Blind Melon consists of Brad Smith (bass), Christopher Thorn (guitar), Glenn Graham (drums), Roger Stevens (guitar), Shannon Hoon (lead vocals).
Blind Melon was an American rock band from the 1990s.
Reportedly, the name "Blind Melon" describes some hippies from Mississippi, as used (or coined) by Brad Smith's father. Also, "Blind Melon Chitlin" was the name of a fictional bluesman appearing in a routine on the self-titled Cheech and Chong LP. These may be derivative of the name of an actual bluesman, Blind Lemon Jefferson.
Blind Melon signed to Capitol Records in 1991 (see 1991 in music) and recorded an unreleased demo. Hoon and Axl Rose (who was a friend of Hoon's sister) re-met, and Hoon sang back-up on several Guns N' Roses tracks, including "Don't Cry". The band's self-titled debut album, produced by Rick Parashar ( Pearl Jam), sold poorly until the single and music video for " No Rain" hit the airwaves and became a smash success, along with the popular video which featured the equally popular Bee Girl (played by Heather DeLoach). Subsequently, Blind Melon went platinum four times. After opening for Neil Young and Lenny Kravitz, Blind Melon's own tour was cut short due to Hoon's escalating drug abuse.
Hoon and the rest of the band began recording their sophomore album in New Orleans with producer Andy Wallace. Hoon would later admit that he had no memory of the recording session. While Hoon checked into rehab, the album, Soup, was released in 1995 (see 1995 in music), but sold poorly. In 1995, Blind Melon also contributed the song "Out on the Tiles" to the Encomium tribute album to Led Zeppelin, as well as a promotional CD with a cover of the School House Rock song "Three is a Magic Number".
