Bloodhound Gang
The Bloodhound Gang is an American rock band from Pennsylvania. Formed in 1992 by rappers Jimmy Pop and Michael "Daddy Long Legs" Bowe (now in Wolfpac), the band is known for its crude lyrics which are full of sexual innuendos.[2] The band has sold more than six million albums since its formation[3][4] and is best known for their singles "Fire Water Burn", "The Bad Touch", "Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo", "Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss", "The Ballad of Chasey Lain", and a hard rock version of The Association's 1966 pop song "Along Comes Mary".
"The Bloodhound Gang" redirects here. For the segment on the TV show 3-2-1 Contact, see The Bloodhound Gang (TV series).
Bloodhound Gang
History[edit]
Origins, formation, and early days (1988–1995)[edit]
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 new band's name from "The Bloodhound Gang", a segment on the 1980s PBS children's show 3-2-1 Contact that featured three young detectives solving mysteries and fighting crime. 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[5] 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.[3] 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."[3]
In April 1994, the band released their second demo tape, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to Hitler's Handicapped Helpers. This resulted in a record deal with Cheese Factory Records.
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.[6]
In November 1994, the Bloodhound Gang released their first EP, Dingleberry Haze.
Use Your Fingers (1995)[edit]
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.[3]
One Fierce Beer Coaster (1996–1997)[edit]
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."[7] 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,[8] 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."[9][10]
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.[11] 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.[7]
Hooray for Boobies (1998–2000)[edit]
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.[3]
In 2003, the band released a DVD, One Fierce Beer Run, which chronicled their 1997 One Fierce Beer Coaster tour.[3]
Onstage antics[edit]
The band caused controversy in 2006 when they started using a "golden shower" act onstage during a rendition of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence" at Rock am Ring and Pinkpop.[27]
On July 30, 2013, during a concert in Kyiv, Ukraine, band member Jared Hasselhoff was seen urinating on the flag of Ukraine while on stage.[28] The incident drew outrage from local politicians,[29] and the band faced criminal charges of hooliganism. Days later, after an onstage stunt involving the flag of Russia in Odesa, where Hasselhoff stuffed the flag down the front of his pants and pulled it out of the back in addition to shouting at the crowd to "Don't tell Putin", the band's show in Anapa, Russia was cancelled, and the band members were assaulted at the airport, including being pelted with eggs and rotten tomatoes. A flag of the United States was also trampled and spat on.
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.[30][31] 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.[32]