Thanks to their 1989 pseudo-gay album
It's Only Right and Natural,
the Frogs became a hip name to drop as fans like
Nirvana,
Pearl Jam, and
Smashing Pumpkins ascended to superstardom in the 1990s. Milwaukee brothers
Dennis (drums) and
Jimmy Flemion (guitar) have an edgy sense of humor, skewering stereotypes -- sometimes racial, but mostly homosexual -- by pretending to be the minorities they sing about. Some critics have blasted
the Frogs as juvenile and insensitive, especially when the duo wallows in graphic sexual imagery, but with such politically correct bands affirming themselves devotees, it's clear whose side of the fence
the Frogs are ultimately on. The
Flemion brothers began performing in local coffeehouses in 1980, when both were in their early twenties. Bassist
Jay Tiller (also of
Couch Flambeau) was added in 1983, the same year Jimmy debuted his trademark stage gimmick -- a pair of six-foot bat wings. In between live shows,
the Frogs developed a voluminous home-taping habit, which eventually resulted in a collection of self-released material. Further home tapes found their way to Homestead Records head
Gerard Cosloy, who issued a collection of 12 tracks under the title
It's Only Right and Natural. And then,
the Frogs fell silent. Not by choice, but due more to a series of record company difficulties and bankruptcies. In particular, an album called
Racially Yours, which featured one
Flemion brother in blackface and one in white, went unreleased due to squeamishness over songs like "Purification of the Race," although the record contained pro-black anthems like "Freedom" as well. A slew of releases shut out the '90s. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide