Dennis Flemion Jay Tiller Brian Hill Damien Strigens Josh Silverman John W. Busher David Geschke
The Frogs are an alternative rock band founded in 1980, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by brothers Jimmy and Dennis Flemion. The brothers mainly wrote and performed short, catchy pop songs, but they are also known for their improvisedhome recordings that are delivered in a comedic style, and often include controversial issues such as race, religion, and sexuality (notably homoeroticism). A history of strife has hindered the band, although a devoted fan base that includes many well-known musicians has supported the group.
Brothers Jimmy Flemion and Dennis Flemion began playing as the "Gila Monsters" and "Stupid Frogs" in 1980, frequenting Milwaukee clubs and coffeehouses.[1][2][3] In 1983, bassist Jay Tiller joined the group. That same year, Jimmy began wearing what was to become his trademark stage gimmick, a pair of six-foot bat wings,[4] inspired by the band's set list, which at that time featured many glam rock songs about death and gloom. Soon the brothers also began wearing wigs at their performances, and using pyrotechnics. Hence, "wings and wigs" became synonymous with the band.
Although in their early days the Frogs played mostly in coffeehouses,[3] they developed a larger following due mostly to their fan-friendly shows.[citation needed]
In 1988, Brian Hill joined The Frogs as bassist and would continue to make appearances with the group. That same year saw two significant events related to the Frogs' recording career. The first event was the release of the Frogs' debut self-titled album, which they began recording in 1986.[5] Sources disagree on whether the album was self-released[6] or released by Drag City Records;[1] it is undisputed, however, that only about 1,000 copies were pressed.[1][6]
The second event ended up bringing the group to public attention: Jay Tiller gave a tape of the Frogs' improvised home recordings to his friend Steve Albini, and the tape eventually made its way to Gerard Cosloy, then head of Homestead Records. Cosloy approached the band and offered to release an album. The Frogs were hoping that Homestead would re-release their first album, but Cosloy wanted to release an LP of the group's improvised home recordings, originally recorded on 4-track reel-to-reel with two microphones, which dealt with over-the-top homoeroticism. Since the tapes had not been intended to be released, the group hedged at first, but eventually they relented, and mixed a 14 track collection of songs. The result was It's Only Right and Natural, The Frogs' second LP, released in 1989. Songs like "Been a Month Since I Had a Man" and "Gather 'Round for Savior No.2" gave the album (and the band) a unique theme. Homestead announced that the Frogs were leaders in a "new gay supremacy movement," and the media ran with it.[1]
The album was received with mixed reactions; some listeners were ecstatic, while others, who either disliked the subject matter or misunderstood the concept, were not as enthusiastic.[citation needed] In the gay press, writer Adam Block wrote, "I'd find the record a lot more remarkable if I believed the Frogs were actually gay."[7]It's Only Right and Natural was even denounced by Pat Robertson on The 700 Club and a number of conservative religious organizations as proof of Satan's control over the entertainment industry.[8]
Grunge and success: 1990–2000
In 1991, the Frogs produced a new album titled Racially Yours, which included songs sung from the point of view of both blacks and whites who find themselves in various race-related situations and predicaments. The lyrics were equally serious and satirical. The Frogs' label Homestead was unwilling to release the album (although the album was distributed freely by fans through bootlegs). It was eventually released in 2000 by the Four Alarm label. The Frogs' further plans for a live album went unfulfilled, as labels they pursued all seemed to be suffering through bankruptcy and management problems. Jay Tiller left the band in 1992, to be replaced by Damian Strigens, although there were several substitutes in the meantime, including such notables as Eddie Roeser from Urge Overkill and Kelley Deal from the Breeders.
In 1994, the Frogs followed Gerard Cosloy to a new label, Matador Records, releasing two singles. They also recorded the EPStarjob, produced by Billy Corgan (who used the pseudonymJohnny Goat); however, the EP wouldn't be released until 1997.
In 1996, Matador released an album of old home-recorded and improvised Frogs material called My Daughter the Broad. It became a fan favorite of the band's material.
In 1997, Starjob was finally released, by Scratchie Records, but the EP almost immediately went out of print when it failed to sell enough units to satisfy the label.[citation needed]Starjob contains well-produced studio tracks, including "Lord Grunge" and one of the most well known Frogs songs, "I Only Play 4 Money."
In 1999, the Frogs covered "Vacation" by the Go-Go's for a tribute album.[9] In that same year, the Four Alarm label issued another LP of the Frogs' old home-recorded and improvised material, called Bananimals. To support these two releases, the Frogs played in Canada for the first time. However, they were stopped at Canadian Customs as officials seized all of their merchandise, declaring it "pornographic."[citation needed] The Frogs had to play their Canadian shows without any merchandise to sell.[citation needed]
The Frogs, through their unique sense of humor, have gained a small but very devoted fan base. Although critics have attacked the Frogs for poor taste, well-known bands and performers have come to their defense.
Kurt Cobain and Nirvana
After meeting Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain in 1993, the Frogs wrote two songs about him and also made him a videotape, Toy Porno. The VHS featured select live performances and stop-motion animation with painted action figures. Action figures and dolls were used as sexually promiscuous characters in various short sketches. The tape became constant viewing material on Nirvana's tour bus.[citation needed] The videotape has since been made available to fans and has become a cult classic.
In the summer of 1994, the Frogs played the second stage at Lollapalooza, with Billy Corgan joining them for their encore of "I Only Play 4 Money" and "Lord Grunge." Corgan continued to support and promote the Frogs by producing a short film, "Meet the Frogs," which he included on the Smashing Pumpkins' 1994 Vieuphoria video compilation.
From August 1996 to February 1997, Dennis Flemion replaced Smashing Pumpkins' recently deceased keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin for the Pumpkins' Infinite Sadness Tour. During each night's encore, Jimmy Flemion performed "1979" (which was influenced by an unreleased Frogs song, "Pleasure") with the Smashing Pumpkins, as well as selecting audience members to dance on stage. The Flemion brothers also appeared on the Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight" single, and sang backing vocals on 1998's Adore.[10][11]
Beck
In 1995, Beck used a sample of the Frogs' song "I Don't Care If U Disrespect Me (Just So You Love Me)" on his song "Where It's At", included on his 1996 release Odelay
Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam
Flemion's bat wings on display at a 2000 Pearl Jam concert
In 1995, Pearl Jam included the Frogs' cover of "Rearviewmirror" (credited to all members of Pearl Jam, but largely written by lead singer Eddie Vedder) as the b-side to their "Immortality" single. The following year, Pearl Jam released a song called "Smile" on their No Code album. According to a story that Vedder told while performing in Milwaukee in 2006, the lyrics of "Smile" were taken directly from a note that Dennis Flemion hid inside Vedder's notebook when Vedder was on stage performing. The words used in the note are taken from the Frogs songs "This Is How I Feel" and "Now I Wanna Be Dead."[12] Vedder told a similar story on Oct. 8, 2000, before performing "Smile" at Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, Wis., although he didn't identify Dennis by name. In the segue between "Daughter" and "Smile," which you can hear on the bootleg from this show, Vedder says, "Someone wrote me a note in my notebook once. He's a good friend of mine. Jeff or Stone wrote this song and they needed words and these words were in this notebook. So every time a copy of 'No Code' is sold, my friend gets like 2/3 of a penny. Which adds up to, well 'No Code,' like $20."[13][14] Dennis also gave Vedder a small pair of bat wings from the Frogs' early days, and Vedder has proudly displayed them behind his guitar amplifier. The wings reportedly can be seen on the front cover of Pearl Jam's Touring Band 2000.[citation needed]
Eddie Vedder has sung "I Only Play For Money," "Starboy," and "The Longing Goes Away" with the Frogs on more than one occasion, and Pearl Jam played "I Only Play For Money" twice in 1995, although one of the performances was during the soundcheck.
Sebastian Bach
In 1997, Jimmy Flemion joined Sebastian Bach's touring band. Rather than stripping Jimmy of his trademark bat wings, the whole band adopted costumes as well.[citation needed] Jimmy also recorded a side project called The Last Hard Men with Bach, Kelley Deal and Jimmy Chamberlin. Bach also performed "Lord Grunge" with the Frogs on an infamous MTV appearance on Oddville. The Frogs destroyed their set and broke several rules set forth by the show's producers, so the producers retaliated by only broadcasting the first verse of the song.
