formed in Los Angeles

Blind Melon formed in Los Angeles in March 1990 after West Point, Mississippi , transplants Rogers Stevens and Brad Smith, a guitarist and bassist respectively, met vocalist Shannon Hoon , a native of Lafayette, Indiana . Guitarist Christopher Thorn, originally from Pennsylvania , was added shortly thereafter; the four eventually convinced drummer Glen Graham to relocate from Mississippi to complete the group after failing to find a drummer in Los Angeles. Their moniker derived from a nickname Smith’s father had used to describe hippies. There is also a Cheech & Chong character named Blind Melon Chitlin’ , who is a parody of the 1920s blues musician Blind Lemon Jefferson .