Ugly Kid Joe Biography
Formed in Isla Vista, California, USA, in 1989 by Whitfield Crane (19 January 1968; vocals), later joined by Klaus Eichstadt (guitar), Mark Davis (drums), Roger Lahr (guitar), and Cordell Crockett (whose father owned Guitar Player magazine; bass), the band flirted with several names before settling on Ugly Kid Joe, coined for a support slot in order to satirize headliners Pretty Boy Floyd. The band made their debut with a mini-album, As Ugly As They Wanna Be, which was an almost instant success, selling over two million copies in the USA on the back of the poppy Top 10 hit "Everything About You", a humorous number featured in the enormously popular movie, Wayne's World. The song, which also reached number 3 in the UK, rather belied the true musical nature of the band, in reality much heavier with funk influences, drawing comparisons with both Mötley Crüe and Faith No More from reviewers. Shannon Larkin (b. 24 April 1967, USA; drums, ex-Wrathchild America) and Dave Fortman (ex-Sugartooth) were brought in for America's Least Wanted, which produced further hits in the shape of "Neighbor" and "Cats In The Cradle", which reached number 6 in early 1993.
Given a powerful sound by Mark Dodson, the album established the band's credibility without sacrificing their sense of humour, and live shows, including a support slot on Ozzy Osbourne's farewell US tour, further helped the band to shake off their novelty tag. Sessions for a second album proper began in 1994 at a rented house in Santa Ynez, California. The release of Menace To Sobriety, was preceded by a series of AIDS benefits on a tour of US ski resorts, and another offbeat single, "Milkman's Son". However, there was also a concerted effort by their management and label to market the band as serious rock artists - including an "approved photographs only' contract not seen since Guns N'Roses were at the height of their collective paranoia. The band returned to independent status when they released 1996"s Motel California on their own Evilution label, but split-up shortly afterwards. Crane briefly fronted Life Of Agony.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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