Blind Melon

Blind Melon was an American rock and roll band from the 1990s, composed of Shannon Hoon, Brad Smith, Glen Graham, Rogers Stevens and Christopher Thorn. The name Blind Melon describes some hippies from Mississippi, as used (or coined) by Brad Smith's father. Also 'Blind Melon Chitlin' was the name of a song on the self titled Cheech and Chong LP.

Blind Melon signed to Capitol Records in 1991 (see 1991 in music) and recorded an unreleased demo. Hoon and old friend Axl Rose re-met, and Hoon sang back-up on several Guns n' Roses tracks, including "Don't Cry". Their debut album, Blind Melon, produced by Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam) sold poorly until the single and music video for "No Rain" hit the airwaves and became a smash success. Blind Melon went platinum four times, in spite of critical panning. After opening for Neil Young and Lenny Kravitz, Blind Melon's own tour was cut short due to Hoon's escalating drug abuse.

Unable to get clean, Hoon and the rest of the band began recording their sophomre album in New Orleans with producer Andy Wallace. Hoon would later admit that he had no memory of the recording session. While Hoon checked into rehab, the album, Soup, was released in 1995 (see 1995 in music) just after Hoon's girlfriend gave birth to their first child. Even more critically reviled than their first effort, Soup sold poorly. In 1995, Blind Melon also contributed the song "Out on the Tiles" to the Encomium tribute album to Led Zeppelin.

Against the advice of Hoon's drug counselor, Blind Melon went on tour. Hoon was found dead of an overdose on October 21, 1995. With some unreleased vocals in the vaults, the remaining members released Nico in 1996 (see 1996 in music) with the profits going to a program that helps musicians with drug and alcohol addiction. After briefly attempting to continue, Blind Melon soon broke up and the various members went on to other projects.