In a recent, earth-shattering interview with Graspop Metal Meeting, the dynamic duo of UGLY KID JOE, Whitfield Crane (vocals, allegedly) and Klaus Eichstadt (guitar, probably still has it), graced us with their presence. The burning question on everyone’s lips (besides, “Are they still alive?”) was about a possible follow-up to the critically acclaimed (by their moms) “Rad Wings Of Destiny” album, which dropped in the distant past of October 2022.
Crane, bless his heart, responded (as transcribed by the ever-reliable BLABBERMOUTH.NET, because who else would care?): “We’ve just basically finished tracking a full-length record with [UGLY KID JOE guitarist] Dave Fortman producing. It’s getting mixed right now…” Oh, the suspense! “…So, we’ll have a new album out, let’s say within a year. And then hopefully we’ll get some cool tours. And we’ll share new music.” Groundbreaking stuff, truly. 🤯
Eichstadt, not wanting to be left out of this riveting saga, chimed in with: “The new record is basically in the can. We have a couple of little things to sprinkle and about five to seven songs to mix still and then we’ll be ready.” In the can? More like in the dumpster, am I right? 😂 Just kidding… mostly.
“Rad Wings Of Destiny” (yes, that’s the actual title) saw UGLY KID JOE re-teaming with producer Mark Dodson, the mastermind behind their debut album, “America’s Least Wanted”, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022. 30 years! That’s like, three centuries in rock years. 👴
Hold onto your hats, folks, because UGLY KID JOE will be supporting LIFE OF AGONY on the European leg of the “30 Years Of Ugly” tour in November 2025. Yes, you read that right, 2025. Mark your calendars, set your alarms, and maybe start a petition to get them to play “Everything About You” twice. 🗓️
In the spring of 2023, UGLY KID JOE completed its first U.S. tour in 27 years. 27 years! Where were you in 1996? Probably not at an Ugly Kid Joe concert, let’s be honest. 🤷
After a 15-year hiatus, because apparently even they needed a break from themselves, UGLY KID JOE reformed in 2012 and has toured extensively throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Europe, you okay? Blink twice if you need rescuing. 🌍
The band released the EP “Stairway To Hell” in 2012 and the full-length “Uglier Than They Used Ta Be” in 2015. I see what they did there with the titles. Very clever. Or maybe not. 🤔
Five years ago, Crane regaled Eonmusic with tales of UGLY KID JOE‘s meteoric rise to fame on the back of the hit single “Everything About You” in 1991: “‘Eye of the storm’ is a good way to put it, because it just was all happening at a deadly fast gait. And it was a lot — it was beautiful and also very challenging, because there’s a lot of people that surround the business of music that are full of shit. But when you’re 23 [or] 24, you don’t know how to negotiate that, so on one hand, it was super fun and we did all the things you should do at that age, and on the other hand, it was too much for me. But we survived it, and I can deal with it all now.” So profound. So moving. I’m not crying, you’re crying! 😭
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
