Music Metrics Vault

Gin Blossoms

Data updated on 2024-10-09 19:05:09 UTC
Gin Blossoms graduated from the college rock circuit to the pop charts in 1993, when the singles "Hey Jealousy" and "Found Out About You" cracked the Billboard Top 40. Compared to the waves of grunge produced in the wake of Nirvana's breakthrough, the Gin Blossoms evoked an earlier time -- specifically, the big jangle of the '80s, when the South was alive with bands who strove to replicate the ringing sound of R.E.M. Certainly, New Miserable Experience, the group's 1992 major-label debut, sounded like a kindred spirit to '80s college rock, even if it was goosed with loud guitars that made it feel at home in the alt-rock explosion of the '90s. Despite racking up a number of hits during the mid-'90s -- a string that peaked in 1996, when "Follow You Down" made the Billboard Top 10 and its flipside, "Til I Hear It from You," fell short at 11 -- Gin Blossoms were plagued with internal problems, chief among them dealing with the fallout of the departure and subsequent suicide of guitarist Doug Hopkins, who wrote half of New Miserable Experience. These tensions led the group to split in 1997 but after a five-year break, they reunited for an album and tour. From that point forward, Gin Blossoms were an active concern, releasing albums every few years and touring regularly, pulling in audiences who remember their '90s hits fondly.

Doug Hopkins formed Gin Blossoms in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona with bassist Bill Leen, vocalist/guitarist Jesse Valenzuela, guitarist Richard Taylor, and drummer Chris McCann. Their first year was tumultuous, as the group underwent several personnel shifts: McCann was replaced by Dan Henzerling -- shortly thereafter, he'd be replaced by Phillip Rhodes -- while Taylor was fired and replaced by rhythm guitarist Robin Wilson, who would also become the lead singer. Wilson and Valenzuela subsequently switched lead and rhythm roles, and the band became a fixture on the Arizona circuit. They funded their independent 1989 debut Dusted in 1989, which attracted enough attention for A&M to sign the group the following year.

The transition to a major label did not go smoothly. In 1991, Gin Blossoms attempted to record a full-length album but only came up with the EP Up and Crumbling. Following its release, the group headed to Ardent Studios in Memphis to record an album with producer John Hampton, but those sessions were also troubled, due to Hopkins' worsening depression and alcoholism. A&M wound up intervening, demanding that the band either fire Hopkins or be dropped from the label. Gin Blossoms let Hopkins go -- he was replaced by Scott Johnson, whose temporary position was made permanent in 1994 -- and finished the album that became New Miserable Experience.

Released in August 1992, New Miserable Experience took a while to gain momentum. Gin Blossoms and A&M worked the album steadily, leading to New Miserable Experience entering the Billboard 200 in May 1993, with the Hopkins-written "Hey Jealousy" following it into the Hot 100 in July. "Hey Jealousy" would eventually peak at 25 on the Hot 100 charts and reached number four on Billboard's Album Rock chart, pushing its parent album up the charts. As Gin Blossoms experienced their first flush of success, Hopkins entered a downward spiral that culminated in his suicide on December 5, 1993. Gin Blossoms continued to move forward as "Found Out About You," a single released in October 1993, climbed the charts. It would match its predecessor's Top 40 peak of 25, while becoming the group's first single to appear on the Modern Rock charts, where it would reach number one. New Miserable Experience would stay on the charts throughout 1994 on the strength of recurrent plays and new singles "Until I Fall Away" and "Alison Road," which respectively peaked at 21 and 24 on the Hot 100. The album was certified double platinum in August 1994; in May 1996, it was certified quadruple platinum.

As the group worked on their third album, they stayed on the charts via "Till I Hear It from You," their contribution to the soundtrack of Empire Records. Co-written by Valenzuela, Wilson, and Marshall Crenshaw, "Til I Hear It from You" was a major radio hit -- it peaked at four on Album Rock, five on Modern Rock -- but wasn't released as an official single until it was featured as a double A-side with "Follow You Down," the first single from the group's second album, Congratulations I'm Sorry. Co-produced once again by John Hampton, Congratulations I'm Sorry debuted at 10 upon its release in February 1996 partially on the strength of "Follow You Down," which became the group's first Top 10 hit on the Hot 100. Congratulations would up certified Gold in April 1996 -- a platinum certification followed in June 1997 -- but it didn't have leg on the charts: "Day Job," its second radio single, stalled at 21 on Modern Rock and 29 on Mainstream Rock, while "As Long as It Matters" didn't go further than 75 on the Hot 100.

The underperformance of Congratulations halted the momentum of Gin Blossoms, and the group soon splintered, calling it a day in early 1997. Wilson and Rhodes went on to form the Gas Giants, while Johnson played with Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers. Wilson fronted the Gas Giants until June 2001, when the band announced an "indefinite hiatus." The announcement of a Gin Blossoms reunion followed in December 2001, with the group -- now featuring Phil Leavitt of Dada on drums -- playing a New Year's Eve concert that year. The reunion became permanent, with the band touring regularly in the early 2000s, during which time they rotated drummers: Gary Smith replaced Leavitt before Scott Kusmirek became the drummer in 2002 (Rhodes briefly rejoined the band in 2005, but that didn't go well).

Major Lodge Victory, Gin Blossoms' fourth album, appeared on Hybrid Records in 2006, a decade after Congratulations I'm Sorry; it entered the Billboard 200 at 159. In 2008, John Richardson replaced Kusmirek as the band's drummer; Kusmirek appeared on the 2009 set Live in Concert, which was released by Cleopatra. Another studio album, No Chocolate Cake, appeared on 429 Records in 2010; it debuted at 73 on the Billboard charts. Following its release, Richardson left the band and was replaced by Scott Hessel, who made his debut on the 2012 '90s alt-rock package tour Summerland.

Gin Blossoms kept touring through the 2010s, heading into the studio in 2016 to record a new album with Don Dixon and Mitch Easter, the production team behind the earliest R.E.M. records. The resulting Mixed Reality appeared in June 2018. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Total plays

437.9 million
Updated on 2024-10-09

Country

United States

Monthly listeners

1,657,996

Followers

693,102

Top Cities

  1. United States
    28,176 listeners
  2. Australia
    26,090 listeners
  3. United States
    23,017 listeners
  4. Australia
    22,731 listeners
  5. Australia
    21,004 listeners

