AMERICA'S LEAST WANTED
official biography, released in 1992 by Stardog Records, NY.

Whitfield Crane - Vocals
Klaus Eichstadt - Guitar
Dave Fortman - Guitar
Cordell Crockett - Bass
Mark Davis - Drums

There's something new, yet comfortably familiar about Ugly Kid Joe. Their new debut LP, America's Least Wanted, recorded in less than two months in Devonshire Studios with producer, Mark Dodson, is a loose, unpretentious, rocking, laugh-laden disc. If Mark Dodson ever stumbles across your path, the Ugly Kids would like you to buy him a beer.

"America's Least Wanted is by far what I'd like to be represented by as compared to the EP because it kicks ass" said Whit. Tunes like "Neighbor" have a decidedly humorous twist, not unlike the Ugly Kids' smash single "Everything About You." But, on America's Least Wanted, Ugly Kid Joe proves that they're about more than tongue-in-cheek humor. "America's Least Wanted is more diverse" offers Cordell. "The album is true to what we did on the EP, but goes outside of that as well. There are some heavier groove songs, some grungier tunes, and some humorous stuff too."

Whitfield planted seeds for Ugly Kid Joe once upon a time while sitting on a corner in Palo Alto, California, after the Jordan Middle School eighth grade dance. "I was pretty anti-social, so I was going home alone," recalls classmate Klaus. "I was riding home on my bike and I heard this 'Hey!' It was Whit, and he goes "You want to smoke a joint?" Fast friends, Klaus and Whit jammed together through high school, until Whit went south to sloppy Santa Barbara. There Whit hooked up with Mark Davis, who was leading a double life. By day, Mark tucked his chest-length brown hair into a wig and worked at a local supermarket. At night, the hair came down and he'd go jam with Whit in Isla Vista. Klaus came down and joined the duo in February 1990. Suddenly they were desperately in need for a good bass player. After auditioning 93 bassists, Cordell was selected to round out Ugly Kid Joe. Louisiana native Dave Fortman joined the band in April 1992. "I was hanging out with Whit and Klaus for a year-and-a-half before joining the band" informs Dave. "When I finally joined Ugly Kid Joe, it was very comfortable, like being in a group with my best friends. We've got a really good vibe and that's what counts."

Figuring it wise not to blow the big bucks on the album, Ugly Kid Joe started their career with the EP As Ugly As They Wanna Be (recently certified multi-platinum). They headed out on a club tour with the likes of Scatterbrain. The single "Everything About You" became a radio staple and part of the hugely successful Wayne's World film. As the EP soared to Number 4 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart, Ugly Kid Joe became the success story of the year. Due to this success, Ugly Kid Joe was asked to be the special guest on the Ozzy Osbourne summer tour. "Playing arenas for starters is a trip, but opening for Ozzy is even more intense" observes Cordell. "I'm numb about the whole thing. I'm still wringing out my shorts." Mark describes Ugly Kid Joe as "a hang loose, party, sloppy garage band. Then suddenly we had to get our act together. We don't let the business interfere with the vibe, but it's all so intense. We're still green; we're wet behind the ears."

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