Blind Melon

Infobox musical artist
Name = Blind Melon


Img_capt = Early photo of Blind Melon
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = California, United States
Genre = Alternative rock, jam band, Psychedelic
Years_active = 1991–95, 2006–present
Label = EMI, Capitol
URL = [http://www.blindmelon.com www.blindmelon.com]
Current_members = Travis Warren
Christopher Thorn
Rogers Stevens
Brad Smith
Glenn Graham
Past_members = Shannon Hoon

Blind Melon is an American rock band that originally existed from 1991 to 1995, and ceased with the death of lead vocalist Shannon Hoon shortly after the release of the band's second album. The band reformed with the new lead vocalist Travis Warren in 2006.

History

Early history

Blind Melon formed in California in 1991, with members from Indiana, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania. The band signed to Capitol Records the same year and recorded an unreleased demo. The band gained buzz from vocalist Hoon's association with Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose, and Hoon's backing vocals on several Guns N' Roses tracks on 1991's "Use Your Illusion" albums, most notably "Don't Cry". [Prato, Greg. " [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Bcr3m961o3ep6 Blind Melon] ". Allmusic. Retrieved July 24, 2005.]

The band's self-titled debut album, produced by Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam), contained thirteen songs spanning a wide sonic palette. The aggressive dual lead guitars and shouted vocals of "Soak the Sin" and "Tones of Home" evoked heavy metal and classic rock; "Time"'s spacious bridge and ambient, winding outro shared commonalities with Grateful Dead-style improvisational music, while acoustic songs "Change" and "No Rain" hinted at pop and folk influences. The album sold poorly until the "No Rain" single became a smash success in November of 1993, led by a popular music video featuring the "Bee Girl" (played by Heather DeLoach). Thematically, the video suggested a social outcast eventually finding a supportive community through trial and error. Subsequently, "Blind Melon" went platinum four times. After opening for Neil Young, Lenny Kravitz, Soundgarden and The Rolling Stones, Blind Melon's own tour was cut short due to Hoon's escalating drug abuse.

1994–1995

In 1994, the band began recording their second album, "Soup", in New Orleans with producer Andy Wallace. The album was released in 1995, and predominantly featured shorter songs with a less conventional alternative rock approach. The lyrics to "St. Andrew's Fall" referenced a suicide jump, while "New Life" discussed the forthcoming birth of Hoon's child. "Mouthful of Cavities" featured backing vocals from Jena Kraus, who subsequently recorded a solo record with Christopher Thorn and Brad Smith. Possibly because of the more experimental sound (the album begins and ends with New Orleans style jazz and has a hodgepodge of instrumentation throughout), the album failed to meet sales expectations.

In 1995, Blind Melon contributed a version of the song "Out on the Tiles" to the "Encomium" tribute album to Led Zeppelin, as well as a promotional CD with a cover of the Schoolhouse Rock! song "Three Is a Magic Number".

Against the advice of Hoon's drug counselor, Blind Melon went on tour in support of "Soup". Hoon was found dead on the band's tour bus of a cocaine overdose on October 21, 1995 in New Orleans. The remaining members released "Nico" (named for Hoon's daughter, only thirteen weeks old when her father died) in 1996, with the profits going to a program that helps musicians with drug and alcohol addiction. "Nico" contained unreleased songs from the "Soup" recording sessions, as well as other songs often recorded with only partial instrumentation. The closing track, "Letters from a Porcupine", was recorded as a telephone message left by Hoon on Thorn's answering machine. "Nico" included covers of Steppenwolf and John Lennon songs.

Blind Melon officially disbanded on March 4, 1999 and the various members went on to other projects.

Compilations and reunification

In 2002, Capitol Records released a "Classic Masters" CD showcasing twelve Blind Melon songs. Thanks to stronger-than-expected sales, the band released "The Best of Blind Melon" in 2005, a CD+DVD package that features Blind Melon performing live from a September 1995 concert in Chicago. On December 15, 2006, a tribute album to Blind Melon was released by Yakmusic in New Zealand featuring bands from all over the world. In April 2006, Capitol Records released the "Live at the Palace" CD that was re-released October 17, 2006 with a new package.