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Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Hey Jealousy
Hey Jealousy
147,423,933 3:55 1992-01-01
Found Out About You
Found Out About You
61,940,124 3:53 1992-01-01
Til I Hear It From You
Til I Hear It From You
57,842,028 3:52 1995-01-01
Follow You Down - Edit
Follow You Down - Edit
51,682,803 3:48 1996-01-01
Follow You Down
Follow You Down
29,965,669 4:30 1996-01-01
Allison Road
Allison Road
20,276,834 3:19 1991-01-01
Until I Fall Away
Until I Fall Away
11,252,645 3:52 1992-01-01
As Long As It Matters
As Long As It Matters
8,716,157 4:32 1996-01-01
29
29
4,476,503 4:18 1992-01-01
Not Only Numb
Not Only Numb
2,824,893 3:06 1996-01-01
Lost Horizons
Lost Horizons
2,740,954 3:19 1992-01-01
Mrs. Rita
Mrs. Rita
2,376,078 4:26 1991-01-01
Cheatin'
Cheatin'
1,849,056 3:25 1992-01-01
Hey Jealousy (Live)
Hey Jealousy (Live)
1,693,037 3:56 2009-04-01
Goin' To California
Goin' To California
1,666,808 3:44 2010-09-28
Found Out About You
Found Out About You
1,664,373 3:54 2009-05-19
Found out About You (Live)
Found out About You (Live)
1,664,373 3:54 2013-07-12
Miss Disarray
Miss Disarray
1,322,328 3:30 2010-08-03
Pieces Of The Night
Pieces Of The Night
1,195,862 4:33 1992-01-01
Cajun Song
Cajun Song
1,177,416 2:56 1992-01-01
I Don't Want To Lose You Now
I Don't Want To Lose You Now
1,170,613 4:11 2010-09-28
Competition Smile
Competition Smile
1,169,352 3:38 1996-01-01
Hold Me Down
Hold Me Down
1,057,891 4:49 1992-01-01
Follow You Down
Follow You Down
884,196 5:10 2009-05-19
Break
Break
828,853 4:00 2018-06-15
Rocket Man
Rocket Man
811,596 4:52 2009-05-19
Face the Dark
Face the Dark
732,462 4:09 2018-06-15
Just South Of Nowhere
Just South Of Nowhere
728,500 3:26 1991-01-01
Don't Change For Me
Don't Change For Me
640,980 4:05 2010-09-28
Idiot Summer
Idiot Summer
637,627 4:09 1996-01-01
Hands Are Tied
Hands Are Tied
615,202 3:17 1992-01-01
Learning The Hard Way
Learning The Hard Way
571,186 4:51 2009-05-19
Keli Richards
Keli Richards
534,119 3:04 1991-01-01
Something Real
Something Real
520,908 4:03 2010-09-28
Day Job
Day Job
511,613 3:51 1996-01-01
Til I Hear It From You
Til I Hear It From You
502,882 4:35 2009-05-19
Wave Bye Bye
Wave Bye Bye
499,111 4:07 2010-09-28
Perfectly Still
Perfectly Still
426,903 4:06 1996-01-01
I'm Ready
I'm Ready
419,547 4:22 2010-09-28
Girl on the Side
Girl on the Side
371,932 4:03 2018-06-15
My Car
My Car
360,613 4:17 1996-01-01
If You'll Be Mine
If You'll Be Mine
344,075 3:14 2010-09-28
Memphis Time
Memphis Time
309,024 3:14 1996-01-01
I Can't Figure You Out
I Can't Figure You Out
307,383 3:18 1996-01-01
Long Time Gone
Long Time Gone
297,783 4:33 2009-05-19
Angels Tonight
Angels Tonight
292,933 3:34 1991-01-01
Somewhere Tonight
Somewhere Tonight
290,415 3:56 2010-09-28
Seeing Stars
Seeing Stars
282,734 3:53 1996-01-01
Whitewash - Live At Dingwalls, 1996
Whitewash - Live At Dingwalls, 1996
261,344 3:20 1996-01-01
Allison Road
Allison Road
257,102 3:22 2009-05-19
Someday Soon
Someday Soon
252,726 6:36 2009-05-19
New Mexico Trouble
New Mexico Trouble
250,102 4:23 2018-06-15
Highwire
Highwire
249,324 2:25 1996-01-01
Fool For The Taking
Fool For The Taking
246,903 4:04 2009-05-19
Mega Pawn King
Mega Pawn King
237,665 4:50 2018-06-15
Here Again
Here Again
235,791 4:01 2018-06-15
Wonder
Wonder
224,231 3:57 2018-06-15
Allison Road - Allison Road '94
Allison Road - Allison Road '94
217,817 3:22 2002-01-01
Heart Away
Heart Away
215,802 2:20 2002-01-01
Until I Fall Away
Until I Fall Away
215,709 4:13 2009-05-19
What - Live At The Metro
What - Live At The Metro
208,336 3:60 2009-01-01
Super Girl
Super Girl
204,279 10:45 2009-05-19
Dead Or Alive On the 405
Dead Or Alive On the 405
190,989 3:02 2010-09-28
Still Some Room in Heaven
Still Some Room in Heaven
188,344 2:58 2018-06-15
Soul Deep
Soul Deep
182,213 3:05 2002-01-01
Whitewash
Whitewash
177,470 3:19 1996-01-01
Virginia
Virginia
176,719 4:02 1996-01-01
Go CryBaby
Go CryBaby
169,229 4:60 2010-09-28
Everywhere - Live At The Metro
Everywhere - Live At The Metro
156,354 4:11 2009-01-01
Hey Jealousy - 1993/Live At Belly Up Tavern
Hey Jealousy - 1993/Live At Belly Up Tavern
154,213 3:52 2002-01-01
Angels Fly
Angels Fly
149,377 3:52 2018-06-15
Folsom Prison Blues - Live at the Metro
Folsom Prison Blues - Live at the Metro
144,421 3:03 2009-01-01
Blues Eyes Bleeding - Album Outtake
Blues Eyes Bleeding - Album Outtake
137,511 2:30 2002-01-01
The Devil's Daughter
The Devil's Daughter
130,833 2:24 2018-06-15
My Biggest Date - Live At The Metro
My Biggest Date - Live At The Metro
128,461 3:15 2009-01-01
Forever Is This Night
