Sponge, who consist of Vinnie Dombroski (b. 4 December 1962, Detroit, Michigan, USA; vocals), Mike Cross (b. 27 February 1965; guitar), Joey Mazzola (b. 1961, guitar), Tim Cross (b. 18 October 1966; bass) and Jimmy Paluzzi (drums), replaced by Charlie Grover (b. 23 November 1966), were formed in Detroit, Michigan, USA, in 1994. Some of the personnel were formerly known as Loudhouse, who released one largely ignored album for Virgin Records before being dropped. They were chastened by this experience. A press story soon emerged that before they signed up with their new label, Columbia Records, they insisted that the managing director could recite all the words to at least one of their songs, so as to authenticate his long-term interest in them. When they released their debut, the response, particularly in America, was strong. Comparisons from Midnight Oil to Thin Lizzy and David Bowie followed, and sales soon pushed past half a million. Spurred by the success of the single ‘Plowed’, the group joined Live on their US tour, before releasing Wax Ecstatic.
