Common Rider

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Common Rider was a ska punk band, formed in 1999 by Jesse Michaels (guitar, vocals), Mass Giorgini (bass) and Dan Lumley (drums). The band had a much softer note than that of Michaels' first group, Operation Ivy, but still contained the same amount of energy and passion.

The band's name is taken from a 1970s Japanese TV show, Kamen Raidâ (Kamen Raidâ means "Mask Rider" or "Masked Rider" in Japanese.)

The band released two full-length albums and one EP. Last Wave Rockers was released in 1999 on Lookout! Records. Thief In a Sleeping Town EP was also released on Lookout! Records in 2001 and featured Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day (guitar/backing vocals). The band released This Is Unity Music on Hopeless Records in 2002. The band toured the US extensively the same year, including the 2002 Plea For Peace tour, sponsored by Asian Man Records. On the tour, Phillip Hill (from Teen Idols and also a major contributor on the album This is Unity Music) and Joe Mizzi (from Metro, Detroit and also a guest vocalist on the album This Is Unity Music) played guitar for the band. The band's latest release was a split with Against All Authority in April 2005, containing outtakes from 2002's This Is Unity Music.

Mass Giorgini (bass) recently (2005) went out to Australia to record an album for Brisbane-based reggae/ska outfit "Scarred Hope." The album is still being worked on by many of the same people who have done work on the Operation Ivy cover booklets, and will be available through "Freewave Records."

The band broke up in 2003, mainly because of the want to pursue other opportunities. Dan Lumley officially retired from music at that time as well. Mass still plays with Squirtgun.

[edit] Discography

Albums and EPs

Year	Title	Label	Other information
1999	Last Wave Rockers	Lookout! / Panic Button	debut album
2001	Thief In A Sleeping Town EP	Lookout!	Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day played guitar
2002	This Is Unity Music	Hopeless	Phillip Hill, Matt Demeester, Kevin Sierzega, Jimmy Lucido, Ray Moses, Joe Mizzi, members of the Alkaline Trio, and many more, contributed to this record.
2005	Common Rider/Against All Authority Split	Hopeless

Compilations

Year	Title	Label	Contributing track(s)
2000	Might As Well ... Can't Dance	Adeline	"Thief In A Sleeping Town"
2000	Lookout! Freakout	Lookout! / Panic Button	"Carry On", "Signal Signal (Alternative Version)"
2001	Lookout! Freakout - Episode 2	Lookout! / Panic Button	"Am I On My Own"
2002	Every Dog Will Have Its Day	Adeline	"Blackbirds vs Crows"
2002	Hopelessly Devoted To You - Volume 4	Hopeless	"Small Pebble"
2001	1157 Wheeler Avenue: A Memorial For Amadou Diallo	Failed Experiment	"Longshot"
2002	Plea For Peace / Take Action Volume 2	Sub City	"PSA" (Jesse Michaels only), "Longshot"
2003	Operation: Punk Rock Freedom	Hopeless/Sub City	"Firewall"
2004	Hopelessly Devoted To You - Volume 5	Hopeless	"Where The Waves Are Highest"