Forever Is This Night
123,252 3:13 2018-06-15
Miranda Chicago
Miranda Chicago
122,313 3:52 2018-06-15
Christine Irene
Christine Irene
118,728 2:41 2002-01-01
Back Of A Car
Back Of A Car
117,551 2:43 2002-01-01
Weeds - Live At The Metro
Weeds - Live At The Metro
116,225 6:04 2009-01-01
Pieces Of The Night - (With Piano Ending)
Pieces Of The Night - (With Piano Ending)
115,268 4:20 2002-01-01
Cold River Dick
Cold River Dick
105,710 1:14 2002-01-01
Fortunate Street
Fortunate Street
102,467 3:46 2018-06-15
Number One - Album Outtake
Number One - Album Outtake
93,872 2:34 2002-01-01
Idiot Summer
Idiot Summer
93,792 4:59 2009-05-19
Folsom Prison Blues - Live
Folsom Prison Blues - Live
91,312 3:07 2002-01-01
Hold Me Down - Live
Hold Me Down - Live
90,146 4:44 2002-01-01
Lost Horizons
Lost Horizons
88,664 3:37 2009-05-19
29 - Live
29 - Live
83,572 3:55 2002-01-01
Mrs. Rita - 1993/Live At Belly Up Tavern
Mrs. Rita - 1993/Live At Belly Up Tavern
83,145 4:08 2002-01-01
Hey Jealousy - Live at the Metro
Hey Jealousy - Live at the Metro
80,066 5:60 2009-01-01
Christine Sixteen
Christine Sixteen
78,911 3:10 1994-06-21
Movin' On Up - Live
Movin' On Up - Live
75,382 2:49 2002-01-01
Barking Dog
Barking Dog
70,879 0:41 1996-01-01
Until I Fall Away - Live at the Metro
Until I Fall Away - Live at the Metro
64,635 3:23 2009-01-01
Shadow
Shadow
63,571 3:41 2018-06-15
Hold Me Down - Live at the Metro
Hold Me Down - Live at the Metro
61,541 4:28 2009-01-01
Allison Road - Live at the Metro
Allison Road - Live at the Metro
56,006 3:28 2009-01-01
29 - Live at the Metro
29 - Live at the Metro
48,450 4:07 2009-01-01
Idiot Summer - Live at the Metro
Idiot Summer - Live at the Metro
46,998 4:20 2009-01-01
Not Only Numb - Live At Dingwalls, 1996
Not Only Numb - Live At Dingwalls, 1996
45,732 3:14 1996-01-01
Cajun Song - Live at the Metro
Cajun Song - Live at the Metro
45,255 4:26 2009-01-01
Mrs. Rita - Live at the Metro
Mrs. Rita - Live at the Metro
44,342 4:26 2009-01-01
Hands Are Tied - Live at the Metro
Hands Are Tied - Live at the Metro
42,621 3:16 2009-01-01
The JFK Shit Show
The JFK Shit Show
41,572 0:30 2018-06-15
Soul Deep - Live at the Metro
Soul Deep - Live at the Metro
39,260 5:07 2009-01-01
Just South Of Nowhere - Live at the Metro
Just South Of Nowhere - Live at the Metro
38,832 3:12 2009-01-01
Cheatin' - Live at the Metro
Cheatin' - Live at the Metro
37,579 4:40 2009-01-01
Hey Jealousy - Live - Slowed + Reverb
Hey Jealousy - Live - Slowed + Reverb
27,384 4:48 2023-05-22
Lost And Found
Lost And Found
25,342 3:11 2010-01-01
My Car - Live At Dingwalls, 1996
My Car - Live At Dingwalls, 1996
24,906 4:09 1996-01-01
Hey Jealousy - Live - Sped Up
Hey Jealousy - Live - Sped Up
17,576 3:12 2023-05-22
Banter (Live) - Remastered
Banter (Live) - Remastered
11,012 0:45 2015-10-15
Hold Me Down (Live) - Remastered
Hold Me Down (Live) - Remastered
5,721 4:22 2015-10-15
What (Live) - Remastered
What (Live) - Remastered
4,838 3:37 2015-10-15
Hey Jealousy (Live) - Remastered
Hey Jealousy (Live) - Remastered
4,149 3:53 2015-10-15
Idiot Summer (Live) - Remastered
Idiot Summer (Live) - Remastered
4,136 4:19 2015-10-15
29 (Live) - Remastered
29 (Live) - Remastered
3,736 3:53 2015-10-15
Hands Are Tied (Live) - Remastered
Hands Are Tied (Live) - Remastered
3,657 3:14 2015-10-15
Cajun Song (Live) - Remastered
Cajun Song (Live) - Remastered
3,558 3:26 2015-10-15
Till I Hear It From You (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Gin Blossoms]
Till I Hear It From You (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Gin Blossoms]
3,495 4:02 2016-03-13
Just South Of Nowhere (Live) - Remastered
Just South Of Nowhere (Live) - Remastered
3,368 3:10 2015-10-15
Allison Road (Live) - Remastered
Allison Road (Live) - Remastered
3,335 3:11 2015-10-15
Banter (2) [Live] - Remastered
Banter (2) [Live] - Remastered
3,255 0:48 2015-10-15
Soul Deep (Live) - Remastered
Soul Deep (Live) - Remastered
3,186 2:59 2015-10-15
Movin' On Up (Live) - Remastered
Movin' On Up (Live) - Remastered
3,185 2:34 2015-10-15
Mrs. Rita (Live) - Remastered
Mrs. Rita (Live) - Remastered
3,043 4:06 2015-10-15
(Standing In The) Weeds [Live] - Remastered
(Standing In The) Weeds [Live] - Remastered
2,903 5:53 2015-10-15
Cajun Song - Live
Cajun Song - Live
2,752 3:48 2020-11-24
Allison Road - Live
Allison Road - Live
2,576 3:40 2020-11-24
7th Inning Stretch
7th Inning Stretch
< 1000 0:14 1996-01-01
Banter (3) [Live] - Remastered
Banter (3) [Live] - Remastered
< 1000 0:25 2015-10-15
Banter (4) [Live] - Remastered
Banter (4) [Live] - Remastered
< 1000 0:17 2015-10-15
Someday Soon
Someday Soon
< 1000 6:06 2011-06-17

