Jimmy Pop

Jimmy Pop
Pop performing in 2009
Background information
Birth name	James Moyer Franks
Also known as	Jimmy Pop Ali (1991-1997)
Born	(1972-08-27) August 27, 1972 (age 44) Trappe, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres	Alternative hip hop, comedy rock, punk rock, rap rock, electronica, synthpop
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer, rapper, guitarist, songwriter, composer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, keyboard
Years active	1988–present
Associated acts	Bloodhound Gang, The DiCamillo Sisters, Scooter

James Moyer Franks (born August 27, 1972), better known by the stage name Jimmy Pop (originally Jimmy Pop Ali), is an American musician, singer, rapper, guitarist, songwriter, and composer. He is best known as the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, primary songwriter, and co-founder of the band Bloodhound Gang.

Pop was born in Trappe, Pennsylvania, the son of Alice Ann (born Moyer) and Richard Lee Franks. He was raised Lutheran, but ceased practicing as soon as his parents approved his request to do so. He graduated from Perkiomen Valley High School in 1990 and commenced studies in mass communication and history at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he met future Bloodhound Gang bassist Evil Jared Hasselhoff.

He has indicated that he has partial Jewish descent.

Pop (then going by his real name) played in a Depeche Mode cover band called Bang Chamber 8 with Mike Bowe (later Daddy Long Legs). Pop played guitar, while Bowe played bass and sang. In 1990, Bang Chamber 8 released a cassette of four original songs: "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Birthday Boy", "Ice Cubes" and "War Chimes". These songs had nothing in common, lyrically or musically, with the Bloodhound Gang. "War Chimes" was written about Operation Desert Storm and featured a guitar solo from Pop at the end, who also provided the lead vocals. The synth line from "Birthday Boy" would be reused on a Bloodhound Gang track, "I'm the Least You Could Do", in 2005.

Bang Chamber 8 split in 1991. In 1992, Pop and Bowe started a hip-hop group called the Bloodhound Gang.

Pop is a member of a Christmas band called The DiCamillo Sisters, along with Bam Margera, Brandon DiCamillo, and Jess Margera. Pop collaborated with dance artist Tomcraft for a song called "Broadsword Calling Danny Boy" in 2006. The song is featured on Tomcraft's official MySpace. In 2007, Pop collaborated with German group Scooter for a song called "The Shit That Killed Elvis", which was featured on their album The Ultimate Aural Orgasm. Bam Margera can be heard in the song's intro. The song reached number 2 in the German Hip Hop billboards and remained there for two weeks.In 2010, Pop collaborated with German group Die Atzen for an English version of the song "Disco Pogo" which was featured on the Jersey Shore soundtrack.