Allister
Encyclopedia
Allister is an American pop punk
band from Chicago
, Illinois
. The four-piece formed in 1996 and were one of the first bands to sign to Drive-Thru Records
. Besides releasing four studio album
s — 1999's Dead Ends and Girlfriends
, 2002's Last Stop Suburbia
, 2005's Before the Blackout
, and 2010's Countdown to Nowhere
— Allister made a cameo appearance
in the 2004 film Sleepover. On March 6, 2007, the band announced their intention to go on hiatus. In 2010, Allister reunited after a three-year hiatus.
) and Tim Rogner (vocals/drums
) with Eric "Skippy" Mueller (bass
) in 1996. The following year, they changed their name to Allister, paying homage to Alasdair Gillis from the Canadian TV show You Can't Do That on Television
. Upon being submitted a short demo tape, Drive-Thru Records
decided to put out their debut release: a 7 inch vinyl record
containing four songs, titled You Can't Do that on Vinyl (1998). Before the end of the year, Allister added another guitarist to the band, so Mueller took over guitar duties while Scott Murphy joined on bass.
In 1999, Drive-Thru Records released the band's full-length CD Dead Ends and Girlfriends
with that very line-up. The catchy 28-minute album, which was recorded with a production budget of a mere $700, featured playful yet promising pop punk tunes, along with covers of the Fraggle Rock
theme song and the Backstreet Boys
' "I Want It that Way". Within the following years, Mueller quit Allister. Hamada eventually quit as well, after tracking some songs for the group's follow-up record. Rogner replaced Mueller on the rhythm guitar, while Rogner's younger brother Chris filled Hamada's shoes on lead guitar and David Rossi joined on drums.
With the aid of producer Chris Fudurich, the band recorded their second full-length album Last Stop Suburbia
in 2002, showcasing a certain degree of growth in the songwriting of Rogner and Murphy. The album featured several fan-favorites, such as "Radio Player", "Overrated" and "Somewhere on Fullerton" (an ode to the legendary Chicago punk venue, Fireside Bowl), though the band had to part ways with both Rossi and Chris Rogner, who would concentrate on his own band August Premier. The band added Kyle Lewis (guitar) — formerly of Showoff
, Now She's Gone and The Fold
— and Mike Leverence (drums); formerly of PARR5, the following year. Last Stop Suburbia reached #9 on the Billboard
Heatseekers chart.
In 2004, Allister toured the world (including Europe
and Japan
) and scored a small guest appearance on the big screen in the film Sleepover, before releasing their third album Before the Blackout
(2005) and supporting it by co-headlining the "Before the Blackout, after the Breakup Tour" with Fenix*TX.
The group released a cover
EP titled Guilty Pleasures
only in Japan in late 2006, which was supported by a simultaneous Japanese tour. Before the departure, Rogner learned that he was becoming a father and decided to take a job where he was more available to his family. Allister decided to go on hiatus following another Japanese tour throughout March 2007 — for which former Allister member Chris Rogner took his brother's place — and a farewell show in Chicago. Murphy and Lewis joined the band The Get Go.
In 2008, Scott Murphy also recorded his solo EP entitled Guilty Pleasures II as a continuation of the band's past work. The album contains a number of Japanese and English cover-songs. The very popular song "Voyage
", by Japanese megastar Ayumi Hamasaki
was also included. Murphy released another follow-up EP, Guilty Pleasures 3, on December 3, 2008. Guilty Pleasures 3 was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan
(RIAJ) for shipment of 100,000 copies on September 10, 2009 and Guilty Pleasures II was also certified Gold by RIAJ on December 10, 2009.
Since 2005, former Allister bassist/guitarist Eric Mueller has written a popular MP3 blog called Can You See The Sunset From the Southside.
