Phunk Junkeez

The Phunk Junkeez is an American rap rock band from Phoenix, Arizona formed in 1991 by rappers Joe Valiente (Soulman) and Kirk Reznik (K-Tel Disco). Their second album, Injected (1995), was co-produced by Fishbone singer Angelo Moore and Ross Robinson. It featured a cover of Kiss's  song "I Love It Loud" which appeared in the film Tommy Boy, and was Phunk Junkeez' most successful single.

History

Formation and early years
The Phunk Junkeez founders, Kirk Reznik and Joe Valiente, started performing to prerecorded beats under the name "White Boy Rap".  Later, they performed as an opening act for artists such as MC Hammer and Run-D.M.C.. They changed their name to "BumRap" in 1987, followed by the "Phunk Junkeez" in 1990. 

Reznik and Valiente then merged with a local band called "Freak Squad". Freak Squad band members included Jumbo Jim (bassist), Mike Kramer (guitarist), and Disco Danny Dynamite (a.k.a. Disco Danny D, Disco Dan, DK Mueller) on drums. The group soon added Jeff Scott (aka DJ Roach Clip). The Phunk Junkeez performed in Phoenix throughout the early 1990s, playing at illegal warehouse raves and clubs. 

The band released their self-titled debut album in 1992. This album became locally popular, leading to interest from major record labels. The Phunk Junkeez were signed to Trauma Records/Interscope Records, and they released their second album, Injected (1995), nationwide. This release was primarily recorded in Atlanta and produced by Angelo Moore of Fishbone and Ross Robinson (Korn, Slipknot, At the Drive-In). Injected included the successful single, "I Love it Loud (Injected Mix)". The single received widespread play on alternative stations throughout the country. The release of the single was accompanied by a video featuring Chris Farley and David Spade, and was featured on the Tommy Boy soundtrack. "I Love it Loud (Injected Mix)" eventually reached a peak of 38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Another track from the album B-Boy Hard was featured on the soundtrack to National Lampoon's Senior Trip.

Touring and Reznik's departure
The Phunk Junkeez toured extensively during this time, playing with No Doubt, Bush, Faith No More, Ramones, and KMFDM, but mostly with 311.  The Phunk Junkeez were referenced in the song "Jackolantern's Weather" from 311's self-titled album released in 1995 as well as 311's "Misdirected Hostility", which was written after 311 witnessed a fight between Reznik and then guitarist Jeff O'Rourke, and then a second brawl on that same tour between Reznik and Disco Danny Dynamite.

While opening for Dada at a September 24, 1993 concert at the Mesa Amphitheater in Mesa, Arizona, Phunk Junkeez were pulled from the stage after playing for several minutes past the city's noise curfew. Despite the requests of producer Brad Laughlin and threats to call the police, the Phunk Junkeez would not allow Laughlin to interrupt the set, forcing the venue to shut off the PA system. The band kept playing with only stage amplifiers, but soon the lights were turned off as well. Once backstage, the band's leader, K-Tel Disco, tossed tables and chairs and threatened the producers of the event, who left without paying the band. By then, a large percentage of the audience had left the venue before seeing Dada perform. The band was banned from playing at Mesa Amphitheater for several years. They were scheduled to play the venue again in 2003, but left before taking the stage after a dispute with the Insane Clown Posse.

In 1994, Reznik was removed from the band after numerous negative incidents between him and the other members. After his departure, the band immediately went on tour, bringing along a mobile recording studio to record their next album. The ideas written while on tour became the basis of Fear of a Wack Planet, which was recorded in Amsterdam, produced by Lee Popa, and released in 1998. The band then began touring more frequently, with acts such as Incubus, Shootyz Groove, The Urge, Insane Clown Posse, 2 Skinnee J's, and Clutch. Jeff O'Rourke quit the band after the bulk of this touring to pursue a film career.

Sex, Drugs and Rap N' Roll to Present
In 1999, Danny P replaced Jeff O'Rourke on guitar, and the band began writing their next album. Danny P was a member of the local Phoenix band Surf Ballistics. The band has said that Danny P sparked their creativity and was a driving force during their next four releases. With Danny P, the band became popular on the national underground scene. They toured worldwide, with performances in South America, Canada, Japan, Mexico, and China. The band quickly recorded "Junk EP" on their newly formed independent record label, "Uncle Scam Records." The band found themselves on national TV on MTV, MTV2, and USA Network when they put out a music video for the song "Bounce." The song "American Pimp" also became popular nationwide at this time. 

