False Alarm (band)
Encyclopedia
False Alarm is an American
punk rock
band founded in the outskirts of Beverly Hills, California
, in 1982.
". In the early days, the band wasn't well organized. The band consisted of various members, including Fat Mike
later of NOFX
. Influenced by the Ramones
, Dead Boys
, Black Flag
, Angry Samoans
and Reagan Youth
. By 1983 the band had broken up.
In 1996 at a softball
game in Hollywood
, Floyd Aragon announced that he wanted to put a new version of the band together and release some new and old recordings. Beverly Hills High School
friends Paul Aragon (lead vocals), Brent Alden (bass), Dylan Maunder (guitar), and Art Chianello (drummer). They started playing shows mainly at Al’s Bar, the Anti-Club and a number of other venues between Los Angeles
and San Francisco. In 1998 they released a 7-song CD entitled Learning Is Impossible
. It had 6 new songs and one from 1983 featuring Fat Mike
as lead vocals. The newly formed band broke up in 1999.
In 2001 False Alarm got back together with guitarist Dylan Maunder replacing Paul Aragon on vocals. Brent Alden, Art Chianello and Dylan Maunder began recording a new CD. They were joined by Paul Kostabi
of Youth Gone Mad
after Brent had an opportunity to meet Dee Dee Ramone
. Paul was Dee Dee’s painting partner and the two painted a cover for the new False Alarm CD which took the title Fuck ‘Em All We've All Ready (Now) Won!
. In 2002, before the record was finished, Brent has sent a demo tape to Cheetah Chrome of the Dead Boys
and Rocket from the Tombs
who agreed to participate. He highly rates False Alarm in his interviews: “I really think they are a great band in the Social Distortion
vein, with intelligent lyrics written by guys who have lived the hell they sing about… They have more heart and talent than anybody I’ve heard in a long, long, time.” The band also recruited two veterans of the LA underground punk scene: De De Troit of U.X.A. and Rick Wilder from the Mau-Mau's
and the Berlin Brats for a record. Due to certain issues and roadblocks, the CD was not released until 2006.
In 2009 False Alarm signed with Italian
record label Nicotine Records
and released Fuck ‘Em All We've All Ready (Now) Won!
in Europe
.
7"
Various Artists
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band founded in the outskirts of Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, in 1982.
History
In 1981, brothers Paul and Floyd Aragon started a band called Bad Influence. The present name False Alarm, came up around 1982. Brent Alden, a bass player for the band remembers, "Me and Paul started calling it False Alarm because we pulled alarms by the Fairfax DistrictFairfax District, Los Angeles, California
The Fairfax District is an area of neighborhoods in the Mid-City West area of Los Angeles, California.- Geography :It is roughly bordered by West Hollywood on the north, Highland Avenue on the east, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills on the west and Wilshire Boulevard on the south...
". In the early days, the band wasn't well organized. The band consisted of various members, including Fat Mike
Mike Burkett
Michael John Burkett , better known as Fat Mike is an American musician, producer, lead vocalist, and bassist for the punk rock band NOFX, as well as bassist for the punk rock supergroup cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.-Musical career:The moniker "Fat Mike" was given to Mike by friends...
later of NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
. Influenced by the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
, Dead Boys
The Dead Boys
The Dead Boys were an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Among the first wave of early punk bands, the Dead Boys were initially active from 1976 to 1979, briefly reuniting in 1987, 2004 and 2005.-Formation and 1970s punk rock era:...
, Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, Angry Samoans
Angry Samoans
The Angry Samoans are an American punk rock band in the first wave of American punk. Formed in August 1978 in Los Angeles, California by early 1970s rock writer "Metal" Mike Saunders and his sibling lead guitarist bonze blayk, along with co-conspirator Gregg Turner and original recruits bassist...
and Reagan Youth
Reagan Youth
Reagan Youth is an American punk rock band formed by singer Dave Rubinstein and guitarist Paul Bakija in Queens, New York in early 1980. They are known for introducing the style of hardcore punk to the East Coast punk scene, but were also a part of the peace punk movement...
. By 1983 the band had broken up.
In 1996 at a softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
game in Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
, Floyd Aragon announced that he wanted to put a new version of the band together and release some new and old recordings. Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School is the only major public high school in Beverly Hills, California. Beverly is part of the Beverly Hills Unified School District and located on on the west side of Beverly Hills, at the...
friends Paul Aragon (lead vocals), Brent Alden (bass), Dylan Maunder (guitar), and Art Chianello (drummer). They started playing shows mainly at Al’s Bar, the Anti-Club and a number of other venues between Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and San Francisco. In 1998 they released a 7-song CD entitled Learning Is Impossible
Learning Is Impossible
Learning Is Impossible is the first studio album by the American punk rock band False Alarm, which was released in 1998.- Track listing :# "Learning Is Impossible" — 1:23# "I Hate Everyone" — 1:37# "Even Though" — 1:57# "Can't Get Into a Bar" — 1:17...
. It had 6 new songs and one from 1983 featuring Fat Mike
Mike Burkett
Michael John Burkett , better known as Fat Mike is an American musician, producer, lead vocalist, and bassist for the punk rock band NOFX, as well as bassist for the punk rock supergroup cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.-Musical career:The moniker "Fat Mike" was given to Mike by friends...
as lead vocals. The newly formed band broke up in 1999.
