Toadies

Toadies
Toadies promotional photograph
Background information
Origin	Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Genre(s)	Post-grunge, Alternative rock
Years active	1989–2001
Label(s)	Grass, Interscope, Aezra
Associated acts	Burden Brothers 1100 Springs Baboon
Website	http://www.myspace.com/toadies
Members
Todd Lewis Mark Reznicek Clark Vogeler Lisa Umbarger
Former members
Darrel Herbert Tracey Sauerwein Charles Mooney III Matt Winchel Michael Jerome Terry Valderas Guy Vaughan

Toadies were a post-grunge band from Fort Worth, Texas. The band's final lineup consisted of Todd Lewis, Mark Reznicek, Lisa Umbarger, and Clark Vogeler. The band formed in 1989 and officially disbanded in 2001, closing the year with a farewell tour across Texas. The Toadies are best known for the hit single "Possum Kingdom," from their album Rubberneck.

Overview

Formed in 1989 in Ft. Worth, Texas, the Toadies recorded a few cassette singles and EPs before releasing their first full-length album Rubberneck in the summer of 1994. Rubberneck was released on Interscope Records and attained RIAA gold and platinum status in December 1995 and December 1996 respectively.

Toadies toured extensively throughout the 1990s supporting Rubberneck, opening for such artists as Red Hot Chili Peppers, White Zombie, Bush, and The Butthole Surfers. They also headlined and co-headlined tours with acts such as Brutal Juice, Baboon, Supersuckers, and The Reverend Horton Heat.

Finally, in 1997, the band decided to end their Rubberneck tour and re-enter the studio to record new tracks for a second album, Feeler. Unfortunately, Interscope Records did not approve the finished product, and rejected its 1998 release.^[1] The band went back into the studio, salvaging some of the songs recorded during the Feeler sessions, and eventually released their second and final full-length album Hell Below / Stars Above in the spring of 2001.

While touring in support of Hell Below / Stars Above, the band broke up five months after the album's release. On August 22, 2001, Todd Lewis contacted the Dallas Observer to officially announce the band's breakup. The primary reason for the breakup of the band (as told by Lewis) was that Lisa Umbarger simply did not want to be a part of it anymore, and that the band could not continue without her.^[2]

Post Breakup

Shortly after the break-up, a Toadies live album, Best of Toadies: Live from Paradise, was released. It was recorded just prior to the band's breakup in 2001 at the Paradise in Boston, MA.

The band reformed for a reunion show on March 11, 2006, headlining the Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day parade concert. They also had a reunion show at EdgeFest 15 on June 18, 2006. In March 2007, the band embarked on a mini-tour, playing dates in Austin, Houston, and Dallas. The final show at the Greenville Ave St. Patrick's Day parade was recorded and released as Rock Show.

Since disbanding, members of the band have gone on to other projects. Todd Lewis -- now performing as Vaden Todd Lewis -- teamed up with ex-Reverend Horton Heat drummer Taz Bentley to form the Burden Brothers. Mark Reznicek is now the drummer in Eleven Hundred Springs.

Trivia

• Lisa Umbarger's first bass was purchased with money she received for playing an Ewok on the set of Return of the Jedi.^[3]
• "Possum Kingdom" was named after Possum Kingdom State Park, in Palo Pinto County, Texas
• A master of "Possum Kingdom" is featured in the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II.

Members

• Todd Lewis - vocals, guitar
• Mark Reznicek - drums (1991-2001, and reunion shows)
• Clark Vogeler - guitar (1996-2001, and reunion shows)
• Lisa Umbarger - bass (1989-2001)

Former members

• Mark Hughes - bass (farewell tour in 2001, reunion shows in 2006-2007)
• Darrel Herbert - guitar (1992-1996)
• Tracey Sauerwein - guitar (1991-1992)
• Charles Mooney III - guitar (1989-1992)
• Matt Winchel - drums (1990-1991)
• Michael Jerome (then known as Michael Moore) - drums (1989-1990)
• Terry Valderas - drums (1989)
• Guy Vaughan - drums (1989)

Discography

Albums

Rubberneck (1994)

Hell Below / Stars Above (2001)

Best of Toadies: Live from Paradise (2002)

Rock Show (2007)

Unreleased Albums

Singles / E.P.s / demos

Compilations

See also

• 1990s music groups
• List of alternative music artists

References

• Bush, J. "The Toadies Pleather Page." Retrieved May 9, 2005.
• Wilson, MacKenzie. "Toadies." All Music Guide. Retrieved May 9, 2005.

External links

• A Toadies fan web site

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