Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
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| Me First and the Gimme Gimmes | ||
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 Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  California, United States |
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| Genre(s) | Punkrock/Pop-Punk | |
| Years active | 1995–present | |
| Label(s) | Fat Wreck Chords | |
| Associated acts |
Lagwagon | |
| Website | GimmeGimmes.com | |
| Members | ||
| Spike Slawson Joey Cape Chris Shiflett Fat Mike Dave Raun |
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Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a punk rock cover band that formed in 1995. Drawn together by a mutual love of 1960s and 1970s music, the Gimme Gimmes work exclusively as a cover band. They have covered songs from such artists as Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, and John Denver.
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[edit] History
The band wasn't originally planning on producing albums, appearing only on compilation albums for their first year. In 1995, however, the band began releasing singles named after the singer they had covered. They produced Billy (Joel), (Neil) Diamond, Paul (Simon), (John) Denver, Barry (Manilow), (Del) Shannon, (Cat) Stevens, and and Elton (John) in this manner. Their first album, Have a Ball, was released in 1997.
Each album by the band is themed differently: Have a Ball focuses on classic 1970s and early 1980s songs by artists like Elton John, Neil Diamond, and John Denver; Are a Drag consists entirely of showtunes, Blow in the Wind consists of 60's classics, Take a Break consists entirely of R&B songs by artists such as Boyz 2 Men, Lionel Richie, and Vanessa Williams; their fifth album, Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah, was recorded live at an actual bar mitzvah and consists of pop music from the 1960s through the 1980s by artists such as REO Speedwagon, Styx and The Beatles, as well as traditionals like "Hava Nagila".
Me First and The Gimme Gimmes are also known for filling their covers with famous guitar riffs from songs by other punk rock bands. For instance, Elenor begins with the opening tune of The Clash's London Calling, My Favourite Things begins with the melody and opening lyrics of Bad Religion's Generator and on the song Hava Nagila, the melody from The Offspring's Come Out And Play can be heard. Another song they reference is the opening of The Ramones' Teenage Lobotomy in their version of The Beach Boys' Sloop John B.
[edit] Current Activity
They entered the studio on April 3, 2006 to work on their sixth album, Love Their Country, which was released on October 17, 2006.[1] The theme of this album is country and western, and includes covers of tracks by Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Hank Williams, Sr. and Johnny Cash.[2]. Prior to the release of the album, Fat Wreck Chords released a digital label sampler iFloyd which included "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" by the band.
In late 2006, Fat Wreck Chords released another digital label sampler Christmas Bonus, containing a previously-unreleased cover of Arlo Guthrie's City of New Orleans.
[edit] Members
The band is composed of several very recognizable faces in the California punk rock scene:
- Vocalist Spike Slawson is a member of the $wingin' Utter$
- Bassist "Fat" Mike Burkett of NOFX
- Lead guitarist Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters (and formerly No Use for a Name)
- Rhythm guitarist/vocalist Joey Cape of Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut, and new band Afterburner
- Drummer Dave Raun, also of Lagwagon.
[edit] Discography
- Have a Ball (1997)
- Are a Drag (1999)
- Turn Japanese EP (2001)
- Blow in the Wind (2001)
- Take a Break (2003)
- Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah (2004)
- Love Their Country (2006)
[edit] Compilations
- The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show (2003)
- Various Punk-o-Rama (1994-2005)