In 2001 False Alarm got back together with guitarist Dylan Maunder replacing Paul Aragon on vocals. Brent Alden, Art Chianello and Dylan Maunder began recording a new CD. They were joined by Paul Kostabi
Paul Kostabi
Paul Indrek Kostabi is an American artist, musician, music producer and audio engineer. He is the brother of artist Mark Kostabi....
of Youth Gone Mad
Youth Gone Mad
Youth Gone Mad is a punk rock band founded in California in 1980 by Paul "ENA" Kostabi . Youth Gone Mad signed onto the Posh Boy Records roster, scored a minor radio hit with "Oki Dogs" in 1981, and played with bands such as Black Flag, Caustic Cause, The Mentors, The Stains, Fear, and others.The...
after Brent had an opportunity to meet Dee Dee Ramone
Dee Dee Ramone
Dee Dee Ramone was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones....
. Paul was Dee Dee’s painting partner and the two painted a cover for the new False Alarm CD which took the title Fuck ‘Em All We've All Ready (Now) Won!
Fuck ‘Em All We've All Ready (Now) Won!
Fuck 'Em All We've All Ready Won! is the second studio album by the American punk rock band False Alarm. It was recorded in 2001–2002 at Painted Sound Studios in Los Angeles, but released only in 2006 and re-released in Italy by Nicotine Records in 2009.- Track listing :# "Horrible Life" —...
. In 2002, before the record was finished, Brent has sent a demo tape to Cheetah Chrome of the Dead Boys
The Dead Boys
The Dead Boys were an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Among the first wave of early punk bands, the Dead Boys were initially active from 1976 to 1979, briefly reuniting in 1987, 2004 and 2005.-Formation and 1970s punk rock era:...
and Rocket from the Tombs
Rocket From The Tombs
Rocket From the Tombs is an American rock music band originally active from mid-1974 to mid-1975 in Cleveland, Ohio.Heralded as an important protopunk group, they were little known during their lifetime, though various members later achieved renown in Pere Ubu and the Dead Boys...
who agreed to participate. He highly rates False Alarm in his interviews: “I really think they are a great band in the Social Distortion
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
vein, with intelligent lyrics written by guys who have lived the hell they sing about… They have more heart and talent than anybody I’ve heard in a long, long, time.” The band also recruited two veterans of the LA underground punk scene: De De Troit of U.X.A. and Rick Wilder from the Mau-Mau's
The Mau-Mau's
were started in 1978 by Rick Wilder after returning from a trip to London in 1977.The original line-up from Hollywood,California was Greg Salva on guitar, Roderick Donahue on bass, and Rick Sherman on drums. They started out playing at The Masque in Hollywood. Greg was replaced by Mike R...
and the Berlin Brats for a record. Due to certain issues and roadblocks, the CD was not released until 2006.
In 2009 False Alarm signed with Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
record label Nicotine Records
Nicotine Records
Nicotine Records is an indie label formed in 1999. It has released punk, powerpop, garagerock, hardrock, glam and its roster has included artists such as False Alarm, The Fleshtones, Gaza Strippers, Garrett Uhlenbrock,aka Skinny Bones, Walter Lure, Lime Spiders.-Artists:*Dave Parsons, Sham...
and released Fuck ‘Em All We've All Ready (Now) Won!
Fuck ‘Em All We've All Ready (Now) Won!
Fuck 'Em All We've All Ready Won! is the second studio album by the American punk rock band False Alarm. It was recorded in 2001–2002 at Painted Sound Studios in Los Angeles, but released only in 2006 and re-released in Italy by Nicotine Records in 2009.- Track listing :# "Horrible Life" —...
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Discography
Albums- 1998 — Learning Is ImpossibleLearning Is ImpossibleLearning Is Impossible is the first studio album by the American punk rock band False Alarm, which was released in 1998.- Track listing :# "Learning Is Impossible" — 1:23# "I Hate Everyone" — 1:37# "Even Though" — 1:57# "Can't Get Into a Bar" — 1:17...
- 2006 — Fuck ‘Em All We've All Ready (Now) Won!Fuck ‘Em All We've All Ready (Now) Won!Fuck 'Em All We've All Ready Won! is the second studio album by the American punk rock band False Alarm. It was recorded in 2001–2002 at Painted Sound Studios in Los Angeles, but released only in 2006 and re-released in Italy by Nicotine Records in 2009.- Track listing :# "Horrible Life" —...
- 2009 — False Alarm / Youth Gone Mad
7"
- 2002 — Meatball Sandwich (b/w Youth Gone Mad)
- 2007 — Tell Me Who I AmTell Me Who I Am (single)Tell Me Who I Am is a 7" split single of the American bands False Alarm and Youth Gone Mad, released in 2007.- Track listing :Side A by False Alarm# "Tell Me Who I Am" — 3:08Side B by Youth Gone Mad...
(b/w Frogman From Mars)
Various Artists
- 1998 — Orange County's Punk vs. Ska: Round Two