Insane Clown Posse is a cartoonish metal/rap band with a vaunted live show that features open fires, chain saws, liters of soda dousing the audience (Faygo being the group's favorite brand), and more emphasis on performance art than the performance of music. In the world of the late '90s, that was more than enough to get them a recording contract with a major label, though the release of their 1997 album The Great Milenko came with a bit of controversy. Now just a duo, ICP was originally formed in 1989 as a hardcore Detroit rap group called Inner City Posse. After combusting in 1991, the only members left, Violent J (born Joseph Bruce) and Shaggy 2 Dope (born Joseph Utsler), slightly altered the name to reflect the fact that they had been visited by the Carnival Spirit, which ordered them to carry word of the impending apocalypse by touring the nation and releasing six "Joker Cards" (popularly known as LPs) with successive revelations of the final judgment. The first, Carnival of Carnage, appeared in 1992 on their own Psychopathic Records label. The group became notorious in Detroit's underground scene, but several tours around the region failed to ignite much more than the rage of area leaders.
A true American success story, despite the status that is generally associated with their name, ICP still defies the critics and continues to build their fanbase, with numerous platinum and gold releases - despite virtually no mainstream radio or TV airplay.

ICP's new album, "The Tempest", debuted at #2 on Billboard magazine's Independent Album charts (behind that American Idol "indie", Elliot Yamin) and ICP is currently supporting the album with a world tour (their first in 4 years), along with fellow Psychopathic Records label mates.

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