In 2010, Allister's reunion was announced, with the intention of releasing a new album in the US sometime in the summer. The band is now signed to Universal Japan. The band is also scheduled to play The Bamboozle Chicago on May 15 at the Charter One Pavilion. Their new album, titled Countdown to Nowhere
was released in Japan on July 16, 2010. Tim stated after the Bamboozle Chicago set that they are planning on releasing the album state side late August early September. They are also planning on doing a lot of shows in the near future.
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The four-piece formed in 1996 and were one of the first bands to sign to Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records, established in 1996, was a California-based record label owned by siblings Richard and Stefanie Reines. It has produced various pop punk bands, many with a distinct SoCal sound....
. Besides releasing four studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
s — 1999's Dead Ends and Girlfriends
Dead Ends and Girlfriends
Dead Ends and Girlfriends is an album released in 1999 by the band Allister. The album is dedicated to the memory of Phil Bonnet & Beth Miller....
, 2002's Last Stop Suburbia
Last Stop Suburbia
Last Stop Suburbia is Allister's third release on Drive-Thru Records, released on October 1, 2002.-Track listing:# "Scratch" – 3:11# "Radio Player" – 3:25# "Flypaper" – 2:12# "Overrated" – 2:25# "Better Late Than Forever" – 2:40...
, 2005's Before the Blackout
Before the Blackout
Before the Blackout is Allister's third and final full-length album, before their hiatus, released on October 11, 2005 on Drive-Thru Records.-Track listing:# "Waiting" – 3:23...
, and 2010's Countdown to Nowhere
Countdown to Nowhere
Countdown to Nowhere is the fourth full-length studio album from Allister, a pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois, released in Japan on June 16, 2010. It will be the band's first full-length album released in five years, and their first album released since the conclusion of their three-year...
— Allister made a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in the 2004 film Sleepover. On March 6, 2007, the band announced their intention to go on hiatus. In 2010, Allister reunited after a three-year hiatus.
History
Allister was formed in Chicago, Illinois under their original name Phineas Gage by high school (James B. Conant H.S.) classmates John Hamada (vocals/guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Tim Rogner (vocals/drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) with Eric "Skippy" Mueller (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) in 1996. The following year, they changed their name to Allister, paying homage to Alasdair Gillis from the Canadian TV show You Can't Do That on Television
You Can't Do That on Television
You Can't Do That on Television is a Canadian television program that first aired locally in 1979 before ultimately airing internationally in 1981...
. Upon being submitted a short demo tape, Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records, established in 1996, was a California-based record label owned by siblings Richard and Stefanie Reines. It has produced various pop punk bands, many with a distinct SoCal sound....
decided to put out their debut release: a 7 inch vinyl record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
containing four songs, titled You Can't Do that on Vinyl (1998). Before the end of the year, Allister added another guitarist to the band, so Mueller took over guitar duties while Scott Murphy joined on bass.
In 1999, Drive-Thru Records released the band's full-length CD Dead Ends and Girlfriends
Dead Ends and Girlfriends
Dead Ends and Girlfriends is an album released in 1999 by the band Allister. The album is dedicated to the memory of Phil Bonnet & Beth Miller....
with that very line-up. The catchy 28-minute album, which was recorded with a production budget of a mere $700, featured playful yet promising pop punk tunes, along with covers of the Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock is a children's live action puppet television program series created by Jim Henson. The central characters were a set of "Muppet" creatures called Fraggles. The show ran from January 10, 1983, to March 30, 1987, on CBC Television in Canada, ITV in the UK, HBO in the United States,...
theme song and the Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
' "I Want It that Way". Within the following years, Mueller quit Allister. Hamada eventually quit as well, after tracking some songs for the group's follow-up record. Rogner replaced Mueller on the rhythm guitar, while Rogner's younger brother Chris filled Hamada's shoes on lead guitar and David Rossi joined on drums.
