It happened in 1997. Green Day was slated to perform on The Howard Stern Show, and their gear was already set up in the studio, just sitting there. Most people would look at Billy Joe Armstrong’s guitar and think, "I shouldn't touch that." Howard Stern looked at it and thought, "We should start a band."
That’s basically the origin story of Howard Stern and the Losers. It wasn’t some grand musical vision or a quest for Grammy glory. It was born out of boredom, a bit of narcissism, and a set of drums owned by Tré Cool that Scott "The Engineer" Salem couldn't stop hitting during commercial breaks.
The Band Named After a Drummer Everyone Mocked
The name wasn't a coincidence. Howard originally wanted to call the group "Salem" after Scott, but they landed on The Losers because, honestly, the staff spent half their airtime explaining why Scott was a loser anyway. It was mean, sure, but that was the era.
The lineup was a revolving door of radio personalities who, for the most part, had no business holding instruments. You had Howard on keyboards (and later guitar), Fred Norris—who actually has real talent—on lead guitar and sound effects, and the rest was chaos.
- Howard Stern: Vocals, keyboards, and later, some questionable guitar.
- Fred Norris: The actual musician holding the thing together.
- Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling: Guitar, vocals, and the occasional gong.
- Stuttering John: Bass and drums.
- Scott the Engineer: The original, much-maligned drummer.
- Gary Dell’Abate: Trumpet (which often sounded like a dying animal) and occasional vocals.
Robin Quivers would jump in on backing vocals or lead for songs like "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'." They weren't good. They were loud. But there was something about the sheer audacity of it that worked for the audience.
When Howard Stern and the Losers Took Over Late Night
One of the weirdest moments in 90s television has to be when Howard Stern and the Losers appeared on The Magic Hour. This was Magic Johnson’s short-lived talk show, and Stern was essentially there to stir the pot. He brought the whole band.
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They performed "Wipe Out."
It wasn't just a cover; it was a "flatulence-filled" version featuring guest "farters" like Jeremy the Farter and Dan the Farter. You can’t make this stuff up. It was peak 1998 shock jock culture—gross, loud, and weirdly hypnotic.
They didn't just play for laughs, though. They played with legends. James Brown—the Godfather of Soul—actually performed "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" with them in the studio. Imagine being Scott the Engineer, a guy who gets clowned on for his lung capacity and his cigarette habit, and suddenly you're keeping time for James Brown.
The Battle of the Bands Era
The gimmick eventually evolved into "The Battle of the Bands." The premise was simple: Howard claimed that a bunch of "non-musicians" like his staff could beat any celebrity-fronted band. They were undefeated for a long time, mostly because the judges were often show-friendly industry people, but also because Howard is a master of the "hustle."
They went up against some real names:
- Corey Feldman: They battled his band, Truth Movement, in 2002. Howard and the crew performed "Spirit in the Sky."
- Doug Flutie: The NFL legend brought his band and played "Bang a Gong."
- Chris Jericho: This was the turning point. Jericho’s band, Fozzy, came in and actually played well.
The Fozzy battle in 2003 is legendary among Stern fans. Jericho later wrote in his autobiography that he felt Fozzy actually won, but the judges gave it to The Losers 2-1. It was the only time a judge ever voted against Howard's band. After that, Howard basically retired the concept. If you can’t guarantee a blowout, why play?
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The 2014 Resurrection
The Losers didn't stay dead. In 2014, Howard got the itch to play guitar again. He started taking lessons and decided he wanted to reboot the band, though he flirted with changing the name.
The auditions were brutal.
Richard Christy—who is a legitimate, world-class heavy metal drummer—replaced Scott Salem on the skins. That immediately changed the math. Suddenly, the rhythm section didn't suck.
They held on-air tryouts for the other spots. Sal Governale tried out on bass, wearing a hoodie and trying to look "rock and roll" while playing Metallica. Fred Norris, ever the perfectionist, tore him apart, claiming he played in three different keys at once.
The "New" Losers eventually solidified with:
- Richard Christy: Drums.
- Paul Grassini (from the Tapes Team): An incredible guitarist who blew everyone away with Hendrix covers.
- Elisa Jordana: Keyboards.
It was a more "talented" version of the band, but some fans missed the original trainwreck energy of the 90s. There’s something less funny about a band that actually knows how to tune their instruments.
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Why Does Anyone Care About a Parody Band?
It’s easy to dismiss Howard Stern and the Losers as a vanity project. In a way, it was. But it also represented what made the show great in that era: the idea that anyone on that staff could be a star (or a disaster) at any moment.
It was "anti-rock." While other celebrities were trying desperately to be taken seriously as musicians, Howard was leaning into the fact that they were mediocre. He called the band "The Losers" before anyone else could.
The music itself? Mostly covers. "Gloria," "Hurdy Gurdy Man," "Old Man." They weren't reinventing the wheel. But they were providing a soundtrack to the most influential radio show in history.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive into the history of Howard Stern and the Losers, keep these things in mind:
- Check the Archives: Most of the best performances, like the Fozzy battle or the James Brown session, are buried in "The History of Howard Stern" specials on SiriusXM.
- Watch the Visuals: The Magic Hour performance is on YouTube and is essential viewing just to see the look on Magic Johnson's face.
- Listen for Fred: If you want to hear actual talent, focus on Fred Norris’s guitar work. He’s the reason the songs didn't completely fall apart during the 90s runs.
- The Richard Christy Era: For fans of actual musicianship, the 2014 audition tapes provide a cool look at how professional drummers approach even "parody" gigs.
The Losers haven't played much lately. Howard is older, the show is different, and the "staff band" energy has shifted toward other bits. But for a decade or two, they were the house band of the "King of All Media," proving that you don't need to be good to be famous—you just need to be loud and have a platform.
How to Find More Howard Stern Band Content
To see the full evolution of the group, search for "Howard Stern Battle of the Bands" on digital archives. Look specifically for the 2002-2003 era for the most "competitive" matches. For the musical auditions, the 2014 show segments remain the best way to hear the staff's raw (and often non-existent) talent.