Body Count Band Members: Every Musician from Crenshaw High to Grammy Glory

Body Count band members have evolved from five Crenshaw High School friends into a Grammy-winning metal powerhouse. The lineup has changed dramatically since Ice-T and lead guitarist Ernie C first assembled the group in 1990 — three original members are dead, new blood has been recruited from thrash metal’s elite, and the band sounds heavier now than it did three decades ago. Here’s every musician who has played in Body Count, from the founding five to the current six-piece lineup tearing through stages today.

Quick Facts: Body Count Band Members

Band	Body Count
Formed	1990, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Heavy metal, hardcore punk, rap metal, crossover thrash
Origin	Crenshaw High School, South Central LA
Founding Members	Ice-T, Ernie C, D-Roc, Mooseman, Beatmaster V
Current Members	Ice-T, Ernie C, Juan Garcia, Vincent Price, Will Dorsey Jr., Sean E Sean
Deceased Members	Beatmaster V (1996), Mooseman (2001), D-Roc (2004)
Grammy Wins	1 — Best Metal Performance, “Bum-Rush” (2021)
Albums	7 studio albums (1992–2020)

The Original Five — Crenshaw High School to Lollapalooza

Body Count didn’t start in a rehearsal studio or a record label office. It started in the hallways of Crenshaw High School in South Central Los Angeles, where five friends discovered they shared a love for heavy metal that nobody around them understood. As Ice-T later recalled: “All the Body Count guys went to the same high school as me, in Crenshaw. The guys would nag me to let them play on my albums. Eventually I thought that I’d put together a rock band with these guys, just for fun.”

Those five founding body count band members were:

• Ice-T (Tracy Lauren Marrow) — vocals
• Ernie C (Ernie Cunnigan) — lead guitar, producer
• D-Roc the Executioner (Dennis Miles) — rhythm guitar
• Mooseman (Lloyd Roberts III) — bass
• Beatmaster V (Victor Wilson) — drums

While Ice-T was building his solo rap career through the late 1980s — from 6 in the Mornin’ to the Power album — his Crenshaw crew kept pushing him to let them play. They weren’t interested in hip-hop. These were metalheads raised on Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Slayer who happened to grow up in a neighborhood that didn’t listen to metal. Body Count’s formation was the collision of that duality: Black kids from South Central who played music the industry said Black kids didn’t listen to.

The band debuted live at Lollapalooza in 1991, opening for Jane’s Addiction. They released their self-titled debut album in 1992, featuring the incendiary “Cop Killer” — a track that ignited a national censorship firestorm and made Body Count one of the most controversial bands in America. For the full history of that controversy and what came after, read our deep dive on the Body Count band story.

Ice-T and Ernie C — The Constant Core

Only two body count band members have been there from day one to right now: Ice-T and Ernie C. They are the band’s creative engine, and understanding their partnership is understanding why Body Count survived when it shouldn’t have.

Ice-T (Tracy Lauren Marrow) — Vocals, 1990–Present

Born February 16, 1958, in Newark, New Jersey, Ice-T was orphaned young and moved to South Central LA to live with his aunt in the Crenshaw district. He attended Crenshaw High, got involved with the Rollin’ 60s Crips, served four years in the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division, then launched a rap career that redefined West Coast hip-hop. In Body Count, Ice-T doesn’t rap — he sings and screams with a raw intensity that owes more to Black Flag than N.W.A. He’s also the band’s primary lyricist and public face.

What makes Ice-T’s commitment remarkable is that he didn’t need Body Count. By 1990 he was already a platinum-selling rapper and an actor with Hollywood credits. Body Count was a passion project that nearly destroyed his career when the “Cop Killer” controversy hit in 1992. He kept the band going anyway — through label drama, member deaths, and a seven-year hiatus — because the music mattered to him more than the risk.

Ernie C (Ernie Cunnigan) — Lead Guitar/Producer, 1990–Present

Born June 10, 1959, Ernie C moved to Los Angeles from Detroit as a kid and immediately immersed himself in guitar. A left-handed Strat player, he absorbed everything from Jimi Hendrix and the Isley Brothers to what he calls the “organized metal” of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Yes. His uncle introduced him to a wildly diverse range of music, and you can hear all of it in Body Count’s sound — the thrash aggression of Slayer, the groove of Sabbath, the punk urgency of the Dead Kennedys.

Ernie C isn’t just Body Count’s lead guitarist — he’s produced or co-produced every Body Count album. He befriended drummer Victor Wilson (Beatmaster V) shortly after arriving in LA, and the two became the musical backbone around which Ice-T’s vision was built. During Body Count’s hiatus years, Ernie C launched his own side project, Masters of Metal, in 2010 to keep playing. When Body Count came back, so did he. He now plays Schecter guitars through EVH 5150 III amps — a rig that delivers the crushing tone the band’s later albums are known for.

