Suburban Legends
Encyclopedia
Suburban Legends are a third wave ska/pop
band that formed in Huntington Beach
, California
, in 1998, and are currently based out of Santa Ana, California
.
, Michael Jackson
and Oingo Boingo
, the band was formed in 1998 as The No Tones, and shortly after, changed their name to Bomb Squad, under which name they released an EP. By 1999, they had become Suburban Legends. Their first album, Origin Edition
was released in 1999 as a fun demo to sell at shows. Shortly after its release, lead singer Tim Maurer
left the group and was replaced by Chris Batstone
on vocals. Chris Batstone
's only official release with the band was in 2001, when the Suburban Legends EP was released on We The People Records. Chris Batstone
left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Tim Maurer
, who returned to the band on vocals and subsequently re-recorded the vocals on the EP to create the Suburban Legends (Tim Remix)
EP. It was around this time the band started playing at the Disneyland Resort
. In 2002, they played 962 performances at Downtown Disney
, where they gained many new fans. They would later perform there for a Disney-organized 2002 World Series
Anaheim Angels
rally. Queen was originally supposed to have the main set, but they did not show up and Suburban Legends had two sets. They also performed on many occasions for the X Games Xperience promotion at Disney's California Adventure
in 2003, and at the Club Buzz/Tomorrowland Terrace stage in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The line-up then went on to record the band's debut album Rump Shaker in 2003 with heavy touring to support it. Season One
was released in 2004. The DVD featured a live set from Oakland, California
as well as two music videos.
On May 12, 2006 the band released its first CD in 3 years since Rump Shaker. An EP, entitled Dance Like Nobody's Watching. The EP was the first release from the band to feature Vincent Walker on vocals and was supported by heavy touring over the next year. It's sound was drastically different from Rump Shaker and had a much less prominent third-wave ska sound, moving more towards a Pop/Rock sound with slight elements of Funk. The band promoted the EP by appearing on G4
's Attack of the Show!
on April 18, 2006. Heavy touring again supported this release and in early 2007 the band announced that a new CD would be released in Japan entitled Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights
. It contained the original tracks from Dance Like Nobody's Watching as well as an additional five tracks which include a cover, 2 new songs and remixed songs from Rump Shaker with a new vocal tracks from Vincent Walker.
In early July 2007, the band started releasing videos on their YouTube
account documenting progress recording new material in the studio. Later that month the band announced the album Infectious
and confirmed its release date at their HOB show on July 29. The album continued the change in sound heard on Dance Like Nobody's Watching, with little ska
influence heard, instead featured songs with various genres. The band's second DVD Poisonous Candy Factory
was released in March 2008. Similar to Season One
, it featured live sets containing songs from Rump Shaker through to new, unreleased material, music videos and extra videos from the band.
Shortly after this release, the band headed back into the studio and recorded their most recent album, Let's Be Friends, released on July 10, 2008, while touring with Less Than Jake
, Goldfinger
, and Big D and the Kids Table
on the Shout It Loud Tour 2. This album mixed elements of previous albums, featuring a return to ska on some songs as well as a continued focus on a Pop/Rock sound.
In the winter of 2008, they toured with The Aquabats
on the Hooray for the Holidays Tour. In February 2009, they appeared along with The Aquabats' MC Bat Commander on MC Lars
' new song, "This Gigantic Robot Kills", from Lars' new album of the same name
. MC Lars describes that "this song is about bringing ska back. It's about this kid who builds this giant robot" who "as he destroys Orange County, he leaves behind a trail of Less Than Jake
CDs, a field of Aquabat limited edition vinyls, and a stack of CDs by Suburban Legends." As well, they performed at Miley Cyrus
' 16th Birthday Party celebration.
Although in recent years, the band has toured nationally as both a headliner and support, Suburban Legends still often perform at the Disneyland Resort, though not at Downtown Disney. Rather, the band performs inside Disneyland at Tomorrowland Terrace. The band has performed as entertainment for Disneyland's popular New Year's Eve
celebration every year since 2007.
On January 1, 2011, the band's song, "You," from their 2003 album, Rump Shaker, was performed by the Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band
in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade
in Pasadena, California
. The band chose to perform the song in honor of the late Ryan Dallas Cook.
In July 2011, it was announced that Suburban Legends would be the house band for Pick-a-Split, a retro-themed bowling game show hosted by Neil Hamburger
.
During November of 2011, Connecticut's Asbestos Records
and Chicago, IL's Underground Communiqué Records launched a fundraiser together on Kickstarter
to release "Rump Shaker (the album)" on vinyl, among other third-wave ska classics from Pilfers
, Edna's Goldfish
, and The Pietasters
. If the funding goal is met by January 18, 2012, the records should be out Spring 2012.
, the 2006 release Dance Like Nobody's Watching brought a different sound took ideas and influence from disco
, funk
, and pop
, some songs on the EP containing little to no ska sound at all. The band furthered its distance from ska with the 2007 release of Infectious, heavily focusing on disco on the record. The band has not abandoned their earlier sound, though, regularly performing older material alongside their current work. The 2008 album Let's Be Friends combines elements from all their previous releases. In May 2009, the band announced that they would be recording a "full blown ska rock album," not simply a ska-influenced album because they have horns or an album with only a few ska songs. Further supporting the band's transition back to ska, less time was devoted in Summer 2009 live performances to songs found on more recent albums, such as Infectious, with the band reintroducing older songs such as "Alternative is Dead," "Gummi Bears," "I Want More," and "Waikiki," all of which were found either on Origin Edition
(1999) and Suburban Legends
(2001). The band has also performed a new ska song which is planned for their next studio release, "Open Up Your Eyes."
Part of the band's claim to fame has been its live shows which often involve dance routines far more complicated than those often found in ska bands, as horn playing usually inhibits movement on stage.
, Missouri
, Phillip Inzerillo
woke up to notice the band's tour van was on fire. The fire destroyed the front driver's side of the van. The band's tour money had also been missing from the van. It is suspected that the fire and robbery was caused by an arson
ist.
On November 11, 2007, the band was robbed again, while supporting Streetlight Manifesto
on their Somewhere in the Between
Tour. This time, Suburban Legends' van was stolen along with approximately $80,000 worth of all their equipment and instruments. Fans were first alert of this when Dallas Kruse
posted a MySpace
bulletin reading:
Another MySpace bulletin which was posted on November 13, said that the van was recovered in a neighborhood in Philadelphia apparently after somebody saw the news story on the van theft and gave information of its whereabouts. When the van was recovered, it only required minor repairs. However, the contents of the van and trailer were missing. While insurance issues are still being resolved, the band apologized to the fans for any shows they miss and state that they will be back on the road again.
