The Verve Pipe

The Verve Pipe were formed in Lansing, Michigan in 1992 by Brian Vander Ark (vocals, guitar), Donny Brown (drums, backing vocals), Brad Vander Ark (bass, backing vocals), and Brian Stout (guitar, backing vocals). The Vander Arks had played previously in Johnny With An Eye, and Brown and Stout had played in Water 4 The Pool -- both bands had been local favorites throughout Michigan.



They released their first independent album in the fall of 1992, I've Suffered A Head Injury. Stout was dropped in 1993 and was replaced by A.j. Dunning. The same year, they released their second independent album, Pop Smear. Through constant touring, they developed a strong reputation and rabid following in their home state, selling out larger venues and eventually selling a combined total of more than 40,000 copies of their first two albums.