The awesome, cool, totally sweet band we all know and love as SMASH MOUTH was formed in September 1991, in the small fishing hamlet of Buttcrack, Idaho. High school buddies Johnny Smash and Nathan Mouth started jamming together after school at Smash's parents home on the Eastside. Mouth, an accomplished guitarist with the Buttcrack High Blues and Boogie Revival Band, was raised on the eclectic record collection of his parents, Marlon and Meryl. Their tastes ranged from the Bee Gees, Captain and Tennille and Barry Manilow right through to the more 'way out' sounds of Bonnie Tyler, Kenny Rogers and the trippy psychedelia of Pat Benatar. With so much quality, diverse music always around him, it was inevetible that Nathan would use these influences to forge his own unique style and identity. Eventually he would discover the more underground sound of bands like Warrant, Bon Jovi, Europe and the one with that guy with the long hair...always wore a shirt. Smash, meanwhile, was more intent on drinking beer and eating burgers while living the high life of a typical frat boy, rather than concentrating on his burgeoning accountancy career. But Mouth saw something in Smash, besides a gut-full of beer, and soon the two would start performing in a Genesis/Phil Collins cover band, 'Geneside", along with drummer Billy 'Sick' Sticks, who was playing in The Small Dicks with Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue), Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac) and David Hicks (Al Qaeda). Bass player Graham Garden was recruited from an ad in the Buttcrack Times, but would leave 6 months later to form The Sound Gardeners with Chris Cornhole. Garden was replaced by Smash's neighbour's cousin, Vince McElwellingford, and to this day this remains the seminal Smash Mouth line up.
After a year of jamming and writing songs, the band realised they had little or no talent at all, and gave up. It was only when Matthew Mouth found an old Casiotone keyboard in the attic of his grandmothers house that the band re-gained momentum. Frustrated at not being able to play a note and being tone deaf, Mouth lashed at the keys in anger, and the opening bars of "Walking on the Moon' were born. After a lawsuit from The Police, the song title was changed to 'Dancing on the Moon', 'Dancing on the Ceiling' (which pissed off Lionel Ritchie no end), 'Dancing on the Sun' and eventually "Walking on the Sun'. The distinctive 'doo doodo doo dooo' sound has become a Mouth trademark, and is reviled and avoided by millions of musicians around the world to this day. And as they say, "the rest is history'.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Did you know....
Matthew Mouth is alergic to avocadoes. He was once hit in the eye by one at a gig in New Georgia, and is the reason he still wears an eye patch today.
Johnny Smash loves Australian wildlife. On the 'Down Under Mouth ' tour in 96, he would eat a whole kangaroo before going onstage...leaving only the testicles for after the show. "It helps me unwind" says Smash.
Billy 'sick' Sticks worked in a nut and bolt factory before joining the Mouth... he sorted the nuts from the bolts on the production line. Sticks says he hopes to return to the industry once his days of stardom are over.
Smash Mouth don't actually write any of their own songs. They are written by a team of rhesus monkeys trained by the University of Philladelphia's Music department.
Smash Mouth's cover of The Monkees' 'I'm a Believer' was used in the movie 'Backdoor Babes vol 12'.
"The Monkees' are real people and not animals.
Johnny Smash once ate a monkey after the song it wrote failed to break into the top 100.
Johnny Smash hasn't always been fat. He used to be obese, but lost over 100 pounds after a hyena he ate gave him dysentry.
Nathan and Matthew Mouth are twin half brothers. They were born at the same hospital, but to different mothers and a year apart. Matthew's real name is Matthew Mathews, but changed it to Mouth after Nathan asked him to join the band.
Russell Crowe once punched Johnny Smash backstage at the Grammy Awards after Smash ate most of Crowe's food, and part of his pet kangaroo, Joey. Joey had to be put down after contracting dysentry from Smash.
Vince's brother Vaughan owns the world's largest collection of empty milk cartons.
Johnny Smash was a virgin until the age of 34. Now 45, Smash has had sex with well over 6 women.
Smash Mouth are known for their hard partying and wild antics on the road. One time, they stayed up til 2.30am!
Johnny Smash holds the record for eating the biggest steak ever at MaryLou's Diner in Smellyfork, PA. The truck driving steak eating character in an episode of The Simpsons was actually based on Smash, although that character dies. Smash, regrettably, is still alive.