The song "Fire" from their 2008 album, Let's Be Friends, is about the van fire and robberies.
left around 1999. He went on to help create the popular band Avenged Sevenfold
, going by the name of The Rev along with former Suburban Legends bassist Justin Meacham who left around the same time. In late 2004, bassist Chris Maurer
left the band to marry his fiancée and to focus on his education. He was replaced by Mike Hachey. Trumpet player Vincent Walker also left the band in 2004 to focus on his education. He was not replaced and the band used only 3 horns until his return to the band on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
(see below). Similarly, in late May 2005, trumpet player Aaron Bertram
left the band to marry his fiancée, Rachel Charest. He was replaced by trumpet player Luis Beza
. In October 2006, while on the Fall Of Ska tour, Phillip Inzerillo
disappeared with no official announcement; he was not seen playing with the band on the tour or in subsequent shows afterwards. Around the same time, keyboardist Dallas Kruse
began playing with the band. While not an "official" member, not appearing on the band's website and not announced by the band, he has been performing with the band since the tour at local shows. He has also produced the bands' albums from Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights on. In May 2009, Luis Beza left the band, the first lineup change in nearly three years. In the wake of his departure, Aaron Bertram returned for the summer, with Justin Lewis on trombone, Chris Lucca on trumpet, and Byron Panopio on trumpet appearing with the band frequently as guest musicians. Lucca was eventually added permanently to replace Beza.
Tim Maurer
left the band after the recording of Origin Edition
, and was replaced by Chris Batstone
. Batstone was later kicked out, and Mauer rejoined. Maurer left again after the 2005 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
to spend more time with his family. He was replaced by former trumpet player Vincent Walker, who returned to the band in the same performance, oddly switching roles from horns to vocals. Tim Maurer and Aaron Bertram would return to the band for the one-off Dallas Cook Memorial Fund show at Huntington Beach High School on November 29, 2005, performing alongside new lead singer Vince Walker and trumpet player Luis Beza.
Brian Robertson is the only member to have been active in the band continuously since its inception in 1998 as the Bomb Squad. Vincent Walker and Aaron Bertram are also original members of the band, though Walker was absent from 2004 to 2005 (and switched roles from trumpet to lead vocals) and Bertram was absent from 2005 to 2009. Brian Klemm has been involved with the band since 1999, with Derek Rock joining in 2000. The band has two official trumpet players, though often only performs with only one. Chris Lucca has been listed as an official member since 2009, though usually only appears with the band when touring, as Lucca is also an active member of Boston
-based Big D and the Kids Table
(of which Brian Klemm served as guitarist from 2009 to 2010, when Nick Pantazi joined). Meanwhile, Bertram usually only performs locally with the band. Brad Polidori is the most recent addition to the band, having joined in 2010, following the departure of bassist Mike Hachey.
At 12:25 AM on October 19, 2005, trombone
player Dallas Cook
was killed in a hit-and-run
motorcycle
accident on the Costa Mesa Freeway. A few days after the incident, a large group of Suburban Legends' fans and Dallas' friends and family gathered nearby the ESPN Zone
at Disneyland Resort's Downtown Disney
, where the band played their many performances in the early 2000s, to share their memories of Cook. On November 29, 2005, former and current band members performed a benefit show for the Dallas Cook Memorial Fund, which was as set up in Cook's honor to donate money to the Huntington Beach High School
instrumental music program.
" from the Disney movie The Little Mermaid
live since 2002. More recently they have played this and other live covers of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King
" from the Disney film The Lion King
, Frankie Valli
's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You
" (with Brian Klemm
singing lead), The Foundations
' "Build Me Up Buttercup
," Kool and the Gang's "Celebration
," Gary Glitter
's "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)," Elvis Presley
's "Rubberneckin', and Stevie Wonder
's Higher Ground." These covers are often regarded by fans as the proverbial "Coup De Grace," or a perfect finish to the show that "sells" the band to the audience. However, due to licensing issues, album releases of even live recordings of these covers are unlikely, the Disney covers in particular. However, one of the few covers the band has recorded was the theme song to Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears
. Their other recorded covers include "Rose Tint My World
" from the Rocky Horror Show (intended to have been included on an aborted ska tribute album to Rocky Horror, featuring other ska artists such as Chris Murray), and "Dancing Machine" by The Jackson 5
. They did a ska cover of the Bed Intruder Song
during their Fall 2010 tour and while on the "Reel Big Fish vs Aquabats" tour.
The band appears on a tribute album
for influential '80s group Oingo Boingo
, entitled Dead Band's Party. Their contribution is a cover of the song "On The Outside."
EP (released by We The People Records) the UK version of Rump Shaker (released by Brand New Hero Records) and the Japan-only Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights
(released by Subrange Records). Some out-of-print and/or rare recordings are available on the Suburban Legends official forums in the "Suburban Legends Collection" forum, under permission of trombonist Brian Robertson.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band that formed in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, in 1998, and are currently based out of Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
.
History
Influenced by artists such as Reel Big FishReel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Huntington Beach, California, best known for the 1997 hit "Sell Out". The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold certified album Turn the Radio Off. Soon after, the band...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo was an American new wave band. They are best known for their influence on other musicians, their soundtrack contributions and their high energy Halloween concerts. The band was founded in 1972 as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, a performance art group...
, the band was formed in 1998 as The No Tones, and shortly after, changed their name to Bomb Squad, under which name they released an EP. By 1999, they had become Suburban Legends. Their first album, Origin Edition
Origin Edition
Origin Edition is the first album of the third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. It was released in 1999 in Los Angeles, California as a CD to sell at early shows of the band. It is considered a fun demo to many because of the recording quality album and because it was burned from a computer and the...
was released in 1999 as a fun demo to sell at shows. Shortly after its release, lead singer Tim Maurer
Tim Maurer
Timothy Robert "Tim" Maurer is an American singer, best known as the former lead singer of third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. He has left the band on two separate occasions. The first was in 2000 after the recording of Origin Edition. He rejoined the band in early 2002 after his replacement...
left the group and was replaced by Chris Batstone
Chris Batstone
Chris Batstone 2000-2002 lead singer of the third-wave ska band, Suburban Legends. He joined the band in 2000 as the replacement for Tim Maurer, who had left the band after the recording of Origin Edition. Chris' first and only official recording with the band was on their first EP, Suburban...
on vocals. Chris Batstone
Chris Batstone
Chris Batstone 2000-2002 lead singer of the third-wave ska band, Suburban Legends. He joined the band in 2000 as the replacement for Tim Maurer, who had left the band after the recording of Origin Edition. Chris' first and only official recording with the band was on their first EP, Suburban...
