James Moyer Franks (born August 27, 1972[1]), better known by his stage name Jimmy Pop (originally Jimmy Pop Ali[2]), is an American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, primary songwriter, and one of the founding members of the rap rock band Bloodhound Gang.

Jimmy Pop
Pop performing in 2009
Pop performing in 2009
Background information
Birth nameJames Moyer Franks
Also known asJimmy Pop Ali (1991–1997)
Born (1972-08-27) August 27, 1972 (age 52)
Trappe, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active
  • 1988–2015
  • 2021–present
Member ofBloodhound Gang
Formerly ofThe DiCamillo Sisters

Early life and education

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James Moyer Franks was born in Trappe, Pennsylvania, the son of Alice Ann (born Moyer) and Richard Lee Franks.[1][3][4] He is of German and Native American heritage,[5] with Jewish ancestry.[1] He was raised Lutheran, but ceased practicing as soon as his parents approved his request to do so.[citation needed]

He graduated from Perkiomen Valley High School in 1990 and commenced studies in mass communication and history at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he met future Bloodhound Gang bassist Jared Hennegan.[6][unreliable source?]

Career

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Bang Chamber 8

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Franks played in a Depeche Mode cover band called Bang Chamber 8 with Mike Bowe (later known as Daddy Long Legs). The lineup was Franks and Bowe on synths, Kevin Hennessey on lead vocals and Justin Ianelli on guitar and additional synths. In 1990, Bang Chamber 8 released a cassette of four original songs: "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Birthday Boy", "Ice Cubes" and "War Chimes". These songs had nothing in common, lyrically or musically, with the Bloodhound Gang.

Bang Chamber 8 split in 1991. In 1992, Pop and Daddy started a hip hop group called the Bloodhound Gang which later became more of an alternative rock band, also adopting their respective stage names. Daddy Long Legs left the Bloodhound Gang to start Wolfpac in 1997.

Bloodhound Gang

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Jimmy Pop performing with the Bloodhound Gang, 2005

Side projects

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Pop collaborated with Bam Margera, Brandon DiCamillo, and Jess Margera as The DiCamillo Sisters to record a Christmas single titled "But Why's It So Cold?" along with an accompanying video. Pop collaborated with dance artist Tomcraft for a song called "Broadsword Calling Danny Boy" in 2006. The song is featured on Tomcraft's official MySpace. In 2007, Pop collaborated with German group Scooter for a song titled "The Shit That Killed Elvis", which was featured on their album The Ultimate Aural Orgasm. Bam Margera can also be heard in the song's intro. The song reached number 2 in the German Hip Hop chart and remained there for two weeks. In 2010, Pop collaborated with German group Die Atzen for an English version of the song "Disco Pogo" which was featured on the Jersey Shore soundtrack. In 2022, he collaborated with Russian Hardbass group Russian Village Boys on their song "Daddy WTF?", with its music video being released on February 22.

Television and film appearances

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Pop made an appearance in the CKY series of films, during a shopping cart race scene and slap fight in CKY 4. He also appeared in an episode of Viva La Bam titled "Limo vs Lambo", in which Pop borrowed Bam Margera's Lamborghini without telling him, causing Margera to accuse his close friends (specifically Ryan Dunn) of doing the deed. He also appeared on the Viva La Bam episode "Rockstars", in which Don Vito and Phil Margera attempt to become rock stars, leading Jimmy Pop to French kiss Don Vito onstage.

Pop has appeared on The Dudesons, being one of the people throwing darts during the human dart board stunt with Jarppi Leppälä. Pop appeared with fellow Bloodhound Gang member Evil Jared Hasselhoff in the film Minghags: The Movie,[7][unreliable source?] directed by Bam Margera. They are credited in the film as Jimmy Pop Ali and Evil Jared "Hollywood" Hasselhoff. Pop also appears in Bam Margera's movie called Where the ♯$&% Is Santa?. He appears in the music video for the Oleander's cover of "Boys Don't Cry".

Discography

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Filmography

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Year Title Role
1995 The Chick That Was Naked Sleazy interviewer
1997 The Howard Stern Show Jimmy Pop
1998 Kin Don
1998 MTV Rocks Off Guest panelist
2000 Die Harald Schmidt Show Himself
2002 CKY4: The Latest & Greatest Jimmy Pop
2003 One Fierce Beer Run Himself
2003–2005 Viva la Bam Jimmy Pop
2004 Bam Margera Presents HIM: The Making of 'The Sacrament' Himself
2004–2008 Radio Bam Jimmy Pop
2005 TV total Musical guest
2005 Video On Trial Himself
2005 Cribs Jimmy Pop
2006 Howard Stern on Demand Jimmy Pop
2006 The Dudesons Jimmy Pop
2007 Bam's Unholy Union Jimmy Pop
2007 Die Niels Ruf Show Musical guest
2007 Howard Stern On Demand Jimmy Pop
2008 Minghags: The Movie Paramedic
2008 Bam Margera Presents: Where the#$&% Is Santa? Jimmy Pop

Music videos

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Year Song Artist Role
2000 "Boys Don't Cry" Oleander Apartment tenant
2000 "Forever as One" Vengaboys Himself
2022 "Daddy WTF?" Russian Village Boys Himself

References

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  1. ^ a b c Friedman, David (October 21, 2005). "Jimmy Pop brings R-rated rock". The News-Times. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  2. ^ SPIN Magazine. SPIN Media LLC. May 1997.
  3. ^ "RICHARD L. FRANKS's Obituary on The Wellsboro Gazette". Legacy.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  4. ^ "Richard-Holcombe-PA - User Trees - Genealogy.com". Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  5. ^ http://www.newstimes180.com December 30, 2005 "I have American Indian in me and lots of German, which works really well with the Jew. It's just a big mixed bag"
  6. ^ "James Franks (Jimmy Pop) op Myspace". Myspace.com. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  7. ^ Minghags at IMDb
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