Common Rider

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Common Rider
Origin Flag of the United States USA
Genre(s) Ska punk
Punk rock
Years active 1999–2003
Associated acts Against All Authority
Operation Ivy
Squirtgun
Screeching Weasel
Members
Jesse Michaels
Mass Giorgini
Dan Lumley

Common Rider were 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 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! 7" vinyl with four songs, 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 Split EP with punk band Against All Authority containing four songs from the "This is Unity Music" sessions that did not make it onto the record.

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"

[edit] External links