Sick Puppies might be the only rock band ever to become famous for hugs.
The struggling Australian trio, performing Sunday at the Shoreline Ballroom on Hilton Head Island, broke onto the scene in a big way with “Free Hugs,” a video they released on YouTube.
The clip, which has garnered more than 48 million views to date, chronicled the heartwarming mission of Juan Mann, a guy willing to hug anyone in need of a friendly embrace.
According to the Free Hugs Campaign Web site (freehugscampaign. org), Mann was living in London and was struggling with some personal turmoil. He had to return to his hometown of Sydney and upon his arrival, Mann felt alone and disconnected, like a stranger in his own city.
He decided to walk around a busy shopping center holding up a hand-written placard offering “Free Hugs” and hugging anyone who was interested.
Getting it on film
Enter Sick Puppies lead singer Shimon Moore.
Moore met Mann while holding up another sign, a two-for-one sale at a nearby shoe store.
Amazed by Mann’s actions, Moore filmed him giving hugs, being banned from the area and asking passers-by to sign a petition to help restore his right to give hugs.
Moore wasn’t inspired to use the footage until after Sick Puppies moved to Los Angeles to pursue their music full time.
During a call home to Mann, one in which Moore admitted to complaining about his life and career, Moore learned of Mann’s grandmother’s sudden death.
“It sort of gave me a good perspective and I made the video for him as like a video get-well card,” Moore said.
Moore set the video clips of Mann’s hug campaign to Sick Puppies’ song “All the Same” and after sending it to Mann, uploaded it to YouTube.
Moore said the video’s popularity was a surprise.
“It became this viral explosion,” he said. “The band basically provided the sound track for this little video I made that became a fullfledged phenomenon.”
Mann and the Sick Puppies were recognized for the video on “Oprah,” “Jay Leno,” “60 Minutes” and CNN for inspiring people around the world to begin their own free hugs campaigns.
The group is on a national tour promoting their second album, “Tri-Polar,” released July 14.
An odd name
Moore (guitar and vocals) and Emma Anzai (bass) have been playing together since 1997 when they met in high school.
They added Mark Goodwin (drums) when they relocated to Los Angeles four years ago.
The band was actually named after a neighbor’s sick dog, Moore said.
The pup wandered in during rehearsal and stopped practice by vomiting in the middle of the room.
When someone said, “That was one sick puppy,” the group — already in the market for a name — knew that was it.
“We thought that would be a good band name and we just stuck with it.” Moore said.
The Sick Puppies continue to draw attention in original ways.
Their song “Street Fighter (War),” the last song on “Tri- Polar,” was written for and used in commercials to promote the Street Fighter IV video game.
“It is a song you want to hear when you are getting ready to fight and that’s it,” Moore said of the hard-hitting tune. “It’s the most popular video game in history and then there is our song. I’m like, that’s cool man.”
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