Aquarium Rescue Unit
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Aquarium Rescue Unit is a jam band, originally founded as a backup band for Col. Bruce Hampton, consisting at various times, of Oteil Burbridge, Jimmy Herring, Matt Mundy, Kofi Burbridge, Jeff Sipe, Paul Henson, and Hampton himself. Formed in Atlanta, Georgia, the Aquarium Rescue Unit, with its constantly changing lineup, was a cornerstone member of the early jam band scene, with players that eventually became members of the Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, Leftover Salmon, and Frogwings. Although the band was never commercially successful, the band's combination of bluegrass, rock, Latin, jazz, and impeccable chops became a template for future bands in the genre.
The band originated from a weekly Atlanta jam session hosted by Hampton (from the Hampton Grease Band), eventually touring around the Southeast United States, with a lineup including Jeff Mosier and Harles Williams of the Blueground Undergrass, eventually settling on the lineup that produced their two albums released on Capricorn Records; Eeepee, in 1991, and In a Perfect World, in 1993.
During the summers of 1992 and 1993, the group joined on the H.O.R.D.E. tour, meeting like-minded bands such as Phish, the Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler, and Widespread Panic. Members of these bands would frequently tour, perform, and record with one another. John Popper did so several times, on several Aquarium Rescue Unit albums.
In 1993, Matt Mundy retired from music, and Hampton retired from touring due to health reasons (although he later toured with the Fiji Mariners and the Code Talkers. The band went on, first substituting Oteil Burbridge but eventually recruiting Paul Henson as frontman.
The band, without the leadership of Hampton, eventually fell apart, releasing two poorly-received albums. As they began to stop touring in 1996, Jeff Sipe joined with Jonas Hellborg and eventually with Leftover Salmon. In 1997, Oteil Burbridge replaced Allen Woody in the Allman Brothers Band. Jimmy Herring tours with Jazz is Dead. Though the band never officially broke up, they never tour and rarely perform, although they have yearly concerts in Georgia.