Question 1

Who writes Cage the Elephant's songs?

Accepted Answer

Songs are credited to the full band, but the core partnership is frontman Matt Shultz writing lyrics and his older brother Brad Shultz writing music, a habit the two picked up writing songs together as kids in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Other members, including longtime bassist Daniel Tichenor and drummer Jared Champion, regularly share writing credit as well.

Question 2

Who wrote "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked"?

Accepted Answer

The song is credited to the full 2008 lineup: Matt Shultz, Brad Shultz, Daniel Tichenor, Jared Champion, and then-guitarist Lincoln Parish. Matt Shultz has said he wrote the lyrics on drywall while working as a plumber, after a co-worker who dealt drugs on the side told him "there's no rest for the wicked."

Question 3

Are Matt and Brad Shultz brothers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Brad Shultz is Matt Shultz's older brother. They began writing music together in childhood after their parents divorced, and that sibling partnership - Matt on lyrics, Brad on music - anchors the band's songwriting to this day.

Question 4

Did Cage the Elephant win a Grammy?

Accepted Answer

Yes, twice. Tell Me I'm Pretty won Best Rock Album at the 59th Grammy Awards in February 2017, and Social Cues won the same category at the 62nd Grammy Awards in January 2020. Melophobia was also nominated for Best Alternative Music Album in 2015, and "Neon Pill" was nominated for Best Alternative Music Performance in 2025.

Question 5

How many albums has Cage the Elephant released?

Accepted Answer

Six studio albums: Cage the Elephant (2008), Thank You, Happy Birthday (2011), Melophobia (2013), Tell Me I'm Pretty (2015), Social Cues (2019), and Neon Pill (2024).

Question 6

Who are the current members of Cage the Elephant?

Accepted Answer

Matt Shultz (vocals), Brad Shultz (rhythm guitar, keyboards), Daniel Tichenor (bass), and Jared Champion (drums) are founding members from 2006. Nick Bockrath (lead guitar, keyboards) and Matthan Minster (keyboards, rhythm guitar) joined in 2017.

Question 7

Who replaced Lincoln Parish as Cage the Elephant's guitarist?

Accepted Answer

Lincoln Parish, the band's founding lead guitarist, left in 2013 to pursue a production career. Nick Bockrath, formerly of Morning Teleportation, stepped in and became a full member by the time of Social Cues (2019).

Question 8

Is Cage the Elephant's songwriting shared across the whole band?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Wikipedia's writing credits for albums like Tell Me I'm Pretty list all tracks as written by "Cage the Elephant" collectively, though Matt Shultz's lyrics and Brad Shultz's music are widely described as the band's creative backbone.

Question 9

What is Cage the Elephant's best-selling song?

Accepted Answer

"Ain't No Rest for the Wicked," from their self-titled 2008 debut, is their best-selling US single, certified 8x Platinum by the RIAA.

Question 10

Has Cage the Elephant set any Billboard chart records?

Accepted Answer

The band has scored 13 No. 1 hits on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart, tying Green Day and Linkin Park for second-most all time behind Red Hot Chili Peppers. "Metaverse" gave them a fourth straight No. 1 in 2024, their longest streak.