The Riverdales
Encyclopedia
The Riverdales were an American punk rock
band from Chicago
, Illinois
made up of rental Screeching Weasel
members. Bassist Dan Vapid
(Dan Schafer) and guitarist, band owner, Ben Weasel
(Ben Foster) are heavily influenced by the Ramones
' sound and both serve as front-men, sharing lead vocals for the band. The Riverdales' original run lasted from 1994-1997. They reformed in 2003 to record their third studio album, and then parted ways until they once again reformed in 2008 and released a fourth studio album in July, 2009. The band's fifth studio album, Tarantula, was released digitally on June 8, 2010 and on CD and vinyl on June 22, 2010. The band broke up in March 2011 after a fight that broke out during a Screeching Weasel performance.
from the Archie Comics
, the Riverdales formed in 1994. The founding members, Ben Foster (guitar), Dan Schafer (bass), and Dan Sullivan
(drums) were all former members of Screeching Weasel which had broken up earlier that year. Unlike Screeching Weasel, the members of the Riverdales were credited under their real names. They released their self-titled debut studio album in June of 1995 on Lookout! Records
. It was produced by Green Day
's Billie Joe Armstrong
and Squirtgun
's Mass Giorgini
. They toured extensively that year as the opening act for the Mr. T Experience, and then for Green Day. Playing off this synergy, the Riverdales supported Green Day's Insomniac tour in 1995. Also that year, the band's song "Back to You" appeared in the film Angus. Despite the reforming of Screeching Weasel in 1996, the Riverdales did not disband until after recording their second studio album, Storm the Streets in 1997 and only reforming briefly in 2003 to record their third studio album, Phase 3.
In 2004, Foster rescinded all of the Riverdales masters from Lookout! Records. All of these masters had then been licensed to Asian Man Records
. Asian Man re-released the band's debut album in 2006 with re-mastered sound and some bonus tracks including the two previously-unreleased songs, "Two-Headed Girl" and "I Won't Forget You", and live tracks from their tour with Green Day. The label also re-issued Phase 3 on October 7, 2008, with five bonus tracks.
On November 19, 2008, on his ESPN radio show, Weasel Radio, Ben Weasel announced that he and Dan Vapid had been demoing songs for a new Riverdales album and that recording would begin in February 2009. He also announced that the Riverdales would be playing live one-off shows again and that Adam Cargin (of the Blueheels) would be the band's new drummer. The album, titled Invasion U.S.A.
, was released on July 14, 2009.
In September 2009, it was announced that Simon Lamb would be joining the band as a second guitarist. Prior to that for live purposes, Dan Schafer was playing second guitar and singing while Justin Perkins, who had recorded Invasion U.S.A., played bass guitar. A couple months later in November 2009, Mike Park of Asian Man Records
announced that Weasel had decided to sever his relationship with the label and that Recess Records
would now be carrying the Screeching Weasel, Riverdales and Ben Weasel's solo back catalogues.
On December 13, 2009, Weasel announced on Twitter
that the fifth Riverdales album would be called Tarantula, they began recording the next day. Weasel has stated that if he had had his way, Invasion U.S.A. would have been a double LP and that Tarantula should be considered part two of Invasion U.S.A.. Tarantula was released on June 8, 2010 as a digital download and June 22 on CD and vinyl.
In December 2010, the band announced they had signed to Fat Wreck Chords
, and the label would be re-releasing some of their old material.
In March 2011, Ben Weasel was involved in an altercation with two female audience members (ultimately losing many fans) at a Screeching Weasel show at the Austin, Texas
SXSW Festival. This resulted in the other members of both Screeching Weasel and the Riverdales quitting the band. In the aftermath of this, former members Dan Vapid and Simon Lamb started a solo project called Dan Vapid and The Cheats with whom Vapid will be singing his Riverdales songs. Vapid will also be doing his Screeching Weasel songs such as "Teenage Freakshow". The first show at Chicago's Cobra Lounge was a huge success and a studio album is currently being recorded.
