Grupul american a avut doua megahituri, "Cats in the Cradle" si "Everything About You", in urma carora au ajuns celebri in intreaga lume. Rob Halford de la Judas Priest a fost invitat special la inregistrarea piesei 'Goddamn Devil" (de pe albumul "America’s Least Wanted" 1992), Ozzy Osbourne i-a ales in deschiderea turneului american apoi Def Leppard a plecat cu Whitfield Crane & Co in Europa. Un inceput in forta pentru niste tineri din micuta localitate Isla Vista din Santa Barbara, California! Pana-n 1996 au strabatut (mai ales) America in lung si in lat, avand la activ nenumarate concerte, atat ca headlineri, dar si in deschidere la grupuri de top precum Bon Jovi si Van Halen. In 1997 trupa se "sparge", vocalistul Whitfield Crane formeaza Life of Agony, apoi Medication si Another Animal in timp ce Shannon Larkin ajunge tobosar la Godsmack.
In 2010 grupul se reformeaza in componenta: Whitfield Crane – solist vocal, Klaus Eichstadt – chitara, backing vocals, Dave Fortman – chitara, backing vocals, Cordell Crockett – bass, backing vocals, Shannon Larkin – tobe. In vara acestui an Ugly Kid Joe canta la Sweden Rock, Download, Gods of Metal, Belgrade Calling, Rock The City, in Romania. Pe 3 iulie a.c. Ugly Kid Joe va fi main support act la concertul Guns N’ Roses de la Tel Aviv.