Gin Blossoms

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Gin Blossoms

Background information
Origin Tempe, Arizona
Genre(s) Alternative Rock
Years active 1987 - 1996
2002 - Present
Label(s) A&M Records
Hybrid Recordings
Website www.ginblossoms.net
Members
Jesse Valenzuela, Bill Leen, Scott Johnson, Robin Wilson
Former members
Richard Taylor, Phillip Rhodes, Doug Hopkins
This article is about the band Gin Blossoms; for the medical condition known by the term, see Rosacea.

Gin Blossoms are an alternative rock band formed in 1987, in Tempe, Arizona. They took their name from a photo of W.C. Fields which bore the caption "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms," referring to the actor's gin-ravaged nose. The band, who were musically weaned on The Byrds and Tom Petty[citation needed], released three albums and had several hits in the mid 1990s, before breaking up in 1997. Five years later in 2002, the band reunited, released a DVD, resumed touring, and promised a fourth album. Major Lodge Victory, the Gin Blossoms' first album in ten years, was released on August 8, 2006 on the Hybrid Recordings label.

Contents

[edit] History

Members during the band's early years included guitarist and songwriter Doug Hopkins, bassist Bill Leen, vocalist Jesse Valenzuela, guitarist Richard Taylor, drummer Chris McCann, McCann's replacement Dan Henzerling, and Taylor's replacement Robin Wilson.

By the early 1990s, the lineup had changed to Leen on bass, Hopkins on guitar, Valenzuela on guitar and vocals, Wilson on vocals and acoustic guitar, and Phillip Rhodes on drums. During work on the group's second major-label record, Hopkins was fired and replaced with Scott Johnson. Ironically, Hopkins' songs "Hey Jealousy" and "Found Out About You" went on to become hit singles. Their success was overshadowed by Hopkins' suicide in 1993. It was because of this tragedy that the band named its 1996 album Congratulations… I'm Sorry. The name was a reflection of what so many people were telling the band after the success of 1992's New Miserable Experience which was followed so closely by the death of Hopkins.

The Blossoms broke up in the spring of 1997, and each band member moved on to his own project. Vocalist Wilson and drummer Rhodes launched the Gas Giants, and Wilson also contributed vocals on The Longshadows album Simple Minded Way. Bassist Leen retired from music to operate a rare-book store. Guitarist Valenzuela fronted a short-lived outfit called the Low Watts, released a solo album, and kept busy writing and producing. Wilson ventured into producing as well, at his Mayberry Studios in Tempe, Arizona.

The Gas Giants announced an "indefinite hiatus" in June 2001. On December 4, 2001, it was announced that Scott would leave his current band, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, to rejoin the Gin Blossoms. The band regrouped and began playing together again in earnest (having done a couple of one-off shows in the interim) in 2002.

The only Blossom not involved in the reunion is Rhodes, who, for personal reasons, decided not to drum with the band. Phil Leavitt of dada originally took Rhodes' place in the lineup, and then Gary Smith (of The Pistoleros, another Tempe band) stepped in. Scott Kusmirek took over drumming for the band from 2002 to 2004. In January 2005, it was announced that Rhodes would rejoin the band. The re-entry of Rhodes was short-lived, however. Kusmirek returned to the band, taking Rhodes' place. "The Kooze," as he is affectionately known, is the current drummer for the Gin Blossoms.

The band's latest album, Major Lodge Victory, was recorded at Robin Wilson's Mayberry Studios in Tempe, then re-recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis. It was released by Hybrid Recordings on August 8, 2006, and "Learning the Hard Way" was the first single. Major Lodge Victory debuted at number 159 on the Billboard 200 album chart. This was the first time the Gin Blossoms had appeared on the Billboard 200 chart in 10 years, one month, and two weeks [1]. Gin Blossoms had last appeared on the chart during the week of July 13, 1996, with their previous album, Congratulations… I'm Sorry.

Frontman Robin Wilson is best known for his interaction with the crowd. He often hands off a tamborine to a lucky fan in the front row to strike in sync with the drum beat. He's also been known to sing directly into fans' cell phones during some of their more established hits such as "Follow You Down" and "Til I Hear It From You".

[edit] Trivia

The Blossoms' song "Mrs. Rita" is about a psychic in their hometown of Tempe, Arizona.

All of the Gin Blossoms' albums were recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, where Big Star and The Replacements recorded their albums. Their producer, John Hampton, also worked as an engineer on the album Pleased to Meet Me by The Replacements.

During an outside show in Chicago (with Alanis Morissette) in 1995, Wilson missed 2 lines of Hey Jealousy. After the song was over he said "Man, somebody mooned me." "I was trying to remember all the words and I see some guy's hairy ass."

Often during live performances, frontman Robin Wilson will introduce the band to the audience. He typically calls himself "Bif Del Monte," and introduces Jesse Valenzuela as his brother, "Pablo Del Monte." Former member and co-founder of the band, Doug Hopkins (deceased), was known as "Otis Del Monte," while bass player Bill Leen is known as "Soup-bone Del Monte," and drummer Phillip Rhodes as "Guido Del Monte." These nicknames came from the band's early days playing at local bars around their hometown of Tempe, Arizona. As the story goes, one night the band was set to perform a gig at Long Wong's, a local bar. However, the members were forced to change their names, in order to avoid trouble with the law. The band went on the bill as the Del Montes, and the name stuck.

[edit] Discography

Dusted
1989

New Miserable Experience
August 4, 1992 US #30, 4x Platinum

Congratulations… I'm Sorry
February 13, 1996 US: Platinum

Outside Looking In: The Best of the Gin Blossoms
October 19, 1999

Major Lodge Victory August 8, 2006

Full-Lengths:

EPs:

Compilations:

  • Outside Looking In: The Best of the Gin Blossoms (1999)
  • New Miserable Experience - Deluxe Edition (2 CD Boxset) (2002)
  • 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Gin Blossoms (2003)

Soundtracks:

DVDs:

[edit] Singles

Year Song Billboard Hot 100 Mainstream Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks US Adult Contemporary Adult Top 40 Album
1993 "Mrs. Rita" - #36 - - - New Miserable Experience
1993 "Hey Jealousy" #25 #4 - - - New Miserable Experience
1994 "Until I Fall Away" - #40 #13 #23 - New Miserable Experience
1994 "Found Out About You" #25 #5 #1 - #38 New Miserable Experience
1994 "Allison Road" - #20 #39 - - New Miserable Experience
1995 "Til I Hear It From You" #9 #4 #5 - #3 Empire Records [Soundtrack]
1996 "Follow You Down" #9 #6 #8 #22 #3 Congratulations… I'm Sorry
1996 "Day Job" - #29 #21 - - Congratulations… I'm Sorry
1996 "As Long As It Matters" #75 - - - #30 Congratulations… I'm Sorry
2006 "Learning The Hard Way" - - - - - Major Lodge Victory
2006 "Long Time Gone" - - - - - Major Lodge Victory

[edit] External links

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