Thursday, April 16, 2020

Blind Item #9 - Reader Blind - Kindness

A number of decades ago, this band was on the verge of success. They had recorded up until then on independent labels(s) and were a favorite of the college student indy crowd as well as rock critics. A record they made that was more than one still shows up on best of lists from that decade.

They were an unlikely bunch - One member was obese, his childhood friend, another member, looked like Jerry Lewis and Adam Sandler combined, another like a surfer that had wandered off the beach but they could really play.  They counted a lot of famous musicians as fans. One was this one named musician who later was in an A+ band. He was a huge fan of the musician in this group that played the same instrument.

The group had just finished an opening slot on a tour with band that was on its way to A+ status and had several offers from major record companies when tragedy struck. One of the main members died unexpectedly.

The remaining members formed another band a few years later that was also an indy favorite before splitting up and doing their own things.

Over the years, the family of the dead musician has had financial problems. They were poor to begin with and the mother of the late musician had a lot of health problems.

The childhood friend and bandmate, despite the band’s anti-commercial ethos, allowed licensing of some of their music for both a commercial and the theme song of a popular show that was also made into several movies. Besides the dead members share, he gave almost all of his money earned from this to the family of his late bandmate.  What was left over he used to help fund a soup kitchen for the homeless in the town they all grew up in where he still lives.  

38 comments:

Tricia13 said...

Sublime?
Flea for the A plus lister?

Tricia13 said...

Caress Me Down/New Girl for show?

Tricia13 said...

Bradley Nowell(from LongBeach CA(died) and Flea werefriends) not sure its him but...

s.s. said...

'College Indy crowd' sounds like an 80's band--?

Tricia13 said...

they were formed late albums started getting airplay early 90s

Tricia13 said...

80s*

Unknown said...

It's the Minutemen. D Boon died in a car crash. Tour was with REM. Song was Corona that was used for Jackass.

Unknown said...

Maybe d boon who died from the minutemen. Mike Watt is good friends with Flea and they are both bass players

IndieRaga said...

Wow....this one deserves a Reveal ENTY!
Whoever this is Thanks and Luv Ya!
What a Greek Tragedy is this...
The only band I know this tragic or close to this is LFO!
I loved their songs...but I know this isn't that.

bollybiy said...

The remaining members' subsequent band that was also an indie favorite was fIREHOSE.

Unknown said...

Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. He was rotund and played multiple instruments, that's him on pedal steel on CSN "Teach Your Children" for example. Every big A+ name rock and country folk musicians were admirers.

The musician's musicians, big on campuses, critical acclaim, but few commercial successes.

In 2006, the Grateful Dead signed a ten-year licensing agreement with Rhino Entertainment to manage the band's business interests including the release of musical recordings, merchandising, and marketing. The band retained creative control and kept ownership of its music catalog.

Six (6) former Dead band members are now, well... dead. I believe "pigpen" is the dead meber in question here.

gauloise said...

The two surviving members of the minutemen went on to be in a band Firehose before going their own way

Tricia13 said...

Had never heard of Minutemen but definitely right answer here! I knew Flea andRHCP were in there somewhere though. Although Flea grew up in and out of Australia I thought)?
Anyway great blind-good reading the kindness stuff especially now

squirrelmistress said...

the beach boys

Moonmaid said...

Interesting article about the Minutemen:
https://rickmcginnisphotographs.wordpress.com/2019/08/28/lost-found-minutemen-1985/

Rob Zero said...

Minutemen. Singer/guitarist D. Boon was obese. Drummer looked like surfer.

They were going to tour with REM when Boon was killed in car accident. Their song Corona was used in Jackass.

Mike Watt (bass) gave Boon's family royalties.

None of this is blind-worthy. It's all on the record.

Angela said...

Mike Watt also became the bass player for Iggy and the Stooges.

bumble bee said...

I'm not sure it's Minutemen b/c Boon's mother died before he did and the blind reads,

"Over the years, the family of the dead musician has had financial problems. They were poor to begin with and the mother of the late musician had a lot of health problems."

Nobody said...

This story struck me as being Blues Traveler

InkBlot said...

@Nobody Blues Traveler was my first thought too, but Minutemen seem a better guess.

Tricia13 said...

I used to catch Blues Traveler(love them) at a place called Jon and Peters in New Hope,PA.They are from Princetown,NJ so it isn't far-they used to do impromptu shows pre and post fame. Princetown is fairly affluent o not sute that part fits. They also went (a couple did)onto good NYC schools(either Popper or the drummer?) went to NYU.Popper used to jam with Spin Doctors at a place called The Nightingale where I saw them, it was epic! And The Wetlands. Looked into the SD's for a fit but they seemingly, don't.

Harry Balzsak said...

It is nice to see these Kindness blinds and know that some of those that make it in the entertainment industry don't become dirtbags after they make it big.

RomanHans said...

Definitely Minutemen. Everything fits, especially the “record that was more than one”: it was a double album called “Double Nickels on the Dime.”

I saw them live a few times and loved them. D. Boon’s death was a horrible tragedy.

STN said...

One member was obese, his childhood friend, another member, looked like Jerry Lewis and Adam Sandler combined,another like a surfer that had wandered off the beach

Minutemen certainly fit the physical description in this picture:

https://www.punknews.org/article/59653/sonic-reducer-the-minutemen

Drumstixx said...

Blues Traveler as indie band. Bassist Bobby Sheehan died in 1999. A+ list artist that was a fan is Dave Matthews. Love Blues Traveler!

Tricia13 said...

How is Dave Matthews a”one named musician”. His band was named after him....
It’s Flea/red Hit Chili Peppers and Minutemen

DAD said...

Me too but the lead singer is not dead

PhillyWilly said...

@tricia... new hope pa?? You’re quite the enigma. I spent a drunken st pattys, pub crawling up there in that part of bux county.

Tricia13 said...

Philly.. well I’m not, not really lol. It was a moment in time. I was in relationship and there for a bit. Martine’s was also a favorite (still there), as was Doylestown Inn(pinks hometown) and so many other gems I that area. Frenchtown is beautiful.
I worked with the owners of a place called Moonlight which was right in the ❤️Of NH -high end restaurant /lounge too ambitious for the demographic,sadly. They also own a place called 🌲 pineville tavern which is still strong in that neighboring town

Tricia13 said...

Bucks county is absolutely beautiful. Our chef was from Philly- Center City I think ,investors too-he owns Rittenhouse Sq(David Marshall). This was a while ago tho,not sure still the case

PhillyWilly said...

Hmm, surprising bc it’s a bit of a hoity toity demo out there, particularly on the other side of the bridge. It’s very prohibitive travel wise for me, so you are far more familiar with it than I am. But i was with a college friend who had super rich family in Lawrenceville. Doylestown is closer.
ironically, Pink lived in an apt complex less than a mile from where I am now in philly for a couple years.
Next time you’re in the hood, we’ll hang LOL
Can I invite Derek/lady. I’ll beat his ass for ya lol

Tricia13 said...
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Tricia13 said...
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PhillyWilly said...

Your chef?? what do You do? Or is it private?? is that your island?? Like Epstein LOL?
He “owns” rittenhouse?? the whole neighborhood LOL. I’m very confused

pottsy said...

Joy Division

XRaySpex said...

This is the Minutemen.

Jeff said...

Bowling for Soup. Phineas and Ferb is the cartoon.

A.Claire said...

Agree that this is Minutemen, terrific band.

@pottsy Joy Division is amazing also :]

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