Luscious Jackson Biography

Throwing together New York's alt-rock scene with elements of jazz, hip-hop and more, no one was sure what to make of Luscious Jackson when they debuted with their landmark early '90s EP, In Search of Manny. That record introduced listeners to a cross-section of the indie underground that was as well-versed in hip-hop as it was in rock, and in time, the band's darker sound would get a more radio-friendly sheen. Whether it's this particular EP you love or their brief but amazing catalog of LPs, Luscious Jackson was an amazing band whose cult appreciation extends to this day.The band's lineup consisted of vocalist and guitarist Gabby Glaser, vocalist and bassist Jill Cunniff, drummer Kate Schellenbach and vocalist and keyboardist Vivian Trimble. Glaser, Cunniff and Schellenbach had met as teens while involved in New York's thriving network of post-punk bands. Schellenbach had been the drummer for the Beastie Boys back when they were still a punk band, and the influence of the Beastie Boys' hip-hop records would should on Luscious Jackson's work.The friends went off to college, reuniting in the '90s and forming the band. They named it after Philadelphia '76ers player Lucious Jackson, whose name was once mispronounced during a game. After releasing their debut, In Search of Manny, critics raved, exposing the band to a larger audience.They released their debut LP, Natural Ingredients, in 1994. More upbeat than Manny, it appealed to listeners largely on the strength of the single Deep Shag. It wasn't an odd blend of hip-hop and rock, with the vocals more sung than rapped, but urban grooves, beats and samples that reminded one more of the Beastie Boys. The band released a follow-up, Fever In Fever Out in 1996. With members' attention being pulled in various directions by side projects, the band released their final record, 1999's Electric Honey as a trio, then broke up.