On September 15, 2006, it was announced that Blind Melon has reunited with a new lead singer, Travis Warren, formerly of Rain Fur Rent. [ [http://www.blindmelon.com Blind Melon's site] ] [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003286179 "Billboard" article] ] On November 9, 2006 three new Blind Melon songs were released: "Make a Difference", "For My Friends" and "Harmful Belly". On October 7, 2007 Blind Melon performed their first show in twelve years in Providence, Rhode Island.

On April 22, 2008, the band released "For My Friends" on Adrenaline Records. The first single, "Wishing Well", was released on March 4, 2008. A U.S. tour in support of the album began February 28. Around this time, "Billboard" confirmed that a book about the Hoon era of the band is forthcoming. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003699714] .

Book

In September 2008, New York based music journalist Greg Prato released a book titled ‘A Devil on One Shoulder and an Angel on the Other: The Story of Shannon Hoon and Blind Melon’.

The book is available exclusively as a print-per-order via www.lulu.com. It contains never-before-seen photos and was put together from more than 50 exclusive interviews from surviving band members, members of bands they toured with, producers, friends and family members.

The title comes from a phrase that guitarist Rogers Stevens once used to describe Shannon Hoon.

Members

Current members

* Travis Warren – vocals, acoustic guitar
* Christopher Thorn – guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, harmonica
* Rogers Stevens – guitar, piano
* Brad Smith – bass, flute, backing vocals
* Glenn Graham – drum kit, percussion

Former members

* Shannon Hoon – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica (1991–1995, deceased)

Discography

tudio albums

*"Blind Melon" (September 22, 1992) [4X Platinum] 4X Platinum in Canada
*"Soup" (August 15, 1995) Gold in Canada
*"Nico" (November 12, 1996)
*"For My Friends" (April 22, 2008)

Compilation albums

*""(January 29, 2002)
*"The Best of Blind Melon" (September 27, 2005)

Live albums

*"Live at the Palace" (April 4, 2006)

ingles

Timeline of significant events

1960s (births)

* September 26, 1967: Richard Shannon Hoon born in Lafayette, Indiana
* September 29 1968: Brad Smith born in West Point, Mississippi
* December 5, 1968: Glen Graham born in Columbus, Mississippi
* December 16, 1968: Christopher Thorn born in Dover, Pennsylvania
* October 31, 1970: Rogers Stevens born in West Point, Mississippi

Late 1980s – early 1990s

* 1989: Blind Melon forms in Los Angeles, California
* 1991: Shannon Hoon duets with Axl Rose on the Guns N’ Roses track "Don’t Cry", from "Use Your Illusion"
* 1991: Blind Melon signs with Capitol Records
* 1992: Blind Melon tours as part of MTV’s "120 Minutes Tour" (alongside Public Image Limited, Big Audio Dynamite, and Live)
* September 14, 1992: Blind Melon's self-titled debut is released
* 1992–1994: Blind Melon opens for the likes of Neil Young, Soundgarden, Ozzy Osbourne, Lenny Kravitz, and Guns N’ Roses, in addition to their own headlining tour of clubs
* 1993: "No Rain" released as single, video aired heavily on MTV
* December 17, 1993: "Blind Melon" certified double platinum certification
* January 8, 1994: "Saturday Night Live" appearance ("No Rain" and "Paper Scratcher" are performed)
* March 1, 1994: Blind Melon is nominated for two Grammy Awards – Best Rock Performance and Best New Artist
* April 8, 1994: "Late Show with David Letterman" appearance ("Change" is performed and dedicated to Kurt Cobain, whose body was discovered that day)
* August 13, 1994: Blind Melon plays Woodstock '94, between Joe Cocker and the Rollins Band