's only official release with the band was in 2001, when the Suburban Legends EP was released on We The People Records. Chris Batstone
Chris Batstone
Chris Batstone 2000-2002 lead singer of the third-wave ska band, Suburban Legends. He joined the band in 2000 as the replacement for Tim Maurer, who had left the band after the recording of Origin Edition. Chris' first and only official recording with the band was on their first EP, Suburban...
left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Tim Maurer
Tim Maurer
Timothy Robert "Tim" Maurer is an American singer, best known as the former lead singer of third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. He has left the band on two separate occasions. The first was in 2000 after the recording of Origin Edition. He rejoined the band in early 2002 after his replacement...
, who returned to the band on vocals and subsequently re-recorded the vocals on the EP to create the Suburban Legends (Tim Remix)
Suburban Legends (Tim Remix)
After the departure of lead singer Chris Batstone, Suburban Legends re-released their debut album, Suburban Legends, by removing the vocal track featuring Chris, and replacing it with a vocal track of new lead singer, Tim Maurer. Suburban Legends is essentially the same album from the Orange...
EP. It was around this time the band started playing at the Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort is a recreational resort in Anaheim, California. The resort is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division and is home to two theme parks, three hotels and a shopping, dining, and entertainment area known as Downtown Disney.The area now...
. In 2002, they played 962 performances at Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney (California)
Downtown Disney is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment area, also known as a "shoppertainment center", located at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, United States...
, where they gained many new fans. They would later perform there for a Disney-organized 2002 World Series
2002 World Series
The 2002 World Series was a best-of-seven playoff series to determine the champion of Major League Baseball for the 2002 season. It was the 98th such contest between the champions of the American League and National League , and featured the AL champion Anaheim Angels against the NL champion San...
Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
rally. Queen was originally supposed to have the main set, but they did not show up and Suburban Legends had two sets. They also performed on many occasions for the X Games Xperience promotion at Disney's California Adventure
Disney's California Adventure
Disney California Adventure, or simply California Adventure, is a theme park in Anaheim, California, adjacent to Disneyland Park and part of the larger Disneyland Resort. It opened on February 8, 2001 as Disney's California Adventure Park. The park is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and...
in 2003, and at the Club Buzz/Tomorrowland Terrace stage in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The line-up then went on to record the band's debut album Rump Shaker in 2003 with heavy touring to support it. Season One
Season One (Suburban Legends)
Season One is a 2-disc DVD and live album released by Suburban Legends in 2004. Disc 1 contains footage of a live set performance from Oakland, California...
was released in 2004. The DVD featured a live set from Oakland, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as well as two music videos.
On May 12, 2006 the band released its first CD in 3 years since Rump Shaker. An EP, entitled Dance Like Nobody's Watching. The EP was the first release from the band to feature Vincent Walker on vocals and was supported by heavy touring over the next year. It's sound was drastically different from Rump Shaker and had a much less prominent third-wave ska sound, moving more towards a Pop/Rock sound with slight elements of Funk. The band promoted the EP by appearing on G4
G4 (TV channel)
G4, also known as G4 TV, is an American cable- and satellite-television channel originally geared primarily toward young adult viewers, originally based on the world of video games...
's Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show! is an American live television program shown weeknights on G4, G4 Canada and Fuel TV in Australia. The program is hosted by Kevin Pereira and Candace Bailey...
on April 18, 2006. Heavy touring again supported this release and in early 2007 the band announced that a new CD would be released in Japan entitled Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights
Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights
Dance Like Nobody's Watching is a six-track EP released by American ska/pop band Suburban Legends, released on May 12, 2006. The EP signaled a drastic change in the band's sound, which also followed major lineup changes following the departure of lead vocalist Tim Maurer and trumpet player Aaron...
. It contained the original tracks from Dance Like Nobody's Watching as well as an additional five tracks which include a cover, 2 new songs and remixed songs from Rump Shaker with a new vocal tracks from Vincent Walker.
In early July 2007, the band started releasing videos on their YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
account documenting progress recording new material in the studio. Later that month the band announced the album Infectious
Infectious (album)
Infectious is the fourth album of the third wave ska/funk/pop band Suburban Legends. It was released on July 29, 2007 at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California and is made available for sale at the band's ....
and confirmed its release date at their HOB show on July 29. The album continued the change in sound heard on Dance Like Nobody's Watching, with little ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
influence heard, instead featured songs with various genres. The band's second DVD Poisonous Candy Factory
Poisonous Candy Factory
Poisonous Candy Factory is the second DVD released by third wave ska/funk/pop band, Suburban Legends. It was officially released on March 4, 2008, but was also sold at a release party at the Key Club in Los Angeles on February 29, 2008....
was released in March 2008. Similar to Season One
Season One (Suburban Legends)
Season One is a 2-disc DVD and live album released by Suburban Legends in 2004. Disc 1 contains footage of a live set performance from Oakland, California...
, it featured live sets containing songs from Rump Shaker through to new, unreleased material, music videos and extra videos from the band.
Shortly after this release, the band headed back into the studio and recorded their most recent album, Let's Be Friends, released on July 10, 2008, while touring with Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio, the band evolved into a hybrid of ska punk. Less Than Jake have also been cited as showing influences from a wide variety of genres including post-grunge, heavy metal, alternative...
, Goldfinger
Goldfinger (band)
Goldfinger is a Los Angeles pop punk/ska punk band that formed in 1994. Currently, the band is composed of vocalist/guitarist John Feldmann, guitarist Charlie Paulson, bassist Kelly LeMieux, and drummer Darrin Pfeiffer...
