Blind Melon: ''For My Friends''

In recent years, the tale of Blind Melon has taken a dramatic turn – from an abrupt and tragic end, to a rebirth and reconnection with their legion of fans. No matter how you slice it, the group was responsible for some of the most memorable and pure-sounding rock music of the '90s. And with their reformation in 2006 with singer Travis Warren, Blind Melon are poised to pick up exactly where they left off a decade earlier – as evidenced by their new single, "Wishing Well," and their fourth full-length overall, For My Friends, due April 22, 2008, via Adrenaline Records.

Blind Melon originally formed in 1990 in Los Angeles, California, when five transplants from other states crossed paths - singer Shannon Hoon (from Indiana), guitarist Christopher Thorn (from Pennsylvania), and guitarist Rogers Stevens, bassist Brad Smith, and drummer Glen Graham (all from Mississippi). With a buzz created around the band shortly thereafter due to Hoon's appearance on Guns N' Roses' 1991 release, Use Your Illusion (and specifically, the hit single/video, "Don't Cry"), a recording contract soon followed with Capitol Records. The group's now-classic self-titled debut followed in 1992. The album saw the group fit in perfectly with the then-burgeoning alt rock/grunge movement, due to their stripped-down, rootsy sound, as evidenced by such standouts as "Tones of Home" and "Change."

But it was the song "No Rain" that became a smash on radio and MTV a year later, and Blind Melon became one of rock's feel-good 'overnight success stories.' As the album scaled the charts, plum opening gigs piled up over the next year – Guns N' Roses, Neil Young, Lenny Kravitz, and the Rolling Stones, as well as an unforgettable appearance at Woodstock '94. Unfortunately, it was around this time that Hoon's drug addiction took a turn for the worse. Despite high expectations, the group's sophomore release, 1995's Soup, was panned by critics upon release. Over the years however, the album has rightfully become recognized as one of the decade's most underrated rock gems, spawning such standouts as "Galaxie," "Toes Across the Floor," and "Mouthful of Cavities." Barely over two months after the album's release, Hoon died while on tour from a drug overdose, at the age of 28.

The four surviving members regrouped and issued an outtakes collection, 1996's Nico (named after Hoon's then-baby daughter, and spawning such further Melon classics as "Soup" and "Soul One"), as well as the Grammy-nominated home video, Letters from a Porcupine. An attempt to find a replacement for Hoon was abandoned, and in 1999, the group officially went their separate ways. Smith and Thorn subsequently formed a short-lived group, Unified Theory, as well as opening up their own recording studio (Wishbone), and becoming much-in-demand producers, working with such artists as Anna Nalick, Critter Jones and Under the Influence of Giants. Stevens, having moved to New York, appeared in a pair of groups, Extra Virgin and Tender Trio, while Graham, who also settled back east, in Charlotte, North Carolina, played in The Meek. Also during these intervening years, interest in Blind Melon continued to grow further, due to the emergence of the jam band scene - which many feel the group helped create - while such compilations as 2002's Classic Masters and 2005's Tones of Home: The Best of, as well as 2005's Live at the Palace CD and Live at the Metro DVD, racked up impressive sales.

Add to it an ever-growing Blind Melon online community of fans, and it was clear that there was still an unmistakable demand for the band. And it was precisely around this time that Smith and Thorn were asked to produce a few tracks for Texas-based singer/songwriter, Warren – who also happened to be a diehard Blind Melon fan. Working with Warren on his demo, Smith jokingly said to Thorn that Warren "could sing Blind Melon songs in his sleep." The idea was born. The four remaining members – who hadn't been in the same room in years – came together to be reacquainted with each other, and to meet with Warren. Soon after, it had become apparent that they had finally located Blind Melon's new singer. With Stevens and Graham reclaiming their spots as well, Blind Melon was back in business. Setting up shop at Wishbone, the reformed band spent most of 2007 writing and recording. Any doubts were instantly extinguished, as the classic Melon sound can be easily detected on such soon-to-be Melon classics as the title track, "Make A Difference," and the aforementioned "Wishing Well." But the group has also managed to push forward musically as well, breaking new ground on such tracks as "Sometimes" and "So High."

But before issuing For My Friends, the group decided to introduce their newest member via a highly successful and completely sold out club tour in late 2007. If the strong response from fans at these shows is any indication, the group's 2008 tour and new album will spread the word further. Without a doubt, Blind Melon is back.