Jimmy Pop
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Pop (born James Moyer Franks, August 27, 1972 in Trappe, Pennsylvania
) is an American
musician
, best known as the lead vocalist
, rhythm guitarist, main songwriter
, and founding member of the band Bloodhound Gang
.
in 1990, he studied mass communication and history at Temple University
, where he met The Bloodhound Gang bassist Jared "Evil Jared Hasselhoff" Hennegan
. He also founded the Jimmy Franks Recording Company
, a label on which The Bloodhound Gang releases albums, as well as other bands such as Helltrain
, Isabelle's Gift, and, more famously, HIM. He was also a contributing writer to American pop-culture satire publication POPsmear
throughout the 1990s. He was offered a position as an intern on the Howard Stern Show, but had to turn it down after getting signed to his first record contract (with the Bloodhound Gang).
Jimmy Pop's humor focuses heavily on sex. Jimmy Pop's style of humor relies on a blend of shock value with pop culture references. His live humor represents this as well, including things such as wearing a Backstreet Boys
shirt onstage, and putting out a cigarette on his tongue. He also has been known to tear off Evil Jared Hasselhoff
's shirt at random intervals, once actually attempting to bite off the shirt.
Jimmy Pop is the public face of the Bloodhound Gang, and is the member most commonly interviewed. Unlike the others (most notably DJ Q-Ball), Jimmy usually takes the actual output of the band very seriously, and does not joke about leaving or breaking up. He is the only original member remaining in the group.
According to an article by David Friedman, Jimmy Pop is not Jewish. "I have the blood in me, but I'm not considered part of the tribe. When my family came over here, on my father's side they were all rabbis. They changed their name from Hershell to Hershey and one of their younger grandchildren or whatever became the Hershey Bar guy. I never got any money out of it... I have American Indian in me and lots of German, which works really well with the Jew. It's just a big mixed bag. Somewhere along the line, my parents were raised Lutheran and as soon as I didn't have to go anymore, I wasn't into it. So I wasn't raised Jewish, but being in the music business, of course, I have Jewish managers. So I'm always up for the holidays."
He currently plays Gibson Les Paul
guitars and Marshall
amps and bass guitar. He used to play a custom guitar (made by a former Paul Reed Smith
employee; it was actually Lüpüs' guitar, and is no longer used) through an Orange amplifier. He previously used Gretsch
guitars before he used Les Pauls. He started playing guitar live for the tours supporting Hooray for Boobies
, and does not play them on the albums. Other guitars he could be seen using is a Fernandes
Native for the music video for "The Ballad of Chasey Lain
", and a Taylor
acoustic for the music video for "Fire Water Burn
".
Jimmy Pop is also a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies
, and is often seen wearing a Phillies hat. He is also noted for his Philadelphia accent
(particularly the "Philadelphia A"), which can be heard in most (if not all) Bloodhound Gang songs. He is also known for singing in a deep monotone
in many Bloodhound Gang songs.
series of films, during a shopping cart
race scene and slap fight in CKY 4. He appeared in an episode of Viva La Bam
, titled "Limo vs Lambo"; wherein Jimmy Pop borrowed Bam Margera
's Lamborghini
without telling him, thus causing Bam Margera to accuse his close friends, specifically Ryan Dunn
, of doing the deed. He also appeared on The Dudesons, being one of the people throwing darts during the human dart board stunt with Jarppi Leppälä. Jimmy Pop also appeared for a total of about five seconds in the "State of Bam" episode of Viva La Bam; but Evil Jared Hasselhoff
had a much longer part in that particular episode. He also appeared in the Viva La Bam episode in which a scavenger hunt took place (which ended in the arrests of himself, Margera, and Evil Jared; among others). He also appeared on the Viva La Bam episode "Rockstars", in which Don Vito and Phil Margera attempt to become rock stars, leading Jimmy Pop to French kiss
Don Vito onstage.
More recently, Jimmy Pop can be seen twice in the final episode (season finale) of Bam's Unholy Union. The first time, Jimmy Pop can be seen greeting Bam with his name appearing underneath in captions, the second time he is speaking with Dave England.