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 from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
made up of rental Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Jughead.Since their formation, Screeching Weasel have broken up and reformed numerous times with numerous line-up changes. Ben Weasel has been the only constant...
members. Bassist Dan Vapid
Dan Vapid
Dan Schafer is a punk rock musician from Chicago, Illinois best known for his participation in Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, The Methadones, and various other pop punk bands.-Generation Waste:...
(Dan Schafer) and guitarist, band owner, Ben Weasel
Ben Weasel
Ben Weasel is a punk rock musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of bands Screeching Weasel and The Riverdales...
(Ben Foster) are heavily 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...
' sound and both serve as front-men, sharing lead vocals for the band. The Riverdales' original run lasted from 1994-1997. They reformed in 2003 to record their third studio album, and then parted ways until they once again reformed in 2008 and released a fourth studio album in July, 2009. The band's fifth studio album, Tarantula, was released digitally on June 8, 2010 and on CD and vinyl on June 22, 2010. The band broke up in March 2011 after a fight that broke out during a Screeching Weasel performance.
History
Named after the small town of RiverdaleRiverdale (Archie Comics)
Riverdale is a fictional town somewhere in the United States that is the setting for most of the various characters that appear in Archie Comics...
from the Archie Comics
Archie Comics
Archie Comics is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones. The characters were created by...
, the Riverdales formed in 1994. The founding members, Ben Foster (guitar), Dan Schafer (bass), and Dan Sullivan
Dan Panic
Dan Sullivan, also known as Dan Panic or Danny Panic, is a punk rock drummer from Chicago.-Career:Dan Sullivan began his musical career with Ivy League, a quartet from Chicago's western suburbs who released one 7" EP in 1990. He then joined Screeching Weasel in 1991 and remained with the band until...
(drums) were all former members of Screeching Weasel which had broken up earlier that year. Unlike Screeching Weasel, the members of the Riverdales were credited under their real names. They released their self-titled debut studio album in June of 1995 on Lookout! Records
Lookout! Records
-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
. It was produced by Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
's Billie Joe Armstrong
Billie Joe Armstrong
Billie Joe Armstrong is an American rock musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, main songwriter and lead guitarist for the American punk rock band Green Day...
and Squirtgun
Squirtgun
Squirtgun is an American punk rock band from Lafayette, Indiana formed by record producer Mass Giorgini in 1993.-1993-1998:Squirtgun originally consisted of Mass Giorgini , Matt Hart , Flav Giorgini , and Dan Lumley .The band signed to Lookout! Records and their first release was the EP...
's Mass Giorgini
Mass Giorgini
Mass Giorgini is an Italian-American bassist and record producer, who rose to fame when several of the bands he produced experienced huge gains in popularity during the pop-punk boom on the mid-90's. Among these bands was Giorgini's own Squirtgun, which received minor MTV rotation and several...
. They toured extensively that year as the opening act for the Mr. T Experience, and then for Green Day. Playing off this synergy, the Riverdales supported Green Day's Insomniac tour in 1995. Also that year, the band's song "Back to You" appeared in the film Angus. Despite the reforming of Screeching Weasel in 1996, the Riverdales did not disband until after recording their second studio album, Storm the Streets in 1997 and only reforming briefly in 2003 to record their third studio album, Phase 3.
In 2004, Foster rescinded all of the Riverdales masters from Lookout! Records. All of these masters had then been licensed to Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records is a small, DIY record label run by Mike Park in Monte Sereno, California. Park started a record label and began releasing music in 1989 under the name Dill Records, with the Asian Man label established May 1996.-Artists:...
. Asian Man re-released the band's debut album in 2006 with re-mastered sound and some bonus tracks including the two previously-unreleased songs, "Two-Headed Girl" and "I Won't Forget You", and live tracks from their tour with Green Day. The label also re-issued Phase 3 on October 7, 2008, with five bonus tracks.
On November 19, 2008, on his ESPN radio show, Weasel Radio, Ben Weasel announced that he and Dan Vapid had been demoing songs for a new Riverdales album and that recording would begin in February 2009. He also announced that the Riverdales would be playing live one-off shows again and that Adam Cargin (of the Blueheels) would be the band's new drummer. The album, titled Invasion U.S.A.
