Pennywise (band)

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Pennywise
The Unknown Road line-up in 1994. (from left to right: Byron McMackin, Jason Matthew Thirsk, Jim Lindberg and Fletcher Dragge.)
Background information
Origin
Hermosa Beach, California, United States
Genre(s) Hardcore Punk
Melodic Hardcore
Punk Rock
Skate Punk
Years active 1988—present
Label(s) Epitaph Records
Associated
acts		 Con 800
One Hit Wonder
Website Official Website
Members
Jim Lindberg
Fletcher Dragge
Randy Bradbury
Byron McMackin
Former members
Jason Matthew Thirsk (deceased)
For the Stephen King creature, see It (monster).

Pennywise is an American punk rock band that was formed in 1988, and is named after the monster It from the Stephen King novel, It.

Since Pennywise's 1991 self-titled debut, the band releases an album every two years on Epitaph Records, a label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. So far, they have released eight full-length studio albums, one live album, two EPs and one DVD. Their last album, The Fuse, was released in 2005. Pennywise is currently working on its next album, which is due for release around the summer of 2007.

Pennywise has had their current line-up, consisting of Jim Lindberg (vocals), Fletcher Dragge (guitars), Randy Bradbury (bass) and Byron McMackin (drums), since 1996. The band kept their original line-up until former bassist Jason Matthew Thirsk comitted suicide in 1996 and then Bradbury joined as his replacement.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early career (1988-1989)

Pennywise was formed in 1988 in Hermosa Beach, California by singer Jim Lindberg, guitarist Fletcher Dragge, drummer Byron McMackin and bassist Jason Thirsk. To date, this line-up is considered a classic. They released two EPs A Word from the Wise and Wildcard (both 1989). Each of the band members had played in other bands in the Hermosa Beach area and attended the same high school.

[edit] Increasing popularity (1990-1995)

The group signed to Epitaph Records in 1990 and released their first album Pennywise (1991). The album quickly spread throughout the punk community, earning the band some nation-wide recognition. Lyrics in the album endorsed a positive mental attitude, helping promote progressive ideals for Generation X. Lindberg left the band soon after the debut record. Thirsk took his place on vocals and Randy Bradbury stepped in on bass. The Vandals lead singer Dave Quackenbush took over on vocals for a brief stint in 1992 when Thirsk returned to bass.

Lindberg got married and returned to the group in 1992 in time for their second album Unknown Road (1993), an underground hit that established the band as a force in punk music. By 1995, punk bands The Offspring, Green Day and Rancid hit the mainstream and Pennywise refused invitations to join several major labels. About Time (1995) was another indie hit.

[edit] Aftermath of Thirsk's death (1996-2003)

In 1996, Pennywise began recording their fourth album. Thirsk left the band in an attempt to conquer alcoholism. He was successful but relapsed and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest on July 29, 1996.

Recent promotional photo of Pennywise in 2004.
Recent promotional photo of Pennywise in 2004.

The band released Full Circle (1997) with Bradbury on bass and Straight Ahead (1999). This was followed by a live album, Live at the Key Club (2000), as well as Land of the Free? (2001) and From the Ashes (2003).

[edit] Recent history (2004-present)

Home Movies, the band's only video, was re-released on DVD for the first time in 2004. The video was originally released in 1995 and had been out of print since 1997.

The band's eighth album, The Fuse, was released in Europe on June 27 and in North America on August 9, 2005. The band's Australian tour was cancelled leading to breakup rumors, which Lindberg denied. Also that year, digitally-remastered versions of the first four studio albums were released.

An interesting note of the band is that they release an album every two years, and because of this, some fans are expecting their ninth studio album to be released in 2007. In an October 2006 interview with guitarist Fletcher Dragge, he said that the band had already been working on the songs that would appear on the album, scheduled for a spring or summer 2007 release. The band is also currently scheduled to be part of the 2007 Warped Tour. [1]

Pennywise recently recorded a cover of Sick of It All's "My Life" for the band's tribute album Our Impact Will Be Felt.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

Album Cover Year Title Label US Billboard Peak[1] Format Other information
1991 Pennywise Epitaph Uncharted CD/LP
  • Debut release.
  • Remastered on March 8, 2005.
  • The 2005 remastered version features a bonus track "Psycho 89".
1993 Unknown Road Epitaph Uncharted CD/LP
  • Remastered on March 8, 2005.
  • Though not yet credited as a member of the band, current bassist Randy Bradbury contributed songs on this album.
1995 About Time Epitaph #96 CD/LP
  • Remastered on March 8, 2005.
  • Last album recorded with original bassist Jason Thirsk before his suicide in 1996.
1997 Full Circle Epitaph #79 CD/LP
  • Remastered on March 8, 2005.
  • First release with current bassist Randy Bradbury.
  • Contains "Bro Hymn Tribute", a re-recording of "Bro Hymn", which is dedicated to the late Jason Thirsk.
1999 Straight Ahead Epitaph #62 CD/LP
2001 Land of the Free? Epitaph #67 CD/LP
2003 From the Ashes Epitaph #54 CD/LP
2005 The Fuse Epitaph #78 CD
2007 Untitled ninth studio album Epitaph Not yet released CD
  • Sources indicate that the album will be released around the spring or summer of 2007.
  • As of now, there has been no word on the title for the new release.

