All-star NYC blues-punk combo
Boss Hog was helmed by the husband-and-wife team of singer
Cristina Martinez and singer/guitarist Jon Spencer, who previously teamed in the legendary cult band
Pussy Galore. The duo formed
Boss Hog to fill a last-minute cancellation at the famed CBGB's, earning instant notoriety when
Martinez performed their debut show au naturel; guitarists
Jerry Teel and
Kurt Wolf, bassist Pete Shore, and drummer
Charlie Ondras completed the line-up for 1989's cassette-only Drinkin', Lechin', and Lyin'. In the wake of 1990's
Cold Hands,
Spencer formed
the Blues Explosion, forcing
Boss Hog on the backburner; by the time the group returned in 1993 with Girl +, only
Martinez and
Spencer remained from the original lineup, with ex-Swan
Jens Jürgensen assuming bass duties and
Hollis Queens joining on drums. The record's success in indie circles resulted in a deal with major label Geffen which yielded a self-titled 1995 LP; little was heard from
Boss Hog throughout the remainder of the decade (although
Spencer and
Martinez had a baby), but in early 2000 the group finally resurfaced with
Whiteout, featuring ex-
Goats keyboardist
Mark Boyce.
–
Jason Ankeny, Rovi