Formed in San Antonio, Texas, the experimental rock band Butthole Surfers has gone through many sonic reinventions since it was founded with a loosely defined hardcore punk sound in 1981. Building a strong reputation for its oftentimes strange and chaotic live shows that featured elements of theatrical black humor in addition to avant-garde noise rock and psychedelia, Butthole Surfers established itself as one of the more formidable indie acts of its generation. Though respected by its peers and its devoted fan base, the group received little commercial attention and wallowed in relative obscurity until it released its successful 1996 LP, Electriclarryland, with the crossover hit "Pepper."