New releases

Hey Jealousy (Live - Sped Up)
Hey Jealousy (Live - Sped Up)
2023-05-22
[Cleopatra Records]
Eyes In The Sun (Live On The Edge '94)
Eyes In The Sun (Live On The Edge '94)
2020-11-24
[Hatbox]
Mixed Reality
Mixed Reality
2018-06-15
[Cleopatra Records]
Live At Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco, CA, April 11Th 1992 (Remastered)
Live At Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco, CA, April 11Th 1992 (Remastered)
2015-10-15
[Sweet 13 Records]
No Chocolate Cake
No Chocolate Cake
2010-09-28
[Savoy]
Miss Disarray
Miss Disarray
2010-08-03
[Savoy]
Lost And Found
Lost And Found
2010-01-01
[429 Records]
Live In Concert
Live In Concert
2009-05-19
[Cleopatra Records]
Just South Of Nowhere - Live In Chicago
Just South Of Nowhere - Live In Chicago
2009-01-01
[A&M]
Playlist Your Way
Playlist Your Way
2008-01-01
[A&M]
The Best Of Gin Blossoms 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection
The Best Of Gin Blossoms 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection
2006-01-01
[A&M]
The Best Of Gin Blossoms 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection
The Best Of Gin Blossoms 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection
2003-01-01
[A&M]
New Miserable Experience
New Miserable Experience
2002-01-01
[A&M]
Outside Looking In: The Best Of The Gin Blossoms
Outside Looking In: The Best Of The Gin Blossoms
1999-01-01
[A&M]
Congratulations I'm Sorry
Congratulations I'm Sorry
1996-01-01
[A&M]
Follow You Down
Follow You Down
1996-01-01
[A&M]
Til I Hear It From You
Til I Hear It From You
1996-01-01
[A&M]
New Miserable Experience
New Miserable Experience
1992-01-01
[Polydor Associated Labels]
New Miserable Experience
New Miserable Experience
1992-01-01
[A&M]
Up And Crumbling
Up And Crumbling
1991-01-01
[A&M]