Along with these appearances, Jimmy Pop is credited along with fellow band member Evil Jared in a film directed by Bam Margera titled Minghags: The Movie
. They are credited in the film as "The Bloodhound Gang". The trailer for the movie was shown at most venues on the bands latest UK tour and featured Jimmy Pop and Evil Jared as part of an ambulance crew. He also appears in Bam Margera's movie called Where The #$&% Is Santa?
, Brandon DiCamillo
, and Jess Margera
.
Jimmy Pop collaborated with dance artist Tomcraft
for a song called "Broadsword Calling Danny Boy" in 2006. The song is featured on Tomcraft's official MySpace.
In 2007, he collaborated with German
group Scooter
for a song called "The Shit That Killed Elvis", which was featured on their album The Ultimate Aural Orgasm
. Bam Margera
can be heard in the song's intro. The song reached number 2 in the German Hip Hop billboards and remained there for two weeks.
In 2010, he collaborated with German group Die Atzen for an English version of the song "Disco Pogo" which was featured on the Jersey Shore
soundtrack.
Trappe, Pennsylvania
Trappe is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,509 at the 2010 census. Augustus Lutheran Church, built in 1743, is the oldest unchanged Lutheran church building in the United States in continuous use by the same congregation...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, rhythm guitarist, main songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and founding member of the band Bloodhound Gang
Bloodhound Gang
Bloodhound Gang is a Collegeville, Pennsylvania-based American comedy band, although it began as a rap group and gradually changed its genre throughout the years...
.
Biography
After graduating from Perkiomen Valley High SchoolPerkiomen Valley School District
The Perkiomen Valley School District is a school district based in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania . PVSD was created in 1969 through the merger of the Collegeville-Trappe School District and the Schwenksville School District...
in 1990, he studied mass communication and history at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, where he met The Bloodhound Gang bassist Jared "Evil Jared Hasselhoff" Hennegan
Evil Jared Hasselhoff
Jared Victor Hennegan, better known by his stage name "Evil" Jared Hasselhoff is the bassist for the band The Bloodhound Gang....
. He also founded the Jimmy Franks Recording Company
Jimmy Franks Recording Company
The Jimmy Franks Recording Company is a vanity record label owned by Bloodhound Gang lead-singer Jimmy Pop. The label's name derives from Jimmy Pop's real name, James Franks....
, a label on which The Bloodhound Gang releases albums, as well as other bands such as Helltrain
Helltrain
Helltrain is a Death 'n' roll band formed in Luleå, Sweden in 2002 by vocalist and bassist Pierre Törnkvist. The current line-up consists of Oskar Karlsson , Pierre Törnkvist , Patrik Törnkvist , Mikael Sandorf and Mats Järnil . Mikael and Mats joined Helltrain after their original band The...
, Isabelle's Gift, and, more famously, HIM. He was also a contributing writer to American pop-culture satire publication POPsmear
Popsmear
Popsmear is an album by the band Filthy Lucre.-Track listing:# Ariata# Outta Control# Black Cadillac# Baby I Want# Hollywood# Milk My Honey# Brand New Deal# Suxksex# Can't Kick# Ladbroke Groove-Personnel:...
throughout the 1990s. He was offered a position as an intern on the Howard Stern Show, but had to turn it down after getting signed to his first record contract (with the Bloodhound Gang).
Jimmy Pop's humor focuses heavily on sex. Jimmy Pop's style of humor relies on a blend of shock value with pop culture references. His live humor represents this as well, including things such as wearing a Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
shirt onstage, and putting out a cigarette on his tongue. He also has been known to tear off Evil Jared Hasselhoff
Evil Jared Hasselhoff
Jared Victor Hennegan, better known by his stage name "Evil" Jared Hasselhoff is the bassist for the band The Bloodhound Gang....
's shirt at random intervals, once actually attempting to bite off the shirt.
Jimmy Pop is the public face of the Bloodhound Gang, and is the member most commonly interviewed. Unlike the others (most notably DJ Q-Ball), Jimmy usually takes the actual output of the band very seriously, and does not joke about leaving or breaking up. He is the only original member remaining in the group.
According to an article by David Friedman, Jimmy Pop is not Jewish. "I have the blood in me, but I'm not considered part of the tribe. When my family came over here, on my father's side they were all rabbis. They changed their name from Hershell to Hershey and one of their younger grandchildren or whatever became the Hershey Bar guy. I never got any money out of it... I have American Indian in me and lots of German, which works really well with the Jew. It's just a big mixed bag. Somewhere along the line, my parents were raised Lutheran and as soon as I didn't have to go anymore, I wasn't into it. So I wasn't raised Jewish, but being in the music business, of course, I have Jewish managers. So I'm always up for the holidays."
He currently plays Gibson Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
guitars and Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
amps and bass guitar. He used to play a custom guitar (made by a former Paul Reed Smith
PRS Guitars
PRS Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland. PRS Guitars was founded by guitarist and luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of high-end electric guitars.-Materials:...
employee; it was actually Lüpüs' guitar, and is no longer used) through an Orange amplifier. He previously used Gretsch
Gretsch
The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
guitars before he used Les Pauls. He started playing guitar live for the tours supporting Hooray for Boobies
Hooray for Boobies
Hooray for Boobies is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Bloodhound Gang, released on October 4, 1999 in Europe and February 29, 2000 in the US. Produced by Jimmy Pop and Richard Gavalis, it was the band's second release on Geffen Records following the gold-selling One Fierce...
, and does not play them on the albums. Other guitars he could be seen using is a Fernandes
Fernandes Guitars
Fernandes Guitars is a guitar and accessory manufacturer that originated in Japan in 1969, building flamenco guitars. As the company grew it expanded production to include more acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers, and accessories to become one of the biggest guitar...
Native for the music video for "The Ballad of Chasey Lain
The Ballad of Chasey Lain
"The Ballad of Chasey Lain" is a song by the Bloodhound Gang on their 1999 album Hooray for Boobies. It was released as a single in the United States and overseas....
", and a Taylor
Taylor Guitars
Taylor Guitars is an El Cajon, California‐based luthier, specializing in acoustic guitars, as well as semi-hollow and solidbody electric guitars. It was established in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug.- History :...
acoustic for the music video for "Fire Water Burn
Fire Water Burn
"Fire Water Burn" is the second single from The Bloodhound Gang's 1996 album One Fierce Beer Coaster. The chorus of the song is taken from the song "The Roof Is on Fire" by Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three, yet sung considerably slower...
".
Jimmy Pop is also a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and is often seen wearing a Phillies hat. He is also noted for his Philadelphia accent
Philadelphia dialect
The Philadelphia dialect is the dialect of English spoken in Philadelphia; and extending into Philadelphia's suburbs in the Delaware Valley and southern New Jersey. It is one of the best-studied dialects of American English since Philadelphia's University of Pennsylvania is the home institution of...
(particularly the "Philadelphia A"), which can be heard in most (if not all) Bloodhound Gang songs. He is also known for singing in a deep monotone
Monotone
Monotone refers to a sound, for example speech or music, that has a single unvaried tone.Monotone or monotonicity may also refer to:*Monotone , an open source revision control system*Monotone class theorem, in measure theory...
in many Bloodhound Gang songs.
Appearances in film
Jimmy Pop made an appearance in the CKYCKY (video series)
The CKY video series is a series of videos produced by Bam Margera and Brandon DiCamillo and other residents of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Four videos have been released to date, Landspeed presents: CKY , CKY2K, CKY 3, and CKY4: The Latest & Greatest...
series of films, during a shopping cart
Shopping cart
A shopping cart is a cart supplied by a shop, especially supermarkets, for use by customers inside the shop for transport of merchandise to the check-out counter during shopping...
race scene and slap fight in CKY 4. He appeared in an episode of Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared...
, titled "Limo vs Lambo"; wherein Jimmy Pop borrowed Bam Margera
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
's Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
without telling him, thus causing Bam Margera to accuse his close friends, specifically Ryan Dunn
Ryan Dunn
Ryan Matthew Dunn was an American reality television personality and daredevil best known for being a member of the Jackass and Viva La Bam crew. He hosted Homewrecker and Proving Ground...