The Members We Lost — D-Roc, Mooseman, and Beatmaster V

Body Count has suffered losses that would have ended most bands. Three of the five original body count band members are dead — not from old age, but from the same streets they grew up on and the health crises that followed.

Beatmaster V (Victor Wilson) — Drums, 1990–1996 (Died July 1996)

Victor Wilson was the first to go. Beatmaster V had been Ernie C’s closest friend since childhood and was the band’s original drummer, playing on the first three albums: Body Count (1992), Born Dead (1994), and Violent Demise: The Last Days (1997 — though he died before its release). He succumbed to leukemia in July 1996. His death hit the surviving members hard — he was the rhythmic anchor and one of the most technically gifted musicians in the group.

Mooseman (Lloyd Roberts III) — Bass, 1990–2001 (Died February 22, 2001)

Lloyd “Mooseman” Roberts III was Body Count’s original bassist, providing the low-end rumble on the band’s first four albums. On February 22, 2001, Mooseman was fatally shot while riding his bicycle near his home in South Central Los Angeles. He was 33 years old. The killing was reportedly a drive-by shooting — the same kind of random street violence that Body Count’s lyrics had been documenting since their debut.

D-Roc the Executioner (Dennis Miles) — Rhythm Guitar, 1990–2004 (Died November 2004)

Dennis “D-Roc” Miles was Ice-T’s rhythm guitar partner from day one and one of his closest friends from Crenshaw High. D-Roc appeared on all four of Body Count’s early albums and was known for his tight, aggressive riffing that locked in with Ernie C’s leads. He died from lymphoma in November 2004. With D-Roc’s death, Ice-T and Ernie C were the only surviving original body count band members.

Ice-T has spoken openly about how the losses affected him: three of his five closest friends from high school, gone before the band was 15 years old. The fact that Body Count continued is a testament to both Ice-T’s stubbornness and his belief that the music honored their legacy. As he told Revolver Magazine, the band is “unkillable” — and after losing three members and surviving the biggest censorship fight in rock history, it’s hard to argue with that.

The New Guard — Body Count’s Current Lineup

After losing three original members, Ice-T and Ernie C had to rebuild Body Count almost from scratch. The replacements they chose weren’t random — they pulled from the deep end of LA’s metal and punk scene, bringing in musicians whose credentials matched the band’s ambitions.

Juan Garcia — Rhythm Guitar, 2006–Present

When D-Roc died in 2004, filling his guitar slot required someone with serious metal credentials. Juan Garcia was the answer. A veteran of the thrash metal underground, Garcia had played in Agent Steel, Evildead, Abattoir, and Masters of Metal (Ernie C’s side project). He brought a tighter, more technically proficient thrash sound that sharpened Body Count’s later albums considerably. Premier Guitar described the Ernie C/Juan Garcia guitar partnership as pure “riff lust” — two guitarists who push each other toward heavier and more precise riffing with every album.

Vincent Price — Bass, 2006–Present

Vincent Price (no, not the horror actor) took over bass duties from Mooseman’s various interim replacements and has been the band’s low-end anchor since 2006. Price also contributes backing vocals, adding another dimension to Body Count’s live sound. He’s appeared on every album from Manslaughter (2014) onward and is credited as a co-writer on several tracks. According to Equipboard, he plays a Schecter Sean Yseult Casket Bass — a fittingly dark instrument for a band that’s never been afraid of the macabre.

Will Dorsey Jr. (Ill Will) — Drums, 2006–Present

After Beatmaster V’s death, Body Count went through a couple of drummers — including O.T., who played on the Violent Demise and Murder 4 Hire albums. Will Dorsey Jr., performing under the name Ill Will, took over the drum throne and has been behind the kit for Body Count’s second act. His style is punchier and more aggressive than Beatmaster V’s, fitting the band’s evolution toward a heavier, thrash-influenced sound. He’s played on Manslaughter, Bloodlust, Carnivore, and the upcoming Merciless.

Sean E Sean — DJ/Backing Vocals, 2006–Present

Sean E Sean serves as the band’s DJ and hype man — a role that bridges Body Count’s hip-hop roots with its metal present. While he doesn’t play a traditional instrument, his turntable work and stage presence add a layer of energy and sonic texture that sets Body Count apart from standard metal bands. He’s been a consistent presence since the band’s comeback era.

