The Bloodhound Gang's origins date back to 1988, when future bandleaders James Moyer Franks and Michael Bowe, both graduates of Perkiomen Valley High School, formed an alternative band called Bang Chamber 8 with classmates Kevin Hennessey and Justin Ianelli. They released an eponymous tape in 1990 before going on to form the Bloodhound Gang in 1992, taking the band's name from a segment on the 1980s PBS children's show 3-2-1 Contact that featured three young detectives solving mysteries and fighting crime.[6] Franks and Bowe also took on the stage names "Jimmy Pop Ali" (the "Ali" was later dropped) and "Daddy Long Legs," respectively.
Unable to book shows anywhere else, the Bloodhound Gang first performed in an extra room at the home of future bassist and Jimmy Pop's Temple University classmate[7]Jared Hennegan's house, in exchange for Schlitz beer, Marlboro cigarettes, and a chance to hand out their first demo tape, titled Just Another Demo.[4] When the floor caved in one night, they began performing every month at CBGBs in New York City. When asked about the band's tenure at the club, Jimmy Pop was quoted as saying, "I've seen cavemen with better clubs."[4]
In summer 1994, Jimmy Pop had a small role in the short independent film The Chick That Was Naked by independent filmmaker Kurt Fitzpatrick; a song by the band was also used on its soundtrack.[8]
In November 1994, the Bloodhound Gang released their first EP, Dingleberry Haze.
Use Your Fingers (1995)
In March 1995, the Bloodhound Gang signed a record deal with Columbia Records. They released their first full-length album, titled Use Your Fingers. They began touring around the United States. At this time, Daddy Long Legs and M.S.G. (Matthew Clarke), who were angry with Columbia Records, left the band to form another rap group, Wolfpac. Bass player Hennegan and turntablist Tard-E-Tard joined the group as replacements, with Hennegan taking on the stage name "Evil Jared Hasselhoff". When the tour ended, the deal with Columbia Records was dropped and band members Skip O'Pot2Mus (Scott Richard) and Tard-E-Tard left to pursue careers outside of the music industry.[4]
One Fierce Beer Coaster (1996–1997)
In March 1996, the band, which had a completely new line-up alongside Jimmy Pop, recorded their second full-length album, One Fierce Beer Coaster, with Richard Gavalis, a producer and owner of Dome Sound Studios, in Royersford, Pennsylvania, local to Jimmy Pop. Lupus Thunder had recorded with Gavalis at the Dome with a former band, and introduced Jimmy Pop to Gavalis, who had the first studio in the area to embrace computer recording and could edit live instruments in ways other studios could not. This led to a relationship that followed through to the band's next albums. One Fierce Beer Coaster was first released on Cheese Factory Records (now Republic Records).
The album's leading single, "Fire Water Burn", played a major role in the slow build of interest that ultimately led to the band's mainstream breakthrough. As the band could not previously afford national tours, they promoted themselves by sending their music to radio stations across the country that fit the alternative rock format. One significant early radio breakthrough came when an intern at 107.7 The End in Seattle brought the band to the attention of the music director, who, liking what he heard, played "Fire Water Burn" on his Friday night show. The feature prompted a flood of phone calls asking about the song and the band. The director passed the song on to his friend, the music director at KROQ-FM in Los Angeles, who then added it to her playlist. The snowball effect meant the band was overwhelmed with demands for their records, which they struggled to meet. Record labels then started to call. According to manager Brett Alperowitz in an interview with HitQuarters, Madonna's label Maverick "really wanted to sign the band in the worst possible way, even to the point where I had to tell Madonna that I couldn't put her on the phone with Jimmy Pop."[9] Eventually, the Bloodhound Gang signed with Geffen Records, which re-released One Fierce Beer Coaster in December 1996. Geffen refused to release the song "Yellow Fever" because of its graphic lyrical content about East Asian women,[10] including lyrics like "Like an Oriental rug, 'cause I lay her where I please, then I blindfold her with dental floss and get on my knees" and "Oh me Chinky, she's so kinky, got me hot like Nagasaki, burnin' up like napalm, burstin' like an A-bomb."[11][12]
The Bloodhound Gang also embarked on their first "real tour" of the United States and Europe, including presentations on Loveline, The Howard Stern Show, Ricki Lake, and The Jenny McCarthy Show.[13] After a couple of years of doing shows, taking advantage of the Internet, spreading the word through retail and radio in every way that the band and management could on an independent level, they began to experience major success.[9]
Hooray for Boobies (1998–2000)
On October 4, 1999, they released their third album, Hooray for Boobies, in Europe; due to legal issues, the US release was delayed until February 29, 2000. This album was recorded in California, where the band and their engineer Rich Gavalis relocated. The album was recorded partially at a Los Angeles studio the band rented, and partially at Gavalis' home in the Valley. Powered by the hit single "The Bad Touch", they embarked on two more tours of Europe, where their popularity had increased dramatically - "The Bad Touch" and Hooray for Boobies reached No.1 in Germany, where their version of "Along Comes Mary" was also a top 10 hit. They returned after selling over five million albums.[4]
The band's fourth album Hefty Fine was released on September 13, 2005. The title came about after Evil Jared Hasselhoff was fined during work on MTV's Viva La Bam (the "Scavenger Hunt" episode). Jared was fined $10,000, which Jimmy Pop allegedly had to pay (as discussed in the "un-commentary" of the Viva La Bam DVD release). Jimmy has stated that Jared was arrested after attempting to urinate from the top of a parking lot into a Dixie cup that he (Jimmy) was holding.[14] The CD's original title, Heavy Flow, was scrapped when it was noticed fellow musician Moby had a song with the same name. The first single, "Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo", gained heavy rotation on music video channels. Although the track "No Hard Feelings" had recently broken into the Modern Rock Top 50, their second single "Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss" (which is featured in a Blaupunkt, a BGL Grand Wizard ad[clarification needed]), had started radio circulation, with a music video airing limitedly on a few music channels.[when?] Other songs from the album were part of a campaign by the Bloodhound Gang to change the Pennsylvania state anthem to their appropriately-titled "Pennsylvania",[4] as well as "Something Diabolical", featuring HIM's Ville Valo.
In 2007, the band recorded a single, "Screwing You on the Beach at Night", accompanied by a video based on the one for Chris Isaak's song "Wicked Game".
Hard-Off and questionable future (2008–present)
In October 2008, Lupus Thunder quit the band. The band said he had decided to never again tour with them.[15] Lupus had earlier confessed to being the complainer of the group and arguing with the other members while vowing not to leave the band.[16]Daniel P. Carter from British alternative rock band A was confirmed as the new lead guitarist. Carter has since played gigs such as the Australian Soundwave Festival with the band.[17] Jimmy Pop announced during a radio interview in Boston that the band was working on a new album, featuring around 10 to 12 songs. Many media outlets reported that the name of the album would be Getting Laid on a School Bus with a release date of 2012. On December 4, 2011, Jimmy Pop announced that he "just narrowed 25-30 demos down to 10-12 to finish".[18]
In late 2010, the band released a new song, "Altogether Ooky". On November 15, DJ Q-Ball mentioned on his Facebook page that the band was going to Berlin to shoot a music video for the song, which would also be included on a greatest hits compilation album. The greatest hits album, Show Us Your Hits, was released on December 21, featuring new songs "Altogether Ooky" and an English version of Die Atzen's "Disco Pogo", alongside the older hits. In an interview in 2011, Evil Jared stated that the new album would be released in either 2012 or 2013. Q-Ball also mentioned on Twitter that signs pointed to either late 2012 or early 2013 as for the release, and that the album was "moving along very nicely", as well as claiming that it was their best album to date. A second music video was also released for "Screwing You on the Beach at Night", featuring the band playing in a small room while porn stars Till Kraemer and Leonie Saint have sex in the center of the room. At the end of the video, Kraemer ejaculates in Jimmy Pop's hand, after which he rubs the semen through his hair. That video had been filmed in 2007, but was not released until 2010.
