Sneaker Pimps: The Definitive Story of 6 Underground – Alt Hit Wonders
In music as in life, sometimes you make the wrong decision. A move that should propel a band to stardom snakes them back to square one. Changes in sound, image and personnel have all spelt the end for one band or another. And no one will know how any particular move will impact a career until it’s already too late. In 1996 Sneaker Pimps were on the doorstep of success. Adopted by Modern Rock Radio and Buoyed to the mainstream in the wake of the Bristol Sound, they had celebrity fans, Hollywood soundtrack-placements and a shining future ahead of them. But then one false move screwed everything up. This is Alt Hit Wonders and this is the story of “6 Underground”.
@glocks75
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Always loved the Goldfinger sample… Can't believe they didn't get permission before using it 😮
@goooooorkyo
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Yeah I saw sneaker pimps in 1999. It was ok, but disappointing that corner was singing, it wasn't so exciting as I was hoping
@Mr.SharkTooth-zc8rm
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
I got to see them in 1996 or 97, don't recall exactly. It was at the Universal Amphitheater and the show was put on by KCRW when it was still THEE Los Angeles radio station. They were there with Beck, Fiona Apple, Blink 182. I was there for the Sneaker Pimps. What a band…
@dlvnmedia
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
I liked the Sneaker Pimps but I love Chris’s project IAMX so much more
@RollrightKnights
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
There was a great Weatherall remix on the 6 Underground EP.
Another band that collapsed into utter mediocrity were Lo Fidelity Allstars. Brilliant debut album and then an awful cod Ibiza club style follow-up 😬
@sambagogo777
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
That song along with Stupid Girl by Garbage had such a cool vibe. What a time the mid-90s were for music.
@londonsushi9244
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
I discovered Becoming X last year and actually really enjoy it for what it is. Not groundbreaking, but a really strong collection of dark and sexy trip-pop tunes.
@random007nadir
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Completely ignoring Chris Corner and the later success of IAMX.
@yeager1888
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
IAMX
@NightmareLyra
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Man, the guys in this band seems like such wankers. Glad Kelli got to make the music she wanted solo at the very least
@audiosex
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
The fired Keli Ali from Sneaker Pimps and started their own downfall LOL
@MrJTHOMMO
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
10 mins in and wanted to say two things.
Thank you!
Over the last year or two I’ve been coming around to the idea that six underground (the remix version) might be my favourite song of all time. The reason I say that is because I noticed I NEVER skip it. Any time this song comes on I listen to it in full and I’m removed from my current state transported back to a simple time filled with DC shoes compilation cassettes nightclubs morning after chill outs and come downs in a world dripping in pre millennial tension.
@milordtubetest
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Love this channel. Exciting to not be fully behind this one, I believe Skeaner Pimps' discography is great. Becoming X undoubtedly, but also Splinter and Bloodsport. And even their comeback album, Squaring the Circle (not mentioned here), which also features female vocals by Simonne Jones. Now, the thesis behind this video might still be true: their popularity all but disappeared after Becoming X, but really, this is not about the quality of their music. Anyway, interesting one.
@alexandrumircea
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
IAMX fans here in the comments definitely not making Chris and Liam any more likable through their efforts
@cjroberts3240
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Hire someone to be the face, public front of the band and then got upset when it worked
@scorpio111580
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
I will say, I really like the "Bloodsport" album too. But I guess there's no denying, everyone my age will think of Kelly and "6 Underground" when Sneaker Pimps get brought up!
@JosephGallagher
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Horny boredom… oh 90's…
@kevinfisher5492
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
I remember after the "firing" that the few remaining fans of the Sneaker Pimps said "oh, she wasn't the creative force, just listen to their new stuff with some dude singing the vocals." Yeah, that worked out well didn't it? That would be like if the Cocteau Twins had fired Liz Frazer. What they did was one of the most idiotically stupid things in music history.
@FamishedFalling
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Meh… I mean Becoming X was a great record and the vocals worked for it, but Chris's records since have been better and why would he want to pour his heart and soul into music just to have an inferior vocalist be the face of it?
@derinum
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Kelli was mid blood sport was their strongest album your all fools regurgitating nonsense
@zoebraun2206
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
I would take Splinter over Becoming X ANY day of the week and I don’t think having Kelly on Splinter would have made it any better. Unpopular opinion, I know, sorry not sorry. (Also, Loretta Young Silks > 6 Underground)
@phacelesshero
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
The Armand remix of "Spin Spin Sugar" is one of the best songs of all time. Really wish they did more stuff like that. It's all pretty good but yeah, that remix blew my mind. Doesn't even seem like a long song because you don't want it to end. Cool vid TT!!
@user-cs4fg1rm5k
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
I'll never understand how when people get everything they want, they're willing to self destruct. They probably didn't deserve it in the first place.
@kurtilein3
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Yann Thiersen. His intricate arpeggiated melodies on the piano, the violin and the accordeon made him famous, the Amelie soundtrack boosted his career. Then he did a tour and it was just, 2 hours of amelodic noise. A textureless pile of horseshit. The audience just stood there, disappointed, waiting for some enjoyable music. He did great live concerts before. If he ever recovered, then I missed it.
@CrisWhetstone
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
I always wondered where they went. It appears they disappeared into their own navels.
@MrOtistetrax
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
“We need a pretty face to help sell our mediocre records.”
“No one cares about our mediocre records since we kicked out the charismatic pretty face!”
@joeltunnah
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Ego, ego, ego. It's a miracle any band lasts more than a year.
6 Underground is one of my favorite songs of all time, to this day.
@shhwine
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Lol😂, definitely not here for Kelli Ali. Chris all the way. Have you even heard the latest Sneaker Pimps album? Or ANY IAMX albums!?
@Captain_Rhodes
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
never sack your cute singer. Human league were smart
@riffcrypt8438
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
Trash their mutual decision to fire a member who wasn't one of the songwriters, even though the other two core members were miserable with little examination as to why. Cover her solo work. No mention of IAMX at all? Seems a bit biased. I was able to catch IAMX about 10 years ago and they were absolutely phenomenal. Money and fame isn't always the goal and choices made that lessen those aren't always "mistakes"
@serotoning1582
May 31, 2026 at 8:52 am
I second the Morcheeba deep trash dive!
Comments are closed.