With their recent successes, the band decided to record a new album. They built a state-of-the-art studio in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, and hired producer Jeff Poe (Santana, Guns N' Roses). The album was mixed and parts were recorded at Can/Nam studios in California. In January 2001, the band released Sex, Drugs and Rap N' Roll (2001). This marked the start of the band becoming more underground. On this and the next three albums, bassist Jumbo Jim took over as the band's recording engineer. New MC Milky (Valiente's younger brother) also joined the band to rap alongside Roach and Valiente. This release was produced and mixed by Jeff Poe. One of the singles off the album, What's Next, featured a collaboration with Sen Dog of Cypress Hill.

After four albums and 11 years of touring, Drummer "Disko" Dan Mueller left the Phunk Junkeez to pursue other musical endeavors. The Phunk Junkeez added Steve "Dukes" Dueck. During the Sex, Drugs and Rap N' Roll tour, they joined up with Suburban Noize Records while supporting Kottonmouth Kings for most of the spring and summer of 2002. They abandoned their tour to join the Kottonmouth Kings tour, canceling all of their previously scheduled shows without notifying any of the venues. Concertgoers arrived, but were informed that the band had not yet arrived. Only later did frustrated venue managers, who could not get in touch with the band, visit the band's website and learn of the change in the tour. 

The band began to tour over 200 days a year in major and secondary markets. The Phunk Junkeez then signed a record deal with Suburban Noize and released their fifth album, Rock It Science, the following year. After tracking drums for this album, Dukes left the band for family reasons and was replaced by Money Mike on drums. This album was produced by Jumbo Jim and Valiente, recorded by Jumbo Jim, and mixed by Ken Mary. The songs, "Same Ole Song" and "Fall in Line," from Rock It Science, appeared on the soundtrack to Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. The band again toured extensively following this release. 

On August 23, 2007, the Phunk Junkeez released their most recent album, entitled Hydro Phonic. This album was also produced by Jumbo Jim and Valiente, engineered by Jumbo Jim, and mixed by Ken Mary.

Upon completing another tour of the U.S. and Japan, Valiente went on a solo tour of Japan. The Phunk Junkeez continue to play shows but have slowed their extensive touring, only playing select cities and dates.

Musical style 

Steve "Flash" Juon, writing for Rap Reviews, said that "it's almost impossible to pigeonhole" Phunk Junkeez into a single genre, and as a result, the band has been branded many terms, including rap metal, punk rock and rap rock. Juon compared the band to "pre-Licensed to Ill Beastie Boys from their pre-rap days mixed with [the band] 311 and a little dash of Linkin Park - but only so far as rapping and the occasional turntable scratch go", arguing that Phunk Junkeez "are definitely closer to merging hip-hop with punk rock". In 1995, the band was categorized as "punk-hop" for the "combination of hard-core hip-hop's funky samples, frantic scratching, and take-no-prisoners rhyming layered over punk rock's instrumental assaults." In 1998, The Washington Post wrote, "the Junkees provide a credible hip-hopped update of the funk-punk sound trailblazed 15 years ago by the Red Hot Chili Peppers."

The band avoids discussing politics in their lyrics. The Phoenix New Times wrote, "Phunk Junkeez give one of the most energetic and frenetic shows you can find in the Valley, but their music loses its individuality when translated to wax."

Members

Current members
 Joe Valiente "Soulman" (vocals) 1991–present
 Kirk Reznick "K-Tel Disco" (vocals) 1991–1995, 2016–present
 "Jumbo" Jim Woodling (bass guitar) 1992–present
 Jeff Scott "DJ Roachclip" (turntables/samples) 1992–present

Past members
 Mike Kramer (guitar) 1992–1993
 Jeff O’Rourke (guitar) 1994–1999, 2016–2018
 Danny P (guitar) 1999–2016
 Daniel Mueller (drums) 1992–2000, 2016–2018
 Mike Hill (drums) 2003–2016
 Jesse Valiente (vocals) 2001-2010

Touring and Studio members
 Todd Mahoney (guitar) 1991
 Jeff Holmes (Bass) 
 Tony McClain (guitar) 1993
 Steve Dukes (drums) 2001–2002
 Richard Picklesworth (samples) 2000–2004

Discography

Albums

Singles

Videography

Filmography

References

External links
 

1991 establishments in Arizona
American rap metal musical groups
American rap rock groups
Musical groups established in 1991
Punk rock groups from Arizona