Frank Navetta
Encyclopedia
Frank Navetta was a guitarist for the Southern California punk rock band Descendents
. He was part of the band's original lineup and played with the band for six years. He formed the Descendents with Tony Lombardo
and Bill Stevenson in 1979 and released the single "Ride the Wild"/"It's a Hectic World"
. The Descendents were then joined by vocalist Milo Aukerman
, and recorded the Fat EP in 1981 and the band's debut album Milo Goes to College
in 1982. The band took a hiatus when Aukerman went to college before they began recording their second album I Don't Want To Grow Up
in 1985. Navetta played on the title track, "Silly Girl", "GCF" and "Rockstar", but left after this. He moved to Oregon
to become a full time fisherman and was replaced by Ray Cooper
.
Frank joined Tony Lombardo
and Bill Stevenson in the spring of 2002 for a reunion of sorts at ALL
's quasi-annual festival Stockage
in Fort Collins, Colorado. The group played songs as the original three-piece line-up that briefly existed before Aukerman joined the group. His early guitar style was heavily rooted in surf music, somewhat similar to that of East Bay Ray
, but as time went on, came to resemble the heavier sound of Greg Ginn
's more, but with more full and open chords and less, if any, soloing. His songwriting had a darker and more negative side to it, both lyrically and musically, than his bandmates, focusing more on his parents, his father especially, ("My Dad Sucks", "Parents"), and America ("Statue of Liberty"). He did, however, share Stevenson's themes of fishing ("Mr. Bass"and "Catalina") and unfulfilled romantic desires ("Ride the Wild" and "Marriage").
Frank died on October 31, 2008 after a short bout of illness. A message posted on the Descendents' official web site reads:
Descendents (band)
The Descendents are an American punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California. As of 2011, they have released six studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums and three EPs. The Descendents broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different musicians...
. He was part of the band's original lineup and played with the band for six years. He formed the Descendents with Tony Lombardo
Tony Lombardo
Tony Lombardo was the bassist with the pioneering punk rock band Descendents between 1978 and 1985. Lombardo was part of the original Descendents lineup with guitarist Frank Navetta and drummer Bill Stevenson.-Early years with Descendents:...
and Bill Stevenson in 1979 and released the single "Ride the Wild"/"It's a Hectic World"
Ride the Wild/It's a Hectic World single
"Ride the Wild" / "It's a Hectic World" is the 1979 debut single by the Manhattan Beach, California-based punk rock band the Descendents. It was the band's first release and displayed a New Wave and surf sound. It was recorded at a time when the band lacked a lead singer, so vocals on the recording...
. The Descendents were then joined by vocalist Milo Aukerman
Milo Aukerman
Milo Aukerman is an American singer, songwriter and research biochemist. Aukerman is perhaps most widely known for being the lead singer of the early Los Angeles area punk rock band the Descendents, a group widely considered to be pioneers of modern "pop punk"...
, and recorded the Fat EP in 1981 and the band's debut album Milo Goes to College
Milo Goes to College
Milo Goes to College is the debut album by the Manhattan Beach, California-based punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1982 through New Alliance Records...
in 1982. The band took a hiatus when Aukerman went to college before they began recording their second album I Don't Want To Grow Up
I Don't Want to Grow Up
I Don't Want to Grow Up is the second album by the Manhattan Beach, California-based punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1985 through New Alliance Records...
in 1985. Navetta played on the title track, "Silly Girl", "GCF" and "Rockstar", but left after this. He moved to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
to become a full time fisherman and was replaced by Ray Cooper
Ray Cooper
Ray Cooper is an English musician. He is a session and road-tour percussionist, and occasional actor, who has worked with several musically diverse bands and artists including George Harrison, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and Elton John. Cooper is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow...
.
Frank joined Tony Lombardo
Tony Lombardo
Tony Lombardo was the bassist with the pioneering punk rock band Descendents between 1978 and 1985. Lombardo was part of the original Descendents lineup with guitarist Frank Navetta and drummer Bill Stevenson.-Early years with Descendents:...
and Bill Stevenson in the spring of 2002 for a reunion of sorts at ALL
ALL (band)
All is an American punk band originally from Los Angeles, currently residing in Fort Collins, Colorado, formed by Descendents members Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton.-Formation and Cruz Records Years:...
's quasi-annual festival Stockage
Stockage
The Stockage Festival was originally a day of rock held April 13, 2002 in Fort Collins, Colorado, with members of the punk bands Descendents, ALL, and Black Flag. The event featured performances by the original three-piece Descendants line-up and a performances from seminal Southern California band...
in Fort Collins, Colorado. The group played songs as the original three-piece line-up that briefly existed before Aukerman joined the group. His early guitar style was heavily rooted in surf music, somewhat similar to that of East Bay Ray
East Bay Ray
Raymond John Pepperell , better known by his stage name East Bay Ray is a guitarist best-known for his membership in the San Francisco Bay area-based punk band Dead Kennedys...
, but as time went on, came to resemble the heavier sound of Greg Ginn
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
's more, but with more full and open chords and less, if any, soloing. His songwriting had a darker and more negative side to it, both lyrically and musically, than his bandmates, focusing more on his parents, his father especially, ("My Dad Sucks", "Parents"), and America ("Statue of Liberty"). He did, however, share Stevenson's themes of fishing ("Mr. Bass"and "Catalina") and unfulfilled romantic desires ("Ride the Wild" and "Marriage").
Frank died on October 31, 2008 after a short bout of illness. A message posted on the Descendents' official web site reads:
We're very sorry to announce that founding member of The DESCENDENTS, and close friend Frank Navetta died on October 31, 2008 after becoming ill over the course of a few days. This is obviously a huge loss for the DESCENDENTS family. His contribution to the band, and to music in general can not be overstated. Frank will be truly missed.
External links
- Obituaries: Frank Navetta. The Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.), November 15, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2008.