Blind Melon, formed in Los Angeles in 1990, was brought together by a group of musicians from different parts of the country. Rogers Stevens (guitar), Brad Smith (bass), and Glen Graham (drums) moved west from Mississippi, while Christopher Thorn (guitar) hailed from Pennsylvania. Completing the lineup was Shannon Hoon, a charismatic vocalist from Lafayette, Indiana. The band quickly gained recognition after Hoon lent his voice to Guns N’ Roses’ “Don’t Cry,” and their early demos caught the attention of Capitol Records, leading to a recording contract. The band’s rise was meteoric. They moved from crafting their unique blend of stripped-down psychedelia in a quiet house—immortalized in the song “Sleepyhouse”—to dominating the Billboard charts and performing at Woodstock ‘94. But success came with challenges. Their 1995 follow-up album, Soup, received mixed reviews upon release, though tracks like “Mouthful of Cavities” have since been celebrated. Just weeks after the album’s debut, tragedy struck when Shannon Hoon died from an overdose during a tour stop in New Orleans. Hoon’s untimely death at 28 left the band reeling. As a tribute, they released Nico, a collection of outtakes named after Hoon’s daughter, and a documentary, Letters from a Porcupine, which earned a Grammy nomination. Despite these efforts, the band disbanded in 1999 after struggling to find a vocalist who could fill Hoon’s shoes. Years later, in 2006, Blind Melon’s journey took an unexpected turn. Smith and Thorn were producing an album for singer-songwriter Travis Warren in Austin, Texas. Warren’s vocal range and raspy edge resembled Hoon’s, but he also brought his own style and vision. The band reunited with Warren on vocals, leading to a string of sold-out shows and the release of their 2008 album, For My Friends. Creativity surged again in 2016 when guitarist Rogers Stevens sent a song sketch to Warren, who quickly added vocals. This exchange ignited a prolific songwriting period that continued into 2018, culminating in a new wave of music. The addition of multi-instrumentalist Nathan Townes further enriched the band’s sound. Stevens noted, “We’re making the best music of our careers. I know
everyone says that, but this time, it feels true.” Years of unrealized ideas poured out, resulting in
some of the band’s most mature and dynamic work yet. Their resurgence began once again with the release of the single “Way Down and Far Below” in 2019, followed by performances at major festivals like Kaaboo and Sea Hear Now.
You may also like the following events from Des Plaines Theatre:
- Next Tuesday, 13th May, 07:00 pm, Indie Music Night in Des Plaines
- Next Wednesday, 14th May, 07:30 pm, BOURBON ‘N BRASS SPEAKEASY: LIVE JAZZ WITH JOSIE FALBO - $5 COVER in Des Plaines
- Next Friday, 16th May, 08:00 pm, LAUREL CANYON FOLKIES: THE MUSIC OF JONI MITCHELL, CAROLE KING, & MORE ft LAUREN FOX in Des Plaines
Also check out other
Music events in Des Plaines,
Entertainment events in Des Plaines,
Festivals in Des Plaines.
