If you search for Cristina Martinez today, Google might try to hand you a recipe for slow-cooked lamb or a story about a Michelin-starred chef in Philadelphia. That Cristina Martinez is a legend, no doubt. But there is another Cristina Martinez—the one who fronted Boss Hog, the one who redefined the gritty, sweat-soaked underbelly of the New York noise-rock scene, and the one who once performed at CBGB completely naked just to see what would happen.
Honestly, the world of 90s underground rock was messy. It was loud. It was often intentionally ugly. And right at the center of it was Martinez, a woman who didn't just sing for a band but acted as a sort of high-priestess of "pigfuck" (yes, that was a real genre term back then).
Who exactly is the Cristina Martinez from Boss Hog?
To understand the band, you have to understand the partnership. Cristina Martinez isn't just a singer; she’s one half of a long-standing power couple with Jon Spencer. If you know anything about the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, you know the vibe: chaotic, bluesy, and aggressively cool.
They met when Martinez was just a teenager. She wasn't even a musician at first. She joined Spencer’s notorious band Pussy Galore as a third guitarist mostly because they were dating and she wanted to be around. She basically learned to play on the fly, which is about as "punk rock" as it gets. When Pussy Galore imploded—partly due to the friction between Martinez and the other guitarist, Julie Cafritz—Boss Hog was born out of the wreckage.
The name "Boss Hog" didn't come from the Dukes of Hazzard character, by the way. They actually lifted it from a biker magazine. It fit. The music was greasy, loud, and felt like it was recorded in a basement that hadn't seen sunlight in a decade.
The CBGB Legend and "That" Album Cover
You can't talk about Cristina Martinez and Boss Hog without mentioning the shock factor. In 1989, the band had their first show at the legendary CBGB. They had barely practiced. Martinez, nervous about being the lead singer for the first time, decided to perform entirely nude.
It worked.
The band became an overnight sensation in the East Village. Was it a gimmick? Maybe. But it established Martinez as a woman who owned her sexuality in a way that felt confrontational rather than exploitative. This trend continued with the cover of their first EP, Drinkin', Lechin' & Lyin', which featured Martinez wearing nothing but black patent leather thigh-high boots and evening gloves.
Years later, Martinez would look back at those moments with a sort of "so what?" attitude. She wasn't trying to be a "sex symbol" in the traditional sense; she was just pushing buttons.
The Evolution of the Sound
If you’re diving into their discography for the first time, don't expect a smooth ride. Their early stuff, like the 1990 album Cold Hands, is abrasive. It’s noise-rock. It’s meant to make your ears ring.
- The Mid-90s Shift: By the time they signed to Geffen Records for their self-titled 1995 album, things got a bit more "produced," but the snarl remained.
- Whiteout (2000): This is where they actually got... catchy? It’s a weird, New Wave-influenced record that’s actually a great entry point for new listeners.
- The Long Hiatus: After Whiteout, the band basically vanished. They didn't break up; they just went to go raise a kid.
Where did she go?
For about 17 years, Boss Hog was a ghost. While Jon Spencer was touring the world with the Blues Explosion, Martinez was living a relatively "normal" life in New York. She worked for Us Weekly as a reporter—which is hilarious if you think about a punk icon holding a mic for red-carpet celebrities—and later moved into the culinary world, working for Bon Appétit.
There’s a great quote from her where she mentions that her son, Charlie, didn't really know the full extent of his parents' "dangerous" past until he was older. Imagine finding out your mom was the queen of the 90s gutter-punk scene while she's making you school lunches.
The Return: Brood X
In 2017, they finally came back with Brood X. It was named after the 17-year cicadas that emerge from the ground after nearly two decades of dormancy. It was the perfect metaphor.
The album didn't sound like a bunch of "legacy" rockers trying to recapture youth. It sounded like adults who were still pissed off and still had something to say. Tracks like "17" and "Formula X" showed that Martinez still had that icy, commanding vocal delivery.
Actionable Insights for New Fans
If you're looking to explore the world of Cristina Martinez and Boss Hog, here is how to do it without getting overwhelmed by the noise:
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Start with the "Hits"
Listen to "I Dig You" from the 1995 self-titled album. It’s the perfect blend of her cool-girl vocals and Jon Spencer’s erratic guitar work. It's weirdly romantic in a "we're both drunk and broke" kind of way.
Watch the Live Footage
The music makes way more sense when you see the chemistry between Martinez and Spencer on stage. They have this "24/7 partnership" energy that is rare in rock and roll. They’ve been married since 1991 and are still together, which is practically a miracle in the music business.
Check Out the Side Projects
If you like the Boss Hog vibe, go backward. Listen to Pussy Galore’s Right Now! to hear where the raw energy started. Just be prepared—it’s much more "difficult" listening than Boss Hog.
Don't Confuse the Cristinas
If you're looking for the activist and chef, look for South Philly Barbacoa. If you're looking for the woman who changed the face of New York noise-rock, stick with the records featuring a snarling hog on the cover.
Cristina Martinez remains one of the few figures from that era who managed to "age disgracefully" in the best way possible. She never traded in her edge for a safe, acoustic career. She just waited until she had something worth screaming about again.
To get the full experience, track down a physical copy of Whiteout on vinyl. It’s the best way to hear the nuances of the keyboard-heavy production that defined their later years. You can usually find them in independent record stores for a decent price since they haven't been "TikTok-ified" yet.