In February 2014, Jimmy Pop wrote on Twitter that he was recording vocals every day for the album.[19] On August 8, a new single entitled "Chew Toy" was announced, along with a pre-order of the vinyl with a release date of August 19. The song was uploaded to YouTube later that day.[20] "American Bitches" was released on the band's YouTube account October 20, with a vinyl release date of late December 2014.[21] "Dimes" was released on February 24.[22] "Clean Up in Aisle Sexy" was released May 12, along with remixes by Mike Emilio, M.I.K.E. Push, and Psyko Punkz.[23] In September 2015, a fifth single from the album, the new wave-inspired "Uncool as Me", featuring Joey Fatone, was released. Pre-orders for the album began in October 2015, with a release window of early December. The album, Hard-Off, was released on December 18, 2015.[24]
In July 2016, MVD Audio reissued Hooray for Boobies on blue vinyl; One Fierce Beer Coaster followed on yellow vinyl that September. Both releases were limited to 1,500 copies.
In an interview with the German site KinKats on March 4, 2017, Hasselhoff joked that the Bloodhound Gang would only reform and tour if Donald Trump was impeached.[25] When asked in another interview later in 2017 about the current status of the group, he stated that he was unsure if they still existed, but added that he would still be considered a member.
On March 27, 2020, a 20th anniversary vinyl reissue of Hooray for Boobies, including remixes, was released.[26]
In July 2023, Jimmy Pop said that he is still working on making Bloodhound Gang music and that the band has not broken up.[1] On October 11, 2024, Hasselhoff released a video to his Instagram account implying that the Bloodhound Gang would return.[27]
Vladimir Markin of the Investigative Committee of Russia said that his department was prepared to file criminal charges if prosecutors thought they had a case.[31][32] Although Jared Hasselhoff apologized in public for the profanation of a state symbol of Russia, the band was forced to cancel their Russian stay immediately, and their visas were summarily cancelled. On August 3, 2013, they left Russia via Sheremetyevo International Airport.[33]
One Fierce Beer Run, a DVD with behind-the-scenes footage from the One Fierce Beer Coaster tour
Related Research Articles
One Fierce Beer Coaster is the second studio album by American band Bloodhound Gang, released on December 3, 1996. Produced by Jimmy Pop, it was the band's first release on Geffen Records, and the first to feature "Evil" Jared Hasselhoff on bass guitar, and DJ Q-Ball on the turntables. The music of One Fierce Beer Coaster encompasses a number of genres and its lyrics are rife with toilet humor.
Hefty Fine is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band Bloodhound Gang, released on September 27, 2005. Produced by band frontman Jimmy Pop, it was Bloodhound Gang's third release on Geffen Records following the band's smash hit Hooray for Boobies which managed to sell over one million copies in the United States and Europe. It was also the band's last album with former guitarist Lüpüs Thünder and the only album with drummer Willie the New Guy—they were replaced in 2008 and 2006 by A members Daniel P. Carter and Adam Perry, respectively. The album contains electronic instruments and heavy emphasis on scatological humor.
"Along Comes Mary" is a song composed by Tandyn Almer, originally recorded by American sunshine pop band the Association. It was the group's first hit, released in March 1966 as the lead single prior to their debut album, And Then... Along Comes the Association, which appeared in July.
"Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo" is a song by American alternative rock band Bloodhound Gang. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Hefty Fine (2005), on August 1, 2005. The song was written by band members Jimmy Pop and Jared Hasselhoff. The title "Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo" spells out fuck in the NATO phonetic alphabet. The song's lyrics consist of various sexual euphemisms.
Hooray for Boobies is the third studio album by American rock band Bloodhound Gang. It was released on October 4, 1999, in the United Kingdom and on February 29, 2000, in the United States. Produced by Jimmy Pop and Richard Gavalis, it is the band's second release with Geffen Records after One Fierce Beer Coaster (1996). This was the second and last album to feature drummer Spanky G, who left the band to finish his studies.
"The Ballad of Chasey Lain" is a song by American comedy rock band Bloodhound Gang. It was released in February 2000 as the third single from their third studio album, Hooray for Boobies (1999). The song reached number one in Iceland and became a top-20 hit in Austria, Finland, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
James Moyer Franks, better known by his stage name Jimmy Pop, is an American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, primary songwriter, and one of the founding members of the rap rock band Bloodhound Gang.
"The Bad Touch" is a song by American alternative rock band Bloodhound Gang. It was released in September 1999 as the second single from their third studio album, Hooray for Boobies, which was released the following year in the United States and United Kingdom. In most territories, the song was released as the first single from the album, as "Along Comes Mary" was issued only in German-speaking Europe.
Jared Hennegan, better known by the stage name "Evil" Jared Hasselhoff, is an American musician and television personality best known for being the bassist of the rock band Bloodhound Gang.
Mucky Pup were an American hardcore and crossover thrash band formed in Bergenfield, New Jersey, in 1986, when brothers Chris (vocals) and John (drums) Milnes joined up with Scott Dottino (bass) and Dan Nastasi (guitar) as the cover band, Predator. The band soon began writing original material and changed the band name to Mucky Pup. Over the years, the band went through several lineup changes and musical style changes while gaining minor success in both the US and Europe. Their breakthrough moment occurred when they won second place in a Bloom County comic strip contest, resulting in the band performing a song featured on a flexi disc packaged with a 1987 Bloom County comic strip compilation. However, their European success, based on strong tours and charting for the 1989 A Boy in a Man's World album, surpassed all recognition achieved in their home country. The band split up in 1995 but reunited from 2009 through 2014 with a rotating lineup of both former and new members with vocalist Chris Milnes being the only constant.
One Fierce Beer Run is the first DVD by American rock band The Bloodhound Gang. It is a behind-the-scenes look at the One Fierce Beer Coaster tour based on the album of the same name. Most of the footage is from the tour bus and has almost no concert footage. The movie also contains music videos from the album including "Fire Water Burn", "Kiss Me Where It Smells Funny" and others.
"Mope" is a song by American comedy rock band Bloodhound Gang, released in September 2000 as the fourth single from their third studio album Hooray for Boobies. The song contains numerous samples such as "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco, "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Metallica, the Pac-Man theme song, and Homer Simpson shouting "holy macaroni" from the "Treehouse of Horror VI" episode of The Simpsons. A music video for the single was released in June 2000.
"Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss" is the eleventh track and the second single from American rock band Bloodhound Gang's fourth studio album, Hefty Fine (2005). The title is an onomatopoeic representation of a typical four-on-the-floor dance beat. Released on November 25, 2005, the song became a top-20 hit in Austria, Flanders, and Germany.
"Why's Everybody Always Pickin' on Me?" is the third single off the Bloodhound Gang's second album One Fierce Beer Coaster. The song samples "Spooky" by Classics IV and "Never Let Me Down Again" by Depeche Mode. It also samples "Stormy" by Gabor Szabo. The title is borrowed from the classic 1959 song "Charlie Brown" performed by The Coasters, in which a school troublemaker complains about being picked upon when his schemes backfire.
"I Wish I Was Queer So I Could Get Chicks" is the second single from American rap rock band Bloodhound Gang's second studio album, One Fierce Beer Coaster (1996). Released as a single in 1997, the song charted in New Zealand, reaching number 32 that October. An alternate version was recorded as a B-side, featuring a crooning vocal over Nashville country/lounge backing.
"Fire Water Burn" is a song by American rock band Bloodhound Gang, released as the first single from their second album, One Fierce Beer Coaster (1996). The chorus of the song is derived from "The Roof Is on Fire" by Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three, yet sung considerably slower. The song was remixed for the CD single by God Lives Underwater. It charted on two US Billboard charts, reaching number 18 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 28 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song was more successful abroad, reaching number two in Norway, number four in the Netherlands, number five in Iceland and the top 10 in Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden; it has gone Platinum in the latter two countries.
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Hard-Off is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Bloodhound Gang, released on December 18, 2015. It marks the band's first full-length studio release since 2005's Hefty Fine. It is also the group's only full-length studio album with ex-A members Daniel P. Carter and Adam Perry, although Carter and Perry had performed on miscellaneous non-album tracks. Between August 8, 2014 and September 3, 2015, five singles were released to promote the album: "Chew Toy", "American Bitches", "Dimes", "Clean Up in Aisle Sexy", and "Uncool as Me".
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