Phunk Junkeez
| Phunk Junkeez | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | PJ, The PJ Crew, Junkeez |
| Origin | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop, punk rock, trip hop, rap rock, rap metal |
| Years active | 1991-present |
| Labels |
Naked Language Records Interscope Records Uncle Sam Records Trauma Records Suburban Noize Records Dmaft Records Gold Chain Records |
| Associated acts | 311 Kottonmouth Kings Incubus Sen Dog Rehab The Dirtball Daddy X Common Sence Pokaface |
| Website | www |
| Members | K-Tel Disco Soulman Jumbo Jim DJ Roach Mike Kramer Milky |
| Past members | Jeff O'Rourke Disco Danny Dynamite> Danny P (deceased) Money Mike Todd Mahoney Jeff Holmes |
The Phunk Junkeez are an American rap rock band from Phoenix, Arizona that formed in 1991 and have established a strong underground following. The band has toured the U.S. extensively, even making it as far as Japan.
The band plays music fusing a number of different styles, from hardcore punk to trip hop.
Eventually, the band was signed to Trauma Records/Interscope Records and have released six albums over the last 23 years.
The band has had member changes over its 24 years, especially on guitar, but three original members still make up part of the band to this day: Soulman (singer), Jumbo Jim (bass) and DJ Roach (singer and DJ).
The Phunk Junkeez founders, Kirk Reznik (a.k.a. "K-Tel Disco") and Joe Valiente ("Soulman"), started performing to prerecorded beats under the name "White Boy Rap," a name Soulman used for solo performances. Later, they performed as an opening act for such artists as MC Hammer and Run-D.M.C. That project turned into "BumRap" in 1987, followed by the "Phunk Junkeez" in 1990. In 1991 the two rappers, Reznik and Valente, joined forces with "Last Laugh" members Todd Mahoney on guitar and Jeff Holmes on bass (Holmes stayed on until 1994 as a production/tour manager). Soon after, Kirk & Joe merged with a local band, "Freak Squad," and later that year brought in DJ Roach Clip from their rap days. The band members included Jumbo Jim (bassist), Mike Kramer (guitarist), and Disco Danny Dynamite (a.k.a. Disco Danny D, Disco Dan, DK Mueller) on drums. The Phunk Junkeez were a massively popular act in the Valley throughout the early 1990s, playing huge, illegal warehouse keggers and routinely drawing more than 1,000 fans into clubs. DJs Soulman and Roach Clip are both natives of Alaska and grew up in the same trailer park, although never met until both had grown up and moved to Arizona.
The band released their self-titled debut-album in 1992. This album was one of the most popular local releases from a Phoenix band in 1992 and 1993, and according to Zia Records music retailer it sold almost 30,000 copies in Phoenix alone. The Phunk Junkeez were signed to Trauma Records/Interscope Records and released their second album, Injected (1995), nationwide. This release was recorded in Atlanta and produced by Angelo Moore of Fishbone and Ross Robinson (Korn, Slipknot, At the Drive-In).Injected produced a successful single, "I Love it Loud," which was played in rotation on alternative stations nationwide, accompanied by a video featuring Chris Farley and David Spade, and was featured on the Tommy Boy soundtrack. "I Love it Loud" eventually reached a peak of 38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Another track from the album B-Boy Hard was featured on the soundtrack to National Lampoon's Senior Trip. Phunk Junkeez toured extensively at this time, playing with No Doubt, Bush, Faith No More, Ramones, KMFDM, and mostly with 311. The Phunk Junkeez were given a shout out in the song "Jackolantern's Weather" from 311's self titled album released in 1995 as well as 311's "Misdirected Hostility" which was written after 311 witnessed the level of disharmony among the Junkeez, specifically a fight between Reznik and then guitarist Jeff O'Rourke, and a second brawl, later that same tour, next to the 311 dressing room between Reznik and Disco Danny D.
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