Gin Blossoms

Initially formed in 1987 by bassist Bill Leen and guitarist Doug Hopkins, they struggled to find a stable lineup, finally settling on vocalist Jesse Valenzuela, Drummer Phillip Rhodes and guitarist Robin Wilson, who went on to switch roles with Valenzuela. They recorded the album "Dusted" independently, releasing it in 1989, catching the attention of A&R records, who signed the the following year.

It was their next release, 1991's "Up & Crumbling," that established Gin Blossoms as a band on the rise, breaking into the mainstream charts with their hit single, "Hey Jealousy" in 1993. The band's southwest sound was decidedly fresh against the flurry of grunge bands that were popular at the time, blending the rootsy country-blues rock of the Byrds with R.E.M's guitar hooks in the similar vein to fellow Arizona artists the Meat Puppets, The Refreshments and Dead Hot Workshop. Their third full length, "New Miserable Experience" (1992), as well as "Hey Jealousy" was full of hit singles, like "Found Out About You," with these songs dominating MTV and radio stations, going on to sell over one million copies.

However, struggling with alcoholism and depression, Doug Hopkins was fired from the band, leading to his tragic suicide on December 5th 1993, which occurred just as his songs had begun to dominate the airwaves. He was replaced by guitarist Scott Johnson, with the band recording their second album, "Congratulations… I'm Sorry" in 1996, the name being prompted by the death of Hopkins. The album charted well and featured one top ten hit, "Follow You Down," yet it received mixed reviews from the music press.

The band disbanded in 1997, embarking on various other projects, before reuniting again in 2001, initially for a one-off New Year's Eve concert. However, this was followed by a summer-long tour, finding new interest from fans and the public of their music, reissuing "Dusted" to renewed acclaim.

The band released a batch of new material in 2006, with the album "Major Lodge Victory" reestablishing them in the alternative rock scene, with the album reaching number 159 in the Billboard 200 album chart. In 2010 they released their fifth album, "No Chocolate Cake," offering a more refined album that reflected their recent dietary requirements. Through continued touring, they have maintained the band's popularity, most notably with their performances in the nationwide 'Summerland Tour' in 2012, where they played at 31 dates alongside bands including Everclear, Sugar Ray and Marcy Playground.