, and Big D and the Kids Table
Big D and the Kids Table
Big D and the Kids Table is a ska punk band formed in October 1995 in Allston, Massachusetts when its members converged in college. Their first release was on their own Fork In Hand Records label, but have since teamed with Springman Records and SideOneDummy...
on the Shout It Loud Tour 2. This album mixed elements of previous albums, featuring a return to ska on some songs as well as a continued focus on a Pop/Rock sound.
In the winter of 2008, they toured with The Aquabats
The Aquabats
The Aquabats are an American rock band formed in 1994 in Orange County, California. They have released five full-length studio albums and have toured internationally. They are best known for their mythology, in which they claim to be superheroes on a quest to save the world from evil through music...
on the Hooray for the Holidays Tour. In February 2009, they appeared along with The Aquabats' MC Bat Commander on MC Lars
MC Lars
Andrew Robert MacFarlane Nielsen is an American rapper, known by his stage name MC Lars. He is the self-proclaimed originator of "post-punk laptop rap". He was one of the first underground rappers to sample and reference post-punk and emo bands...
' new song, "This Gigantic Robot Kills", from Lars' new album of the same name
This Gigantic Robot Kills
This Gigantic Robot Kills is the sixth album by nerdcore musician MC Lars.Lars has stated that he worked with "Weird Al" Yankovic, the Rondo Brothers, Nick Rowe and Mike Kennedy of Bloodsimple, James Bourne of Busted, Daniel Dart of Time Again, Donal Finn of Flash Bastard, Pierre Bouvier of Simple...
. MC Lars describes that "this song is about bringing ska back. It's about this kid who builds this giant robot" who "as he destroys Orange County, he leaves behind a trail of Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio, the band evolved into a hybrid of ska punk. Less Than Jake have also been cited as showing influences from a wide variety of genres including post-grunge, heavy metal, alternative...
CDs, a field of Aquabat limited edition vinyls, and a stack of CDs by Suburban Legends." As well, they performed at Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana....
' 16th Birthday Party celebration.
Although in recent years, the band has toured nationally as both a headliner and support, Suburban Legends still often perform at the Disneyland Resort, though not at Downtown Disney. Rather, the band performs inside Disneyland at Tomorrowland Terrace. The band has performed as entertainment for Disneyland's popular New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
celebration every year since 2007.
On January 1, 2011, the band's song, "You," from their 2003 album, Rump Shaker, was performed by the Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band
Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band
The Catamount Marching Band is the marching band of Western Carolina University and the most recent recipient of the Sudler Trophy....
in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade
Tournament of Roses Parade
The Tournament of Roses Parade, better known as the Rose Parade, is "America's New Year Celebration", a festival of flower-covered floats, marching bands, equestrians and a college football game on New Year's Day , produced by the non-profit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.The annual...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. The band chose to perform the song in honor of the late Ryan Dallas Cook.
In July 2011, it was announced that Suburban Legends would be the house band for Pick-a-Split, a retro-themed bowling game show hosted by Neil Hamburger
Neil Hamburger
Neil Hamburger is a standup comedian character played by comedian and musician Gregg Turkington.-Style:Hamburger's live act, which is quite different from his many albums, features a barrage of question/answer jokes aimed often at celebrity targets, including Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, The Red...
.
During November of 2011, Connecticut's Asbestos Records
Asbestos Records
Asbestos Records in an independent record label in Stratford, CT founded in 1996 by Matt Flood, and Dave Leone....
and Chicago, IL's Underground Communiqué Records launched a fundraiser together on Kickstarter
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is an online threshold pledge system for funding creative projects. Kickstarter has funded a diverse array of endeavors, ranging from indie film and music to journalism, solar energy technology and food-related projects.-Model:...
to release "Rump Shaker (the album)" on vinyl, among other third-wave ska classics from Pilfers
Pilfers
Pilfers are an American ska band formed in 1997, when former Toasters vocalist, Coolie Ranx, at the urging of Pietaster's vocalist Steve Jackson, joined with former Bim Skala Bim trombonist, Vinny Nobile...
, Edna's Goldfish
Edna's Goldfish
Edna's Goldfish was a ska punk band from Long Island.Together from 1997 to 2000, their studio albums include Before You Knew Better and "The Elements of Transition" , both released on Moon Ska Records. The video for their song "Veronica Sawyer" received some airplay on the MTV show 120 Minutes...
, and The Pietasters
The Pietasters
The Pietasters are a seven-piece ska/soul band hailing from Washington, D.C., with additional members from Maryland and Virginia.- History :In 1990, a group of friends were attending college at Virginia Tech in the mountains of Virginia...
. If the funding goal is met by January 18, 2012, the records should be out Spring 2012.
Style
Suburban Legends' style of music has evolved over time and is different from that of other ska bands. While earlier material being heavily rooted in skaSka
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
, the 2006 release Dance Like Nobody's Watching brought a different sound took ideas and influence from disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, some songs on the EP containing little to no ska sound at all. The band furthered its distance from ska with the 2007 release of Infectious, heavily focusing on disco on the record. The band has not abandoned their earlier sound, though, regularly performing older material alongside their current work. The 2008 album Let's Be Friends combines elements from all their previous releases. In May 2009, the band announced that they would be recording a "full blown ska rock album," not simply a ska-influenced album because they have horns or an album with only a few ska songs. Further supporting the band's transition back to ska, less time was devoted in Summer 2009 live performances to songs found on more recent albums, such as Infectious, with the band reintroducing older songs such as "Alternative is Dead," "Gummi Bears," "I Want More," and "Waikiki," all of which were found either on Origin Edition
Origin Edition
Origin Edition is the first album of the third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. It was released in 1999 in Los Angeles, California as a CD to sell at early shows of the band. It is considered a fun demo to many because of the recording quality album and because it was burned from a computer and the...
(1999) and Suburban Legends
Suburban Legends (EP)
Suburban Legends is the first EP of the Orange County based ska punk band Suburban Legends. It was released in 2001 in Los Angeles, California by Lobster Girl Records. This self-produced album has sold over 20,000 copies. It was re-released the following year with the return of lead singer Tim...
(2001). The band has also performed a new ska song which is planned for their next studio release, "Open Up Your Eyes."
Part of the band's claim to fame has been its live shows which often involve dance routines far more complicated than those often found in ska bands, as horn playing usually inhibits movement on stage.
Van fire and robberies
At around 4:30 AM CDT on July 19, 2006, while they were on tour and in St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Phillip Inzerillo
Phillip Inzerillo
Phillip Inzerillo was a trombone player for the Orange County-based third-wave ska band Suburban Legends...
woke up to notice the band's tour van was on fire. The fire destroyed the front driver's side of the van. The band's tour money had also been missing from the van. It is suspected that the fire and robbery was caused by an arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
ist.
On November 11, 2007, the band was robbed again, while supporting Streetlight Manifesto
Streetlight Manifesto
Streetlight Manifesto is an American punk band with many influences from different genres including ska, from New Brunswick, New Jersey fronted by Tomas Kalnoky....
on their Somewhere in the Between
Somewhere in the Between
-Personnel:* Mike Brown – alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, backing vocals* Jim Conti – alto, tenor saxophone, backing vocals* Tomas Kalnoky – vocals, guitar* Pete McCullough – bass guitar, backing vocals* Mike Soprano – trombone, backing vocals...
Tour. This time, Suburban Legends' van was stolen along with approximately $80,000 worth of all their equipment and instruments. Fans were first alert of this when Dallas Kruse
Dallas Kruse
Dallas Preston Kruse is the producer of Suburban Legends' 2007 Japan-only album Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights, an extended version of their 2006 EP release; their 2007 album, Infectious, and their 2008 album, Let's Be Friends... and Slay the Dragon Together...
posted a MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
bulletin reading:
" You all know just HOW MUCH suburban legends have been through throughout the years! .... lets all gather to HELP THEM through this!
I just got a call from my dear friend MIKEY, bassist for Suburban Legends.
They are on tour in Philly and woke up to head down to the van and trailer from the hotel room and the van and trailer were stolen.
Every piece of equipment and merchandise the band owns is gone.
Drum sets, horns, clothing, basses, guitars, amps, etc.
The value of the equipment alone is appx 40k. The value of the trailer alone is 30k. Estimated value of everything is probably close to 80k (in my estimation) including the van, trailer and gear.
They are troopers and going to try and rent another van, rent gear and finish the tour.
This is devastating. Most, if not ALL of you know just how dear and sincere these guys are and how close I am with them.
Is there ANYTHING we can do to help them?
My idea was to find someone with money who would be able to immediately front them an investment for gear and work out terms for the band to pay that person back. Or does someone here have connections to a car dealership? Instruments? SOMETHING!?!
Please help!
if you have some help or ideas, PLEASE, lets help the guys out!"
Another MySpace bulletin which was posted on November 13, said that the van was recovered in a neighborhood in Philadelphia apparently after somebody saw the news story on the van theft and gave information of its whereabouts. When the van was recovered, it only required minor repairs. However, the contents of the van and trailer were missing. While insurance issues are still being resolved, the band apologized to the fans for any shows they miss and state that they will be back on the road again.
The song "Fire" from their 2008 album, Let's Be Friends, is about the van fire and robberies.
Lineup
The band has had many lineup changes over the years. One of the band's early drummers, the late Jimmy SullivanThe Rev
James Owen Sullivan , more commonly known by his stage name The Reverend Tholomew Plague, often shortened to The Rev, was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold...
left around 1999. He went on to help create the popular band Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
, going by the name of The Rev along with former Suburban Legends bassist Justin Meacham who left around the same time. In late 2004, bassist Chris Maurer
Chris Maurer
Chris Maurer was the bassist for the third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. After years of watching his older brother sing for the band, he joined the band August 3 of 2000, replacing Justin Meacham who left the band....
left the band to marry his fiancée and to focus on his education. He was replaced by Mike Hachey. Trumpet player Vincent Walker also left the band in 2004 to focus on his education. He was not replaced and the band used only 3 horns until his return to the band on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
The MDA Labor Day Telethon is an annual telethon in the United States to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association . The first MDA telethon was during the Thanksgiving Day weekend of 1952 and titled Party for MDA. It has been held annually since 1966...
(see below). Similarly, in late May 2005, trumpet player Aaron Bertram
Aaron Bertram
Aaron Bertram is a trumpet player for third wave ska band Suburban Legends, and member of the children's group Kids Imagine Nation and is currently teaching music and movement to preschool students in Orange County, CA...
left the band to marry his fiancée, Rachel Charest. He was replaced by trumpet player Luis Beza
Luis Beza
Luis Beza was the trumpet player for third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. He joined the band in Summer 2005 after the departure of Aaron Bertram, replacing him on trumpet. In July 2005 Luis started a hip-hop side-project called Lyricle Miracle with fellow Suburban Legends band member Derek Lee...
. In October 2006, while on the Fall Of Ska tour, Phillip Inzerillo
Phillip Inzerillo
Phillip Inzerillo was a trombone player for the Orange County-based third-wave ska band Suburban Legends...
disappeared with no official announcement; he was not seen playing with the band on the tour or in subsequent shows afterwards. Around the same time, keyboardist Dallas Kruse
Dallas Kruse
Dallas Preston Kruse is the producer of Suburban Legends' 2007 Japan-only album Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights, an extended version of their 2006 EP release; their 2007 album, Infectious, and their 2008 album, Let's Be Friends... and Slay the Dragon Together...
began playing with the band. While not an "official" member, not appearing on the band's website and not announced by the band, he has been performing with the band since the tour at local shows. He has also produced the bands' albums from Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights on. In May 2009, Luis Beza left the band, the first lineup change in nearly three years. In the wake of his departure, Aaron Bertram returned for the summer, with Justin Lewis on trombone, Chris Lucca on trumpet, and Byron Panopio on trumpet appearing with the band frequently as guest musicians. Lucca was eventually added permanently to replace Beza.
Tim Maurer
Tim Maurer
Timothy Robert "Tim" Maurer is an American singer, best known as the former lead singer of third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. He has left the band on two separate occasions. The first was in 2000 after the recording of Origin Edition. He rejoined the band in early 2002 after his replacement...
left the band after the recording of Origin Edition
Origin Edition
Origin Edition is the first album of the third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. It was released in 1999 in Los Angeles, California as a CD to sell at early shows of the band. It is considered a fun demo to many because of the recording quality album and because it was burned from a computer and the...
, and was replaced by Chris Batstone
Chris Batstone
Chris Batstone 2000-2002 lead singer of the third-wave ska band, Suburban Legends. He joined the band in 2000 as the replacement for Tim Maurer, who had left the band after the recording of Origin Edition. Chris' first and only official recording with the band was on their first EP, Suburban...
