Rodney Anonymous
Encyclopedia
Rodney Linderman, also known by his stage name Rodney Anonymous (and such variations thereof as "Rodney Amadeus Anonymous" and "Rodney Anonymous Mellencamp", as well as his briefly utilized "H.P. Hovercraft" pseudonym), is an American musician
, journalist
and humorist currently based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. He is best known as the lead vocalist
, keyboardist
and co-songwriter of the satirical punk rock
band The Dead Milkmen.
, the group toured extensively and enjoyed college radio and modest MTV
-based success behind eight LPs before disbanding in 1995.
Shortly before the Dead Milkmen disbanded, Linderman founded the group Burn Witch Burn
with his wife Vienna and four other musicians. The group blended American roots music
and folk
with Celtic
folk, Pogues-style Celtic punk and gothic leanings. They released a demo tape, one CD-EP and one full-length album before breaking up in 2001.
After two reunion shows in 2004, the Dead Milkmen officially reformed in 2008. Linderman, Genaro and drummer Dean Sabatino
were joined by bassist Dan Stevens
who replaced the deceased former bassist of the group, Dave Schulthise. They have since resumed performing regular concerts and working on new material.
, Rodney Anonymous Tells You How to Live. He regularly contributes to the Philadelphia City Paper
, writing about music, as well as political, social and local issues.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and humorist currently based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He is best known as the lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, keyboardist
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and co-songwriter of the satirical punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band The Dead Milkmen.
Musical career
After befriending future band mate Joe Genaro in high school in rural Pennsylvania, Linderman joined an embryonic version of Genaro's basement group the Dead Milkmen in 1983. Briefly serving as drummer, Linderman had become the group's lead singer by the time of their first public performance. Following the success of their 1985 debut LP, Big Lizard In My BackyardBig Lizard in my Backyard
Big Lizard in My Backyard is the debut album by The Dead Milkmen, released by Restless Records in 1985.Although the album yielded no singles, it achieved enough notoriety to create a fan base for the band...
, the group toured extensively and enjoyed college radio and modest MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
-based success behind eight LPs before disbanding in 1995.
Shortly before the Dead Milkmen disbanded, Linderman founded the group Burn Witch Burn
Burn Witch Burn
Burn Witch Burn were an American Celtic rock/goth/folk/punk rock band based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and active between 1994-2001. The band was a side project of Dead Milkmen singer and keyboardist Rodney Linderman, aka Rodney Anonymous.-History:...
with his wife Vienna and four other musicians. The group blended American roots music
American Roots Music
American Roots Music is a 2001 multi-part documentary film that explores the historical roots of American Roots music through footage and performances by the creators of the movement: Folk, Country, Blues, Gospel, Bluegrass, and many others....
and folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
with Celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
folk, Pogues-style Celtic punk and gothic leanings. They released a demo tape, one CD-EP and one full-length album before breaking up in 2001.
After two reunion shows in 2004, the Dead Milkmen officially reformed in 2008. Linderman, Genaro and drummer Dean Sabatino
Dean Sabatino
Dean Sabatino is an American musician, best known as "Dean Clean", the drummer of the satirical punk rock group The Dead Milkmen. Sabatino lives with his family in Media, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.-Career:...
were joined by bassist Dan Stevens
Dan Stevens
Daniel Jonathan Stevens is a British actor.-Education:Stevens was educated at Tonbridge School, an independent school in the market town of Tonbridge in Kent, in South East England, followed by Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he read English...
who replaced the deceased former bassist of the group, Dave Schulthise. They have since resumed performing regular concerts and working on new material.
Journalism
Linderman keeps an active comedic/topical blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, Rodney Anonymous Tells You How to Live. He regularly contributes to the Philadelphia City Paper
Philadelphia City Paper
Philadelphia City Paper is a free alternative news weekly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was established in November 1981 as a spin-off of the now defunct WXPN Express newsletter. New issues are released every Thursday....
, writing about music, as well as political, social and local issues.