2001-2012
The Frogs performing in Austin, Texas, in 2011
The Frogs' studio effort Hopscotch Lollipop Sunday Surprise was released by Scratchie in 2001. However, Scratchie wasn't happy with the finished album, and they put it out of print after only a few months, just like they had with the previous StarjobEP. Fans were still enthusiastic about the band's Scratchie releases, regardless [citation needed].
After Damian Strigens exited the band in 1998, past bassists such as Brian Hill and Jay Tiller returned for some appearances, while some new bassists began performing with the band, including Josh Silverman, David Geschke, and John W. Busher. Australian Ben Lee made a special guest appearance on bass in New York City on September 28, 2001.
In 2004, R.T. Rybak, mayor of Minneapolis, crowd-surfed at a Frogs concert at First Avenue, a popular nightclub in the Twin Cities, fulfilling a promise made earlier in the summer when the club temporarily closed due to financial difficulties.[15]
The group played a 25th anniversary concert at the Cactus Club in Milwaukee in 2005. Jimmy Flemion opened the show by singing "Now You Know You're Black" from Racially Yours. One attendee noted, "[I]t was a successful fiasco once again...Jimmy is really cute when he wears the bear hat as part of his costume."[16]
On November 13, 2007, Jimmy performed with the Smashing Pumpkins at The Backyard in Austin, TX.[17][18] The Frogs would later open for the Pumpkins on December 7, 2008, in Chicago.[19][20]
In December 2011, two new studio albums were announced via Jimmy's Twitter account, entitled Count Yer Blessingz and Squirrel Bunny Juniper Deluxe.[22] The albums were released on iTunes and Spotify on July 5, 2012.[23]
On July 7, 2012, Dennis went missing at Wind Lake in Racine, Wisconsin.[24][25] His body was recovered from the water on the evening of July 10. His death was ruled an accidental drowning.
2013-present
In the wake of Dennis Flemion's death, Eddie Vedder wrote "Future Days", which was released in 2013 on the Pearl Jam album, Lightning Bolt.[26] Jimmy announced on the band's Facebook page that the band would continue despite Dennis' passing. On July 7, 2017, Jimmy played a tribute show to Dennis at the Barracuda in Austin, Texas. A final album was announced plus talks of a potential documentary.
For its 30th anniversary in 2019, It’s Only Right and Natural was reissued on End Of All Music.[27] The vinyl reissue features remixed and remastered audio of the original album (the original album was accidentally pressed in mono when released in 1989) and comes housed in a gatefold sleeve with newly added artwork (plus track-by-track liner notes and intro by Jimmy).
In November 2019, the Frogs announced a short tour consisting of Jimmy Flemion on guitar and Evan Dando (of the Lemonheads) on drums.[citation needed]
As a follow-up to 2019's reissue of It's Only Right and Natural, the Frogs released 1st on April 3, 2020.[citation needed] Recorded during January 1986, the album, also known as Pat's Session, was intended to be the initial release for the band prior to The Frogs 1988 self-titled debut.[28] Minneapolis based Twin/Tone Records approached The Frogs and expressed fawning interest, extending an invitation to record the band after seeing them live in 1985. Dennis opted not to release due to the overabundance of reverb. Throughout the years, the discussion would persist from other sources on pursuing to fix the reverb on 1st. Thirty-two years later, Jimmy would take the recordings to a Portland, Oregon recording studio to remaster in 2018. The studio engineer successfully cleaned-up and removed the excess reverb.
On February 14, 2020, Jimmy confirmed on the Frogs' Facebook page that a documentary on the band is in the works.
In 2021, a "final" album, Damaged Goods / Sinned in Reverse was released digitally.[citation needed] 2022 saw an expanded version of their debut album and an alternate version of Hopscotch Lollipop Sunday Surprise. The following year, a reissue of an early demo release, Death Songs, was released onto streaming services for its 40th anniversary. It was followed by 1980, a collection of demos recorded in 1980. Expanded and alternate versions of the Starjob EP, entitled Starjob + and Starjob?, rounded out the year's releases. In 2024, Jimmy announced he would be releasing a series of live versions of the band's material, beginning with Rare, focusing on live shows between 1980 and 1984, through Well Done, which focused between 2000 and 2006. Later that year, a deluxe version of Racially Yours, entitled Racially Mine, was released.