With the aid of producer Chris Fudurich, the band recorded their second full-length album Last Stop Suburbia
Last Stop Suburbia
Last Stop Suburbia is Allister's third release on Drive-Thru Records, released on October 1, 2002.-Track listing:# "Scratch" – 3:11# "Radio Player" – 3:25# "Flypaper" – 2:12# "Overrated" – 2:25# "Better Late Than Forever" – 2:40...
in 2002, showcasing a certain degree of growth in the songwriting of Rogner and Murphy. The album featured several fan-favorites, such as "Radio Player", "Overrated" and "Somewhere on Fullerton" (an ode to the legendary Chicago punk venue, Fireside Bowl), though the band had to part ways with both Rossi and Chris Rogner, who would concentrate on his own band August Premier. The band added Kyle Lewis (guitar) — formerly of Showoff
Showoff (band)
Showoff was a pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois led by vocalist Chris Envy.-History:Showoff was formed in 1997 in Villa Park, Illinois. The band consisted of Chris Envy , Daniel Castady , Graham Jordan , and Dave Envy...
, Now She's Gone and The Fold
The Fold
The Fold is a high energy rock-pop band from Chicago, Illinois. They have released two full length albums and one EP on Tooth & Nail Records, and an independent album in 2009. Their single "Gravity" from the album This Too Shall Pass reached #1 on the CHR Rock charts.-History:Their debut album This...
— and Mike Leverence (drums); formerly of PARR5, the following year. Last Stop Suburbia reached #9 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Heatseekers chart.
In 2004, Allister toured the world (including Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
) and scored a small guest appearance on the big screen in the film Sleepover, before releasing their third album Before the Blackout
Before the Blackout
Before the Blackout is Allister's third and final full-length album, before their hiatus, released on October 11, 2005 on Drive-Thru Records.-Track listing:# "Waiting" – 3:23...
(2005) and supporting it by co-headlining the "Before the Blackout, after the Breakup Tour" with Fenix*TX.
The group released a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
EP titled Guilty Pleasures
Guilty Pleasures (EP)
Guilty Pleasures is an EP by the American rock band Allister released only in Japan. Issued on November 29, 2006 via In-n-Out Records, the EP comprises cover versions of Japanese and American pop songs.-Track listing:# "Intro"...
only in Japan in late 2006, which was supported by a simultaneous Japanese tour. Before the departure, Rogner learned that he was becoming a father and decided to take a job where he was more available to his family. Allister decided to go on hiatus following another Japanese tour throughout March 2007 — for which former Allister member Chris Rogner took his brother's place — and a farewell show in Chicago. Murphy and Lewis joined the band The Get Go.
In 2008, Scott Murphy also recorded his solo EP entitled Guilty Pleasures II as a continuation of the band's past work. The album contains a number of Japanese and English cover-songs. The very popular song "Voyage
Voyage (song)
"Voyage" is the 28th single released by Ayumi Hamasaki on September 26, 2002. "Voyage" debuted at #1 on the weekly charts with more than 319,020 copies sold in its first week and remained at the top position for 3 consecutive weeks out of a total 28 weeks on the chart, becoming her longest charting...
", by Japanese megastar Ayumi Hamasaki
Ayumi Hamasaki
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
was also included. Murphy released another follow-up EP, Guilty Pleasures 3, on December 3, 2008. Guilty Pleasures 3 was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan
Recording Industry Association of Japan
The Recording Industry Association of Japan is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved the music industry...
(RIAJ) for shipment of 100,000 copies on September 10, 2009 and Guilty Pleasures II was also certified Gold by RIAJ on December 10, 2009.
Since 2005, former Allister bassist/guitarist Eric Mueller has written a popular MP3 blog called Can You See The Sunset From the Southside.
In 2010, Allister's reunion was announced, with the intention of releasing a new album in the US sometime in the summer. The band is now signed to Universal Japan. The band is also scheduled to play The Bamboozle Chicago on May 15 at the Charter One Pavilion. Their new album, titled Countdown to Nowhere
Countdown to Nowhere
Countdown to Nowhere is the fourth full-length studio album from Allister, a pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois, released in Japan on June 16, 2010. It will be the band's first full-length album released in five years, and their first album released since the conclusion of their three-year...
was released in Japan on July 16, 2010. Tim stated after the Bamboozle Chicago set that they are planning on releasing the album state side late August early September. They are also planning on doing a lot of shows in the near future.
