The Squirrel Nut Zippers[a] are a band formed in 1993 
in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by James "Jimbo" Mathus, formerly of 
Metalflake Mother and Johnny Vomit & The Dry Heaves, 
and his then-wife Katharine Whalen along with Chris Phillips, 
Don Raleigh and Ken Mosher. A few months later Stacy Guess, formerly 
of Pressure Boys, joined. However, Guess was asked to leave two 
weeks prior to the recording of their album Hot, in September 1995 
because of drug abuses. He died of a heroin overdose on March 11, 1998.

Je Widenhouse (formerly of the Sex Police) joined the band in 1995.

Don Raleigh departed in the middle of the Perennial Favorites sessions 
in November 1996 and was replaced by Stuart Cole. 

In July 1999, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, Tom Maxwell, 
left the band and in October the same year, 
songwriter/multi-instrumentalist,Ken Mosher also quit. 
Also in 1999, Reese Gray, Tim Smith and David Wright joined.

Current Band Members:
* James "Jimbo" (Jim) Mathus: Vocals, guitar, slide guitar, tenor 
banjo, trombone, piano.
* Katharine Whalen: Vocals, banjo, ukulele.
* Stuart Cole: Bass.
* Chris Phillips: Percussion, contraption kit, drums.
* Je Widenhouse: Trumpet, cornet.
* Will Dawson: Alto saxophone.
* Henry Westmoreland: Baritone saxophone.

Former members:
* Ken Mosher: Guitar, saxophone, vocals.
* Tom Maxwell: Vocals, guitar, saxophone, gong.
* Don Raleigh: Bass, gong.
* Stacy Guess: Trumpet.
* David Wright: Trombone.
* Reese Grey: Piano.
* Tim Smith: Alto saxophone.
* Andrew Bird (Honorary Member): Violin.

The band's many styles: delta blues, Harlem hot music, gypsy jazz, 
1930s-era swing, klezmer[b], and others make them hard to categorize; 
but their quirky music found a niche in the late 1990s. 

Considered a "One-Hit Wonder," The Squirrel Nut Zippers were 
fascinated with big-band swing and Harlem, their music created a 
tongue-in-cheek salute to '20s and '30s jazz. For younger listeners 
familiar with the style but not the content of classic hot jazz, the 
band was good fun, but purists found the group's vaguely 
campy sense of humor off-putting. 

This debate would never have mattered if "Hell," a catchy single from 
their 1997 album, Hot, had not became a crossover hit. It did, though, 
and Squirrel Nut Zippers quickly became one of the hottest alternative 
bands of the first half of 1997. MTV soon made the video into a buzz 
clip, and by the spring, "Hell," the single, was 
a staple on modern rock stations.

Back in 1994, the Squirrel Nut Zippers had signed with Mammoth 
Records, and they released their debut album, The Inevitable, in the 
spring of 1995. The album didn't make much of an impact, but the group 
continued to tour. Although they were now "successful," they still 
received mixed reviews, with many critics claiming that they were 
mocking hot jazz, not paying tribute. Nevertheless, the album went 
gold, and a second single, "Put a Lid on It," was released in the 
summer to so-so sales. Albums, Perennial Favorites and Christmas 
Caravan followed. Two years later, in 2000, the band released 
Bedlam Ballroom, showcasing a cut by late band mate Stacy Guess. 

Squirrel Nut Zippers performed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 
Georgia, on Prairie Home Companion, at President Clinton's second 
inaugural ball, on Comedy Central's Viva Variety, and major television 
shows: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with David 
Letterman, Conan O'Brien and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in 
1998. The band toured with Neil Young in 1997 and performed in a 
segment on Sesame Street in 2001.

The movies and more:
Several movies have licensed Zippers' songs including, Monkeybone, 
Dead Man on Campus, Flirting with Disaster, Fido, Blast from the Past 
and the animated feature film Happily N'Ever After licensed the song 
"Baby Wants a Diamond Ring."

Contact, a musical, used Zippers' music along with the music of other 
artists. It was widely acclaimed and won the 2000 Tony Award for Best 
Musical. 

Katharine Whalen has released two solo albums. 

Je Widenhouse and Reese Gray are recording and touring with Firecracker Jazz Band. 

Chris Phillips is playing with the Dickies, as well as with William Reid 
from the Jesus and Mary Chain. His current side band, The Lamps, includes 
members of the Bangles and The Connells. He also is the composer 
for the Comedy Central television show, "Lil' Bush," and 
other contemporary films. 

Jimbo Mathus toured with Buddy Guy before forming his band Knockdown Society. 
And now he owns and operates a recording studio outside of Memphis, Tennessee, 
where he has worked on albums with artists ranging from 
Elvis Costello to the Hives.

The band toured throughout the United States and Canada in spring and 
summer of 2007 and thru 2008.

In late February 2009, it was announced that a live Zipper's album, 
entitled You Are My Radio, would soon be forthcoming.

Discography:
Albums:
* The Inevitable (1995)
* Hot (1996)
* Sold Out (1997)
* Roasted Right (EP, 1997)
* Perennial Favorites (1998)
* Christmas Caravan (1998)
* Bedlam Ballroom (2000)
* The Best of Squirrel Nut Zippers as Chronicled by Shorty Brown(2002)
* You Are My Radio (Live Album, 2009)

Singles:
* Hell (1996)
* Put a Lid on It (1997)
* Suits Are Picking Up the Bill (1998)

_____________
[a]A man had previously been in the news on account of being highly 
intoxicated one night, climbing up a tree thereafter, and refusing to 
come down even after authorities had arrived. The next day's newspaper  
headline was "Squirrel Nut Zipper." This information can be found on 
the the Squirrel Nut Zippers' website in the form of a short video 
by Jimbo Mathus.

[b]Originally, klezmer (plural klezmorim) referred to musical 
instruments, and was later extended to refer to musicians themselves. 
It was not until the mid-to-late 20th Century that the word was used 
to identify a musical genre. Early 20th Century recordings and 
writings most often refer to the style as "Yiddish" music, although it 
is also sometimes called "Freilech" music. Compared to most other 
European folk music styles, very little is known about the history of 
klezmer music. Some say that the music draws on devotional traditions 
extending back into Biblical times but that it continues to evolve 
today. The repertoire is largely dance songs for weddings and other 
celebrations.