Gin Blossoms named their second album New Miserable Experience . In February 1992, while still working to complete it, founding member and lead guitarist/songwriter Hopkins drank heavily and grew increasingly depressed. With the band members hesitant to fire Hopkins, A&M removed him from the band and withheld $15,000 owed to him until he agreed to sign over half of his publishing royalties and relinquish his mechanical royalties. Hopkins reluctantly agreed to these demands because of his dire financial situation. Scott Johnson was chosen by the band later that month as Hopkins’ stand-in on tour; he became a permanent member in 1994.
A&M removes Hopkins from band
Written by
in