Members
- Tim Rogner – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Scott Murphy – vocals, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Kyle Lewis – guitar
- Mike Leverence – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Former members
- Eric "Skippy" Mueller – vocals, guitar
- John Hamada – vocals, guitar
- Chris Rogner – guitar
- David Rossi – drums
Albums
- Dead Ends and GirlfriendsDead Ends and GirlfriendsDead Ends and Girlfriends is an album released in 1999 by the band Allister. The album is dedicated to the memory of Phil Bonnet & Beth Miller....
(1999) - Last Stop SuburbiaLast Stop SuburbiaLast Stop Suburbia is Allister's third release on Drive-Thru Records, released on October 1, 2002.-Track listing:# "Scratch" – 3:11# "Radio Player" – 3:25# "Flypaper" – 2:12# "Overrated" – 2:25# "Better Late Than Forever" – 2:40...
(2002) - Before the BlackoutBefore the BlackoutBefore the Blackout is Allister's third and final full-length album, before their hiatus, released on October 11, 2005 on Drive-Thru Records.-Track listing:# "Waiting" – 3:23...
(2005) - Countdown to NowhereCountdown to NowhereCountdown to Nowhere is the fourth full-length studio album from Allister, a pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois, released in Japan on June 16, 2010. It will be the band's first full-length album released in five years, and their first album released since the conclusion of their three-year...
(2010)
EPs
- 5 Song Demo Tape(1997)
- You Can't Do that on Vinyl (1998)
- Guilty PleasuresGuilty Pleasures (EP)Guilty Pleasures is an EP by the American rock band Allister released only in Japan. Issued on November 29, 2006 via In-n-Out Records, the EP comprises cover versions of Japanese and American pop songs.-Track listing:# "Intro"...
(2006) - Second City Showdown (Split EP with Good 4 Nothing) (2010)
- "You Still Can't Do That on Vinyl" (2011, Little Heart Records)
Non-album tracks
- "We Close Our Eyes" – released on the original soundtrack to SleepoverSleepover (2004 film)Sleepover is a 2004 American teen film directed by Joe Nussbaum and starring Alexa Vega and Sara Paxton.-Plot:On the last day of 8th grade before their freshman year in high school, Julie Corky has a slumber party with 3 best friends, Hannah Carlson , Yancy Williams , and Farrah James...
(2004) - "Shima Uta" – released on the Japanese version of Before the Blackout (2005)
- "Walking the Plank" – released on Hair: Chicago Punk Cuts (2006)
Trivia
- "Scratch" and "Flypaper" from Last Stop SuburbiaLast Stop SuburbiaLast Stop Suburbia is Allister's third release on Drive-Thru Records, released on October 1, 2002.-Track listing:# "Scratch" – 3:11# "Radio Player" – 3:25# "Flypaper" – 2:12# "Overrated" – 2:25# "Better Late Than Forever" – 2:40...
were featured on Project Gotham Racing 2Project Gotham Racing 2Project Gotham Racing 2 is a racing game for the Xbox, developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Microsoft. PGR2 is the sequel to the highly successful Project Gotham Racing. It is the second title in the Project Gotham Racing series.As in PGR, the route to advancement in PGR2 differs from...
.
External links
- Official website
- Allister on Universal J
- Allister's profile at PureVolumePureVolumePureVolume was the first independently run website of its type, allowing for the upload and stream of music files. It was created in 2003 by Jennifer Welch , in conjunction with the Unborn Media team; Brett Woitunski, Nate Hudson, and Mitchell Pavao; all from the University of...
- Burning Stars interview with Tim and Kyle
- Allister reviews on The Mag
- Skippy's blog Can You See the Sunset?
- Scott Murphy official website at Universal Music Japan
- Scott Murphy's Japanese-language blog