Urge Overkill

The American alternative rock band Urge Overkill was formed in 1986 in Chicago by Nash Kato (vocals and guitar) and Eddie "King" Roeser (vocals, guitar, and bass). The band’s name was taken from the lyrics of the song “Funkentelechy” by the funk group Parliament. Their early work leaned toward noise rock, a genre that was predominant in the local scene at the time.

With Pat Byrne on drums, Urge Overkill released their debut EP Strange, I... in 1986, produced by Steve Albini and released on the Ruthless Records label. In 1988, their first studio album, Jesus Urge Superstar, also produced by Albini and featuring Kriss Bataille on drums. The album marked the band’s debut on Touch and Go Records.

On Americruiser (1990), the group changed their style and, once again, their drummer, bringing in Jack “Jaguar” Watt. Featuring a sound described as a fusion of punk and arena rock, the album was produced by Butch Vig and propelled by the hit “Ticket to L.A.”

Watt’s tenure was short-lived. On the next album, The Supersonic Storybook (1991), Blackie Onassis took over on drums and solidified the classic lineup. During the same period, the band served as the opening act for historic tours by Nirvana (Nevermind) and Pearl Jam (Vs.).

In 1992, the trio released the EP Stull, which featured "Goodbye to Guyville" and a cover of "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon," a song by Neil Diamond. In 1994, the track gained global recognition when it was included on the soundtrack for Pulp Fiction, a film by Quentin Tarantino, becoming the biggest hit of the group’s career.

Riding the wave of their success, the band left Touch & Go and signed with the major label Geffen Records. Their debut with their new label came in 1993 with Saturation, which spawned the singles "Sister Havana" and "Positive Bleeding."

However, after the release of Exit the Dragon (1995), Onassis was arrested for drug possession. At the same time, disagreements between Kato and Roeser culminated in Roeser’s departure. Kato and Onassis still tried to keep the band active by signing with the 550 Music label in 1997, but the partnership did not work out and the label dropped them.

Years later, Kato and Roeser reconciled and reformed the group. Urge Overkill returned to the stage in 2004 for concerts in North America, Europe, and Australia. In 2011, breaking a 16-year hiatus, they released the studio album Rock & Roll Submarine. More than a decade later, they returned in 2022 with Oui, an album that features a cover of "Freedom!" by the duo Wham!.