, 2014–present)
Travis Miguel joined on guitar in 2000 and, like Jacobs and Saller, returned when the band reunited in 2014. During the hiatus he formed the side project Fake Figures, which released the EP Hail the Sycophants in December 2011.
Marc “Porter” McKnight – Bass, Unclean Vocals (2004–2011, 2014–present)
Porter McKnight became the band’s fourth and longest-serving bassist in 2004. Since 2020 he has also handled the unclean vocals that Varkatzas used to provide.
Kyle Rosa – Drums, Backing Vocals (2020–2024, 2025–present)
Kyle Rosa toured with the band in 2019 and was announced as the new drummer in October 2020, freeing Saller to sing full-time. Johnny Concannon covered drums as a touring musician in 2024–2025 before Rosa returned in 2025.
Alex Varkatzas – Unclean Vocals (1998–2011, 2014–2020)
Alex Varkatzas was Atreyu’s original lead vocalist and frontman. In January 2011 he announced on Twitter that the band was taking a break from touring and recording. He returned with the band in 2014, and after rumours in late August 2020 the band officially announced on September 30, 2020 that they were parting ways with him.
Brian O’Donnell – Bass (1998)
The band’s first bassist, in its independent first year.
Kyle Stanley – Bass (1999–2001)
Kyle Stanley played bass in the early line-up with Jacobs, Miguel and Varkatzas, up to the Victory Records signing.
Chris Thomson – Bass (2001–2004)
Chris Thomson played bass on the debut album era before McKnight took over in 2004.
Atreyu Line-Up Changes at a Glance
- 1998: Formed in Yorba Linda with Jacobs, Varkatzas, Saller on drums and O’Donnell on bass.
- 1999–2004: Stanley, then Thomson, then McKnight on bass; Miguel joins on guitar in 2000; Saller adds clean vocals from 2001.
- 2011–2014: The band goes on hiatus and returns in 2014 with the same five members.
- 2020: Varkatzas leaves; Saller moves to lead vocals, Rosa joins on drums and McKnight takes on unclean vocals.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is the lead singer of Atreyu? Brandon Saller, since 2020. Alex Varkatzas fronted the band from 1998 to 2020.
- Why did Alex Varkatzas leave Atreyu? The band announced on September 30, 2020 that they were parting ways with him; the announcement followed rumours in late August 2020.
- Who are the original members of Atreyu? Dan Jacobs, Alex Varkatzas, Brandon Saller and Brian O’Donnell, with Kyle Stanley and Travis Miguel joining soon after.
- Where is Atreyu from? Yorba Linda, California.
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