Boogie Jones was born Mark Mandica, a typical New Jersey boy.
Boogie began his music career in the crotch-rock metal band Misstress, when he was 16 (this is hard to admit). He was lead singer and sang original tunes as well as Motley Crüe and Ozzy. Aside from his frequent inability to stand up at gigs, Boogie was on the verge of being remembered for singing with his reticulated python, Carmine, draped over his shoulders, while wearing zebra skin spandex. All in all, quite a spectacular (read: disturbing) mental image. He also dabbled with the bass for the groups The Musical Shits, and The Cows in Heat, but he really sucked.
Boogie's constant scrapes with the law, coupled with his collection of social disorders landed him at fuck-up school at the end of his 17th year. There he joined the then recently formed band, Misguided Youth. The Youth practiced everyday...wrote a ton of songs, and recorded three albums (Big Bear Records). Misguided Youth was the first American rock band to tour China (in 1987) For more info on the Youth see their website. Boogie's last year at fuck-up school, he started another project with Bix from Misguided Youth called Mesh Gears. One self-titled album was recorded and released on Big Bear Records.
In 1988, Misguided Youth left school and moved to Boston to make it big in music. Boogie was going to Berklee to study bass, and the band changed their name to Riley Mix (after a student at school). Poor Boogie then managed to sever his index and middle finger from his right hand (the Boogie Jones instant weight loss method) rather permanently ending his studies at Berklee, but only temporarily delaying his bass playing with the Mix. The doctor was able to use parts from his middle finger to fix his index, enabling Boogie to flip you the bird with 3 possible fingers instead of the usual 2 (almost like being a super hero). The Funky Stump was born.
Boogie's style was obviously heavily influenced by the hand trauma. He was forced to learn to play with his thumb and pinky (the feeling has never returned to the severed digits). Feeling the band could use a gimmick, he tried to get the guys to sever off digits as well, but they weren't having it.
A short while after recovery, the band broke up. Boogie moved to western Mass. There he found some funk and some trouble . Aside from some projects such as Funkopus (with JD from Stash) and many gigs at The Hamp Brewery with Hydrox 1-4-5, Boogie, then "mudpuppy" spent most of his time isolating with his 4 track. This is what you will hear on "On the Sauce"
Boogie kept up the self distruction for a while, and then was able to move on. This was attributed to many things, one of which was Sly Stone...when Boogie had nothing else, he had Sly. The songs recorded during this period under the name "mudpuppy"can be heard on "Strictly Neotenic" He joined The Chris Winter Band, a blues band with some energy. He brought in the inevitable funky feel, as well as The Factor, from Youth/Mix days on guitar. They had many gigs as the troubadors of the Hadley Pub until Chris could no longer take Boogie and Factor's funky methods and sent them on their way. The drummer, Jimmy Hiatt, left CWB as well, and Funky Stump was born again. FUnky Stump also did some gigs under the moniker Superbutt .
The Java Hut (Sunderland) was Funky Stump's venue, but this was also relatively short lived. Factor and Boogie went out searching for some funky inspirato and after a series of Spinal Tap-esque drummer issues, found Tony Maffuccio, and the Mouss, they formed The Fumadors. The Fumadors are now a conglomerate of funk mavens up and down the East coast. (for a full listing, see "band members")
Boogie Jones now lives in Miami, and is working on his Master's degree in Biology and a debut album :tentatively titled ELEPHANT TRUNK)...to be released soonish. He would love to hear from you so please say hello . . .