. Batstone was later kicked out, and Mauer rejoined. Maurer left again after the 2005 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
The MDA Labor Day Telethon is an annual telethon in the United States to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association . The first MDA telethon was during the Thanksgiving Day weekend of 1952 and titled Party for MDA. It has been held annually since 1966...
to spend more time with his family. He was replaced by former trumpet player Vincent Walker, who returned to the band in the same performance, oddly switching roles from horns to vocals. Tim Maurer and Aaron Bertram would return to the band for the one-off Dallas Cook Memorial Fund show at Huntington Beach High School on November 29, 2005, performing alongside new lead singer Vince Walker and trumpet player Luis Beza.
Brian Robertson is the only member to have been active in the band continuously since its inception in 1998 as the Bomb Squad. Vincent Walker and Aaron Bertram are also original members of the band, though Walker was absent from 2004 to 2005 (and switched roles from trumpet to lead vocals) and Bertram was absent from 2005 to 2009. Brian Klemm has been involved with the band since 1999, with Derek Rock joining in 2000. The band has two official trumpet players, though often only performs with only one. Chris Lucca has been listed as an official member since 2009, though usually only appears with the band when touring, as Lucca is also an active member of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
-based Big D and the Kids Table
Big D and the Kids Table
Big D and the Kids Table is a ska punk band formed in October 1995 in Allston, Massachusetts when its members converged in college. Their first release was on their own Fork In Hand Records label, but have since teamed with Springman Records and SideOneDummy...
(of which Brian Klemm served as guitarist from 2009 to 2010, when Nick Pantazi joined). Meanwhile, Bertram usually only performs locally with the band. Brad Polidori is the most recent addition to the band, having joined in 2010, following the departure of bassist Mike Hachey.
Ryan Dallas Cook
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
player Dallas Cook
Dallas Cook
Ryan Dallas Cook , better known to his fans as Dallas Cook, was one of two trombone players in third-wave ska band Suburban Legends.-Suburban Legends:...
was killed in a hit-and-run
Hit and run (vehicular)
Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
accident on the Costa Mesa Freeway. A few days after the incident, a large group of Suburban Legends' fans and Dallas' friends and family gathered nearby the ESPN Zone
ESPN Zone
ESPN Zone is a Southern California-based chain of two sports-themed restaurants that include arcades, TV studios, and radio studios that are currently franchised, but formally owned by the American cable network ESPN. The first ESPN Zone opened in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 11, 1998, in the Power...
at Disneyland Resort's Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney is the name of two outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complexes located at two Disney resorts:* Downtown Disney , at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida...
, where the band played their many performances in the early 2000s, to share their memories of Cook. On November 29, 2005, former and current band members performed a benefit show for the Dallas Cook Memorial Fund, which was as set up in Cook's honor to donate money to the Huntington Beach High School
Huntington Beach High School
Huntington Beach High School is a public high school in Huntington Beach, California. Opened in 1906, it is part of the Huntington Beach Union High School District. HBHS is a California Distinguished School...
instrumental music program.
Covers
The band has been known to cover the song "Under the SeaUnder the Sea
-Parodies:In 1991, this song was parodied by musician Tom Smith with his song, "On The PC". This song was re-written in 1999 as "PC99".The song was parodied on the TV show Kappa Mikey where Mikey tries to convince a squid to live on land with him....
" from the Disney movie The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid (1989 film)
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the film was originally released to theaters on November 14, 1989 and is the twenty-eighth film in...
live since 2002. More recently they have played this and other live covers of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King
I Just Can't Wait to Be King
"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is a stylistic musical number from Disney's popular 1994 animated film, The Lion King."I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is a large contrast from the film's non-musical segments, as emphasized by the number's usage of lively colors and sounds...
" from the Disney film The Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
, Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Can't Take My Eyes off You
"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967 single by Frankie Valli. The song was among Valli's biggest hits, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a gold record. It was Valli's biggest "solo" hit until he hit #1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You"...
" (with Brian Klemm
Brian Klemm
Brian Wayne Klemm is the guitarist for the Orange County-based third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. He joined Suburban Legends in 1999, shortly before the release of Origin Edition, although he did not play guitar on the album. Klemm also briefly joined Big D and the Kids Table in 2009 as their...
singing lead), The Foundations
The Foundations
The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" , written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" The Foundations...
' "Build Me Up Buttercup
Build Me Up Buttercup
"Build Me Up Buttercup" is the name of a song written by Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay, and released by The Foundations with Colin Young singing the lead vocals in 1968. This was the third major hit for The Foundations. Colin Young replaced Clem Curtis in 1968 and this was the first Foundations hit...
," Kool and the Gang's "Celebration
Celebration (song)
"Celebration" is a song released in 1980 by Kool & the Gang from their album Celebrate!. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 7, 1981 and held that position until February 20, 1981. Late in 1980, the song had also reached number one on both the Billboard Dance and R&B...
," Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter is an English former glam rock singer-songwriter and musician.Glitter first came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s...
's "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)," Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's "Rubberneckin', and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's Higher Ground." These covers are often regarded by fans as the proverbial "Coup De Grace," or a perfect finish to the show that "sells" the band to the audience. However, due to licensing issues, album releases of even live recordings of these covers are unlikely, the Disney covers in particular. However, one of the few covers the band has recorded was the theme song to Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears
Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears
Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears is an American animated television series that aired in the United States in the mid-1980s through the early 1990s...
. Their other recorded covers include "Rose Tint My World
Rose Tint My World
"Rose Tint My World" is the fourteenth song in the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and its film counterpart The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is part 1 of 3 of the "Floor Show Medley" towards the end of the show....
" from the Rocky Horror Show (intended to have been included on an aborted ska tribute album to Rocky Horror, featuring other ska artists such as Chris Murray), and "Dancing Machine" by The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
. They did a ska cover of the Bed Intruder Song
Bed Intruder Song
"Bed Intruder Song" is a song by The Gregory Brothers and Antoine Dodson , featuring Kelly Dodson. The song by the Auto-Tune the News creators features processed vocals of Antoine Dodson, who was talking to a news reporter about the attempted rape of his sister Kelly...
during their Fall 2010 tour and while on the "Reel Big Fish vs Aquabats" tour.
The band appears on a tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
for influential '80s group Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo was an American new wave band. They are best known for their influence on other musicians, their soundtrack contributions and their high energy Halloween concerts. The band was founded in 1972 as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, a performance art group...
, entitled Dead Band's Party. Their contribution is a cover of the song "On The Outside."
Members
- Vincent Walker - 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...
(1998-2004 on trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, 2005–present on vocals) - Brian KlemmBrian KlemmBrian Wayne Klemm is the guitarist for the Orange County-based third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. He joined Suburban Legends in 1999, shortly before the release of Origin Edition, although he did not play guitar on the album. Klemm also briefly joined Big D and the Kids Table in 2009 as their...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
(1999–present) - Derek Lee RockDerek Lee RockDerek Lee Smith , more commonly known as Derek Rock, is the drummer of alternative pop/rock band Mêlée and ska band Suburban Legends. Derek’s drumming styles include rock, pop, electronic, and hip hop...
- 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 ....
(2000–present) - Brian RobertsonBrian Robertson (Suburban Legends)Brian Robertson is the trombone player for the Orange County-based third-wave ska band Suburban Legends and, along with Vincent Walker, is one of the two members to have played with the band since its origin as Bomb Squad...
- tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
(1998–present) - Chris Lucca - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
(2009–present) - Aaron BertramAaron BertramAaron Bertram is a trumpet player for third wave ska band Suburban Legends, and member of the children's group Kids Imagine Nation and is currently teaching music and movement to preschool students in Orange County, CA...
- trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
(1998–2005; 2009–present) - Brad Polidori - bass (2010–present)
Additional members
- Dallas KruseDallas KruseDallas Preston Kruse is the producer of Suburban Legends' 2007 Japan-only album Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights, an extended version of their 2006 EP release; their 2007 album, Infectious, and their 2008 album, Let's Be Friends... and Slay the Dragon Together...
- keyboardElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
, keytarKeytarA keytar is a relatively lightweight keyboard that is supported by a strap around the neck and shoulders, similar to the way a guitar is supported by a strap. Keytars allow players a greater range of movement compared to conventional keyboards, which are placed on stands...
(2006–2009, local shows only) - Justin LewisJustin LewisJustin Lewis is Professor of Communication and Head of the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies at Cardiff University. He returned to Britain in 2000, having worked for 12 years in the United States at the University of Massachusetts....
- tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
(2009, some live shows) - Byron Panopio - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
(2009, some live shows)
Former members (listed in order of departure)
- Brent Figue - lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
(1998) - Fred JohnsonFred JohnsonFred Johnson may refer to:* Fred Johnson , American football player and coach* Fred Johnson , Major League Baseball player who played for the New York Giants and the St. Louis Browns* Fred Gustus Johnson , U.S...
- 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 ....
(1998) - Josh Lander - lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
(1998) - Jimmy SullivanThe RevJames Owen Sullivan , more commonly known by his stage name The Reverend Tholomew Plague, often shortened to The Rev, was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold...
- 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 ....
(1999) (now deceased; was drummer for Avenged Sevenfold) - Justin Meacham - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1998–2000) (was bassist for Avenged Sevenfold) - Chris BatstoneChris BatstoneChris Batstone 2000-2002 lead singer of the third-wave ska band, Suburban Legends. He joined the band in 2000 as the replacement for Tim Maurer, who had left the band after the recording of Origin Edition. Chris' first and only official recording with the band was on their first EP, Suburban...
- 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...
(2001) - Chris MaurerChris MaurerChris Maurer was the bassist for the third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. After years of watching his older brother sing for the band, he joined the band August 3 of 2000, replacing Justin Meacham who left the band....
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2000–2004) - Tim MaurerTim MaurerTimothy Robert "Tim" Maurer is an American singer, best known as the former lead singer of third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. He has left the band on two separate occasions. The first was in 2000 after the recording of Origin Edition. He rejoined the band in early 2002 after his replacement...
- 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...
(1998–2000, 2002–2005) - Dallas CookDallas CookRyan Dallas Cook , better known to his fans as Dallas Cook, was one of two trombone players in third-wave ska band Suburban Legends.-Suburban Legends:...
- tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
(1998–2005) (now deceased) - Phillip InzerilloPhillip InzerilloPhillip Inzerillo was a trombone player for the Orange County-based third-wave ska band Suburban Legends...
- tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
(2005–2006) - Luis BezaLuis BezaLuis Beza was the trumpet player for third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. He joined the band in Summer 2005 after the departure of Aaron Bertram, replacing him on trumpet. In July 2005 Luis started a hip-hop side-project called Lyricle Miracle with fellow Suburban Legends band member Derek Lee...
- trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
(2005–2009) - Mikey HacheyMikey HacheyMichael Joseph "Mikey" Hachey is an American bassist, best known as a former member of the third-wave ska band, Suburban Legends. He joined the band in November 2004, replacing Chris Maurer on bass guitar, after his friend Derek Lee Rock offered him an audition to play bass for his "little ol'...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2004–2010)
Discography
All of the band's material has been self-released, with the exception of the red, blue, and green versions of the Tim Maurer Suburban LegendsSuburban Legends (Tim Remix)
After the departure of lead singer Chris Batstone, Suburban Legends re-released their debut album, Suburban Legends, by removing the vocal track featuring Chris, and replacing it with a vocal track of new lead singer, Tim Maurer. Suburban Legends is essentially the same album from the Orange...
EP (released by We The People Records) the UK version of Rump Shaker (released by Brand New Hero Records) and the Japan-only Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights
Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights
Dance Like Nobody's Watching is a six-track EP released by American ska/pop band Suburban Legends, released on May 12, 2006. The EP signaled a drastic change in the band's sound, which also followed major lineup changes following the departure of lead vocalist Tim Maurer and trumpet player Aaron...
(released by Subrange Records). Some out-of-print and/or rare recordings are available on the Suburban Legends official forums in the "Suburban Legends Collection" forum, under permission of trombonist Brian Robertson.
Albums
- Origin EditionOrigin EditionOrigin Edition is the first album of the third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. It was released in 1999 in Los Angeles, California as a CD to sell at early shows of the band. It is considered a fun demo to many because of the recording quality album and because it was burned from a computer and the...
(1999) - Rump Shaker (2003) (2012 - Limited Vinyl Pressing)
- Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo NightsDance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo NightsDance Like Nobody's Watching is a six-track EP released by American ska/pop band Suburban Legends, released on May 12, 2006. The EP signaled a drastic change in the band's sound, which also followed major lineup changes following the departure of lead vocalist Tim Maurer and trumpet player Aaron...
