Lifetime is an American
melodic hardcoreMelodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on melodic exploration. Peter Jandreus describes the style as "punk rock with a HC beat"....
band from
New JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered on the north by New York, and to the east by the Hudson River, Upper New York Bay, the Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay, the Arthur Kill, Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, Westchester County, New York City, Long Island, and...
. Lifetime was formed in 1990 and disbanded in 1997. In late 2005, they announced their reunion.
The band was formed in 1990 by singer Ari Katz (ex-Enuf) and guitarist
Dan YeminDaniel Yemin is a vocalist and musician in the melodic hardcore punk scene.-Music and career:He played guitar in the early 1990s with the band Lifetime, and in the late 1990s with Kid Dynamite. Since 2001, he has been the vocalist of Jade Tree Records hardcore band Paint It Black, and still plays...
with its roots in the
New YorkNew York Hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat.New York City played a central...
/
New JerseyNew Jersey Hardcore Punk refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New Jersey and to the subculture associated with that music.-Evolution From Punk Rock:...
hardcoreHardcore punk, often just called hardcore, is a subgenre of punk rock that originated primarily in North America in the late 1970s. The new sound was generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock...
scene. They are known to have met and lived in
New Brunswick, New JerseyNew Brunswick is a city and the county seat of Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is 31 miles southwest of New York City on the southern bank of the Raritan River about 15 miles from its mouth. The 2006 United States Census Bureau population estimate of New Brunswick was 50,172...
during this time. In contrast to the negative, sometimes violent tone promulgated by their New York hardcore contemporaries, lyricist Katz emphasized more positive, personal themes in their two-minute songs.
In 1993, Lifetime released their first full length album, entitled
BackgroundBackground was the influential first LP released by Lifetime. It was remixed and remastered on Somewhere in the Swamps of Jersey.-Track listing:# "You"# "Pieces"# "Myself"# "Thanks"# "Up"# "Bedtime"# "Old Friend"# "Ghost"# "Alive"...
, that bore only passing resemblance to their later, more melodic work.
Lifetime is an American
melodic hardcoreMelodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on melodic exploration. Peter Jandreus describes the style as "punk rock with a HC beat"....
band from
New JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered on the north by New York, and to the east by the Hudson River, Upper New York Bay, the Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay, the Arthur Kill, Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, Westchester County, New York City, Long Island, and...
. Lifetime was formed in 1990 and disbanded in 1997. In late 2005, they announced their reunion.
History
The band was formed in 1990 by singer Ari Katz (ex-Enuf) and guitarist
Dan YeminDaniel Yemin is a vocalist and musician in the melodic hardcore punk scene.-Music and career:He played guitar in the early 1990s with the band Lifetime, and in the late 1990s with Kid Dynamite. Since 2001, he has been the vocalist of Jade Tree Records hardcore band Paint It Black, and still plays...
with its roots in the
New YorkNew York Hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat.New York City played a central...
/
New JerseyNew Jersey Hardcore Punk refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New Jersey and to the subculture associated with that music.-Evolution From Punk Rock:...
hardcoreHardcore punk, often just called hardcore, is a subgenre of punk rock that originated primarily in North America in the late 1970s. The new sound was generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock...
scene. They are known to have met and lived in
New Brunswick, New JerseyNew Brunswick is a city and the county seat of Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is 31 miles southwest of New York City on the southern bank of the Raritan River about 15 miles from its mouth. The 2006 United States Census Bureau population estimate of New Brunswick was 50,172...
during this time. In contrast to the negative, sometimes violent tone promulgated by their New York hardcore contemporaries, lyricist Katz emphasized more positive, personal themes in their two-minute songs.
In 1993, Lifetime released their first full length album, entitled
BackgroundBackground was the influential first LP released by Lifetime. It was remixed and remastered on Somewhere in the Swamps of Jersey.-Track listing:# "You"# "Pieces"# "Myself"# "Thanks"# "Up"# "Bedtime"# "Old Friend"# "Ghost"# "Alive"...
, that bore only passing resemblance to their later, more melodic work. By 1995, the band achieved some form of stability with the addition of Pete Martin (guitar), David Palaitis (bass), and Scott Golley (drums). That same year, they released their second album,
Hello BastardsHello Bastards is a 1995 album by melodic hardcore band, Lifetime-Track listing:#"Daneurysm" - 1:12#"Rodeo Clown" - 2:03#"Anchor" - 2:23#"I'm Not Calling You" - 2:31#"Bobby Truck Tricks" - 2:26#" Neutral Territory" - 2:20...
on
Jade Tree RecordsJade Tree International, Inc. is an independent record label formed by Darren Walters and Tim Owen in August 1991, out of Wilmington, Delaware....
