Where Are They Now: The Gin Blossoms

Hey PopRockers, if you didn’t know The Gin Blossoms, an American alternative rock band, exploded onto the music scene in the early ’90s with their super catchy tunes and emotional lyrics. They started in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona, and quickly got a lot of fans with their cool mix of jangle pop and rock. Let’s dive into their story, the sad loss of an important member, and see what they’re up to now.

The Gin Blossoms hit it big with their 1992 album, “New Miserable Experience”, which had awesome tracks like “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You”. These songs, written by their original lead guitarist Doug Hopkins, became huge ’90s anthems. The album’s success shot the band to fame, getting them tons of fans and major radio play.

It took a year to get noticed

“Hey Jealousy” was initially released in 1992 as the lead single from the Gin Blossoms’ album “New Miserable Experience”, but it didn’t gain much traction at first. The band faced some challenges, including the departure of their original lead guitarist Doug Hopkins, who wrote the song.

However, things turned around when A&M Records decided to invest in a music video for the song. After three different versions, they finally got one that the label approved and submitted to MTV. The video became a “Buzz Bin” item on MTV, which significantly boosted the song’s popularity. With the help of the video and increased radio play, “Hey Jealousy” was re-released in the summer of 1993 and became a hit.

The tragic loss of Doug Hopkins

Doug Hopkins was super important to the band’s early success. But he had a tough time with alcoholism and depression, which messed up his ability to play and record.

While they were working on their big album, “New Miserable Experience”, Hopkins’ drinking got out of control. He often couldn’t even stand during recording sessions, and his behaviour became unpredictable. The band had to make a hard choice: either fire Hopkins or risk getting dropped by their record label. So, they decided to let him go in April 1992.

Even though he left, Hopkins’ songs like “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You” are still a huge part of the band’s legacy. Sadly, Doug Hopkins died by suicide on December 5, 1993.

Their next album, “Congratulations I’m Sorry” (1996), kept the good times rolling with hits like “Follow You Down”. This song, along with others on the album, really cemented their spot in the alternative rock world.

A timeline of The Gin Blossoms band members

Here’s a brief timeline of the band’s members over the years:

• 1987-1992: Original lineup included Doug Hopkins (lead guitar), Bill Leen (bass), Jesse Valenzuela (vocals, later rhythm guitar), Richard Taylor (rhythm guitar), and Chris McCann (drums).
• 1992: Robin Wilson joined as the lead vocalist, and Phillip Rhodes replaced McCann on drums.
• 1993: Scott Johnson replaced Doug Hopkins on lead guitar.
• 1997: The band disbanded temporarily.
• 2001: The Gin Blossoms reunited with Robin Wilson, Jesse Valenzuela, Bill Leen, Scott Johnson, and Phillip Rhodes.
• 2012: Scott Hessel joined as the drummer, replacing Phillip Rhodes.

Where are “The Gin Blossoms” now?

Since reuniting in 2001, the Gin Blossoms have continued to tour and release new music. Their albums “Major Lodge Victory” (2006), “No Chocolate Cake” (2010), and “Mixed Reality” (2018) have kept their sound alive and relevant. The band remains active, performing for fans old and new, and celebrating the legacy of their early hits.

The Gin Blossoms’ journey shows how tough and awesome they are. Even with all the challenges and losing Doug Hopkins, they’ve kept making music that connects with people. Their story is full of ups and downs, but it proves how powerful great music can be.

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