Band: Sick Puppies
Members: Shimon Moore (vocals, guitar), Emma Anzai (bass), Mark Goodwin (drums)

Origin: Australia, now Los Angeles

Bio: Sick Puppies are an Australian alternative rock band, which formed in 1997 but really rose to prominence in 2006 when their song “All the Same” was uploaded along with a documentary-esque video that told the story of the Free Hugs Campaign in Sydney, Australia. The video was a gigantic success on YouTube, which has received over 60 million views to date and the 2006 “Inspirational Video of the Year” at the first annual YouTube Awards.

The band was founded by Shimon Moore and high school friend Emma Anzai who opted to pack their bags and move from native Australia to Los Angeles to further pursue their dreams. After advertising for a drummer on Craigslist, the group settled on Orange County native Mark Goodwin and released their second studio album — Dressed Up As Life.

The major label debut was a success and allowed the band to return with a much anticipated follow-up, titled Tri-Polar. The first single off the record, “You’re Going Down”, is the theme song for the WWE’s “Extreme Rules” and “Street Fighter War” pay-per-view events. In addition to live performances, Sick Puppies can be seen on the big screen in Rock Prophecies, an award-winning documentary about legendary rock photographer Robert M. Knight.

Quick Facts: Sick Puppies were guided in their early days by legendary rock photographer Robert M. Knight, who has shot notorious photos for bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Carlos Santana, Slash and Def Leppard. There album Dressed Up As Life entered the Billboard 200 at #181. Their first studio album, Welcome to the Real World, was a major success in Australia. They won the prestigious Triple J Unearthed band competition held annually in Australia. Shimon (vocals, guitar) met Emma (bass) in high school and the two quickly hit it off due to a shared passion for music. Shimon originally played the drums. The band encourages fans to call their voicemail and leave a message on MySpace. They also state that they just may call you back.

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