Named after the expression used to describe a couple of hippie neighbors, Blind Melon's soft rock sound was shaped from the classic rock of the early eighties. The group, consisting of singer Shannon Hoon, guitarists Christopher Thorn and Rogers Stevens, and drummer Glen Graham, saw their share of fame before the alternate side of hard rock got to them.The quartet signed with Capitol based on their four-song demo tape, The Goodfoot Workshop, and quickly produced the EP The Sippin' Time Sessions. Working with producer David Briggs, longtime producer of Neil Young, the end result ended up being tossed. Hoon got in contact with Axle Rose, front man for Guns N' Roses, and began singing backup for several tracks, including the ballad "Don't Cry." When Hoon was featured in the song's video, premiering on MTV, buzz started to surround the little Los Angeles group Blind Melon, who had yet to create a full length album.It wasn't until September '92 that the industry saw Blind Melon's self-titled debut smash onto the scene, with the single "No Rain" making the album sour to the top of the charts. The album would eventually go platinum four times over.The group continued to play clubs and tour the U.S., even opening for Neil Young, before headlining their own tour in 1994, the same year they were nominated for a pair of Grammys. But when Hoon's drug use forced him into rehab, the group stopped touring, only making an appearance at Woodstock '94. After stepping back into the recording studio, Hoon's antics continued and Soup, their second album, was pushed back. Upon Hoon's insistence, the group began touring their mildly successful second album, and just two days after his drug counselor left, Hoon was found dead from a drug overdose.Pulling the pieces together after a break, Blind Melon returned with Nico, named after Hoon's infant daughter and donated proceeds to the Musicians Assistants Program in honor of their former band mate. After failing to find another lead singer and a right sound, the group parted ways.