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Swampy redirects here. You may be looking for the real-life creator, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh.


Sherman, better known by his stage name "Swampy", is a librarian and former drummer of the '80s hair band Love Händel. Sherman was a part of the band for as long as is known, though infighting and other complications lead to the band sizzling out and going their separate ways. The band would reunite a decade later to celebrate a wedding anniversary between Linda Flynn-Fletcher and Lawrence Fletcher.

Love Händel[]

Swampy then (cropped)

"Swampy," before his hair began graying, as a member of Love Händel.

Sherman's first known event in life was being a member of the band Love Händel during the 1980s alongside Danny and Bobbi Fabulous. Sherman donned the pseudonym "Swampy" and played as the band's drummer. Love Händel met generally critical acclaim - their song, "You Snuck Your Way Right Into My Heart", was a huge success, topping the charts for eleven consecutive minutes.

After the hit song, the band began to sizzle out of the spotlight. Sherman and Love Händel began to perform at smaller and smaller venues and began to in fight. Sherman especially had heated hatred with Fabulous, who generally was his opposite and hated his slovenly behavior. The fan base continued to dwindle and the band decided to break up. They performed a farewell concert, in which they spotlighted Linda Flynn-Fletcher and Lawrence Fletcher, who eventually would wed on June 15. Afterward, the band broke up and went their separate ways. ("Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together")

Life after the breakup[]

Swampy now (cropped)

Sherman working at the library.

After the band went their separate ways, Sherman either began working at or stumbled upon a metronome factory. He fell asleep and awoke seemingly "losing" his sense of rhythm. If anything, however, the "accident", as he called it, may have not only altered his perception of rhythm but also amplified his sense of rhythm, as he is later shown creating grooves involuntarily and without notice.

Afterward, Sherman began to work at the Tri-State Area Library, seeing the change as conformable, enjoying the 1980s era carpeting, the access to literature, and the kind elderly ladies he worked beside. ("Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together")

Reunion concert[]

After working at the library for over a decade, Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher, the sons of the couple Love Händel spotlighted at the farewell concert, approached him wondering if he was the "Swampy" of the band. Sherman informed them of his detachment with the band anymore and they asked if would join the band in a reunion concert for their parent's wedding anniversary.

Sherman on the drums

Sherman performing with the band for the reunion concert.

Sherman told them of his rhythm issues, though Phineas was disbelieving due to his rhythmic beating of books, and attempted to convince him otherwise through song. Sherman, throughout it, continued to deny his abilities with rhythm, though eventually came to realization and accepted to join back for the reunion concert.

When the band reunited at the boys' garage, Sherman was the only one to refuse to wear the old outfit again. While they were waiting for Linda Flynn to return to the house and begin, Sherman began eating a slice of cake that had been thrown out. Danny pointed this out in shock, Sherman arguing you couldn't "let good cake go to waste." Fabulous made a comment after this that insulted Sherman, and they began to argue. Danny was going to leave and break up the band again, but the roar of the crowd made want to continue. The band started the performance as Linda arrived. ("Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together")

Later career[]

Tristateareaunificationday

Swampy and Love Händel performing on Tri-State Area Unification Day.

Sherman and the rest of Love Händel were eventually either back together or simply offered to perform for Heinz Doofenshmirtz's flashback. Doofenshmirtz explained that he got them all to perform because he "knew people." His actual connections are unknown. ("Thaddeus and Thor")

Love Händel's performance in "Thaddeus and Thor" may or may not actually take place in the time of the episode. The band was featured in Doofenshmirtz's flashback, so the actual circumstances of their appearance in it is ambiguous. The way they appear is set in the past and in Gimmelschtump, but their appearance makes it take place after the reunion concert.

Swampy and the band later performed at the Tri-State Area Unification Day Parade in Danville, singing the holiday's theme song ("Hip Hip Parade"), and they appeared in "Make Play", to play in the giant jukebox for Phineas and Ferb.

Love Händel also performed in Just Passing Through, in an outdoor concert, although Sherman only made a cameo in this episode.

They still appear in "Cheers for Fears", as they play two songs ("Giant 3D Scrapbook" and "Regular Sized Scrapbook") on the occasion of the Candace's gift for Jeremy.

Another appearance is in "Delivery of Destiny", which they accompany a delivery guy, Paul, during his deliveries, as his personal musicians for the day.

To confirm that they could be returned again in activity, in addition to these episodes, are the appearances in "The Klimpaloon Ultimatum", where they have won an award for the song "The Ballad of Klimpaloon", and in Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension, where they are seen on a van in tour, and later playing "Robot Riot" during the rebellion against the 2nd Dimension Doofenshmirtz.

Personality and traits[]

Swampy young on drums

Sherman, before his hair began graying, performs in Love Händel's farewell concert as "Swampy."

