Skunk was an American

alternative rock Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...

band formed in 1986 in

Maplewood, New Jersey Maplewood is a township in Essex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is an inner-ring suburban bedroom community of New York City in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's popula ...

. During the group's existence Skunk released two albums on

Twin/Tone Records Twin/Tone Records was an independent record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which operated from 1977 until 1994. It was the original home of influential Minnesota bands the Replacements and Soul Asylum and was instrumental in helping the ...

; 1989's ''Last American Virgin'' and 1991's ''Laid''. Skunk was the first band of now respected session guitarist

Matt Sweeney Matt Sweeney (born July 2, 1969) is an American musician and record producer best known as a guitarist of Skunk, Chavez, and supergroup Zwan. Early life and education Sweeney was born in New Jersey. His father was John D. Sweeney, a profess ...

, who after their breakup went on to form New York City

math rock Math rock is a style of Alternative rock, alternative and indie rock with roots in bands such as King Crimson and Rush (band), Rush. It is characterized by complex, atypical rhythmic structures (including irregular stopping and starting), cou ...

quartet Chavez, and drummer Claude Coleman, Jr., best known for his decades long tenure playing with Ween. Also in the band for its entire history was bassist Matt Quigley, who later went on to form the art-pop group Vaganza. Although they were not well known while they were active, Skunk were a favorite group of

Billy Corgan William Patrick Corgan Jr. (born March 17, 1967) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the co-founder, lead guitarist, primary songwriter, singer, and only constant member of alter ...

of the multi-platinum 90s band

Smashing Pumpkins The Smashing Pumpkins (also simply known as Smashing Pumpkins) are an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago in 1988 by frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. ...

, who in 2001 joined forces with Sweeney to form the band

Zwan Zwan was an American alternative rock supergroup formed in 2001 by lead guitarist/vocalist Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin (both of the Smashing Pumpkins). Other members included bassist Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle), plus guitari ...

. In the liner notes to the Pumpkins' ''

Pisces Iscariot ''Pisces Iscariot'' is a compilation album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released in 1994 through Virgin Records, consisting of A-side and B-side, B-sides and outtakes. Reaching number 4 in the US upon its 1994 release ...

'' LP, Corgan wrote of the song " Frail and Bedazzled" : :''"frail and bedazzled owes a great debt to the band skunk, from whom i ripped part of this song off. skunk was probably the greatest band that i ever knew/saw that is virtually unknown-even less than

the frogs ''The Frogs'' (; , often abbreviated ''Ran.'' or ''Ra.'') is a comedy written by the Ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes. It was performed at the Lenaia, one of the Festivals of Dionysus in Athens, in 405 BC and received first place. The pla ...

. frogs. skunk. i miss skunk."''

Discography

;''Last American Virgin'' (1989) ;''Laid'' (1991)Ira A. Robbins, David Sprague The Trouser Press Guide to '90s Rock 1997 Page 142 "Laid (Twin\Tone) 1991 Singer/guitarist Matt Sweeney first came to light with the New Jersey punk band Skunk, whose two records feature sophomoric album titles with juvenile lyrics and aimless vocals to match, although both are stylistically diverse and Laid shows real progress toward a fully realized sound."

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Skunk (band) American post-hardcore musical groups Musical groups from Essex County, New Jersey Musical groups established in 1986