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Bill Leen | |
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Background information | |
Born | March 1, 1962 |
Occupation(s) | Bassist, musician |
Instruments | Bass guitar |
Years active | 1981–present |
Associated acts | Gin Blossoms |
Bill Leen (born March 1, 1962) is an American musician from Tempe, Arizona. He is the bass player of the band Gin Blossoms, which he co-founded in 1987 with his longtime friend Doug Hopkins. [1]
Leen graduated from McClintock High School in Tempe, then studied English and philosophy at Arizona State University, leaving during his junior year to devote his energy to music.
He and Doug Hopkins played in a variety of local Tempe bands during the early 1980s, including The Moral Majority and The Psalms before moving to Portland, Oregon and forming The 10 o'Clock Scholars. [2] His first taste of musical notoriety occurred while playing with the Psalms. The Psalms were asked to fill in for up-and-coming band, R.E.M. which had cancelled a show, opening for Billy Idol at the Devil House nightclub.
Gin Blossoms is an American rock band formed in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona. They rose to prominence following the 1992 release of their first major label album, New Miserable Experience, and the first single released from that album, "Hey Jealousy". "Hey Jealousy" became a Top 25 hit and went gold, and New Miserable Experience eventually went quadruple platinum; four other charting singles were released from the album. The band's follow-up album, Congratulations I'm Sorry (1996), went platinum and the single "As Long as It Matters" was nominated for a Grammy Award. Gin Blossoms broke up in 1997. Since reuniting in 2001, the band has released Major Lodge Victory in 2006, No Chocolate Cake in 2010, and Mixed Reality in 2018.
New Miserable Experience is the second studio album by rock band Gin Blossoms, released on August 4, 1992. The album was released to little fanfare and relatively lackluster reviews. However, nearly a year after its release the lead single "Hey Jealousy" entered the top 40. With "Found Out About You" following a few months later, the album eventually reached multi-platinum status.
Douglas Owen Hopkins was an American musician and songwriter. He co-founded the Gin Blossoms, a popular modern rock band of the early 1990s, with Richard Taylor. He was the band's lead guitarist and a principal songwriter.
The music of Arizona began with Indigenous music of North America made by Indigenous peoples of Arizona. In the 20th century, Mexican immigrants popularized Banda, corridos, mariachi and conjunto. Other major influences come from styles popular throughout the rest of the United States.
Robin Wilson is an American musician most notable for his work as the lead vocalist of the rock band Gin Blossoms.
Congratulations I'm Sorry is the third studio album by the American power pop band Gin Blossoms, and the follow-up album to the successful 1992 release New Miserable Experience, released in 1996 by A&M Records. The album was named in reference to the success of 1992's New Miserable Experience, followed closely by the suicide of the former band member Doug Hopkins in 1993.
Mixed Reality is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Gin Blossoms. It was released on June 15, 2018, on Cleopatra Records.
"Hey Jealousy" is a song by American rock band Gin Blossoms. The song was included on the group's debut album, Dusted (1989), and was re-recorded on their breakthrough 1992 album, New Miserable Experience. It was written by lead guitarist Doug Hopkins, who was fired from the band shortly after the recording of the second album. It became their first top-40 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1993, reaching number 25, and it also peaked at number 20 in Iceland, number 24 in the United Kingdom, number 28 in Australia, and number 39 in Canada.
Dusted is the debut album by the alternative rock band the Gin Blossoms. It was released through San Jacinto Records, a small independent label as a 12-song tape and record in 1989.
Up and Crumbling is an EP released by the Gin Blossoms on October 8, 1991. It was released after the Gin Blossoms signed with A&M Records and, while attempting to create a full-length album, ran into a creative drought during the recording sessions. According to the band's official website, the band recorded Up and Crumbling "on their own in hopes of rekindling the spark from Dusted that had been missing from the recent recordings." The songs from this EP were remastered and included on the 2002 deluxe edition of the band's breakthrough album, New Miserable Experience.