Invasion U.S.A. (Album)
Invasion USA is the fourth studio album by the American punk rock band The Riverdales. It was the first Riverdales album in six years. The album's song titles are almost exclusively taken from titles of old sci-fi and horror movies of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly of those featured on the...
, was released on July 14, 2009.
In September 2009, it was announced that Simon Lamb would be joining the band as a second guitarist. Prior to that for live purposes, Dan Schafer was playing second guitar and singing while Justin Perkins, who had recorded Invasion U.S.A., played bass guitar. A couple months later in November 2009, Mike Park of Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records is a small, DIY record label run by Mike Park in Monte Sereno, California. Park started a record label and began releasing music in 1989 under the name Dill Records, with the Asian Man label established May 1996.-Artists:...
announced that Weasel had decided to sever his relationship with the label and that Recess Records
Recess Records
Recess Records is an independent record label founded in 1989 with the release of F.Y.P's Extra Credit, an 11 song 7-inch record. Label founder Todd Congelliere originally created the label as a vehicle to release F.Y.P's material...
would now be carrying the Screeching Weasel, Riverdales and Ben Weasel's solo back catalogues.
On December 13, 2009, Weasel announced on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
that the fifth Riverdales album would be called Tarantula, they began recording the next day. Weasel has stated that if he had had his way, Invasion U.S.A. would have been a double LP and that Tarantula should be considered part two of Invasion U.S.A.. Tarantula was released on June 8, 2010 as a digital download and June 22 on CD and vinyl.
In December 2010, the band announced they had signed to Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
, and the label would be re-releasing some of their old material.
In March 2011, Ben Weasel was involved in an altercation with two female audience members (ultimately losing many fans) at a Screeching Weasel show at the Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
SXSW Festival. This resulted in the other members of both Screeching Weasel and the Riverdales quitting the band. In the aftermath of this, former members Dan Vapid and Simon Lamb started a solo project called Dan Vapid and The Cheats with whom Vapid will be singing his Riverdales songs. Vapid will also be doing his Screeching Weasel songs such as "Teenage Freakshow". The first show at Chicago's Cobra Lounge was a huge success and a studio album is currently being recorded.
Studio albums
- RiverdalesRiverdales (album)-Personnel:* Dan Schafer - bass, lead vocals* Ben Foster - guitar, lead vocals* Dan Sullivan - drums, backing vocalsProduction* Mass Giorgini - producer, recording* Billie Joe Armstrong - producer, mixing* Stephen Marcussen - mastering...
(1995) - Storm the StreetsStorm the StreetsStorm the Streets is the second studio album by the American punk rock band the Riverdales. After a dispute with Lookout! Records, the band signed to Honest Don's Records for this release. It is the only Riverdales album still available from its original label...
(1997) - Phase 3Phase ThreePhase 3 is the third studio album by the American punk rock band The Riverdales. It was released in 2003 through 1-4-5 Records. It was the first new Riverdales album in five years. It was also the first Riverdales album to feature drummer Dan Lumley. It was re-released on October 7, 2008 by Asian...
(2003) - Invasion USAInvasion U.S.A. (Album)Invasion USA is the fourth studio album by the American punk rock band The Riverdales. It was the first Riverdales album in six years. The album's song titles are almost exclusively taken from titles of old sci-fi and horror movies of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly of those featured on the...
(2009) - TarantulaTarantula (Riverdales album)Tarantula is the fifth studio album by the American punk rock band the Riverdales. It was released digitally on June 8, 2010 and was released on CD and vinyl on June 22, 2010 through Recess Records. It was the first Riverdales album to be released through Recess, as well as their first album...
(2010)
Singles
- "Back to You" (1995)
- "Fun Tonight" (1995)
- "Blood on the Ice" (1997)
- "Dead End House" (2011)
- "When in Rome" (2011)
External links
- [ Allmusic.com entry]
- Lookout entry
- Riverdales Myspace entry
- Asian Man Records Entry