I Love You was a band that moved from their home in Orlando to Los Angeles in 1987. The band got a record deal within six months, but the world conquest never materialized. The band’s first album I Love You saw the light of day in 1991, released by Geffen. The great opening song Hang Straight Up from the same album can be found at the end of this article.

The album, which pays homage to the rock of the 60s and 70s, was forgotten in that promised year of grunge, even though the band’s songs, for example, are not far from Pearl Jam or Screaming Trees. Guitarist Jeff Nolan, incidentally, made a guest appearance on the latter’s Dust album (1996).

I Love You featured vocalist Chris Palmer, guitarist Jeff Nolan, bassist Mike Kossler and drummer Tom Sweet. Chris Palmer and Jeff Nolan had been playing together since the sixth grade. At some point, the band’s influences from Led Zeppelin and the Blue Öyster Cult gave way to thrash metal, but at least on their eponymous debut album, the metal influences were gone. However, the material was heavy enough for MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball, where Hang Straight Up was featured (see video). I Love You got a record deal thanks to a compilation by SST label, where the band performed a cover of Elvis’ “Burning Love”. SST organised a showcase gig where the band was spotted by a Geffen representative.

Opening act for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam

I Love You once toured as the sole opening act for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among others – and they achieved the opening slot by screwing the promoters. Chris Palmer told the L.A. Times in an interview in 1994:

“We heard the Chili Peppers were gonna do this two-week tour and end up in Florida to play spring break. We heard about the tour first and called all the promoters and told them we’d save them money by bringing the equipment. We told them we were great friends of the Chili Peppers and would open for five hundred bucks. We didn’t even know those guys, but it worked with nine out of 10 of the promoters. So every night we kept showing up and they kept using our gear. We just totally scammed the whole thing. We’ve done eight tours and have only been a signed band on one of them.”

The members of the band were once really good friends with actress Christina Applegate, who performed I Love You’s song in Married with Children (Pulmuset) TV series. Pearl Jam also got to know I Love You before the former’s days of popularity.

“We were part of their first tour, when they played to about 20 people. Eddie (Vedder) came to sing half our songs. We had to beg Geffen to let us play with them,” Palmer recalled in an interview with the L.A. Times.