Meat Puppets

Formed in Arizona by brothers Curt and Cris Kirkwood and their friend Derrick Bostrom, the Meat Puppets combined punk, blues, folk, and country music to bizarre yet entertaining effect. Led by guitarist/vocalist Curt, the substance-friendly band hit a creative peak in the mid-1980s, but didn't achieve mainstream success until 1994's TOO HIGH TO DIE. Shortly before this breakthrough, Puppets fan Kurt Cobain invited the Kirkwoods to play three of their songs (from MEAT PUPPETS II) with Nirvana on the renowned UNPLUGGED session. Later the group fell apart, with Cris developing a severe drug habit, Derrick handling the Puppets' legacy, and Curt forging ahead with a new line-up.

• pop rock