Biography

The Fort Worth, TX, alternative rock four-piece called the Toadies formed in 1990 and trudged throughout the grunge-punk revival of the early '90s playing shows and issuing homemade tapes. Three years later Pleather was picked up by Grass/Interscope, but it wasn't until 1995 when the band scored big with their single "Possum Kingdom" from their mainstream breakthrough Rubberneck. Frontman Todd Lewis' angry vocals were fitting for the post-grunge scene swirling into a loop during that time and tours with Bush, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Butthole Surfers were motivating; however, the Toadies vanished. Lewis, bassist Lisa Umbarger, drummer Mark Reznicek, and guitarist Darrell Herbert basically took a break during the latter part of the decade. Herbert left prior to the new millennium and was replaced by Clark Vogeler and a new maturation within the band took place. By 2001, the Toadies had a riveting and fresh new sound captured on the long-awaited sophomore effort, Hell Below Stars Above. Before the year's end, however, the group had disbanded, the end officially marked by the appearance of Best of the Toadies: Live From Paradise in the fall of 2002. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide