Sponge (band)
Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist
Sponge is an American rock band formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1992 by vocalist Vinnie Dombroski, guitarist Mike Cross, bassist Tim Cross, drummer Jimmy Paluzzi, and guitarist Joey Mazzola. Dombroski and the Cross brothers were previously in the hard rock band Loudhouse, with Mazzola joining just before the end of the band's tenure. Sponge's discography includes ten studio albums, four live albums, one archival album, and multiple compilations, in addition to various charting singles such as "Plowed", "Molly (16 Candles Down the Drain)", "Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)", and "Have You Seen Mary" (the former two were released on 1994's gold-certified Rotting Piñata and the latter two were released on 1996's Wax Ecstatic).
Sponge has undergone several lineup changes throughout the band's history, with founder and frontman Dombroski serving as the band's sole constant member.<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite web</ref> The band released their tenth studio album, 1994, in 2024.<ref name="94album">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
Formation, Rotting Piñata, and breakthrough (1992–1995)
Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross, and Tim Cross were in a hard rock band called Loudhouse, fronted by vocalist Kenny Mugwump. They released one album and had a song appear on the soundtrack to the 1991 film Point Break. The band then recruited Joey Mazzola as a second guitarist. Shortly after, Mugwump decided to pursue a career in acting and directing, so Dombroski switched from drums to vocals and drummer Jimmy Paluzzi was recruited to round out the lineup. The band decided to start fresh and tried out a number of different band names, including Electric Cattle Gods. Prior to their first live show in 1993, the venue's owner did not have enough space on the marquee to fit the name, and as such, the band renamed themselves Sponge.<ref name="ElectricCat">Template:Cite web</ref> They began working on new music and performed in bars and clubs around the Detroit area. They were recognized for having a dual-guitar sound reminiscent of the MC5. Their debut album, Rotting Piñata, was released in August 1994 through Work Group. Sponge embarked on their first national tour around the time of Rotting Piñata's release alongside Failure, Inch, and Rust. The tour was noted as being a "Pre-Palooza Party" for the 1994 incarnation of Lollapalooza.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sponge made their television debut on October 18 as they appeared on The Jon Stewart Show.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The songs "Neenah Menasha" and "Plowed" were released as the first and second singles respectively off of Rotting Piñata, with "Plowed" entering the Mainstream Rock chart on November 19. By January 1995, Charlie Grover replaced Paluzzi on drums.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Sponge toured with Live, Love Spit Love, and Soundgarden in 1995, and also performed at the music festivals Edgefest, Rock am Ring (Germany), X-Fest, Sunstroke (Ireland), and Pukkelpop (Belgium) that year. "Plowed", along with the third single that was released, "Molly (16 Candles Down the Drain)", received heavy airplay on radio and MTV, and the album was certified gold by the RIAA on July 14, 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The fourth single, "Rainin'", was released in October 1995 and had moderate success on the Mainstream Rock and Alternative Songs charts. Ultimately, Rotting Piñata entered the Billboard 200 chart in February 1995, peaked at No. 58 in May, and stayed on the chart for 40 weeks overall.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Wax Ecstatic and continued mainstream success (1995–1998)
Throughout 1995 and 1996, the band also performed on several late-night talk shows, including The Jon Stewart Show (for a second time), The Late Show with David Letterman, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien (with Kay Hanley of Letters to Cleo as a guest vocalist). On June 28, 1996, Sponge, along with Alice in Chains, opened for Kiss at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on their reunion tour. It was previously announced that Stone Temple Pilots would open the show, but had to cancel their performance due to vocalist Scott Weiland's substance abuse issues. The show was reported as having an attendance of almost 40,000 people. Sponge's second album, Wax Ecstatic, was released shortly after in 1996 and the first single, "Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)", received significant airplay on radio and MTV. Sponge also performed on the Lollapalooza festival tour that summer. The second single, "Have You Seen Mary", also received significant airplay and was included in the 1997 film Chasing Amy. Around this time, Sponge's manager Susan Silver retired from the music business to focus on her family.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On July 6, 1997, Dombroski was arrested for allegedly violating a state obscenity law during a R.O.A.R. Tour performance in Tulsa, Oklahoma.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The charges were later dismissed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Columbia was dissatisfied with the sales figures for Wax Ecstatic and dropped Sponge from the label once the album left the charts, despite the fact that Sponge had a third album nearly finished. Undaunted, the band continued making music while in search of a new label.
