Blind Melon
In recent years, the tale of Blind Melon has taken a dramatic turn - from an abrupt and tragic end, to a rebirth and reconnection with their legion of dedicated fans. No matter how you slice it, the group was responsible for some of the most memorable and pure-sounding rock music of the ‘90s, and with their reformation in 2007 with singer Travis Warren, Blind Melon have picked up with their fans, exactly where they left off. Blind Melon originally formed in 1990 in Los Angeles, California, when five transplants from other states crossed paths - singer Shannon Hoon (from Indiana), guitarist Christopher Thorn (from Pennsylvania), and guitarist Rogers Stevens, bassist Brad Smith, and drummer Glen Graham (all from Mississippi). With a buzz created around the band shortly thereafter due to Hoon’s appearance on Guns N’ Roses’ 1991 release, ‘Use Your Illusion’ (and specifically, the hit single/video, “Don’t Cry”), a recording contract soon followed with Capitol Records. The group’s now-classic self-titled debut followed in 1992.
The album saw the group fit in perfectly with the then-burgeoning alt rock/grunge movement, due to their stripped-down, rootsy sound, as evidenced by such standouts as “Tones of Home” and “Change.” But it was the song “No Rain” that became a smash on radio and MTV a year later, and Blind Melon became one of rock’s feel-good ‘overnight success stories.’ Barely over two months after the album’s release, Hoon died while on tour from a drug overdose, at the age of 28. An attempt to find a replacement for Hoon was abandoned, and in 1999, the group officially went their separate ways. Now they are back with Warren on led vocals and the magic is back..
Website / Facebook
Chris Shinn is best known for being the lead singer of the band Līve from 2011 to 2016. He was also the front man for the band Unified Theory (1997-2002), which featured members of Pearl Jam and Blind Melon. Since his departure from Līve, Shinn has written and recorded a solo record entirely on his own, and with a release date coming soon (one song, Puzzle Piece, has already been released) he has put together a band with old friends to promote it. The band will feature Dave Krusen (Pearl Jam, Candlebox, Unified Theory) as well as Christopher Thorn (Blind Melon).