Sherman has shown signs of professionalism and sophistication. His career as a librarian and his stated enjoyment of access to "all the books [he] can read" shows that he takes interest in literature and therefore has a sense of refinement. ("Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together")

Despite this, however, Sherman has as well displayed several signs of slovenliness. During practice for the reunion concert, he ate a piece of cake that had been thrown out, giving the excuse "You can't let good cake go to waste." Since Love Händel's breakup, he has gained a "beer belly" and generally seems somewhat pudgy than his more youthful days. ("Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together")

Other than the displays of sloveliness, Sherman as well has showed signs of being rather laid back and lazy. Sherman's current attire best demonstrates this - his sleeves are rolled up, his tie is loose, and he appears to wear a suit without a jacket. He also slouches. This behavior and his slovenly attitude leads him to have constant bickering with his band member, Bobbi Fabulous. ("Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together")

Sherman appears to take great enthusiasm in his drumming capabilities. When he was younger, while performing, he was always seen smiling and being very excited. When he seemingly lost his sense of rhythm, he tried to cope by taking on a new career as a librarian, convincing himself it had enough perks and he didn't need to be famous. When he reestablished his sense of skill, he was once again vibrant and performed happily in both the reunion concert and the performance for Doofenshmirtz's flashback. ("Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together", "Thaddeus and Thor")

Either naturally or as a result of "the accident," Sherman seems physically unable to stop producing a rhythm out of whatever is available, even though he himself does not seem to notice this - he spends the entirety of "Aint Got Rhythm" insisting that he can no longer keep time, all the while involuntarily creating the drumbeat for the song using various objects around the library.

Relationships[]

Danny[]

Swampy and Danny

Sherman and Danny.'Dude, is that the cake from the trash?' 'What? you can't let good cake go to waste.'

Main article: Danny

Sherman appears to have less of a heated relationship with Danny then other band member Fabulous. While preparing for the reunion concert, Danny pointed out Sherman eating a thrown out piece of cake and Sherman began to argue that it couldn't be wasted. ("Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together")

Bobbi Fabulous[]

Bobbi confronts Swampy

Fabulous and Sherman argue.

Main article: Bobbi Fabulous

Sherman seemed to have a very heated and bitter relationship with Fabulous, the band's bass player. Fabulous found Sherman's slovenly and abrupt behavior to be a damper in the band's appearance and has been shown insulting him over the nature and of his slight weight issue. ("Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together")

Sherman has been shown to rebuttal with the same kind of attitude insults his clean, composite, and tasteful attitude by calling him "Mr. Tease and Curl." Despite this however, they still appear to be in mutual friendship, as while they perform they seem to enjoy working alongside each other. ("Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together", "Thaddeus and Thor", Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension)

Phineas and Ferb[]

Main article: Phineas Flynn
Main article: Ferb Fletcher

Phineas and Ferb showed persistence in getting Sherman to recognize his rhythmic skills in order to get him to reunite with Love Händel to perform for their parent's wedding anniversary. Sherman is likely to be very grateful to them as they helped him reattach with his musical abilities. ("Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together")

Background Information[]

Swampy Marsh 2

Sherman is based on Jeff Marsh.

  • Sherman is based on Phineas and Ferb co-creator Jeff "Swampy" Marsh. His design is a parody of Marsh's, while his nickname "Swampy" is based off that of Marsh's own nickname. The point of spoofing Marsh, as well as other co-creator and executive producer Dan Povenmire and writer Bobby Gaylor, in the form of Love Händel members was to humorously mention the fact that all three of them were themselves members of bands throughout the years.[1]
  • "Swampy" first appeared in the Season 1 episode "Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together." He and the rest of Love Händel would later appear in future episodes.
  • Sherman's voice (with the exception of the episode "The Klimpaloon Ultimatum") was performed by Steve Zahn, an American actor and comedian who has performed in prime time shows such as Monk and Friends and films such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Rescue Dawn and Chicken Little.
  • "Ain't Got Rhythm", a song performed in the show by Sherman, was nominated for an Emmy for songwriting in 2008. However, it (and the as well nominated Theme Song) did not win.
  • He is the one from Love Händel who seems to have changed the most, the differences being that his hair got shorter and began graying, he got a goatee, and he put on some weight.
  • He wore an earring during "Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together" and in "Thaddeus and Thor", but not in any other episode, nor at their farewell concert.
  • In Rollercoaster: The Musical!, when Love Händel appeared, he had his old appearance (along with everybody else), except for the fact that his hair was gray.

Appearances[]

References[]

v - e - dDanville
Mayor
Roger Doofenshmirtz
Locations
Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated | Googolplex Mall | Huge-O-Records | Little Duffer's | Superduper Mega Superstore | Paul Bunyan's Pancake Haus
Stores
Har D Har Toy Store | Mr. Slushy Burger | Mr. Slushy Dawg | Blueprint Heaven
Houses
Flynn-Fletcher house | Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated
Other
Swamp Oil 500
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