[edit] EPs

Album Cover Year Title Label Format Other information
1989 A Word from the Wise Theologian LP
1989 Wildcard Theologian LP


[edit] Compilation/live albums

Album Cover Year Title Label US Billboard Peak[1] Format Other information
1992 Wildcard/A Word from the 'Wise Theologian Uncharted CD
2000 Live @ the Key Club Epitaph #198 CD/LP
  • The band's only live album to date.
  • Contains a cover of "Minor Threat", originally written by the band with the same title.

[edit] DVDs

DVD Cover Year Title Label Format Other information
1995 Home Movies Epitaph VHS/DVD
  • Originally released on VHS in 1995.
  • Released on DVD on November 9, 2004.

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Mainstream Rock UK
1993 "Homesick" - - - - Unknown Road
1993 "Tomorrow" (7 inch) - - - - -
1995 "Same Old Story" - - - - About Time
1997 "Society" - - - - Full Circle
1999 "Alien" - 36 - - Straight Ahead
2000 "Victim of Reality" - - - - Straight Ahead
2001 "Fuck Authority" - 38 - - Land of the Free?
2001 "Divine Intervention" - - - - Land of the Free?
2002 "My God" - - - - Land of the Free?
2003 "Yesterdays" - - - - From the Ashes
2003 "God Save the USA" - - - - From the Ashes
2005 "Disconnect" - - - - The Fuse
2005 "Knocked Down" - - - - The Fuse

[edit] Members

[edit] Current lineup

[edit] Former members

[edit] Trivia

  • The band rerecorded the song "Bro Hymn" from their self titled LP as a tribute to fallen friends Canton, Colvin, and Nichols. It was released on the Full Circle LP as "Bro Hymn Tribute" to serve as a tribute to band mate Jason Matthew Thirsk who took his own life. The new version features Thirsk's little brother Justin, drummer for 98 Mute, singing one of the verses, in which he says "Jason, my brother, this one's for you!" At 3:25 of the track he takes over and finishes the drumming. The band plays this song at the end of each show, and encourage everybody in the crowd to come on stage.
  • "It's What You Do With It" in About Time, "Homesick" in Unknown Road, and "Wouldn't It Be Nice" in Pennywise are featured in Matt Hoffman Pro BMX.
  • "Society", in Full Circle, and "It's What You Do With It" in About Time are featured in the arcade game Top Skater.
  • "Greed", in Straight Ahead is featured in Dave Mirra's Freestyle BMX.
  • "Rise Up", in From the Ashes is featured in the video game Burnout 3.
  • "Stand Up", in The Fuse is featured in the video game Burnout Revenge.
  • "Knocked Down", in The Fuse is featured in the video game EA Sports NHL 06.
  • "Competition Song", in The Fuse is featured in the video game SSX On Tour.
  • "Now I Know" in "From The Ashes" is feat. in video game MTX Mototrax.
  • "No Reason Why", "Fun And Games", and "Living for Today" in Pennywise were featured in skate film Plan B Skateboards-Questionable Video in the skatepark section, the slam section and Danny Way's part respectively.
  • "Get a Life" in Full Circle is featured in the BMX video Chaingang.
  • "Bro Hymn" is the official goal song of the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks, and is played after each home goal. [2]
  • "Bro Hymn" is also the official goal song of the famous German soccer club VfB Stuttgart since the 06/07 season and is played after each home goal.
  • "Bro Hymn" is also the official goal song of the United Hockey League's Bloomington Prairie Thunder since their inaugral season (06/07), and is played after every home goal.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Artist Chart History - Pennywise (HTML). Billboard.com. Retrieved on February 16, 2007.

[edit] External links


Pennywise
Jim Lindberg | Fletcher Dragge | Randy Bradbury | Byron McMackin
Jason Thirsk
Discography
Full-lengths: Pennywise (1991) | Unknown Road (1993) | About Time (1995) | Full Circle (1997) | Straight Ahead (1999) | Land of the Free? (2001) | From the Ashes (2003) | The Fuse (2005)
EPs: A Word from the Wise (1989) | Wildcard (1989)
Compilation albums: Wildcard/A Word from the 'Wise (1992) | Live @ the Key Club (2000)
VHS/DVDs: Home Movies (1995)
Related articles
The Epitaph Records Portal

Epitaph Records | CON/800 | One Hit Wonder | California punk scene
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