Major Lodge Victory is the fourth studio album by the power pop band Gin Blossoms. It was the first album released by the band since their 1997–2002 breakup. It was released on August 8, 2006, on Hybrid Recordings, making it the Gin Blossoms' first new album in over 10 years.
McClintock High School is a high school located in Tempe, Arizona, approximately two miles southeast of the campus of Arizona State University. McClintock High School was established in 1964. The school was named after James H. McClintock.
"Found Out About You" is the fourth single from American rock band Gin Blossoms' second studio album, New Miserable Experience, (1992). Written by lead guitarist Doug Hopkins, who was fired from the band after the album, Gin Blossoms had previously recorded it on their 1989 debut album, Dusted.
The Jetzons were an American new wave band originally based in Tempe, Arizona.
"Allison Road" is a single from the Gin Blossoms. The song is played but quietly in the movie The Best of Me (film) when Dawson and Amanda are driving to their prom.
Long Wong's on Mill was a club in Tempe, Arizona. Long Wong's on Mill was the center of the Tempe music scene, which peaked in the early 1990s, and it was where the Tempe band the Gin Blossoms got their start. In turn, the popular band made the club famous. Long Wong's also featured Tempe based bands such as Dead Hot Workshop and The Refreshments, who would all go on to sign with major record labels. Long Wong's closed on April 3, 2004.
Dead Hot Workshop is an American rock band based in Tempe, Arizona.
Outside Looking In: The Best of the Gin Blossoms is a greatest hits album by pop rock band Gin Blossoms. It was released in 1999 on A&M Records. It includes eleven songs from their previous two A&M studio albums, New Miserable Experience and Congratulations… I'm Sorry. The remaining three songs are from different sources. "Just South of Nowhere" was originally included on the 1991 EP Up and Crumbling. The hit single "Til I Hear It from You" was originally found on the soundtrack of the 1995 movie Empire Records. "Whitewash" is a previously unreleased 1996 live recording of the song originally included on Congratulations… I'm Sorry.
One Lone Car is an indie rock band from St. Louis, Missouri. Formed in 2004 by Dustin Plegge and Andy Herrin. They combined members from Satellite Affair and Behind the Stars, both bands originally from Alton, IL They self-released the Variety Half Hour EP in 2005. MTV licensed the album that same year.
Prehab is an American band that formed in 1992 in Tempe, Arizona, United States. During the period of the 1990s the band was known as the Bedspins and were a popular fixture on the Tempe music scene. Tempe was referred to as "The Next Seattle" by the music industry during this time. The band played along Tempe Arizona's Mill Avenue for many years and also played shows in New Mexico as well as Texas and Oklahoma. During this time the band opened shows for bands such as Blood Hound Gang and Def Leppard. The Bedspins began working with producer Andy Barrett who had worked with Gin Blossoms and Stevie Nicks on an album of original material. The band played an average of 200 shows a year between 1993 and 1996. During this time the Bedspins were approached by Virgin Records and Island Records. Nothing materialized with either label and the band disbanded in 1997. The death of a mutual friend brought all four members together at a funeral service in 2007. The four bandmates Chris Kay, Jason Kay, Chris Cantu and Jeff Bourne decided to reunite. This new band was called Prehab. The band had planned to record some of Chris Kay's new songs in the hopes of getting a publishing deal. The demos were eventually re-recorded at Tall Cat Studios and released as One Is Too Many in 2009. The band played several shows in Arizona to promote the new music. In 2011, the band began recording at Ardent Studios with producer John Hampton. I Haven't Been Completely Honest was released in 2012. Drummer Jeff Bourne left Prehab in 2013. The band then added Phillip Rhodes. Prehab began writing songs with Rhodes and playing shows in Arizona. In 2014 band went to Sonic Ranch in El Paso with producer Owen Morris. Prehab released Light Up The Sky in 2015. The album was added to Pandora Radio and played on college radio.