Mid to late 1990s

* August 15, 1995: "Soup" released
* September 19, 1995: U.S. tour begins
* September 21, 1995: Second “Late Show with David Letterman” appearance (“Galaxie” is performed)
* October 21, 1995: Shannon Hoon dies from a drug overdose
* November 12, 1996: "Nico" and "Letters from a Porcupine" released
* November 13, 1995: "Blind Melon" certified quadruple platinum
* February 25, 1998: "Letters from a Porcupine" is nominated for Best Long Form Music Video at the Grammy Awards
* March 4, 1999: After an attempt to find a new singer does not pan out, Blind Melon officially disbands

2000s

* September 9, 2001: VH1’s "Behind the Music: Blind Melon" premieres
* September 27, 2005: "Tones of Home: The Best of Blind Melon" (CD) and "Live at the Metro" (DVD) released
* April 4, 2006: "Live at the Palace" released
* October 17, 2006: "Live at the Palace" reissued
* December 15, 2006: "Twenty Stories Below", a tribute album to Blind Melon is set to be released on YakMusic label
* September 15, 2006: Blind Melon announce that Travis Warren, formerly of Rain Fur Rent is the new lead singer of the band and that they are working on two new albums.
* October 7, 2007: Blind Melon play their first live show since Shannon Hoon's death in 1995. The continue to tour through October and November.
* October 16, 2007: Blind Melon performs on the Mancow radio show.
* February 28, 2008: US tour starts in Riverdale, NJ. The tour will last throughout much of 2008.
* March 4, 2008: New Single "Wishing Well" available for digital download.
* April 22, 2008: New album "For My Friends" is released.

Other projects featuring former members

*The Tender Trio – featuring Royston Langdon of Spacehog, Rogers Stevens of Blind Melon, Rene Lopez (NYC musician)

*Unified Theory – "Unified Theory" – Brad Smith, Christopher Thorn

*Extra Virgin – "12 Stories High" – Rogers StevensAudio CD (April 24, 2001)
Label: Old Lady
ASIN: B00005BC88

*Live – "Distance to Here" – Christopher ThornAudio CD (October 5, 1999)
Original Release Date: October 5, 1999
Label: Mca
Catalog: #111966
ASIN: B00001QENU

*Mercy – "Abandon Jalopy" – Brad Smith, Christopher Thorn, Glen Graham, Rogers StevensAudio CD (June 12, 2001)
Original Release Date: June 12, 2001Number of Discs: 1
Label: Stankface
ASIN: B00005MG93

*Joe Tullos – "Scoundrel's Waltz" – Brad Smith, Rogers Stevens, Glen GrahamAudio CD (June 3, 1997)
Original Release Date: June 03, 1997
Label: Dinosaur
Catalog: #84511
ASIN: B000005CGQ

*James Mathus – "Songs for Rosetta" – Glen GrahamAudio CD (August 31, 1999)
Original Release Date: October 21, 1997
Label: Mammoth / Pgd
Catalog: #980179
ASIN: B000004AYB

*Amy Correia – "Carnival Love" – Brad Smith, Christopher ThornAudio CD (September 12, 2000)
Original Release Date: September 12, 2000
Label: Capitol
Catalog: #98221
ASIN: B00004X0PJ

*Anna Nalick – "Wreck of the Day" – Brad Smith, Christopher ThornAudio CD (April 19, 2005)
Original Release Date: April 19, 2005
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Sony
ASIN: B00061U64S

ee also

*List of alternative music artists
*List of drug-related deaths
*Unified Theory (band)

References

* [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5937232/blind_melons_last_slices 2004 news article for Rolling Stone.com]
* [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000979164 2005 news article for Billboard.com about best of & live DVD]
* [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003286179 2006 news article for Billboard.com about band reuniting w/ new singer]

External links

* [http://www.blindmelon.com Blind Melon] official website
*
* [http://www.blindmelonmusic.com Blind Melon website] run by Capitol Records
*