Murder By Death

Murder By Death

Keynote Speaker: Indie Rock Band from Bloomington, Indiana

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Murder By Death Biography

Murder by Death is an American five-piece indie rock band formed in 2000 in Bloomington, Indiana. Their name is derived from the 1976 Robert Moore film of the same name. Members of the band include Adam Turla (lead vocals, lead guitar), Matt Armstrong (bass), Sarah Balliet (cello, keyboards), Dagan Thogerson (drums) and Scott Brackett (multiple instruments). Original keyboardist Vincent Edwards left the band in 2004 and original drummer Alex Schrodt left the band in 2007.

They were first known as Little Joe Gould and released a self-titled EP in 2001. In 2002 they contributed the song “I'm Afraid of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf” to the TEAM AV compilation “Foreign Nationals.” A short time later the group changed their name to Murder By Death, which they felt better represented their sound.

The band’s first full-length album, “Like The Exorcist, but More Breakdancing,” was issued by Eyeball Records in 2002. It was recorded in several Chicago studios with Tim Iseler, then a guitarist with the TEAM AV-affiliated band Re:Rec.

A concept album based around the Devil and a small Mexican border town against which he wages war, their second LP “Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?,” was issued by Eyeball in 2003. Its title was a reference to the tagline of the 1974 film “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” Guests who appeared on the album included Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, Geoff Rickly of Thursday and William Elliott Whitmore.

Pianist Vincent Edwards left the band in 2004 in order to return to school. Their third album, “In Bocca Al Lupo,” was released in 2006 on their own label Tent Show Records, an imprint of East West Records. The title is an Italian good luck wish, literally translating as "in the mouth of the wolf" and like its predecessor it was a concept album, that built on the band's previous experimentations with unusual musical styles to include waltzes, jigs and gospel music. The songs were presented in the same spaghetti western theme as previous works, but Turla's vocals were sung in a new baritone range, which has been likened by many to that of country singer Johnny Cash.

“Red of Tooth and Claw,” Murder By Death's fourth album, and first with Vagrant Records, was released in 2008. The title came from a reference in Lord Tennyson's poem “In Memoriam A.H.H. “Produced by Trina Shoemaker, recorded at Dark Horse Recording Studio and mixed at East Iris Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, the record featured former keyboardist Vincent Edwards on the song “Ball & Chain” and was also their first album to feature new drummer Dagan Thogerson, who replaced founding member Alex Schrodt.

Their second release through Vagrant Records, “Good Morning, Magpie” was issued in 2010. After having been a touring member in the fall of 2010, multi-instrumentalist Scott Brackett (of Okkervil River fame) joined as a permanent member in May 2011.

“Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon,” the band’s sixth full-length album was released in 2012 on the Bloodshot Records label. Grammy-nominated John Congleton produced the album which was partially funded through a Kickstarter campaign.

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Murder By Death Videos

Murder By Death performs in Harlow's of Sacramento, - YouTube
Murder By Death "I Came Around" @ OBS 17 19.Mai 2013 - YouTube
MURDER BY DEATH - "I Came Around" (Live in Hollywood, CA ...

How do I book Murder By Death to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Murder By Death for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Murder By Death, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Murder By Death or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Murder By Death for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Murder By Death, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is Below $10,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Murder By Death, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Murder By Death speak about?

Murder By Death is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Music and Celebrity.

Who is the agent for Murder By Death?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Murder By Death for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Murder By Death for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Murder By Death or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Murder By Death is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Music and Celebrity. The estimated speaking fee range to book Murder By Death for live events is Below $10,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Murder By Death can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Sam Smith, St. Lucia and We Were Promised Jetpacks. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Murder By Death for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 19/03/2025.

Murder By Death Videos

Murder By Death performs in Harlow's of Sacramento, - YouTube
Murder By Death "I Came Around" @ OBS 17 19.Mai 2013 - YouTube
MURDER BY DEATH - "I Came Around" (Live in Hollywood, CA ...

Murder By Death News

  • How do I book Murder By Death to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Murder By Death for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Murder By Death, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Murder By Death or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Murder By Death for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Murder By Death, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is Below $10,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Murder By Death, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Murder By Death speak about?

    Murder By Death is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Music and Celebrity.
  • Who is the agent for Murder By Death?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Murder By Death for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Murder By Death for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Murder By Death or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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