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Ugly Kid Joe

From Alfawiki
Ugly Kid Joe
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1989
Headquarters
Isla Vista, California
,
United States
ProductsMusic albums, EPs, compilations

Ugly Kid Joe is a hard rock band originating from Isla Vista, California, established in 1989. Their name serves as a satirical nod to the glam metal act Pretty Boy Floyd.

The group has produced five full-length albums, alongside two compilations and a pair of EPs. Their most commercially successful releases, As Ugly as They Wanna Be (1991) and America's Least Wanted (1992), both earned double platinum certification from the RIAA. Significantly, As Ugly as They Wanna Be holds the distinction of being the first EP to achieve platinum status. After disbanding in 1997, Ugly Kid Joe reunited in 2010 and resumed their musical endeavors.

Formation and Early Years (1989–1991)

Whitfield Crane and Klaus Eichstadt, longtime friends from Palo Alto, California, shared an early enthusiasm for music. In 1989, Crane’s band in Isla Vista expanded with the addition of James Lambert and Eichstadt, leading to a demo recording under producer Eric Valentine. Following several lineup adjustments, the band secured a deal with Mercury Records in 1991. The lineup for As Ugly as They Wanna Be featured Crane, Eichstadt, Mark Davis, Roger Lahr, and Cordell Crockett.

Initially performing under names such as Overdrive and Suburban White Alcoholic Trash, they adopted the moniker Ugly Kid Joe as a tongue-in-cheek reference to L.A.'s glam metal group Pretty Boy Floyd for a one-off opening slot. Even though Pretty Boy Floyd canceled that show, Ugly Kid Joe retained the name.

In the early 1990s, the band gained traction by combining heavy metal with a sense of satirical humor. Their emblem depicted a cartoonish "ugly kid" making an obscene gesture. Drawing inspiration from Black Sabbath, they covered tracks like "Sweet Leaf" and "N.I.B.". Touring extensively across the United States, they supported acts such as Scatterbrain and opened for former Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne.

Their 1991 EP As Ugly as They Wanna Be achieved notable success in 1992, propelled by the single "Everything About You", which climbed to No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and reached the Billboard Top 10. The song was featured in the movie Wayne's World. The EP sold over one million units in the U.S.

Peak Commercial Period (1992–1996)

Recording sessions for America's Least Wanted lasted approximately two months. Roger Lahr departed over creative disagreements and was succeeded by guitarist Dave Fortman from Sugartooth in April 1992; Lahr still received credit on "Come Tomorrow". The album featured a guest appearance by Rob Halford of Judas Priest on "Goddamn Devil". To join Ozzy Osbourne's "No More Tears" tour lineup, recording was accelerated, with Crane making multiple trips back to Los Angeles for final touches.

The album’s cover art generated controversy due to its provocative nature, prompting an alternative design showcasing the band's mascot bound and gagged. America's Least Wanted debuted at No. 27 on U.S. charts and initially sold more than 600,000 copies. It earned Gold certifications in Canada and Australia, Silver in the UK, and Platinum status in the U.S. Their rendition of Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle" surpassed 500,000 sales stateside and reached No. 7 on UK charts.

After touring with Ozzy Osbourne, Ugly Kid Joe supported Def Leppard during their sold-out European tour segment. They appeared at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards and performed to packed audiences in Australia and Japan. Recognized as Best New Artist by both Metal Edge and Raw, they also presented Metallica with The Favorite Heavy Metal Band award at the 1993 American Music Awards and were nominated for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist.

Following drummer Mark Davis’s exit, several replacements were considered, including Bob Fernandez who contributed a Black Sabbath cover for Nativity in Black. Fernandez also performed with them at Brazil’s Hollywood Rock festival in 1994. Impressed by drummer Shannon Larkin’s work with Souls at Zero, Crane recruited him into the band. Together with Larkin, they composed new material and embarked on the "Excuse To Go Snowboarding Tour," featuring support from Dog Eat Dog and Goldfinger. Larkin’s involvement brought a heavier edge to their sophomore album Menace to Sobriety, recorded at Palacio Del Rio in Santa Barbara.

To promote Menace to Sobriety, Ugly Kid Joe toured extensively—including snowboarding-themed events—as well as clubs and arenas while opening for acts like Bon Jovi and Van Halen. They deliberately excluded "Everything About You" from live sets to focus attention on newer songs. At Wembley Stadium, Jack Osbourne joined them onstage for a rendition of "N.I.B".

Critics praised the album; UK publication Kerrang! named it among potential albums of the year. Despite positive reception across Europe and active touring schedules, limited backing from Mercury Records hindered its success within the United States.

After being dropped by Mercury Records, Ugly Kid Joe established their own label, Evilution Records, through which they released Motel California in late 1996 with distribution handled by Castle Communications. Their European tour during this period attracted smaller crowds under the "Late Check-out Tour". Vocalist Whitfield Crane described this album as "heavy, funky, and diverse." Though initial reactions were mixed with modest sales figures, it has since garnered a dedicated cult following.