, of doing the deed. He also appeared on The Dudesons, being one of the people throwing darts during the human dart board stunt with Jarppi Leppälä. Jimmy Pop also appeared for a total of about five seconds in the "State of Bam" episode of Viva La Bam; but Evil Jared Hasselhoff
Evil Jared Hasselhoff
Jared Victor Hennegan, better known by his stage name "Evil" Jared Hasselhoff is the bassist for the band The Bloodhound Gang....
had a much longer part in that particular episode. He also appeared in the Viva La Bam episode in which a scavenger hunt took place (which ended in the arrests of himself, Margera, and Evil Jared; among others). He also appeared on the Viva La Bam episode "Rockstars", in which Don Vito and Phil Margera attempt to become rock stars, leading Jimmy Pop to French kiss
French kiss
A French kiss is a kiss in which one participant's tongue touches the partner's lips or tongue and usually enters his or her mouth. A French kiss is a slow passionate kiss which is usually considered intimate, romantic, erotic or sexual...
Don Vito onstage.
More recently, Jimmy Pop can be seen twice in the final episode (season finale) of Bam's Unholy Union. The first time, Jimmy Pop can be seen greeting Bam with his name appearing underneath in captions, the second time he is speaking with Dave England.
Along with these appearances, Jimmy Pop is credited along with fellow band member Evil Jared in a film directed by Bam Margera titled Minghags: The Movie
Minghags: The Movie
Minghags, previously known as Kiss a Good Man's Ass is the title of a film by director/skater Bam Margera.-Plot:Trailer trash rockers Lenny and Ponce have vowed revenge, on billionaire scum-bag Rut Ru and his bloated sidekick Dominick who have heisted Ponce's cool invention, the Garbage...
. They are credited in the film as "The Bloodhound Gang". The trailer for the movie was shown at most venues on the bands latest UK tour and featured Jimmy Pop and Evil Jared as part of an ambulance crew. He also appears in Bam Margera's movie called Where The #$&% Is Santa?
Side projects
Jimmy Pop is a member of a Christmas band called The DiCamillo Sisters, along with Bam MargeraBam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
, Brandon DiCamillo
Brandon DiCamillo
Brandon Ralph DiCamillo is an American actor, stuntman and screenwriter. He was a founding member of the CKY Crew and rose to fame through appearances in the CKY video series and MTV's Jackass, Viva La Bam and Bam's Unholy Union.-Personal life:He previously worked for Neiman-Marcus, and is the...
, and Jess Margera
Jess Margera
Jesse Phillip Margera is the drummer in the band CKY, its predecessor Oil and Foreign Objects, Viking Skull, and The Company Band.-Life and career:...
.
Jimmy Pop collaborated with dance artist Tomcraft
Tomcraft
Tomcraft is a German DJ and producer. He is specialized in progressive house and progressive trance and is better known for having created the tracks "Loneliness" and "Prosac", working alongside Eniac....
for a song called "Broadsword Calling Danny Boy" in 2006. The song is featured on Tomcraft's official MySpace.
In 2007, he collaborated with German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
group Scooter
Scooter (band)
Scooter are a German hard dance band founded in Hamburg, who have sold over 25 million records and earned over 80 gold and platinum awards. Scooter are considered the most successful single-record German act with 23 top ten hits. The band is currently composed of members H.P. Baxxter, Rick J....
for a song called "The Shit That Killed Elvis", which was featured on their album The Ultimate Aural Orgasm
The Ultimate Aural Orgasm
The Ultimate Aural Orgasm is the twelfth studio album by Scooter. Two singles were released from it: "Behind The Cow" and "Lass Uns Tanzen". This is the first album released with new member Michael Simon...
. Bam Margera
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
can be heard in the song's intro. The song reached number 2 in the German Hip Hop billboards and remained there for two weeks.
In 2010, he collaborated with German group Die Atzen for an English version of the song "Disco Pogo" which was featured on the Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore (TV series)
Jersey Shore is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on December 3, 2009 in the United States. The series follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey Shore in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Season 2 followed the cast escaping the cold northeast...
soundtrack.