This non-traditionalist modern rock act from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA was formed by Jimmy Pop Ali (b. James Franks; vocals) and Lüpüs Thünder (guitar). The original line-up made their debut with 1994’s Dingleberry Haze EP, which was released on the independent Cheese Factory label. The sample-heavy Use Your Fingers was licensed to Columbia Records, but despite such good portents, sales were slow, and the band soon returned to Cheese Factory (now renamed Republic Records). With Evil Jared Hasselhoff (bass), Spanky G (drums) and DJ Q-Ball added to the line-up, the band recorded One Fierce Beer Coaster for Republic. However, when their 1996 single, ‘Fire Water Burn’, began to attract regular airplay on rock stations, the band found itself moving to a major, Geffen Records, once again. Their second album was reissued in amended form, and immediately made an impact on the US Top 100. The follow-up to ‘Fire Water Burn’, ‘Why’s Everybody Always Pickin’ On Me’, was promoted with the aid of a video featuring John Denver. The album, meanwhile, attested to the Bloodhound Gang’s acknowledged versatility. As singer Jimmy Pop Ali admitted to Billboard magazine, the contents were informed by influences as diverse as the Wu-Tang Clan, Depeche Mode and Weezer. Song titles included ‘Kiss Me Where It Smells Funny’ and ‘I Wish I Was Queer So I Could Get Chicks’, revealing a schoolboy level of humour which had begun to wear thin by the time the band released their third album, Hooray For Boobies, in December 1999. The album was the first to feature new drummer Willie The New Guy. It struck a chord with fans of other non-politically correct acts and was a huge commercial success, buoyed by the insanely catchy hit single ‘Bad Touch’ (‘You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals/So let’s do it like they do it on the Discovery Channel’). The band then took almost five years to come up with the tiresomeHefty Fine, by which time their brief moment in the commercial spotlight had well and truly passed. Their dedicated fans lapped up the album, however.
