| Tim Armstrong | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Timothy Lockwood Armstrong |
| Also known as | Lint, Tim Timebomb |
| Born | November 25, 1965 Berkeley, California, United States |
| Origin | Albany, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Punk rock, ska punk, street punk, hardcore punk |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, synthesizer, harmonica |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | Lookout!, Hellcat, Epitaph |
| Associated acts | Rancid, Devils Brigade, Transplants, Operation Ivy, Dance Hall Crashers, Downfall, Basic Radio, Shaken 69, The Silencers, The LJs, Generator |
| Website | www.ratsinthehallway.com |
| Notable instruments | |
| Hagström Viking Gretsch Country Club Gibson SG |
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Timothy Lockwood Armstrong (born November 25, 1965)[1] is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.
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Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was raised primarily by his mother. At the age of five, he met Matt Freeman while playing Little League Baseball in Albany, California. Freeman and Armstrong formed a band many years later based on their shared love of bands such as The Clash and the Ramones. They both went to Albany Middle and High School. Armstrong married musician Brody Dalle in 1997 and the couple divorced in 2003. Many of the lyrics on the album Indestructible deal with Armstrong's feelings about his divorce.
Basic Radio was founded in 1986 and included Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong. The band never released any albums or EPs, but recorded demos, and soon after its break-up, Operation Ivy was founded.
In 1987, along with singer Jesse Michaels and drummer Dave Mello, Armstrong and Freeman formed the ska punk band Operation Ivy and enjoyed modest success before the group disbanded in 1989, the same night the album was released. The band would go on to achieve worldwide cult success in the years following its break-up.
Downfall was an aftershock of Operation Ivy. Armstrong, Freeman, and Mello were joined by Mello's brother Pat, and Jason Hammon. Pat and Jason would both play guitar, while Armstrong took up duties on vocals. They lasted three months (December 1989 to March 1990), playing only at a few parties and twice at Gilman St. They released one song on Maximumrocknroll's They Don't Get Paid, They Don't Get Laid, but Boy, Do They Work Hard! compilation, one song on David Hayes' Very Small World compilation, one song on Lookout! Records' Can of Pork compilation, and recorded a demo. It disbanded when Freeman joined MDC on bass while Armstrong was a roadie for the band, while Pat and Dave went on to form Schlong.
After the demise of Operation Ivy, Armstrong (being severely depressed) began to suffer from alcoholism, and eventually became homeless.[2] During this time, Freeman suggested the two start a new band together, partially in hopes of curbing Armstrong's alcohol addiction. Armstrong began writing songs that would appear on their first album. Their new band, Rancid would eventually go on to become one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful punk rock bands of all time.
In 1999, Armstrong invited roadie Rob Aston ("Skinhead Rob") to add lyrics to some solo material that Armstrong had been creating in his basement, and the two worked together writing and recording music. They formed the group Transplants with Travis Barker of Blink-182 and released their self-titled debut album on October 22, 2002. A second Transplants album, Haunted Cities, was released on June 21, 2005. The Transplants break-up was confirmed by Rob Aston on January 16, 2006, when he told a reporter that the group had split. However, Barker has recently announced that the trio is currently working on a new album. They played their first show since 2006 on Conan to promote the bands drummer, Travis Barker, new solo album by playing the song "Saturday Night" which is featured on Barker's solo album. It was announced in November 2011 on the Transplants official Facebook page that their new album would be "finished" in December 2011.
Armstrong co-wrote eight songs with Pink for her 2003 album Try This. He has also collaborated with Gwen Stefani on her debut album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and has contributed guest vocals on songs for such bands as Bad Religion, Time Again, The Matches, Mest, Good Charlotte, Head Automatica, The Aggrolites and Box Car Racer. He and Matt Freeman also play in a psychobilly band called Devils Brigade. In 2007, he released his first solo album entitled A Poet's Life with The Aggrolites as his backing band. The track from that album "Into Action" was reported as the number one most played and requested in 2007 on then XM Satellite Radio channel Fungus 53.[3] It was announced on August 12, 2011 that Tim Armstrong was working on an album with reggae artist Jimmy Cliff.[4] Their first single, a cover of The Clash song "The Guns of Brixton", was released on October 4, 2011. Sacred Fire EP was released late November 2011 and they are planning to release a full length album in 2012.
Armstrong started Hellcat Records in 1997 as a sub-label of Epitaph, owned by Armstrong's friend and Bad Religion member Brett Gurewitz. Armstrong acts as a talent scout for Hellcat, and has final say concerning what groups are signed to the label. Armstrong also owns the merchandise manufacturer Machete Mfg,[5] which provides merchandise for bands on Hellcat Records.
In 2010, Gretsch Guitars introduced the G5191BK Tim Armstrong Electromatic guitar. The single cutaway hollowbody electric guitar featured a 17" wide body in a flat-black urethane finish, parallel tone bars and sound post, two “Black Top” Filter'Tron pickups, Grover tuners, big block fretboard inlays, a harp tailpiece and gold-plated hardware. Gretsch advertising for the model prominently features Armstrong with the guitar.[6] It is based on his 1970's-era Gretsch Country Club model which he spray-painted black and flipped to accommodate his left-handed playing.[7] The signature model is available in both right and left-handed models. Fender also put out a signature acoustic model based on Tim's favorite 60's era Fender acoustic guitar. The "Hellcat" has hellcat inlays in the 3 5 and 7th fret positions and two skulls in the 12th fret. It is outfitted with a tortoise shell pick guard and Fishman brand electronics. It is available in right and left handed models.
Guitar and backing vocals. Credited as "Lint".
Bass Guitar. Credited as "Lint".
Vocals on "Cat Like Thief".
Guitar and vocals.
Guitar and vocals.
Guitar and vocals.
Guitar and backing vocals.
Guitar and Production
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