Billy 'sick' Sticks was questioned by police over a series of disappearances of mens underwear from clotheslines in his hometown of Grelf, Wisconsin. Sticks maintains "you ain't got no proof."
Johnny Smash was a participant on the reality TV show 'The Biggest Loser'. He won on merit alone, actually putting on 25kg's after eating one of the other contestants.
Johnny Smash loves Australian wildlife. On the 'Down Under Mouth ' tour in 96, he would eat a whole kangaroo before going onstage...leaving only the testicles for after the show. "It helps me unwind" says Smash.
Billy 'sick' Sticks worked in a nut and bolt factory before joining the Mouth... he sorted the nuts from the bolts on the production line. Sticks says he hopes to return to the industry once his days of stardom are over.
Smash Mouth don't actually write any of their own songs. They are written by a team of rhesus monkeys trained by the University of Philladelphia's Music department.
Smash Mouth's cover of The Monkees' 'I'm a Believer' was used in the movie 'Backdoor Babes vol 12'.
"The Monkees' are real people and not animals.
Johnny Smash once ate a monkey after the song it wrote failed to break into the top 100.
Johnny Smash hasn't always been fat. He used to be obese, but lost over 100 pounds after a hyena he ate gave him dysentry.
Nathan and Matthew Mouth are twin half brothers. They were born at the same hospital, but to different mothers and a year apart. Matthew's real name is Matthew Mathews, but changed it to Mouth after Nathan asked him to join the band.
Russell Crowe once punched Johnny Smash backstage at the Grammy Awards after Smash ate most of Crowe's food, and part of his pet kangaroo, Joey. Joey had to be put down after contracting dysentry from Smash.
Vince's brother Vaughan owns the world's largest collection of empty milk cartons.
Johnny Smash was a virgin until the age of 34. Now 45, Smash has had sex with well over 6 women.
Smash Mouth are known for their hard partying and wild antics on the road. One time, they stayed up til 2.30am!
Johnny Smash holds the record for eating the biggest steak ever at MaryLou's Diner in Smellyfork, PA. The truck driving steak eating character in an episode of The Simpsons was actually based on Smash, although that character dies. Smash, regrettably, is still alive.
Billy 'sick' Sticks was questioned by police over a series of disappearances of mens underwear from clotheslines in his hometown of Grelf, Wisconsin. Sticks maintains "you ain't got no proof."
Johnny Smash was a participant on the reality TV show 'The Biggest Loser'. He won on merit alone, actually putting on 25kg's after eating one of the other contestants.
THE 'BAND'
Johnny Smash: Vocals, stupid hats, waddling, leftovers.
Nathan Mouth: Guitar, Ukelele, haberdashery.
Billy "sick" Sticks: Drums, heroin, cleptomania.
Matthew Mouth: Casio keyboard, hyena and monkey handler.
Vince McElwellingford: Bass Guitar, used car sales.
Nathan Mouth: Guitar, Ukelele, haberdashery.
Billy "sick" Sticks: Drums, heroin, cleptomania.
Matthew Mouth: Casio keyboard, hyena and monkey handler.
Vince McElwellingford: Bass Guitar, used car sales.
DISCOGRAPHY
1992: Escape from Buttcrack (EP)
1993: Hyena Hot Dog (LP)
1995: Return to Buttcrack (the B-sides) (EP)
1997: Blistered Feet (Walking on the Sun remixes) (EP)
1998: Same Shit, Different Cover (LP)
2000: Millenium Schmillenium (EP)
2001: If it don't move, eat it! (Johnny Smash solo EP)
2002: Does my gut look big in this? (LP)
2004: Desperate (the comeback EP)
2005: Take the money and Run (the farewell EP)
2006: Our Lawyers are Angry and Johnny is Hungry ('Save the Mouth' benefit concert, live LP)
1993: Hyena Hot Dog (LP)
1995: Return to Buttcrack (the B-sides) (EP)
1997: Blistered Feet (Walking on the Sun remixes) (EP)
1998: Same Shit, Different Cover (LP)
2000: Millenium Schmillenium (EP)
2001: If it don't move, eat it! (Johnny Smash solo EP)
2002: Does my gut look big in this? (LP)
2004: Desperate (the comeback EP)
2005: Take the money and Run (the farewell EP)
2006: Our Lawyers are Angry and Johnny is Hungry ('Save the Mouth' benefit concert, live LP)
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