Best known as the leader of punk-blues firebrands
the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion,
Jon Spencer became a major figure in noise rock and alternative rock circles for his gritty, combustible songs, fiercely minimalistic guitar work, and over-the-top performing style.
Spencer first made his name in the mid-'80s with combative noise merchants
Pussy Galore (best heard on the 1987 album Right Now!), whose raw, purposefully off-putting style and deliberately offensive lyrics made them one of the most polarizing bands of the day. After
Pussy Galore's breakup,
Spencer launched
the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, whose frantic but wildly energetic style mixed elements of punk, R&B, blues, and garage rock into a raucous, celebratory attack that made them one of the best live acts of their day. The band captured the essentials of their sound on
Extra Width (1993) and
Orange (1994), while they embraced elements of hip-hop and electronics on
Acme (1998). While
Spencer's approach was easily recognizable, he was able to fuse his ideas with a variety of collaborators, including the raw R&B sound of
Boss Hog, the fractured roots rock of
Heavy Trash, and the deep but idiosyncratic blues wailing of
Spencer Dickinson. After the breakup of the
Blues Explosion,
Spencer reintroduced himself first with a solo album, 2018's
Spencer Sings the Hits, and then by launching a new band,
Jon Spencer & the HITmakers, whose raw, noisy rock was documented on 2022's Spencer Gets It Lit.
Jon Spencer was born on February 4, 1965. He grew up in Hanover, New Hampshire, and began making music while attending Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he formed a short-lived industrial noise group called Shithaus; one of his bandmates was Tod Ashley, who would go on to sing with
Cop Shoot Cop. By 1985,
Spencer had relocated to Washington, D.C., where he formed the first edition of
Pussy Galore with
Julia Cafritz (guitar and vocals) and John Hammill (percussion). The band's abrasive and inflammatory sound and philosophy sharply divided the Washington, D.C. musical community, and after a pair of self-released 7"s, they moved to New York City, which already had a thriving noise rock scene. Before they moved to New York, Hammill left the group and guitarist Neil Hagerty signed on, while drummer
Bob Bert and guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist
Cristina Martinez became part of
Pussy Galore once they settled into their new home.
Pussy Galore would go on to release four full-length albums (including their infamous song-by-song cover of
the Rolling Stones'
Exile on Main St., which appeared on a limited-edition cassette) before the band broke up in 1990.
Spencer and
Martinez, who were romantically involved and would marry in 1991, had already formed a side project, the sex-obsessed
Boss Hog, with members of
Unsane and
the Honeymoon Killers. Their debut EP, Drinkin', Lechin' & Lyin', appeared in 1989, and a full-length album, Cold Hands, followed in 1990.
Boss Hog remained sporadically active in the '90s and early 2000s, though they went on hiatus after
Spencer and
Martinez welcomed their first child, returning to the studio for 2017's
Brood X.
In 1990,
Spencer launched a new project,
the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, with
Spencer (on vocals, guitar, and theremin) joined by guitarist
Judah Bauer and drummer
Russell Simins. Fusing the clattering sounds of
Pussy Galore with a more accessible and energetic approach inspired by R&B, blues, and rockabilly (the band's two-guitars-and-drums lineup was inspired by the gutbucket blues combo
Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers), the trio released their self-titled debut album in 1992, and thanks to heavy touring, enthusiastic word of mouth, and scattered MTV airplay,
the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion developed an international fan base that dwarfed that of any of
Spencer's other projects. While early releases such as Crypt Style (1992) and
Extra Width (1993) documented their bold live sound,
JSBX began exploring the possibilities of the recording studio on
Now I Got Worry (1996) and
Acme (1998), and they shored up their credibility with blues fans backing up Mississippi juke joint legend
R.L. Burnside on his 1996 set,
A Ass Pocket of Whiskey. After 2004's
Damage, the group took a break, but they returned to duty in 2012 with
Meat + Bone, followed by 2015's excellent
Freedom Tower: No Wave Dance Party 2015. In 2022,
Spencer revealed in an interview that the
Blues Explosion had officially broken up.
When not occupied with
the Blues Explosion,
Spencer kept himself busy with other projects. He teamed up with
Matt Verta-Ray of
Speedball Baby to form
Heavy Trash, which pushed the rockabilly and roots rock side of
Spencer's musical personality to the forefront; the group released three albums,
Heavy Trash (2005),
Going Way Out with Heavy Trash (2007), and
Midnight Soul Serenade (2010).
Spencer also collaborated with
Luther Dickinson and
Cody Dickinson of
the North Mississippi Allstars for a 2006 album titled
The Man Who Lives for Love, credited to
Spencer Dickinson. And
Spencer also made notable guest appearances on albums by
Andre Williams (2000's
The Black Godfather),
Nancy Sinatra (2004's Nancy Sinatra),
the Sadies (2006's
In Concert, Vol. 1),
the Japanese Popstars (2011's Controlling Your Allegiance), and
Solex (2010's
Amsterdam Throwdown King Street Showdown!, which also featured
Cristina Martinez). In 2018
Spencer stepped out on his own with his first solo album,
Spencer Sings the Hits.
Spencer's next album introduced his new band,
Jon Spencer & the HITmakers, featuring
Bob Bert,
Sam Coomes, and
Janet Weiss. The combo made their recording debut with 2022's Spencer Gets It Lit. ~ Mark Deming