Prior to releasing their debut album, the band self-released several demos in very limited numbers. Some songs appearing on these early releases were later re-recorded, but many stayed exclusive. This continued after their debut release, as demo versions of future releases were often given out at shows or given out through their mailing list.
Death Songs (1983, later released in 2023)
Tape #2 (1984)
Pat's Session (1986)
1st LP Outtakes (1987)
Made Up Cassette A (1987)
Made Up Cassette B (1987)
Made Up Cassette C (1987)
Made Up Cassette D (1987)
Made Up Cassette E (1987)
Made Up Reel #1, 6 (1987)
Made Up Reel #2, 3, 4 (1987)
Made Up Reel #5, 7, 9 (1987)
Made Up Reel #6, 8 (1987)
Made Up Reel #10, 11, 12 (1987)
Made Up Reel #13, 14, 15 (1987)
Racially Yours (1991, later released in 2024)
Death Songs Outtakes
Made Up Songs
Made Up Songs1/4
Made Up Songs 1/2
Made Up Songs #10, 11, 12
Made Up Songs #13, 14, 15
Jim's Songs
Jim's Songs #2
MPLS 8-31-85 +
Jingle Bunny
Compilation appearances
Night of the Living Dead (1993, Massacre at Central Hi Records)
Bruce Lee, Heroin, and the Punk Scene (1993, Massacre at Central Hi Records)
The Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band from Chicago. Formed in 1988 by frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, the band has undergone several line-up changes since their reunion in 2006, with Corgan being the primary songwriter and sole constant member since its inception. The current lineup consists of Corgan, Chamberlin, and Iha. The band has a diverse, densely layered sound, which evolved throughout their career and has contained elements of gothic rock, heavy metal, grunge, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shoegaze, dream pop, and electronica.
Eddie Jerome Vedder is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and one of three guitarists for the rock band Pearl Jam. He was previously a guest vocalist for supergroup Temple of the Dog, a tribute band dedicated to the late singer Andrew Wood.
No Code is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1996, through Epic Records. Following a troubled tour for its previous album, Vitalogy (1994), in which Pearl Jam engaged in a much-publicized boycott of Ticketmaster, the band went into the studio to record its follow-up. The music on the record was more diverse than what the band had done on previous releases, incorporating elements of garage rock and worldbeat.
D'arcy Elizabeth Wretzky is an American musician. She was the original bassist of the alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins and is credited on their first six studio albums. She left the band in 1999. She has also been a member of Catherine and performed with Filter.
The Aeroplane Flies High is a five-disc box set released by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins in 1996. It contains expanded versions of the five singles from their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and also included a 44-page booklet with pictures and writings by the band's lead singer Billy Corgan, as well as lyrics. A limited edition release, the box reached number 42 on the Billboard charts. Originally intended to be limited to 200,000 copies, Virgin Records produced more after the original run sold out due to overwhelming and unexpected demand. The album was remastered in 2013 under the supervision of frontman Billy Corgan and reissued on vinyl and as a CD/DVD box set.
Adore is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on June 2, 1998, by Virgin Records. After the multi-platinum success of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and a subsequent world tour, Adore was considered "one of the most anticipated albums of 1998" by MTV. Recording the album proved to be a challenge as the band members struggled with lingering interpersonal problems, musical uncertainty in the wake of three increasingly successful rock albums, and the departure of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Frontman Billy Corgan would later characterize Adore as made by "a band falling apart". Corgan was also going through a divorce and the death of his mother while recording the album.
Jack Steven Irons is an American drummer. He is the founding drummer of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers until he departed in 1988 and is a former member of Pearl Jam and Eleven.
"Man of the Hour" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Written by vocalist Eddie Vedder, "Man of the Hour" accompanies the closing credits of the 2003 film Big Fish, and is the first track on the film's soundtrack album. It was released as a single on November 26, 2003. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .
Dennis Flemion was a founding member, with his younger brother Jimmy, of the controversial independent rock band the Frogs. He was the primary percussionist for the band and was also a temporary member of the Smashing Pumpkins from 1996 to 1997, filling in on live keyboards following the death of Jonathan Melvoin. The Flemion brothers also appeared on "Medellia of the Gray Skies" on the band's single for "Tonight, Tonight". On Adore, the brothers backed vocals for "To Sheila" and "Behold! The Night-Mare".
The Last Hard Men were an alternative music supergroup composed of former Skid Row vocalist Sebastian Bach, The Frogs guitarist Jimmy Flemion, The Breeders guitarist–vocalist Kelley Deal, and The Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.
It's Only Right and Natural is the second album by the band The Frogs and was released in 1989 by Homestead Records. Gerard Cosloy, who was in charge of Homestead at the time, came into possession of some of the Flemion Brothers' improvised homemade tapes and signed them to the label. The Flemions were originally hoping that Homestead would release their debut album The Frogs, but Cosloy convinced them to release a gay-themed album instead. The album was recorded on 4-Track reel-to-reel in Dennis's living room and was originally meant to be for the Flemion brothers and their friends' own amusement, and was not originally considered for release.
My Daughter the Broad is an album by the American band the Frogs, released in 1996. It is a compilation of improvised homemade recordings that were mostly recorded in the late 1980s. Many of the songs continue themes from It's Only Right and Natural, such as homosexual supremacy and social conservative fears.
Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. The band's lineup consists of founding members Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, as well as Matt Cameron (drums), who joined in 1998. Keyboardist Boom Gaspar has also been a touring/session member with the band since 2002. Former members include Dave Krusen, Matt Chamberlain, Dave Abbruzzese, and Jack Irons, all of whom were the band's drummers from 1990 to 1998. Pearl Jam has outsold and outlasted many of its contemporaries from the early 1990s, and is considered one of the most influential bands from that decade, dubbed "the most popular American rock and roll band of the '90s".
Starjob is an EP by The Frogs that was recorded in 1994, and finally released in 1997. Billy Corgan produced the record under the alias "Johnny Goat", and Jimmy Chamberlin played bongos on the song "Raped".
Live at Easy Street is a live EP by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam that includes songs taken from a surprise in-store performance at Easy Street Records in West Seattle on April 29, 2005. The EP was released on vinyl to celebrate Record Store Day on April 13, 2019.
Racially Yours is an album by the band the Frogs, released in 2000. The album was originally presented to Homestead Records in the early '90s, but they refused to release it due to its controversial subject matter. At this point the album only consisted of the first 12 songs. After much delay, it was released in 2000 on Four Alarm Records with an additional 13 tracks, and a tongue-in-cheek sticker proclaiming it "the most controversial album of all time."
Hopscotch Lollipop Sunday Surprise is a studio album by The Frogs, released in 2001. Although brushing on satirical homoerotic and religious themes, the album chiefly consists of serious love songs. Musically, the album features heavy electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and industrial/electronic beats mixed. There is also a cover of Bob Dylan's 1973 song, "Billy 1". Hopscotch is considerably better-produced than most of the Frogs' material, which can sometimes be no more than home recordings. Scratchie Records released the album in early 2001 but cut further distribution after weak initial sales, much to the band's disgust.
Toy Porno is a self-released experimental art film by The Frogs. The amateur videotape was compiled in October 1993, as a gift for Kurt Cobain. It would soon become frequent viewing material on the Nirvana tour bus, and later on the Foo Fighters tour bus as well. Later, after generated copies began circulating amongst fans, the band began selling copies at shows. The tape is only available in VHS format. The band plans to release a DVD version but want to digitally re-create the compilation from the original masters and need time and funds to do so. The file is available for download online in AVI format through various outlets.
"All the Way" is a song written and performed by Evanston, Illinois native and Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder about the Chicago Cubs. It was first performed in public on August 2, 2007, recorded on August 21, 2008 and August 22, 2008, and released as a single on September 18, 2008.
This article summarizes the events related to rock music for the year of 2012.
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