Supagroup is a rock and roll band from New Orleans, Louisiana. They were formed in the mid-1990s by brothers Chris Lee and Benji Lee from Anchorage, Alaska. Both were students at Tulane University and started playing together as SAP or Shit Ass Punks. Previously, Chris had played bass in New Orleans sludge rock band, Critical Dump. Unlike their name suggests, Supagroup is not a supergroup, as none of its members have ever reached a celebrity status. However, the Lee brothers claim to be distantly related to the martial arts legend Bruce Lee. Because of this, Supagroup's albums have had martial arts imagery and Supagroup has used the slogan "Kung Fu Rock n' Roll." Chris Lee married former White Zombie bassist Sean Yseult on January 12, 2008.[1]
The group has enjoyed some success touring around the nation. In early 2003, the band won the New Orleans regional poll in The 2nd Annual Independent Music Awards for their song "She's Hot (I'm On A Roll)". Although the band has not reached popularity, their single "What's Your Problem?" has had airtime on the local New Orleans New Rock station 106.7 The End KKND and Q94.5 The Q in McAllen Texas where they headline with Vince Niel of Mötley Crüe July 15 2007. Most reviews of the band in the press are quite positive. In 2004, the band toured with Alice Cooper, opening for his shows. During the shows Supagroup received a standing ovation, something Alice Cooper claims hasn't happened since Guns N' Roses opened for him. The band commonly calls their followers supagroupies.
The band's first album, Planet Rock, was self-produced and self-released on their own Prison Planet label. They followed that with a live album. In 2001, Rock and Roll Tried to Ruin My Life, produced by Jack Endino, was released in a limited quantity. 2004's self-titled album was produced by Benji Lee and Trina Shoemaker.[2] The band's 2007 album, Fire for Hire includes a number of studio versions of songs that first appeared on their We Came to Rock You live album, as well as songs influenced by the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina.
Supagroup has released two music videos: one for "What's Your Problem?" from 2003's Supagroup album, and one for "Let's Go (Get Wasted)" from 2005's Rules album. The "What's Your Problem?" video features Supagroup band members rocking with midgets and a young woman, whom the song is fictitiously written about. The video for "Let's Go (Get Wasted)" features clips of Supagroup playing on the Krewe of Saturn's Mardi Gras parade route and later at One Eyed Jack's, a music venue in New Orleans's French Quarter.
The current lineup has Chris Lee singing and playing rhythm guitar, Benji Lee playing lead guitar, Brewer Brian Broussard playing bass guitar, and Leon Touzet playing drums and percussion.
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