Green Jellÿ

Green Jellÿ
Green Jellÿ, Live at The Dome, Bakersfield, May 2010
Background information
Origin	Kenmore, New York, United States
Genres	Comedy rock, heavy metal, punk rock, alternative metal
Years active	1981–1995 2008–present
Labels	Zoo Entertainment, Volcano, Originology Records
Associated acts	Tool, Gwar, A Perfect Circle, Pigmy Love Circus, Psychostick, Puscifer, Tapeworm, Radioactive Chicken Heads, Rosemary's Billygoat
Website	GreenJelloSuxx.com
Members	Bill Manspeaker

Green Jellÿ (pronounced "green jello") is an American comedy rock band formed in 1981. Originally named Green Jellö, the band changed its name due to legal pressure from Kraft Foods, the owners of the Jell-O trademark,, who claimed that it was an infringement of their trademark. Despite the spelling difference, the new name and the old are pronounced identically.

Known for sophomoric humor, theatrical performances and intentionally crude musicianship, Green Jellÿ has had hundreds of members during the band's existence, with vocalist Bill Manspeaker the only consistent member throughout. The band's early 1990s lineup, during their most popular phase, Cereal Killer included several musicians who went on to appear in other major 1990s bands most notably Tool. Their biggest hit was the single "Three Little Pigs", adapted from the nursery rhyme.

Bill Manspeaker, a resident of Kenmore, New York, formed Green Jellÿ in 1981 as Green Jellö, a four-piece comedy-punk band. As most of the band's members were poor musicians at the time, they billed themselves as "The World's Worst Band" and emphasized bizarre theatrics, power chords, and self-deprecating humor. The name, which was suggested by a friend of the band, was chosen because the band members felt lime-flavored Jell-O was the worst Jell-O flavor, and Manspeaker believed this also reflected the band's talents.

The band began playing punk shows around Buffalo, New York, and became notorious for their onstage antics and live theatrics. The band were musical novices to the degree that the bassist had to color-code the frets on his bass guitar so that he could memorize finger placement by color.

One of the band's earliest shows was held in a Masonic Temple in Kenmore. During the show, members of the rowdy audience broke into the venue's kitchen mid-concert and found a full case of ice cream sandwiches, which they proceeded to throw at the band. By the end of the night the stage was ruined and Green Jellö had to reimburse the venue for damages and cleaning. Another early gig at a YMCA also ended in the band having to pay for clean-up; this time for spilling a large amount of fake blood on the carpets. The band acquired a reputation as a "food-throwing rock band", and audience members started bringing their own green Jell-O to shows, which they would then throw at the band. The group was eventually banned from Buffalo music club McVans for an act that included smashing televisions on stage with a sledgehammer. They temporarily changed their name to AJP (American Jell-O Party), copying the Sex Pistols' trick of changing their name to "SPOTS" (Sex Pistols On Tour Secretly) in order to play shows in places where they were banned, including McVans. This proved successful, and they got back into McVans only to repeat their destructive conduct and be banned once again. Following this, the name was changed back to Green Jellö and they attempted to book different venues.