Blind Melon biography
Blind Melon is an American rock band active from 1989 to 1999, and from 2006 onward.
Best remembered for their 1993 single "No Rain", the group enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early 1990s with their neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock. The 1995 death of lead vocalist Shannon Hoon halted the band's activity, and the members went on hiatus until officially disbanding in 1999. The band reformed with new lead vocalist Travis Warren in 2006, and although Warren departed two years later, he has since resumed performing with the band. The band has developed a strong cult following over the years.
It's possible that Blind Melon is some form of reference to the 1920s' Blues artist Blind Lemon Jefferson. Cheech & Chong had an act involving a character named Blind Melon Chitlin which was itself a reference to Blind Lemon. Another story states that the band took its name from the bassist Brad's father, who teased the band calling them "Blind Melons". Even if this story is the true inspiration, the possibility that the father took the reference from either the early blues artist or the skit in parody of him still exists. The reference to Blind Lemon Jefferson also fits the band's blues-influenced style.
Early history
Blind Melon formed in California in 1989, with members from Indiana, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania. The band signed to Capitol Records in 1991 and recorded an unreleased demo. The band's initial popularity is partially attributed to 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 album (one example being "Don't Cry").
The band's self-titled debut album, produced by Rick Parashar (producer on Pearl Jam's Ten), contained 13 songs and sold poorly until the "No Rain" single was released in September 1993. The single, promoted by a music video featuring the "Bee Girl" (played by Heather DeLoach), helped launch the commercial success of the band, eventually leading the album to quadruple-platinum status, debuting in the Billboard top 40 on 10/9/93 and peaking at #11 on the Hot 100.
1994-1995
Rise to Fame
In 1994, the band began recording its second album,
Soup, in New Orleans with producer Andy Wallace. In August, the band went to perform at Woodstock 94, and had a positive performance. The band opened for the Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge Tour that fall.
Soup 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.
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