Bananarama

A few minor hits proved to be a last hurrah, and in 1993, they released a greatest hits CD and have reappeared only sporadically, with occasional albums and a few comeback tours during the late 1990s. After briefly attempting to continue, Blind Melon soon broke up and the various members went on to other projects.
"I Heard a Rumor", from the True Confessions album, was a hit in 1987 [1] (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN%3DB00000339C/geocities17/104-7324253-5843106), as was "Love in the Third Degree", but the late 80s brought a resurging of boy bands, and interest in girl bands waned a bit. 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. They appeared on the Band Aid single Do They Know It's Christmas?. Hoon was found dead of an overdose on October 21, 1995. In 1986 they began to be produced by UK pop producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman, which immediately resulted in the international #1 hit "Venus", whose dance enticing beats typified the "SAW" approach to pop production. Against the advice of Hoon's drug counselor, Blind Melon went on tour.

It was covered by Swedish band Ace of Base and was a worldwide hit all over again in 1998. In 1995, Blind Melon also contributed the song "Out on the Tiles" to the Encomium tribute album to Led Zeppelin. "Cruel Summer" was included in the movie The Karate Kid and its soundtrack, shooting the song up to #1 worldwide. While Hoon checked into rehab, the album, Soup, was released in 1995 (see 1995 in music), but sold poorly. Their debut album, Deep Sea Skiving (1983), was a minor hit, but the next, Bananarama (1984), contained their first two hit singles, "Cruel Summer" (1983) and "Robert De Niro's Waiting" (1984). Hoon would later admit that he had no memory of the recording session.
Bananarama experienced their greatest success during the period from 1984 to 1989. Hoon and the rest of the band began recording their sophomore album in New Orleans with producer Andy Wallace.

They got into the Guinness Book of World Records as the United Kingdom's best selling girl group ever. After opening for Neil Young and Lenny Kravitz, Blind Melon's own tour was cut short due to Hoon's escalating drug abuse. Along with groups like The Bangles and The Go-Gos they helped to change the old Motown image of "Black Girls only" girl groups, and paved the way for such other artists as the Spice Girls. Subsequently, Blind Melon went platinum four times. Founded as a joke in 1981 by friends Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward, and Sarah Dallin, they later added Jacquie O'Sullivan to their roster. 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, along with the popular video which featured the equally popular Bee Girl. Bananarama was a girl group of the 1980s that found worldwide fame with their melodic pop songs. Hoon and old friend Axl Rose re-met, and Hoon sang back-up on several Guns n' Roses tracks, including "Don't Cry".

Blind Melon signed to Capitol Records in 1991 (see 1991 in music) and recorded an unreleased demo. Also 'Blind Melon Chitlin' was the name of a fictional bluesman appearing in a routine on the self titled Cheech and Chong LP. The name Blind Melon describes some hippies from Mississippi, as used (or coined) by Brad Smith's father. 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.

Glen Graham - drums. Brad Smith - bass. Rogers Stevens - guitar. Christopher Thorn - guitar.

Shannon Hoon - vocals.