From Cop Killer to Grammy Winners — How the Lineup Evolved

The body count band members have shifted across four distinct eras. Here’s how the lineup has changed alongside the music:

Era 1: The Original Five (1990–1996) — Ice-T, Ernie C, D-Roc, Mooseman, Beatmaster V. This lineup recorded the debut album with “Cop Killer,” Born Dead, and most of Violent Demise. The sound was raw, punk-influenced metal with Ice-T’s spoken-word vocal style. Beatmaster V’s death from leukemia ended this era.

Era 2: Rebuilding (1997–2006) — O.T. replaced Beatmaster V on drums. Mooseman was murdered in 2001. D-Roc died of lymphoma in 2004. Murder 4 Hire (2006) was released with a patchwork lineup. The band went on an extended hiatus after this album, and many assumed Body Count was finished.

Era 3: The Comeback (2012–2017) — Ice-T announced Body Count’s return in December 2012, signing with Sumerian Records. The rebuilt lineup — Ice-T, Ernie C, Juan Garcia, Vincent Price, Ill Will, and Sean E Sean — recorded Manslaughter (2014) and Bloodlust (2017). “Black Hoodie” from Bloodlust earned Body Count’s first-ever Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance in 2018.

Era 4: Grammy Champions (2020–Present) — Carnivore (2020) featured a re-recorded “6 in Tha Morning” and the track “Bum-Rush,” which won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2021 — Body Count’s first win. The same lineup is recording Merciless, their eighth studio album. At 67, Ice-T shows no signs of slowing down, and the band is touring more actively than they have in decades.

FAQ — Body Count Band Members

Who are the current members of Body Count?

The current Body Count lineup consists of Ice-T (vocals), Ernie C (lead guitar and producer), Juan Garcia (rhythm guitar), Vincent Price (bass and backing vocals), Will Dorsey Jr. aka Ill Will (drums), and Sean E Sean (DJ and backing vocals). Ice-T and Ernie C are the only remaining original members.

Who were the original Body Count members?

Body Count was founded in 1990 by five friends from Crenshaw High School in South Central Los Angeles: Ice-T (Tracy Lauren Marrow) on vocals, Ernie C (Ernie Cunnigan) on lead guitar, D-Roc the Executioner (Dennis Miles) on rhythm guitar, Mooseman (Lloyd Roberts III) on bass, and Beatmaster V (Victor Wilson) on drums.

Which Body Count members have died?

Three of the five original Body Count members have died: Beatmaster V (Victor Wilson) died of leukemia in July 1996, Mooseman (Lloyd Roberts III) was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting on February 22, 2001, and D-Roc the Executioner (Dennis Miles) died of lymphoma in November 2004.

How did the Body Count members know each other?

All five original members attended Crenshaw High School in South Central Los Angeles. Ernie C and Beatmaster V had been friends since Ernie first moved to LA from Detroit as a kid. The group bonded over their shared love of heavy metal — unusual for Black teenagers in South Central — and played music together informally for years before Ice-T officially formed the band in 1990.

Has Body Count won a Grammy?

Yes. Body Count won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2021 for the song “Bum-Rush” from their album Carnivore. They had previously been nominated in the same category in 2018 for “Black Hoodie” from Bloodlust but lost to Mastodon’s “Sultan’s Curse.” The Grammy win came nearly 30 years after the band’s controversial debut — a remarkable vindication for a group that was once the target of boycotts and censorship campaigns.

Who replaced D-Roc in Body Count?

Juan Garcia replaced D-Roc as Body Count’s rhythm guitarist. Garcia is a veteran of the thrash metal scene, having played in Agent Steel, Evildead, Abattoir, and Ernie C’s side project Masters of Metal. He joined Body Count in 2006 and has been a member ever since, appearing on Manslaughter, Bloodlust, Carnivore, and the upcoming Merciless.

Is Ernie C the only original member besides Ice-T?

Yes. After D-Roc’s death in 2004, Ice-T and Ernie C became the only surviving original Body Count members. They have been the band’s creative constants through every lineup change, with Ernie C producing or co-producing every album and Ice-T writing the majority of the lyrics.

How many albums has Body Count released?

Body Count has released seven studio albums: Body Count (1992), Born Dead (1994), Violent Demise: The Last Days (1997), Murder 4 Hire (2006), Manslaughter (2014), Bloodlust (2017), and Carnivore (2020). An eighth album, Merciless, has been announced. The band is signed to Century Media Records (previously Sumerian Records for Manslaughter).

Five kids from Crenshaw High who loved metal when nobody around them did. Three of them are gone. The two who remain rebuilt the band with some of thrash metal’s most accomplished musicians and went from being America’s most hated band to Grammy winners. Body Count’s member history isn’t just a discography footnote — it’s a story about loyalty, loss, and the refusal to stop playing no matter what the world throws at you. The members changed. The mission never did.