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Jon Spencer Biography

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  • Born: in Cleveland, OH
  • Years Active: 1980s-present
  • Member of: The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
  • Genre: Rock & Alternative

When raunchy garage rockers Pussy Galore called it quits in 1990, vocalist/guitarist Jon Spencer founded the Blues Explosion, along with guitarist Judah Bauer and drummer Russell Simins. Backing up Spencer's Elvis-on-acid yelp with a heavy dose of punk, funk, and blues, the band first garnered attention with its 1993 outing, Extra Width. It cemented its reputation as a potent and playful indie rock force on the subsequent albums Orange and Now I Got Worry. The bass-less blues stomp of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion would go on to influence other early 21st-century low-end-lacking acts such as the White Stripes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. In the 2000s, Spencer teamed up with Matt Verta-Ray to become Heavy Trash and collaborated with Solex and Cristina Martinez on the 2010 album Amsterdam Throwdown King Street Showdown! ~ Heather Phares, Rovi

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