Disbandment and Subsequent Activities (1997–2009)

Ugly Kid Joe dissolved in 1997. In 2002, drummer Shannon Larkin became a member of Godsmack, while lead singer Whitfield Crane briefly took over for the departing vocalist Keith Caputo in the New York rock group Life of Agony. Following his departure from Life of Agony, Crane worked alongside members of Soulfly in the band Medication from 1999 to 2003, and later collaborated with Godsmack musicians in Another Animal between 2006 and 2009.

In 2005, an unreleased "Bicycle Wheels" video was discovered on Ugly Kid Joe’s forum. By 2007, the band had created an official Myspace page showcasing vintage photographs, promotional materials, live performance clips, and another unreleased video for the track "Sandwich." Fans contributed concert and television recordings on YouTube. The official website provided live recordings and rare tracks from Motel California and Menace to Sobriety, including a demo version of "C.U.S.T."

Reunion Period (2010–Present)

Guitarist Klaus Eichstadt announced in December 2009 that the band intended to reunite for summer 2010 shows, a plan later confirmed on their MySpace page in May 2010 featuring the original lineup before their breakup.

By July 2011, drummer Shannon Larkin disclosed during an interview at the Mayhem Festival that a new album was complete, describing Ugly Kid Joe as a "fun-time rock band." On September 9, vocalist Whitfield Crane informed fans about a finalized six-track EP along with an EPK highlighting the reunion and recording process.

The EP titled Stairway to Hell was released digitally on June 5, 2012, followed by physical editions on July 9. To support this release, Ugly Kid Joe appeared at prominent festivals such as Sweden Rock, Download Festival, Italy’s Gods of Metal, and Belgrade Calling. They also opened for Guns N' Roses in Tel Aviv and joined Alice Cooper on his "Raise The Dead" tour during October 2012.

In October 2013, Ugly Kid Joe embarked on a European co-headlining tour with Skid Row, beginning in Southampton, UK.

In February 2015, the band successfully funded their subsequent album through pledgemusic.com. Released on October 16, 2015, Uglier Than They Used ta Be represented their first full-length studio album in nearly two decades.

Their seventh studio record, Rad Wings of Destiny, was made available on October 21, 2022.

January 2023 saw Ugly Kid Joe announce their first American tour in 27 years, supported by Fozzy and Pistols at Dawn.

Currently, the group is developing a new album anticipated for release in 2026.

Musical Style and Influences

Ugly Kid Joe’s sound has been classified within several genres such as hard rock, pop metal, heavy metal, alternative metal, funk metal, glam metal, and grunge.AllMusic characterized them as a "fun-loving hard rock/funk/alt-metal ensemble" with an aptitude for creating catchy pop-metal tunes.

The band acknowledges key inspirations including Judas Priest, Motörhead, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, and Van Halen, as well as artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mötley Crüe for contributing to their funky yet heavy sound. This combination significantly influenced their unique style, particularly evident on their debut EP As Ugly as They Wanna Be and album America's Least Wanted.

Present Members

  • Whitfield Crane – lead vocalist (1987–1997, 2010–present)
  • Klaus Eichstadt – lead guitar and backing vocals (1987–1997, 2010–present)
  • Cordell Crockett – bass guitar and backing vocals (1991–1997, 2010–present)
  • Dave Fortman – rhythm guitar and backing vocals (1992–1997, 2010–present)
  • Zac Morris – drums and percussion (2021–present)

Past Members

  • Eric Phillips – rhythm guitar and backing vocals (1987–1989)
  • Roger Lahr – rhythm guitar and backing vocals (1989–1992)
  • Phil Hilgaertner – bass and backing vocals (1987–1991)
  • Jonathan Spaulding – drums (1987–1989)
  • Mark Davis – drums and percussion (1989–1993)
  • Bob Fernandez – drums and percussion (1994)
  • Shannon Larkin – drums and percussion (1994–1997, 2010–2021)

Guest Contributors

Lineups

1987–1989
  • Whitfield Crane – lead vocalist
  • Klaus Eichstadt – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Eric Phillips – rhythm guitar, songwriting, backing vocals
  • Phil Hilgaertner – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Jon Spaulding – drums, lyricist
1989
  • Whitfield Crane – lead vocalist
  • Klaus Eichstadt – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Roger Lahr – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Phil Hilgaertner – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Mark Davis – drums, percussion
1989–1992
  • Whitfield Crane – lead vocalist
  • Klaus Eichstadt – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Roger Lahr – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Cordell Crockett – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Mark Davis – drums, percussion
1992–1993
1994
1994–1997
1997–2010

Band was inactive during this period

2010–2021
2021–present

Discography

Main article: Ugly Kid Joe discography

Studio albums

See also

External links

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