Gin Blossoms

Gin Blossoms Artistfacts

  • 1987-1997
    Douglas HopkinsGuitar1987-1992
    Bill LeenBass1987-1997
    Jesse ValenzuelaGuitar, vocals1987-1997
    Phillip RhodesDrums1988-1997
    Robin WilsonVocals1988-1997
    Scott JohnsonGuitar1992-1997
  • Frontman Robin Wilson grew up loving Kiss - he even had their lunch box. So he thought it would be great to offer a Gin Blossoms lunch box to fan club members. And they did.
  • They played their first concert on Christmas Day 1987 in Tempe, Arizona. They made it a tradition to play a show there every Christmas.
  • When their 1992 album, New Miserable Experience, hit Platinum, they were presented with the platinum album at a Phoenix Suns home basketball game.
  • Doug Hopkins had battled with alcoholism and depression for years. Things went from bad to worse and he was fired from the band after the recording of New Miserable Experience. He tried forming another band, the Chimeras, but committed suicide in December 1993.
  • Previous band names include The Moral Majority, the Psalms, Algebra Ranch, and Ten O'Clock Scholars.
  • The Psalms' claim to fame was opening for Billy Idol in 1983 when R.E.M. couldn't make it.
  • Wilson had performed with local Tempe bands, Guy Smiley and Bed Spurs.
  • The group played a lot of gigs as the Del Montes. This was a Traveling Wilbury-esque fake group. Supposedly they all had the same mother, but different fathers. They invented this pseudonym to play gigs with Richard Taylor who had been a member of the group, but he was on probation. Playing under this name made it less likely the cops would see him breaking probation.
  • In 1989, they were named the best unsigned band in the United States by College Music Journal.

Comments: 1

  • Andy from Arlington, VaAn underrated band. New Miserable Experience is one of my favorite albums.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."