Blind Melon Article Index for
Blind
Articles about
Blind Melon
Website Links For
Blind Melon
 

Information About

Blind Melon




Blind Melon was an American Rock band from the 1990s .


NAME

Reportedly, the name "Blind Melon" describes some Hippie s from Mississippi , as used (or coined) by Brad Smith's father. Also, "Blind Melon Chitlin" was the name of a fictional bluesman appearing in a routine on the self-titled Cheech And Chong LP. These may be derivative of the name of an actual bluesman, Blind ''Lemon'' Jefferson .


HISTORY

Blind Melon signed to Capitol Records in 1991 (see 1991 In Music ) and recorded an unreleased demo. Frontman Shannon Hoon and Axl Rose (who was a friend of Hoon's sister) re-met, and Hoon sang back-up on several Guns N' Roses tracks, including "Don't Cry". The band's Self-titled Debut Album , Produced by Rick Parashar ( Pearl Jam ), sold poorly until the single and Music Video for " No Rain " hit the airwaves and became a smash success, along with the popular Video which featured the equally popular "Bee Girl" (played by Heather DeLoach ). Subsequently, ''Blind Melon'' went Platinum four times. After opening for Neil Young , Lenny Kravitz , Soundgarden and The Rolling Stones , Blind Melon's own tour was cut short due to Hoon's escalating Drug Abuse .

Hoon and the rest of the band began recording their sophomore album in New Orleans with producer Andy Wallace . Hoon would later admit that he had no memory of the recording session. While Hoon checked into Rehab , the album, '' Soup '', was released in 1995 (see 1995 In Music ), but sold poorly. In 1995, Blind Melon also contributed the song "Out on the Tiles" to the '' Encomium '' tribute album to Led Zeppelin , as well as a promotional CD with a cover of the School House Rock song "Three is a Magic Number".

Against the advice of Hoon's drug counselor, Blind Melon went on tour. Hoon was found dead of a Cocaine Overdose on October 21 , 1995 in New Orleans. With some unreleased vocals in the vaults, the remaining members released '' Nico '' in 1996 (see 1996 In Music ), with the profits going to a program that helps musicians with Drug and Alcohol Addiction . After briefly attempting to continue, Blind Melon officially disbanded on March 4, 1999, and the various members went on to other projects.

In 2002 , Capitol Records released a ''Classic Masters'' CD showcasing twelve Blind Melon songs. Thanks to stronger than expected sales, the band released ''The Best of Blind Melon'' in 2005 , a CD+DVD package that features Blind Melon performing live from a September 1995 concert in Chicago , and a CD in April 2006 recorded live at the Palace in Hollywood in Oct 1995.

In early 2006 , a Tribute Album to Blind Melon is also set for release by Yakmusic in New Zealand and will feature bands from all over the world. The album's profits will be used for charitable purposes and will be available online from numerous websites.


MEMBERS



DISCOGRAPHY


Albums



Singles



NOTABLE EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF BLIND MELON


  • Richard Shannon Hoon born on September 26, 1967 in Lafayette, Indiana.

  • Brad Smith born on September 29, 1968 in West Point, Mississippi.

  • Glen Graham born on December 5, 1968 in Columbus, Mississippi.

  • Christopher Thorn born on December 16, 1968 in Dover, Pennsylvania.

  • Rogers Stevens born on October 31, 1970 in West Point, Mississippi.

  • Blind Melon forms in Los Angeles, California, in 1989.

  • Shannon Hoon duets with Axl Rose on the Guns N’ Roses track “Don’t Cry,” from ‘Use Your Illusion in 1991.

  • Blind Melon signs with Capitol Records in 1991.

  • Blind Melon tours as part of MTV’s “120 Minutes Tour” (alongside Public Image Limited, Big Audio Dynamite, and Live) in the spring of 1992.

  • Blind Melon’s self-titled debut is released on September 14, 1992.

  • Blind Melon opens for the likes of Neil Young, Soundgarden, Ozzy Osbourne, Lenny Kravitz, and Guns N’ Roses, in addition to their own headlining tour of clubs, throughout late 1992 and early 1994.

  • “No Rain” released as single, video aired heavily on MTV in summer of 1993.

  • ‘Blind Melon’ certified double platinum certification on December 17, 1993.

  • “Saturday Night Live” appearance (“No Rain” and “Paper Scratcher” are performed) on January 8, 1994.

  • Blind Melon is nominated for two Grammy Awards – Best Rock Performance and Best New Artist on March 1, 1994.

  • “Late Show With David Letterman” appearance (“Change” is performed and dedicated to Kurt Cobain, whose body was discovered that day) on April 8, 1994.

  • Blind Melon plays Woodstock ’94, between Joe Cocker and the Rollins Band, on August 13, 1994.

  • ‘Soup’ released on August 15, 1995.

  • U.S. tour begins on September 19, 1995.

  • Second “Late Show With David Letterman” appearance (“Galaxie” is performed) on September 21, 1995.

  • Shannon Hoon dies from a drug overdose on October 21, 1995.

  • ‘Blind Melon’ certified quadruple platinum on November 13, 1995.

  • ‘Nico’ and ‘Letters from a Porcupine’ released on November 12, 1996.

  • ‘Letters from a Porcupine’ is nominated for ‘Best Long Form Music Video’ at the Grammy Awards on February 25, 1998.

  • After an attempt to find a new singer doesn’t pan out, Blind Melon officially disbands on March 4, 1999.

  • VH1’s ‘Behind The Music: Blind Melon’ premieres on September 9, 2001.



OTHER PROJECTS FEATURING FORMER MEMBERS

The Tender Trio

featuring:

Royston Langdon of Spacehog

Rogers Stevens of Blind Melon

Rene Lopez ( NYC musician)



Unified Theory - Self Titled - Brad, Christopher

Audio CD (August 15, 2000)

Original Release Date: August 15, 2000

Label: Universal

Catalog: #159275

ASIN: B00004WF6B



Extra Virgin - 12 Stories High - Rogers

Audio CD (April 24, 2001)

Label: Old Lady

ASIN: B00005BC88



Live - Distance To Here - Christopher

Audio CD (October 5, 1999)

Original Release Date: October 5, 1999

Label: Mca

Catalog: #111966

ASIN: B00001QENU



Mercy - Abandon Jalopy - Brad, Christopher, Glen, Rogers

Audio CD (June 12, 2001)

Original Release Date: June 12, 2001
Number of Discs: 1

Label: Stankface

ASIN: B00005MG93



Joe Tullos - Scoundrel's Waltz - Brad, Rogers, Glen

Audio CD (June 3, 1997)

Original Release Date: June 03, 1997

Label: Dinosaur

Catalog: #84511

ASIN: B000005CGQ



James Mathus - Songs for Rosetta - Glen

Audio CD (August 31, 1999)

Original Release Date: October 21, 1997

Label: Mammoth / Pgd

Catalog: #980179

ASIN: B000004AYB



Amy Correia - Carnival Love - Brad, Christopher

Audio CD (September 12, 2000)

Original Release Date: September 12, 2000

Label: Capitol

Catalog: #98221

ASIN: B00004X0PJ



Anna Nalick - Wreck of the Day - Brad, Christopher

Audio CD (April 19, 2005)

Original Release Date: April 19, 2005

Number of Discs: 1

Label: Sony

ASIN: B00061U64S





SEE ALSO



REFERENCES