Led by former
Faith No More keyboardist
Roddy Bottum, the alternative pop band
Imperial Teen emerged from San Francisco in 1994; co-founded with drummer
Lynn Perko, a veteran of Bay Area groups like the Dicks and Sister Double Happiness, the lineup was completed by former Wrecks bassist
Jone Stebbings and vocalist
Will Schwartz. Debuting in 1996 with the critical favorite
Seasick, Imperial Teen resurfaced in early 1999 with
What Is Not to Love, a minor hit due to the success of the sultry "Yoo Hoo." A tour with Hole followed, but the majority of their live shows was done on a headlining club tour.
On was the next release, their first for
Merge Records and another fine example of their coy boy/girl pop. A live album was also released that fall, backed by a tour. Former Hole drummer
Patty Schemel took over touring duties while Lynn Perko rested. After the On tour, Imperial Teen's members took a hiatus from the band. Schwartz worked with his other project, Hey Willpower; Bottum wrote music for television shows including Help Me Help You; Stebbings pursued a career as a hairstylist; and Perko had a baby. When Imperial Teen finally reconvened, their reasons for what took them so long to reunite provided the title for their 2007 album
The Hair the TV the Baby & the Band. -
allmusic.com