Biography
The blues-punk outfit Boss Hog from New York City took shape under the direction of married couple Cristina Martinez on vocals and Jon Spencer on vocals and guitar, the latter having previously worked alongside Martinez in the storied underground unit Pussy Galore. The pair assembled the project specifically to cover a sudden opening at the legendary CBGB, where Martinez instantly drew notice by appearing without clothes for the first show. Jerry Teel and Kurt Wolf on guitar, Pete Shore on bass, and Charlie Ondras on drums rounded out the lineup that delivered the 1989 EP Drinkin', Lechin' & Lyin'. Following the 1990 release Cold Hands, Spencer started the Blues Explosion, which placed Boss Hog on hold. The 1993 return via Girl + retained only Martinez and Spencer from the original members, bringing in ex-Swan bassist Jens Jürgensen and drummer Hollis Queens. Indie success with that album led to a Geffen contract and the self-titled 1995 LP. The band stayed silent for the rest of the decade aside from Spencer and Martinez having a baby, then reappeared in early 2000 with Whiteout that featured ex-Goats keyboardist Mark Boyce. After Girl Positive Plus arrived in 2001, Boss Hog issued no further recordings for years even while playing scattered live dates, though Martinez contributed guest vocals to multiple Jon Spencer Blues Explosion albums and both she and Spencer joined Solex on the 2010 album Amsterdam Throwdown King Street Showdown!. A few 2008 performances aside, the group entered a 16-year hiatus while Martinez raised her son and worked in magazine publishing. The break ended in 2016 when Martinez and Spencer revealed two new recordings. The lineup now consisting of Martinez, Spencer, Queens, Jürgensen, and Mickey Finn released the EP Brood Star on In the Red Records in July 2016 and supported it with a short West Coast tour. The full-length Brood X followed in March 2017, after which Boss Hog embarked on a nationwide tour.
Albums
