Imperial Teen
Encyclopedia
Imperial Teen is a San Francisco
-based indie pop
group made up of Roddy Bottum
(Faith No More
) primarily on guitar/vocals, Will Schwartz
(also of hey willpower
) primarily on guitar/vocals, Lynn Truell
(née Perko formerly of Sister Double Happiness
, the Dicks
, and the Wrecks) primarily on drums and backing vocals, and Jone Stebbins (previously of The Wrecks) primarily on bass and backing vocals. Imperial Teen became known for their boy/girl harmonies and for all four members switching off on instruments during shows.
, in 1996, which was produced by Steve McDonald (Redd Kross
). Spin Magazine went on to list it as the 4th best album of the year, and in the top 50 albums of all time. Of the "queer alt-rockers Imperial Teen", one New York Times reviewer wrote that "though every song on the album is good, the best are the ones about homosexuality ("Butch"), Kurt Cobain
("You're One"), and complete nonsense ("Imperial Teen")". "You're One" was the album's breakout single, receiving heavy radio play on alternative stations; a promotional video was also produced for the song. Prior to the debut album's release the band was called Star 69, but was forced to change the name after a band from New York threatened to sue.
Their second album, What is Not to Love
, was released in 1998, and expanded the three-minute pop of Seasick with songs of over six minutes in length. A Rolling Stone
review of the album said that "Imperial Teen still have this turf all to themselves, and they blast through the bubblegum riffs of "Birthday Girl", "Year of the Tan" and "Lipstick"." Its single "Yoo Hoo" appeared on the soundtrack to Jawbreaker, starring Rose McGowan
; McGowan also appeared alongside the band in the video for the song, which was included on the Jawbreaker DVD. To add authenticity to a parody scene in Not Another Teen Movie
, "Yoo Hoo" is heard briefly during Jaime Pressly's
slow-motion entrance. "Yoo Hoo" was also featured in a 2008 episode of Numb3rs
("Black Swan").
The band toured throughout these years, and their success led to opening several dates in 1998 for Hole
, fronted by Courtney Love
, a friend and (briefly) former Faith No More
bandmate of Roddy Bottum. Imperial Teen was also slated to be the opening act for one leg of the 1999 Marilyn Manson
/Hole tour, but the tour ended after only a few March dates when Hole dropped out and Manson had to postpone dates due to an ankle injury. Imperial Teen ended up headlining a club tour instead.
A 1999 article in The Advocate
said of the band, "With lyrical allusions to wearing lipstick and male pronouns used to address love objects, Imperial Teen serves up a gay sensibility that ordinarily surfaces only from straight bands like Pulp
or Pizzicato Five
." Bottum (who came out
as gay in 1993) noted, "I think there's a resistance from gay artists to go that route just because it's so predictable. But it is annoying to see bands play it as safe as they do these days. That's why something that visually screams as loud as Marilyn Manson
is such a breath of fresh air."
Issues with support levels and label restructuring at Universal Records
prompted Imperial Teen to switch to Merge Records
for the 2002 release of their third album, On
, which was produced by Steve McDonald (again) and Anna Waronker
(of that dog.
) The lead track, "Ivanka" (which was originally released on the "Sweet and Touching" 7") received radio play. Imperial Teen toured with The Breeders
in 2002 in support of the album. On July 31, 2002, the band played a gig at Maxwell's
in Hoboken
, New Jersey, that was recorded for posterity and released three months later as the CD Live at Maxwell's
.
Will Schwartz joined with Tomo Yasuda
for his dance side-project hey willpower
. The outfit, also including dancers Erin Rush and Justin Kelly, released a self-titled EP in 2005.
Imperial Teen returned on the live scene with two shows at the South by Southwest music festival in March 2007. The band released their first album in five years, The Hair the TV the Baby and the Band
, in late August 2007 on Merge Records. It was later selected as the 38th best record of 2007 by Rolling Stone magazine.
A fifth album is now in progress. Recording started on 6 June 2010. http://www.fnm.com/twitter-roddy.shtml
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
-based indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
group made up of Roddy Bottum
Roddy Bottum
Roddy Bottum , is an American musician, best known as the keyboardist for the San Francisco rock band Faith No More...
(Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
) primarily on guitar/vocals, Will Schwartz
Will Schwartz
Will Schwartz is an American pop musician, and a member of the band Imperial Teen, whose debut album Seasick was released in 1996.Of the "queer alt-rockers Imperial Teen," one New York Times reviewer wrote that "though every song on the album is good, the best are the ones about homosexuality ,...
(also of hey willpower
Hey willpower
Hey Willpower is an American pop band, led by vocalist Will Schwartz and electronic musician Tomo Yasuda , with rotating collaborators including musicians and dancers.-History:...
) primarily on guitar/vocals, Lynn Truell
Lynn Truell
Lynn Truell is a drummer that is noteworthy for being a female drummer in the early American hardcore punk scene with The Dicks, as well as with the alternative rock band Sister Double Happiness and is currently drumming with the indie rock band Imperial Teen.Lynn was born 11/2/63 in Palo Alto, CA...
(née Perko formerly of Sister Double Happiness
Sister Double Happiness
Sister Double Happiness was an alternative blues-rock band that existed from 1986 until 1995, formed in San Francisco, CA, United States.-History:...
, the Dicks
The Dicks
The Dicks are an American punk rock band from Austin, Texas, originally formed in 1980. They initially disbanded in 1986 before reforming in 2004...
, and the Wrecks) primarily on drums and backing vocals, and Jone Stebbins (previously of The Wrecks) primarily on bass and backing vocals. Imperial Teen became known for their boy/girl harmonies and for all four members switching off on instruments during shows.
History
Imperial Teen first gained notice with their debut album, SeasickSeasick (album)
Seasick is the first album by indie rock band Imperial Teen, and was released in the U.S. on May 7, 1996 from Slash Records.-Track listing:#"Imperial Teen" - 4:56#"Water Boy" - 1:37#"Butch" - 4:28#"Pig Latin" - 3:04#"Blaming the Baby" - 2:15...
, in 1996, which was produced by Steve McDonald (Redd Kross
Redd Kross
Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists begun by Jeff and Steve McDonald while the brothers were still in middle school...
). Spin Magazine went on to list it as the 4th best album of the year, and in the top 50 albums of all time. Of the "queer alt-rockers Imperial Teen", one New York Times reviewer wrote that "though every song on the album is good, the best are the ones about homosexuality ("Butch"), Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
("You're One"), and complete nonsense ("Imperial Teen")". "You're One" was the album's breakout single, receiving heavy radio play on alternative stations; a promotional video was also produced for the song. Prior to the debut album's release the band was called Star 69, but was forced to change the name after a band from New York threatened to sue.
Their second album, What is Not to Love
What Is Not to Love
What Is Not to Love is the second album by indie rock band Imperial Teen. It is the follow-up to their first full-length record Seasick , and was released in the U.S...
, was released in 1998, and expanded the three-minute pop of Seasick with songs of over six minutes in length. A Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
review of the album said that "Imperial Teen still have this turf all to themselves, and they blast through the bubblegum riffs of "Birthday Girl", "Year of the Tan" and "Lipstick"." Its single "Yoo Hoo" appeared on the soundtrack to Jawbreaker, starring Rose McGowan
Rose McGowan
Rose Arianna McGowan is an actress and singer. She is known for her role as Paige Matthews in The WB Television Network supernatural drama series Charmed. She played Ann-Margret alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Elvis Presley in the CBS mini-series Elvis...
; McGowan also appeared alongside the band in the video for the song, which was included on the Jawbreaker DVD. To add authenticity to a parody scene in Not Another Teen Movie
Not Another Teen Movie
Not Another Teen Movie is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Joel Gallen, released on December 14, 2001 by Columbia Pictures. It is a parody of teen movies which have accumulated in Hollywood over the last few decades...
, "Yoo Hoo" is heard briefly during Jaime Pressly's
Jaime Pressly
Jaime Elizabeth Pressly is an American actress and model. She is best known for playing Joy Turner on the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl, for which she was nominated for two Emmy Awards, winning one, as well as a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award...
slow-motion entrance. "Yoo Hoo" was also featured in a 2008 episode of Numb3rs
NUMB3RS
Numb3rs is an American television drama which premiered on CBS on January 23, 2005, and concluded on March 12, 2010. The series was created by Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton, and follows FBI Special Agent Don Eppes and his mathematical genius brother, Charlie Eppes , who helps Don solve crimes...
("Black Swan").
The band toured throughout these years, and their success led to opening several dates in 1998 for Hole
Hole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
, fronted by Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
, a friend and (briefly) former Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
bandmate of Roddy Bottum. Imperial Teen was also slated to be the opening act for one leg of the 1999 Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
/Hole tour, but the tour ended after only a few March dates when Hole dropped out and Manson had to postpone dates due to an ankle injury. Imperial Teen ended up headlining a club tour instead.
A 1999 article in The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
said of the band, "With lyrical allusions to wearing lipstick and male pronouns used to address love objects, Imperial Teen serves up a gay sensibility that ordinarily surfaces only from straight bands like Pulp
Pulp (band)
Pulp are an English alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Their lineup consists of Jarvis Cocker , Russell Senior , Candida Doyle , Mark Webber , Steve Mackey and Nick Banks ....
or Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five was a Japanese pop group best known to audiences in the West in their later incarnation as a duo of Maki Nomiya and Yasuharu Konishi...
." Bottum (who came out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as gay in 1993) noted, "I think there's a resistance from gay artists to go that route just because it's so predictable. But it is annoying to see bands play it as safe as they do these days. That's why something that visually screams as loud as Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
is such a breath of fresh air."
Issues with support levels and label restructuring at Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
prompted Imperial Teen to switch to Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
for the 2002 release of their third album, On
On (Imperial Teen album)
On is the third album by indie rock band Imperial Teen. It is the follow-up to their second full-length record What is Not to Love , and was released in the U.S. on April 9, 2002 from Merge Records...
, which was produced by Steve McDonald (again) and Anna Waronker
Anna Waronker
Anna Jeanette Waronker is a singer/songwriter, composer, and producer best known as the former frontwoman of That Dog. She is the daughter of producer Lenny Waronker and actress/musician Donna Loren, the sister of session drummer Joey Waronker, and is married to Steven Shane McDonald of Redd...
(of that dog.
That dog.
That Dog is a Los Angeles-based rock band that formed in 1991 and dissolved in 1997, reuniting in 2011. The band consists of Anna Waronker on lead vocals and guitar, Rachel Haden on bass guitar and vocals, her sister Petra Haden on violin and vocals, and Tony Maxwell on drums...
) The lead track, "Ivanka" (which was originally released on the "Sweet and Touching" 7") received radio play. Imperial Teen toured with The Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
in 2002 in support of the album. On July 31, 2002, the band played a gig at Maxwell's
Maxwell's
Maxwell's is a music club in Hoboken, New Jersey that also has a restaurant. The intimate venue often attracts a wide variety of acts looking for a change from the New York City concert spaces across the river.-History:...
in Hoboken
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
, New Jersey, that was recorded for posterity and released three months later as the CD Live at Maxwell's
Live at Maxwell's
Live at Maxwell's is the first live album by indie rock band Imperial Teen. The album was recorded on July 31, 2002 at Maxwell's in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was released between their third studio record On , and their fourth studio record The Hair the TV the Baby and the Band , and was released...
.
Will Schwartz joined with Tomo Yasuda
Tomo Yasuda
Tomo Yasuda is a Japanese-American electronic musician, who is based out of San Francisco. He has recorded as a solo artist, and as a member of the bands The Boy Explodes, hey willpower, and Tussle....
for his dance side-project hey willpower
Hey willpower
Hey Willpower is an American pop band, led by vocalist Will Schwartz and electronic musician Tomo Yasuda , with rotating collaborators including musicians and dancers.-History:...
. The outfit, also including dancers Erin Rush and Justin Kelly, released a self-titled EP in 2005.
Imperial Teen returned on the live scene with two shows at the South by Southwest music festival in March 2007. The band released their first album in five years, The Hair the TV the Baby and the Band
The Hair the TV the Baby and the Band
The Hair the TV the Baby & the Band is the fourth album by indie rock band Imperial Teen. It is the follow-up to their third full-length record On , and was released in the U.S. on August 21, 2007 from Merge Records...
, in late August 2007 on Merge Records. It was later selected as the 38th best record of 2007 by Rolling Stone magazine.
A fifth album is now in progress. Recording started on 6 June 2010. http://www.fnm.com/twitter-roddy.shtml
Studio albums
- SeasickSeasick (album)Seasick is the first album by indie rock band Imperial Teen, and was released in the U.S. on May 7, 1996 from Slash Records.-Track listing:#"Imperial Teen" - 4:56#"Water Boy" - 1:37#"Butch" - 4:28#"Pig Latin" - 3:04#"Blaming the Baby" - 2:15...
— 1996 - What is Not to LoveWhat Is Not to LoveWhat Is Not to Love is the second album by indie rock band Imperial Teen. It is the follow-up to their first full-length record Seasick , and was released in the U.S...
— 1998 - OnOn (Imperial Teen album)On is the third album by indie rock band Imperial Teen. It is the follow-up to their second full-length record What is Not to Love , and was released in the U.S. on April 9, 2002 from Merge Records...
— 2002 - The Hair the TV the Baby and the BandThe Hair the TV the Baby and the BandThe Hair the TV the Baby & the Band is the fourth album by indie rock band Imperial Teen. It is the follow-up to their third full-length record On , and was released in the U.S. on August 21, 2007 from Merge Records...
— 2007
Singles and EPs
- You're One — (Vinyl 45 EP) 1996 — (Waterboy, Pretty, You're One)
- Butch — 1996 — Various CD Singles, Promos, and 45's. Shayla may be a b-side on one of them
- Imperial Teen— (Vinyl 45 EP) (date unknown) — (Imperial Teen, Waterboy, Shayla)
- Sweet and Touching— (Vinyl 45 EP) (date unknown) — (Ivanka, Sweet and Touching)
Songs on compilations
- Jawbreaker Movie Soundtrack — 1999 — ('Yoo Hoo', originally on "What is Not to Love")
- Ten Years Of Noise Pop 1993 - 2002 — 2002 — ('The Beginning', originally on "What is Not to Love")
- Merge Records Presents Survive And Advance, Volume 1 — 2002 — ('Sugar', originally on "On")
- Wig In A Box: Songs From & Inspired By Hedwig And The Angry Inch — 2003 — ('Freaks')
- Old Enough To Know Better — 2004 — ('Ivanka', originally from "On")