Complete List Of Ugly Kid Joe Band Members

Prev Article Next Article

Ugly Kid Joe built its reputation on sharp humor, heavy riffs, and a loose combination of hard rock, metal, and funk that sounded unlike almost anything else breaking through in the early 1990s. Although the band’s best-known lineup produced hits such as “Everything About You” and “Cat’s in the Cradle,” its complete history includes several early members, transitional players, and the musicians who powered its successful reunion.

Feature Photo: Bjoern Deutschmann / Shutterstock.com

Ugly Kid Joe was formed in Isla Vista, California, in 1989. Known for blending hard rock, heavy metal, and funk, the band gained international fame in the early 1990s with its double-platinum debut album, America’s Least Wanted, which featured hits such as “Everything About You” and a cover of Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s in the Cradle.” The band’s irreverent style and catchy songs captured the attention of both critics and fans, propelling the group to notable chart success. After releasing several albums and touring extensively, Ugly Kid Joe disbanded in 1997 but reunited in 2010. Since the reunion, the band has released new music and continued touring, maintaining a loyal fan base while embracing its legacy in rock.

Whitfield Crane

Whitfield Crane is the lead vocalist and one of the founding members of Ugly Kid Joe. Known for his distinctive voice and charismatic stage presence, Crane has been a constant figure throughout the band’s history. He performed on all of Ugly Kid Joe’s albums, including the breakout America’s Least Wanted and the subsequent albums Menace to Sobriety and Motel California. After the band’s initial breakup, Crane became involved in other musical projects, including a stint as the lead vocalist for Life of Agony and another project called Another Animal. Upon the band’s reunion, Crane returned as frontman, contributing significantly to later works such as Uglier Than They Used ta Be and Rad Wings of Destiny.

Klaus Eichstadt

Klaus Eichstadt joined Ugly Kid Joe as a guitarist during the band’s formative period. Eichstadt has been crucial in crafting the band’s sound, contributing riff-heavy guitar work that complements its rock-and-funk fusion. He has played on the band’s major releases and is known for his songwriting skills alongside his guitar duties. Eichstadt remained with the band through its initial run and returned for the reunion, continuing to record and perform with the group.

Cordell Crockett

Cordell Crockett is the bassist for Ugly Kid Joe, joining the band shortly before it gained major-label attention. Crockett’s bass playing was featured on the band’s most popular albums, including America’s Least Wanted. His energetic playing style and backing vocals add depth to the band’s sound. Like his bandmates, Crockett became involved in other musical projects during Ugly Kid Joe’s hiatus and returned to the band for its reunion and subsequent albums.

Dave Fortman

Dave Fortman joined Ugly Kid Joe as a guitarist during the recording period for America’s Least Wanted and remained with the group through its peak years in the 1990s. Besides his contributions as a guitarist, Fortman became widely known for his work as a producer. After Ugly Kid Joe’s initial run, Fortman produced albums for prominent bands such as Slipknot, Evanescence, and Simple Plan. He later returned for the band’s reunion and continued to record and perform as a member of Ugly Kid Joe.

Zac Morris

Zac Morris became Ugly Kid Joe’s drummer after the band’s reunion era was underway, taking over the position previously held by Shannon Larkin. Although he was not present during the band’s initial rise to fame, Morris brought fresh energy to the group. His drumming has supported the band’s later tours and new music, including its work during the Rad Wings of Destiny era.

Eric Phillips

Eric Phillips was an early rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist for Ugly Kid Joe before the band achieved mainstream success. His tenure belonged to the group’s formative period, when its identity and musical direction were still developing. Phillips departed before the lineup that recorded the band’s breakthrough releases was established.

Roger Lahr

Roger Lahr joined Ugly Kid Joe as a rhythm guitarist during the band’s early years and was part of the lineup that recorded the breakthrough EP As Ugly as They Wanna Be. He also contributed during the early stages of America’s Least Wanted before leaving the group in 1992. Dave Fortman subsequently took over the rhythm-guitar position.

Phil Hilgaertner

Phil Hilgaertner played bass guitar and contributed backing vocals during Ugly Kid Joe’s formative years. His tenure preceded Cordell Crockett’s arrival and the band’s major-label breakthrough. Hilgaertner’s early rhythm-section work helped establish the foundation for the energetic rock style that the group later carried into its commercial peak.

Jonathan Spaulding

Jonathan Spaulding was an early drummer for Ugly Kid Joe. His time with the band came before its major-label success and contributed to the development of the group’s rhythmic approach and energetic live presentation. Spaulding departed before Mark Davis joined the lineup that would record Ugly Kid Joe’s breakthrough material.

Mark Davis

Mark Davis was the drummer during Ugly Kid Joe’s breakthrough period. Davis played on the EP As Ugly as They Wanna Be and the debut studio album, America’s Least Wanted, which included the band’s most famous tracks, such as “Everything About You” and its cover of “Cat’s in the Cradle.” His drumming style was crucial to the group’s energetic performances and initial commercial success. Davis left the band in 1993.

Bob Fernandez

Bob Fernandez played drums with Ugly Kid Joe during a transitional period in 1994. Although his time with the band was brief, he helped bridge the gap between Mark Davis’s departure and Shannon Larkin’s arrival. Fernandez participated in the band’s ongoing live and recording activities before Larkin became the group’s long-term drummer.

Shannon Larkin

Shannon Larkin joined Ugly Kid Joe in 1994 and became the band’s drummer for the albums Menace to Sobriety and Motel California. His powerful, highly animated playing became a major component of the heavier sound the band developed in the mid-1990s. Larkin returned when Ugly Kid Joe reunited and performed on the band’s reunion-era releases before leaving the lineup in 2021. Outside Ugly Kid Joe, he became widely known as the drummer for Godsmack.

Read More: Top 10 Ugly Kid Joe Songs

Updated July 14, 2026.