Phunk Junkeez

Infobox musical artist
Name = Phunk Junkeez

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Img_capt = The current Phunk Junkeez line-up.
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Genre = Rap Rock (Rapcore)Punk
Years_active = 1991 — present
Label =
URL = [http://www.phunkjunkeez.com/ www.phunkjunkeez.com]
Current_members = Soulman
Jumbo Jim
Danny P
DJ Roach Clip
Money Mike
Milky
Past_members = Mike Kramer
K-Tel Disco
Jeff O'Rourke
Disco Danny Dynamite
Steve Dukes The Phunk Junkeez are an American rap rock band from Phoenix, Arizona that formed in 1991 and have established a strong underground following. The band regularly tours the United States and Japan.

The Phunk Junkeez were one of the first bands to fuse a number of different styles in their music, from hardcore punk to trip-hop. Many of the band's early shows involved breaking into warehouses in the Phoenix area and performing to fans who were all invited by word-of-mouth. Phunk Junkeez concerts often attracted the attention of local police who threatened to throw the band in jail. The band grew large enough to start playing legitimate venues, such as The Electric Ballroom, Club Rio, Mesa Amphitheater, and Compton Terrace, sometimes selling out multiple nights at some of these venues. Eventually, the band was signed to Trauma Records/Interscope Records and have released six albums over the last 20 years. Although the band has had some member changes through its career, the band still has three original members: Soulman, Jumbo Jim, and DJ Roach Clip.

History

The Phunk Junkeez founders, Kirk Reznik (a.k.a. "K-Tel Disco") and Joe Valiente ("Soulman"), "paid a fortune in dues together starting in 1985", when they started performing to prerecorded beats under the name "White Boy Rap", a name "Soulman" used for solo performances as an opening act for such artists as MC Hammer and Run-D.M.C. [http://toxicpr.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=13] ] That project turned into "BumRap" in 1987, followed by the "Phunk Junkeez" in 1990. The two rappers added a band in 1991, along with Roach Clip, a local hip-hop deejay of some renown. Other band members included Jumbo Jim (bassist), Mike Kramer (guitarist), and Disco Danny Dynamite (a.k.a Disco Danny D, Disco Dan) on drums. The Phunk Junkeez were a massively popular act in the Valley throughout the early '90s, playing huge, illegal warehouse keggers and routinely drawing more than 1,000 fans into clubs. [http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1996-09-05/music/overdose/ Phoenix New Times - Overdose - September 05, 1996] ]

In Mesa, Arizona at a September 24, 1993 concert at the Mesa Amphitheater (opening for Dada), Phunk Junkeez had to be pulled from the stage after playing for several minutes past the city curfew, despite the requests of the producer and threats of calling the police. The Phunk Junkeez would not allow the show's producer Brad Laughlin to interrupt the set. This forced the venue to shut off the PA. The band kept playing with only stage amplifiers and soon the lights were cut as well. Once back stage, the band's leader K-Tel Disco tossed tables and chairs and threatened the producers of the event, who left without paying the band. By then a large percentage of the audience left the venue, not wanting to see the mild pop of Dada, despite the popularity of their hit song "Dizz Knee Land". Earlier that day leaders of LDS (Mormon) church (and owners of the amphitheater) were having seminars at the near-by Sheraton hotel which overlooks the venue; during sound check the obscenities were loud enough that the band was banned from playing at Mesa Amphitheater for many years. They have played the venue at least twice since, the last time being the Insane Clown Posse and 2 Live Crew in 2003.

The band released their self-titled debut-album in 1992. This album, was one of the most popular local releases from a Phoenix band in 1992 and 1993, and according to Zia Records music retailer it sold almost 30,000 copies in Phoenix alone.Fact|date=July 2008|May seem speculative or biased. The Phunk Junkeez were signed to Trauma Records/Interscope Records releasing their second album,"Injected" (1995), nationwide. This release was recorded in Atlanta and produced by Angelo Moore of Fishbone and Ross Robinson (Korn, Slipknot, At the Drive-In). [http://toxicpr.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=13/ Best of 2000- Toxic PR - 2000] ] "Injected" produced a successful single, "I Love it Loud," which was played in rotation on alternative stations nationwide accompanied by a video featuring Chris Farley and David Spade, and was featured on the Tommy Boy soundtrack. "I Love it Loud" eventually reached a peak of 38 on the U.S. Billboard Music Charts. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=33338&model.vnuAlbumId=381003 Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Phunk Junkeez] ] Another track from the album "B-Boy Hard" was featured on the soundtrack to National Lampoon's Senior Trip.

K-Tel Disco (Reznik) was forced out of the band in August of 1996 because of differences of opinion regarding the musical direction of the band. According to Reznik, he found out from the band's manager when the other band members stopped returning his calls that he was no longer in the band. Reznik was quoted as saying it was all handled "real shitty." He also mentioned that in 1995 the band was experiencing difficulties with their recording label Trauma Records who had rejected all but 2 of 30 songs the band turned in and demanded that the band write 28 more "acceptable" songs or forfeit their record deal altogether. DJ Roach Clip told Phoenix New Times magazine that " [t] here were some personal issues I'm not going to go into, but, yeah, the term 'artistic differences' would apply. He wanted things to be more punk agro. Now we're down to the core unit, this is what we all feel good with."

The band later released "Fear of a Wack Planet" in 1998, which was recorded in Amsterdam and produced by Lee Popa. At this point, the band began touring with such acts as 311, Incubus, No Doubt, Shootzy Groove, The Urge, Insane Clown Posse, Two Skinny J's, and Clutch. [http://toxicpr.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=13/ Best of 2000- Toxic PR - 2000] ] However, "Sex, Drugs and Rap N' Roll" (2001) was the release that marked the start of the band becoming more independent and underground. The album was released on the independent label Uncle Scam RecordsCarlos Santana, Madonna, Guns 'n' Roses). [http://www.studioexpresso.com/profiles/jeffreypoe.htm/ Farewell Jeff Poe - Studio Express - 2006] ] One of the singles off the album, "What's Next", featured a collaboration with Sen Dog of Cypress Hill. [http://toxicpr.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=13/Best of 2000- Toxic PR - 2000] ] During the "Sex, Drugs and Rap N' Roll" tour they joined up with Suburban Noize Records while supporting Kottonmouth Kings for most of spring and summer of 2002. The band began to tour over 300 days a year on both major and secondary markets in support of this album. The Phunk Junkeez then signed a record deal with Suburban Noize and released their fifth album, "Rock It Science", the following year. The songs, "Same Ole Song," and "Fall In Line," from "Rock It Science" appeared on the soundtrack to Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. On August 23rd, 2007 the Phunk Junkeez released their most recent album entitled "Hydro Phonic".Upon completing another tour of the U.S. and Japan, DJ Soulman struck out alone on a DJ tour of Japan. [www.phunkjunkeez.com/ Phunk Junkeez - Tours - 2008] ]

Members

The Phunk Junkeez have seen a number of band members come and go since their inception. Below the current members:

ingles

DVDs

Miscellanea

*DJs Soulman and Roach Clip are both natives of Alaska and grew up in the same trailer park, although never met in person until both had grown up and moved to Arizona.
*The band's official website, PhunkJunkeez.com, is maintained by the band.
*The Phunk Junkeez were given a shout out in in the song "Jackolantern's Weather" from 311's self titled album released in 1995 as well as 311's "Misdirected Hostility".
*Former Phunk Junkeez members K-tel Disco and Jeff O'Rouke recorded an album "Funky Dedication" in 2006 under the name "K-Tel and the Jeff Effect". [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2006_10_funkydedication.html/ Rap Reviews.com - K-Tel Disco and the Jeff Effect - 2006] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.phunkjunkeez.com Phunk Junkeez official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/phunkjunkeez Phunk Junkeez on MySpace]