Radish

Radish was a grunge / alternative rock band from Greenville, Texas. In 1993 Ben Kweller became friends with another young local musician, drummer John Kent, and the two formed the band Radish with bassist Ryan Green. The trio played locally in and around Greenville and recorded two independent releases, Hello (1994) and Dizzy (1995), with Martin Baird at Verge Music Works recording studio in Dallas. Around the time of Dizzy's release, Ryan Green decided to leave the band and focus his attention on school. Lorin Hamilton filled in for a few months until Bryan Bradford AKA Bryan Blur joined on for most of the band's career. Ben sent a copy of Dizzy to Guitarist Nils Lofgren who grew up with Bens dad in Maryland. Nils was impressed with Radish and recommended them to Roger Greenawalt who was producing Lofgren's album at the time, Damaged Goods. Greenawalt took Radish into a studio where they recorded a demo tape which was subsequently shopped around to record labels nationwide, After an unexpected bidding war, Radish eventually signed to Mercury Records to release the album Restraining Bolt. Radish made appearances on The Weird Al Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Late Show with David Letterman, but despite the much-hyped signing, the band failed to strike big success. Radish earned a large cult following in England with their top 40 hit "Little Pink Stars". The band toured several times in Europe including opening slots for Faith No More and main stage at Reading Festival '97. Radish released two singles. In 1998 Radish became a quartet featuring Joe Butcher (Polyphonic Spree, Ufofu) on lead guitar and Debbie Williams on bass. Radish went to Muscle Shoals Studio in Alabama to record the follow-up to Restraining Bolt, provisionally titled Discount Fireworks. The band recorded with producer Bryce Goggin (Pavement, The Lemonheads). While mixing Discount Fireworks in NYC Kweller and Kent met bassist Josh Lattanzi who would become Radish's 5th and final bass player. In 1999 As a result of Polygram's merger with Universal Music Group, the 18-song album was never released and Radish soon secured a release from their contract with Mercury Records.Ben Kweller went on to have a solo career.