.
Hello Bastards marked a slight shift in direction, incorporating more melodic punk leanings over a driving hardcore tempo. Ari Katz's lyrics, though sometimes undecipherable, dealt mainly with more introspective and personal themes such as relationships and youthful disaffection.
Hello Bastards also includes a cover of "It's Not Funny Anymore" by the seminal 1980s
alternative rockAlternative rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s...
band
Hüsker DüHüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer Grant Hart. Hüsker Dü never achieved mainstream success, but attained an influence far larger than their modest sales...
, hinting at the band's musical influences.
In 1996, Lifetime issued a compilation of their 7" releases and unreleased songs, on Glue Records, also released in Europe by Day After Records. In 1997, the band completed its third full-length
Jersey's Best DancersThe third full-length album from Lifetime. Released June 10, 1997, it was the band's second LP release on Jade Tree Records.-Track listing:#Turnpike Gates - 2:20#Young, Loud, And Scotty* - 1:59#Francie Nolan - 2:08#25 Cent Giraffes - 2:20...
. With twelve songs clocking in at under 24 minutes,
Jersey's Best Dancers continued in the same vein as
Hello Bastards. However, after a short tour in support of their new album, Lifetime decided to disband in 1997.
After disbanding, Dan Yemin went on to become a member of two other punk bands, the short-lived
Kid DynamiteKid Dynamite was a Philadelphia-based melodic hardcore band consisting of drummer Dave Wagenschutz, guitarist Dan Yemin, and vocalist Jason Shevchuk, as well as original bassist Steve Farrell and eventual replacement Michael "Spider" Cotterman...
and
Paint It BlackPaint It Black is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based modern hardcore punk band. Their music is often described as melodic hardcore, characterized by fast tempos, catchy melodies and emotionally charged vocals delivered via shouting and singing...
. Dave Palaitis, Ari Katz, and his wife Tannis Kristjanson went on to form the now defunct
Zero ZeroZero Zero is a synth band, formed out of the New Jersey punk band Lifetime by Lifetime members Dave Palaitis-guitar & vocals , Ari Katz-vocals & drums, and Katz's wife Tannis Kristjanson -vocals & keyboards...
. They now play in
Miss TK and the Revenge.
Reunion
Most recently, the band got together for a series of 3 well-received and long awaited reunion shows over the weekend of August 19 to August 21, 2005. The shows were a result of the cancellation of Hellfest, in which Lifetime was scheduled to play on August 20. Two shows took place in Philadelphia, one at The
Trocadero TheatreThe Trocadero Theatre, opened as the Arch Street Opera House in 1870, is a historic theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the years, it has offered musical comedies, vaudeville and burlesque. Later still it was refurbished for use as an art house cinema and fine arts theatre...
where Lifetime played along with Vision and one on August 20 at the Starlight Ballroom which featured the reunion of hardcore band 108. The final reunion show was held at
The Stone PonyThe Stone Pony, is a well-known pop and rock music venue located at the corner of 2nd and Ocean Avenues, across the street from the Boardwalk, in Asbury Park, New Jersey.-Mrs. Jay's:...
in Asbury Park,
New JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered on the north by New York, and to the east by the Hudson River, Upper New York Bay, the Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay, the Arthur Kill, Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, Westchester County, New York City, Long Island, and...
, which featured opening bands
The Loved OnesThe Loved Ones is a punk rock band based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in late 2003, the band currently consists of Dave Hause , David Walsh , Chris Gonzalez , and Mike Sneeringer . They are presently signed to Fat Wreck Chords.-History:In 2003 after leaving the band Paint It Black,...
and
The Bouncing SoulsThe Bouncing Souls are a punk rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey formed in 1987. By the time of their acknowledgment by the national punk rock scene, they had reignited a "pogo" element to New Jersey punk rock by playing fast light-hearted songs, a model followed by various other local...
. Some profits from the show went to charities such as New Labor, The OUT Fund, the Nature Conservancy, and Linda Ann's Greyhound Rescue Inc.
Lifetime went on to play 3 more reunion shows in California over a weekend in January. The shows were at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on January 27, at the Chain Reaction in Anaheim on January 28, and at Slims in San Francisco on January 29.
November 17, 2005 brought the announcement from the band that they are officially reforming. Here is the full statement posted on PunkNews.org:
-
- "As some of you may know, Lifetime got back together to play HellFest this past August, after being given the opportunity (by the Fest’s organizers) to raise a large amount of money for the charities of our choice. We were readying ourselves for what could have been a pretty alienating experience, playing the Enormo-Dome in front of 8000 metal-core dudes, when much to everyone’s surprise, the Fest got canceled at the last minute.
