About
Out of Berkeley, California came one of the more underrated acts of the late 70s and early 80s power pop scene. Greg Kihn assembled his band in 1975, signing with the small but influential Beserkley Records alongside labelmates like Jonathan Richman. The core lineup featured Kihn on guitar and vocals, with Dave Carpender, Steve Wright, and Larry Lynch rounding things out over the years. Their sound was straight-ahead, hook-driven rock and roll with a melodic sensibility that sat comfortably between new wave and classic rock without fully committing to either camp.
The band ground out a string of solid albums through the late 70s before breaking through commercially in the early 80s. 1981's Rockihnroll and 1982's Kihnspiracy showed real momentum, but it was 1983's Kihntinued that delivered their signature hit, the irresistibly catchy Jeopardy, which hit number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's quirky new wave energy and that memorable keyboard riff made it an MTV staple and cemented their place in 80s rock history.
Weirdly Kihn Road from 1978 had already shown their knack for reimagining other artists' songs, including a well-regarded cover of Springsteen material. Greg Kihn later found a second career as a radio host and novelist, but the band's legacy rests firmly on that run of punchy, unpretentious rock records that still hold up nicely for anyone willing to dig back in.