New Pop Sunday, focus on side projects, and multiple lineup changes (1998–2003)
Sponge signed a new deal with Beyond Records and released their third album, New Pop Sunday, in 1999. The album was a departure from the grittier sound of their first two albums, featuring songs that were more pop rock in nature. The band also performed again at Edgefest and X-Fest that year. There wasn't much tour support from Beyond and the new album attracted little commercial attention; however, "Live Here Without You" was nominated for the Outstanding National Single award by the Detroit Music Awards Foundation in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Around this time, the Cross brothers had gotten tired of touring and left Sponge.<ref name="auto1"/> Grover also left shortly after, and ultimately, the band went on a brief hiatus. The remaining members (Mazzola and Dombroski) recruited Robby Graham on bass along with Paluzzi on drums to form the side project group Crud.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2001, Dombroski was invited by Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney to jam with him in Seattle, along with bandmate Mike Inez on bass and Queensrÿche guitarist Chris DeGarmo. The supergroup independently recorded and released an EP entitled Microfish under the name Spys4Darwin. They performed at Endfest on August 4, 2001 and continued working together into the following year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Around this time, Dombroski also began performing and recording music with the side project group The Orbitsuns. It was also around this time that members of Crud (Dombroski, Mazzola, Paluzzi, and Graham) began performing as Sponge, but only for a handful of local shows.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dombroski and Mazzola then created a new solidified lineup of Sponge consisting of drummer Billy Adams, guitarist Kurt Marschke, and bassist Tim Krukowski.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
For All the Drugs in the World and The Man (2003–2007)
Sponge released their fourth studio album, For All the Drugs in the World, in 2003 through Idol Records. The album includes songs that were previously released independently by Sponge on an EP of the same name, which was only available at shows and on their website.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band toured with Soul Asylum, Gin Blossoms, Spin Doctors, The Verve Pipe, and The Presidents of the United States of America that year. During the midst of the album's promotion, Dombroski created a new lineup once again, albeit without other founding member Mazzola, replaced by guitarist Andy Patalan, while Marschke was replaced by guitarist Kyle Neely.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At this point, Dombroski became the only remaining original member of Sponge. The band released another EP independently in 2005, entitled Hard to Keep My Cool.
Sponge's fifth studio album, The Man, was also released in 2005 and includes songs from Hard to Keep My Cool plus new tracks. Both Crud and The Orbitsuns also released albums around this time as both projects became consistent endeavors for Dombroski.
Galore Galore and Stop the Bleeding (2007–2016)
In November 2007, Sponge announced that they would release their sixth studio album, Galore Galore, through their new label, Bellum Records. The album was released on December 4, 2007. In 2009, former Sponge producer Tim Patalan replaced Krukowski on bass. The band then independently released an EP entitled Destroy the Boy. The title track was co-written by Mazzola, the first time a former member contributed to Sponge's new material. In 2010, the video games Tony Hawk: Shred and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock were released; the former features the original version of "Plowed" and the latter features a re-recorded version that is available as a downloadable song.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sponge performed with Alice in Chains, Everclear, Seven Mary Three, and Marcy Playground in 2010 and also performed at EarthFest on May 21, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On February 21, 2012, Sponge opened for Guns N' Roses at The Fillmore Detroit during their tour that year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sponge's seventh studio album, Stop the Bleeding, was released in 2013 and includes songs from Destroy the Boy plus new tracks. Sponge performed on the Summerland festival tour and also toured with Spacehog that year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014, Sponge won the Detroit Music Awards Foundation's Outstanding National Single award for "Come in From the Rain".
The Beer Sessions, original lineup reunion performance, and Lavatorium (2016–2023)
Sponge continued recording new music and performed on the Summerland festival tour again in 2016. The band's eighth studio album, The Beer Sessions, was released on October 8, 2016 through Three One Three Records. In May 2018 at the annual Detroit Music Awards, the original lineup of Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross, Tim Cross, Jimmy Paluzzi, and Joey Mazzola reunited for one night only. This was the first time in 24 years that all of the original members performed on stage together. The group received the Distinguished Achievement award at the ceremony in recognition of their debut album, Rotting Piñata.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sponge partnered with the Pope Francis Center in 2018 to help raise funds for the poor and homeless in Detroit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band performed at Howard Stern's SiriusXM studio and toured with The Nixons in 2019.
Sponge also announced tour dates in North America during the spring and summer of 2020. However, the shows were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim to reschedule them for a later date. In August 2020, Jason Hartless replaced longtime member Adams on drums. Sponge released a music video for the song "Stitch", directed by James L. Edwards, on July 6, 2021.<ref name="auto2"/> On August 6, 2021, Sponge released their ninth studio album, Lavatorium, through Cleopatra Records.<ref name="auto2">Template:Cite web</ref> Around this time, Dave Coughlin replaced Hartless on drums. Sponge performed with Blue October, Gin Blossoms, and Fastball in 2021. On March 6, 2022, founding guitarist Mike Cross died at the age of 57.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1994 and continued touring (2023–present)
On April 20, 2024, Sponge partnered with Sound City Records to release Planet Girls, their "lost album" previously slated to be released in 1998 before being shelved by Beyond Records. Sponge ultimately re-recorded various tracks off of Planet Girls, added in additional songs, and then changed the name to New Pop Sunday for its 1999 release.<ref name="94album" />
Sponge released their tenth studio album, 1994, on October 18, 2024. The tracklist contains cover songs of alternative rock bands, all of which were originally released in 1994.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In fall 2024 Sponge released three music videos in support of 1994: "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" (Morrissey cover) directed by Drew Fortier, "Fade into You" (Mazzy Star cover) co-directed by Hannah Fierman and Fortier, and "No Excuses" (Alice in Chains cover) directed by Fortier and featuring Stephen Richards of Taproot.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In March 2025, it was announced that Sponge would go on tour with Local H and Everclear.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A compilation of outtakes and b-sides from the Rotting Piñata era was announced in October 2025, with a release date of November 14 that same year. The compilation's title, Electric Cattle Gods: The Lost Tracks, is a reference to the band's original name, Electric Cattle Gods.<ref name="ElectricCat" />
Musical style and influences
AllMusic described Sponge's sound as being a "versatile blend of classic hard rock and punchy alt-pop with a thin metal veneer".<ref name="auto1"/> Some of the bands and artists that Sponge has cited as influences include MC5, The Stooges, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, The Velvet Underground, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, Aerosmith, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Fear, The Psychedelic Furs, and Hank Williams.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In concert Sponge has also performed songs by Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass, the Ramones, Lou Reed, AC/DC, and Pink Floyd.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Band members
Current members
- Vinnie Dombroski – lead vocals (1992–2000, 2001–present)
- Kyle Neely – guitar, backing vocals (2003–present)
- Andy Patalan – guitar, backing vocals (2003–present)
- Tim Patalan – bass (2009–present)
- Dave Coughlin – drums (2021–present)
Former members
- Joey Mazzola – guitar, backing vocals (1992–2000, 2001–2003)
- Mike Cross – guitar, backing vocals (1992–2000); died 2022
- Tim Cross – bass (1992–2000)
- Jimmy Paluzzi – drums, backing vocals (1992–1995, 2001)
- Charlie Grover – drums (1995–2000)
- Robby Graham – bass (2001)
- Kurt Marschke – guitar, backing vocals (2001–2003)
- Tim Krukowski – bass (2001–2009)
- Billy Adams – drums (2001–2020)
- Jason Hartless – drums (2020–2021)
Touring substitutes
- Steve Dombroski – guitar (2012)
- Jeff Hayes – bass (2013–present)
Timeline <timeline>ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:90 top:5 right:25 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1992 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1992 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1992
Colors =
id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:BVocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:Lines value:black legend:Studio_album
LineData =
layer:back color:black at:08/02/1994 at:08/02/1996 at:04/13/1999 at:07/08/2003 at:10/04/2005 at:12/04/2007 at:05/29/2013 at:10/08/2016 at:08/06/2021 at:10/18/2024
BarData =
bar:Dombroski text:"Vinnie Dombroski" bar:Mazzola text:"Joey Mazzola" bar:MCross text:"Mike Cross" bar:Marschke text:"Kurt Marschke" bar:Neely text:"Kyle Neely" bar:APatalan text:"Andy Patalan" bar:TCross text:"Tim Cross" bar:Graham text:"Robby Graham" bar:Krukowski text:"Tim Krukowski" bar:TPatalan text:"Tim Patalan" bar:Paluzzi text:"Jimmy Paluzzi" bar:Grover text:"Charlie Grover" bar:Adams text:"Billy Adams" bar:Hartless text:"Jason Hartless" bar:Coughlin text:"Dave Coughlin"
PlotData=
width:10 bar:Dombroski from:01/01/1992 till:02/02/2000 color:Vocals bar:Dombroski from:01/10/2001 till:end color:Vocals bar:Mazzola from:01/01/1992 till:02/02/2000 color:Guitar bar:Mazzola from:01/01/1992 till:02/02/2000 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Mazzola from:01/10/2001 till:08/14/2003 color:Guitar bar:Mazzola from:01/10/2001 till:08/14/2003 color:BVocals width:3 bar:MCross from:01/01/1992 till:02/02/2000 color:Guitar bar:MCross from:01/01/1992 till:02/02/2000 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Marschke from:05/01/2001 till:08/14/2003 color:Guitar bar:Marschke from:05/01/2001 till:08/14/2003 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Neely from:08/14/2003 till:end color:Guitar bar:Neely from:08/14/2003 till:end color:BVocals width:3 bar:APatalan from:08/14/2003 till:end color:Guitar bar:APatalan from:08/14/2003 till:end color:BVocals width:3 bar:TCross from:01/01/1992 till:02/02/2000 color:Bass bar:Graham from:01/10/2001 till:05/01/2001 color:Bass bar:Krukowski from:05/01/2001 till:09/09/2009 color:Bass bar:TPatalan from:09/09/2009 till:end color:Bass bar:Paluzzi from:01/01/1992 till:01/07/1995 color:Drums bar:Paluzzi from:01/01/1992 till:01/07/1995 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Grover from:01/07/1995 till:02/02/2000 color:Drums bar:Paluzzi from:01/10/2001 till:05/01/2001 color:Drums bar:Paluzzi from:01/10/2001 till:05/01/2001 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Adams from:05/01/2001 till:08/01/2020 color:Drums bar:Hartless from:08/01/2020 till:08/01/2021 color:Drums bar:Coughlin from:08/01/2021 till:end color:Drums
</timeline>
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> |
US Heat <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | |||
| Rotting Piñata |
|
58 | 4 |
|
| Wax Ecstatic |
|
60 | — | |
| New Pop Sunday |
|
— | — | |
| For All the Drugs in the World |
|
— | — | |
| The Man |
|
— | — | |
| Galore Galore |
|
— | — | |
| Stop the Bleeding |
|
— | — | |
| The Beer Sessions |
|
— | — | |
| Lavatorium |
|
— | — | |
| 1994 |
|
— | — | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||
Archival albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Planet Girls |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> |
US Alt. <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> |
US Main. Rock <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | |||
| "Neenah Menasha" | 1994 | — | — | — | Rotting Piñata |
| "Plowed" | 41 | 5 | 9 | ||
| "Molly (16 Candles Down the Drain)" | 1995 | 55 | 3 | 11 | |
| "Rainin'" | — | 34 | 18 | ||
| "Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)" | 1996 | 64 | 15 | 11 | Wax Ecstatic |
| "Have You Seen Mary" | — | — | 7 | ||
| "Live Here Without You" | 1999 | — | — | — | New Pop Sunday |
| "1000 Times" | — | — | — | ||
| "Impossible" | 2012 | — | — | — | Template:Non-album single |
| "Come in From the Rain" | 2013 | — | — | — | Stop the Bleeding |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||
Live and compilation albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | In Concert | Westwood One radio |
| 1996 | Live from the Pit | Global Satellite Network radio |
| 1997 | All Access: Sponge | MediaAmerica Radio |
| 1999 | The Exclusive Sponge Sessions (live acoustic) | Beyond |
| 2000 | Molly | Sony Music |
| 2007 | Alive in Detroit | Three One Three |
| 2009 | Hits & B Sides, Volume 1 | Three One Three |
| 2011 | Hits & B Sides, Volume 2 | Three One Three |
| 2014 | Deep Cuts Live | Three One Three |
| 2014 | Rotting Alive | Three One Three |
| 2014 | Playlist: The Very Best of Sponge | Sony Music |
| 2017 | Wax Ecstatic Live | Three One Three |
| 2019 | Demoed in Detroit 1997-98 | Cleopatra |
| 2025 | Electric Cattle Gods: The Lost Tracks | Cleopatra |
Soundtracks and other releases
| Year | Song | Release |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Seventeen" | Mallrats soundtrack |
| "Isolation" | Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon | |
| "Go Speed Racer Go" | Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits | |
| 1996 | "All This and Nothing" | The Craft soundtrack |
| "Christmas Day" | O Come All Ye Faithful: Rock 4 Choice | |
| 1999 | "Chameleon" | The Musician's Choice, Volume 1 |
| 2012 | "Plowed" | Chasing Mavericks soundtrack |
| 2020 | "I Won't Crap Out" | Songs That Got Me Through It, Vol. 1<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director(s) | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Neenah Menasha" | 1994 | Paul Andresen | Rotting Piñata | |
| "Plowed" | Tony Kunewalder | |||
| "Candy Corn" | Paul Morgan | |||
| "Molly (16 Candles Down the Drain) " | Doug Aitken, Dale Peterson | |||
| "Rainin" | ||||
| "Wax Ecstatic" | 1996 | George Vale | Wax Ecstatic | |
| "Have You Seen Mary" | Rocky Schenck | |||
| "Destroy the Boy" | 2010 | Skip Sinclair | Destroy the Boy (EP) | |
| "Come in from the Rain" | 2013 | Steve Greene | Stop the Bleeding | |
| "Stitch" | 2021 | James L. Edwards | Lavatorium | |
| "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get" | 2024 | Drew Fortier | 1994 | Morrissey cover<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| "Fade Into You" | Drew Fortier & Hannah Fierman | Mazzy Star cover<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
| "No Excuses" | Drew Fortier | Alice in Chains cover<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |