Gin Blossoms

Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms in 2009
Background information
Origin	Tempe, Arizona, United States
Genres	Alternative rock, power pop, jangle pop,post-grunge
Years active	1987–1997, 2002–present
Labels	A&M, Hybrid, 429
Associated acts	Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, The Refreshments, Gas Giants, The Longshadows, The Chimeras, The Pistoleros
Website	www.ginblossoms.net
Members	Bill Leen Jesse Valenzuela Robin Wilson Scott "Scotty" Johnson Scott Hessel
Past members	Doug Hopkins Richard Taylor Chris McCann Steven Severson Dan Henzerling Phillip "Phil" Rhodes Scott Kusmirek John Richardson

Gin Blossoms is an American rock band formed in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona. They first came to notice with the song "Hey Jealousy" from their first major label album, New Miserable Experience (1992), but this achievement was coupled with the forced firing and eventual suicide of the song's author and band co-founder Doug Hopkins, prompting the title of their follow-up album, Congratulations I'm Sorry (1996). After a series of charting singles, the band broke up in 1997. They reunited in 2002 and released a fourth album, Major Lodge Victory, in 2006, and a fifth, No Chocolate Cake, in 2010.

Members of the band's early years include lead guitarist and songwriter Doug Hopkins, bass guitarist Bill Leen, Jesse Valenzuela (lead vocalist at first, later rhythm guitarist and backing vocals), rhythm guitarist Richard Taylor, Taylor's replacement Steven Severson, drummer Chris McCann, McCann's replacement Dan Henzerling, and Severson's replacement Robin Wilson (rhythm guitarist at first, later lead vocalist). The band's name comes from a photo of W.C. Fields in Kenneth Anger's infamously erroneous book, Hollywood Babylon, which bore the caption "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms", referring to the actor's telangiectasia-ravaged face and rhinophymic nose by the slang term for the skin condition known as rosacea.

In their early years, the Gin Blossoms became well-known around their hometown of Tempe, Arizona. The band's frequent touring resulted in an increase in popularity. They independently recorded their first full-length album, Dusted, which was released in 1989. The group is known for the "southwestern sound", or "Mill Avenue sound", similar to other bands from Arizona such as The Sidewinders, The Refreshments, The Meat Puppets, and Dead Hot Workshop.