-
- With the help of Margie Alban at Do It Booking and a host of other hardworking friends, we were able to scrape together 3 days of amazing and much more intimate shows. That weekend in August turned out to be a seriously transforming experience for this bunch of aging and sometimes cynical punks. Thanks to all the old friends and new kids who came out to sing along, I think the five of us felt transported back to a time when our lives were first changed by music.
-
- To make an already long story shorter, we have decided to play together again, not as the resurrected corpse of a one-off reunion show, but as a group of guys who love making music together. We will remain committed to our families and our other musical endeavors, so we’re unsure of how often you’ll hear from us, but you can expect more shows and more music in the coming year. We will be playing some shows in California at the end of January, 2006, in L.A. and San Francisco. Thanks for your support."
The band played another reunion show at the 2006
South by SouthwestSouth by Southwest is a set of interactive, film, and music festivals and conferences that take place every spring in Austin, Texas. SXSW first began in 1987 and is centered on the downtown Austin Convention Center...
Festival in Austin, Texas on March 17, 2006. The show was free and donations went to breast cancer research by Shirts for a Cure.
In late March 2006, Lifetime signed onto Decaydance, Pete Wentz's imprint of
Fueled by RamenFueled by Ramen is a record label based in New York City with an office in Tampa, Florida. The label was founded in Gainesville, Florida.-History:...
Records, with the statement: "Pete and Decaydance are giving us an opportunity to the make the record we want to make while still staying in control of our music and our lives. They are behind us as artists and because of that, we're backing them as a label."
http://www.fueledbyramen.com/main/news.php Shortly after, Lifetime began writing and recording their fourth full-length album, titled
LifetimeLifetime is the fourth album by the influential New Jersey band Lifetime. The band broke up in 1997, but reformed in 2005, began writing new material, and released Lifetime in 2007, nearly a full decade after 1997's Jersey's Best Dancers...
, which was released by Decaydance on February 6, 2007. The band has since left the label and are now "free agents".
The band is Managed by veteran Artist Manager Mike Mowery of Outerloop Management in Washington, DC.
LPs
BackgroundBackground was the influential first LP released by Lifetime. It was remixed and remastered on Somewhere in the Swamps of Jersey.-Track listing:# "You"# "Pieces"# "Myself"# "Thanks"# "Up"# "Bedtime"# "Old Friend"# "Ghost"# "Alive"...
(New Age Records 1993)
Seven Inches
(Glue Records 1994/Black Cat Records 1998)
Hello BastardsHello Bastards is a 1995 album by melodic hardcore band, Lifetime-Track listing:#"Daneurysm" - 1:12#"Rodeo Clown" - 2:03#"Anchor" - 2:23#"I'm Not Calling You" - 2:31#"Bobby Truck Tricks" - 2:26#" Neutral Territory" - 2:20...
(Jade Tree RecordsJade Tree International, Inc. is an independent record label formed by Darren Walters and Tim Owen in August 1991, out of Wilmington, Delaware....
1995)
Jersey's Best DancersThe third full-length album from Lifetime. Released June 10, 1997, it was the band's second LP release on Jade Tree Records.-Track listing:#Turnpike Gates - 2:20#Young, Loud, And Scotty* - 1:59#Francie Nolan - 2:08#25 Cent Giraffes - 2:20...
(Jade Tree Records 1997)
LifetimeLifetime is the fourth album by the influential New Jersey band Lifetime. The band broke up in 1997, but reformed in 2005, began writing new material, and released Lifetime in 2007, nearly a full decade after 1997's Jersey's Best Dancers...
(Decaydance RecordsDecaydance Records is the vanity label of Pete Wentz .- Active artists :* The Academy Is...* The Cab* Cobra Starship* Fall Out Boy* Four Year Strong* Gym Class Heroes* Hey Monday* Panic! at the Disco...
2007)
Compilations
Somewhere In The Swamps Of JerseySomewhere In The Swamps Of Jersey is a 2006 release from Lifetime. This two-disc compilation album is a collection of early singles, covers, demos, compilation tracks, live tracks and two versions of the bands first album, Background...
(Jade Tree Records 2006)
It's For Life (Victory Records, 1995)
12 inches
Ghost
(Break Even Point Records 1992)
Randy Clark Cronicles
(Disabled Record Corperation 1994)
7 inches
Lifetime
(New Age Records 1991)
Tinnitus
(Glue Records 1994)
The Boy's No Good
(Jade Tree Records 1996)
Two Songs (Decaydance Records 2006)
External links