(2007) (Japan only) - InfectiousInfectious (album)Infectious is the fourth album of the third wave ska/funk/pop band Suburban Legends. It was released on July 29, 2007 at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California and is made available for sale at the band's ....
(2007) - Let's Be Friends... and Slay the Dragon TogetherLet's Be Friends and Slay the Dragon TogetherLet's Be Friends... and Slay the Dragon Together, commonly referred to as Let's Be Friends, is Suburban Legends' fourth album, released on July 10, 2008...
(2008) - Getting Down To Business (2011)
EPs
- Bomb Squad EPBomb Squad EPThe Bomb Squad EP was the first EP from California third wave ska group Suburban Legends, though at the time the band were known as Bomb Squad, making the EP a self-titled one. Other names considered for the EP during production included "Makin' Babies". The EP was their only release as Bomb Squad....
(1998) - Suburban LegendsSuburban Legends (EP)Suburban Legends is the first EP of the Orange County based ska punk band Suburban Legends. It was released in 2001 in Los Angeles, California by Lobster Girl Records. This self-produced album has sold over 20,000 copies. It was re-released the following year with the return of lead singer Tim...
(2001) - Suburban Legends Raw (Karaoke)Suburban Legends Raw (Karaoke)After the departure of lead singer Chris Batstone, Suburban Legends re-released their debut album, Suburban Legends, without the vocal track featuring Chris. This karaoke version of the EP Suburban Legends is essentially the same album from the Orange County based third wave ska band...
(2002) - Suburban Legends (Tim Remix)Suburban Legends (Tim Remix)After the departure of lead singer Chris Batstone, Suburban Legends re-released their debut album, Suburban Legends, by removing the vocal track featuring Chris, and replacing it with a vocal track of new lead singer, Tim Maurer. Suburban Legends is essentially the same album from the Orange...
(2002) - Dance Like Nobody's Watching (2006)
- Going On Tour (2010)
- Getting Down to Business (2011) (Europe only)
DVDs
- Season OneSeason One (Suburban Legends)Season One is a 2-disc DVD and live album released by Suburban Legends in 2004. Disc 1 contains footage of a live set performance from Oakland, California...
(2004) - Poisonous Candy FactoryPoisonous Candy FactoryPoisonous Candy Factory is the second DVD released by third wave ska/funk/pop band, Suburban Legends. It was officially released on March 4, 2008, but was also sold at a release party at the Key Club in Los Angeles on February 29, 2008....
(2008)
Singles
- "Rose Tint My WorldRose Tint My World"Rose Tint My World" is the fourteenth song in the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and its film counterpart The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is part 1 of 3 of the "Floor Show Medley" towards the end of the show....
" (download only) (unreleased tribute album) (2001) - "Gimme, Gimme" (CD single from Christmas 2004 shows) (2004)
Collaborations
- "This Gigantic Robot Kills" with MC LarsMC LarsAndrew Robert MacFarlane Nielsen is an American rapper, known by his stage name MC Lars. He is the self-proclaimed originator of "post-punk laptop rap". He was one of the first underground rappers to sample and reference post-punk and emo bands...
and The MC Bat Commander, on MC Lars' album of the same nameThis Gigantic Robot KillsThis Gigantic Robot Kills is the sixth album by nerdcore musician MC Lars.Lars has stated that he worked with "Weird Al" Yankovic, the Rondo Brothers, Nick Rowe and Mike Kennedy of Bloodsimple, James Bourne of Busted, Daniel Dart of Time Again, Donal Finn of Flash Bastard, Pierre Bouvier of Simple...
(2009) - "Five Finger Discount" with Uh Oh! Explosion on their album For the Win! (2009)
Music videos
- "I Want More" (2001)
- "High Fives" (2003)
- "Up All Night" (2004) - animated
- "Come Back Home" (2007) - features cameos by Justin MaurielloJustin MaurielloJustin Mauriello is the lead singer and guitarist for the alternative rock band Darling Thieves.-Zebrahead :Mauriello was a founding member of the band Zebrahead, with lead guitarist Greg Bergdorf and drummer Ed Udhus , and bassist Ben Osmundson ; they began collaboration through sharing the same...
(formerly of ZebraheadZebraheadZebrahead is an American punk rock band from Orange County, California, which fuses elements of Rapcore, Pop Punk, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal, and Funk Metal.-1996–98: Formation:...
) and Aaron BarrettAaron BarrettAaron Asher Barrett is the lead singer, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter for the band Reel Big Fish. Prior to forming with Reel Big Fish, Barrett played trombone in another ska-punk act, The Scholars, along with future Reel Big Fish bandmates Scott Klopfenstein and Grant Barry...
(Reel Big FishReel Big FishReel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Huntington Beach, California, best known for the 1997 hit "Sell Out". The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold certified album Turn the Radio Off. Soon after, the band...
) - "Infectious" (2007) - directed by the Fackrell Brothers
Compilations
- Supporting the Scene - Disc 1 Track 15, "All The Nights" (2000)
- Skratch Comp CD #6 - Track 5, "Gummi Bears" (2000)
- Fatty's Favorites - Track 14, "Waikiki" (2000)
- Because We Care: A Benefit for the Children's Hospital of Orange County - Track 11, "Gummie Bears" (2002)
- Skyboys vs Highscalers - Track 5, "Desperate", Track 19, "Alternative Is Dead" (2003)
- Dead Baby vs. Jesus - Track 22, "Zanzibar" (2003)
- Camp Ska (DVD) - Track 12, "High Fives" (2003)
- Sorry If It Isn't Cool Anymore! Vol. 1 - Track 2, "You" (2004)
- Live @ iMusicastIMusicastiMusicast was a music venue in Oakland, California. Established in August 1999, It was among the first venues of any sort to offer exclusive live streaming video performances of headlining music acts on the internet. The business formally ceased operation on October 29th, 2005...
1.0 (DVD) - Track 13, "Up All Night" (2004) - Casino Chips and Sunset Strips - Track 10 "Autumn in the Park", Track 11 "All the Nights", Track 12 "Bright Spring Morning" (2004)
- Of Hands and Hearts: Music for the Tsunami Disaster FundOf Hands and Hearts: Music for the Tsunami Disaster FundOf Hands and Hearts: Music for the Tsunami Disaster Fund is a 2005 compilation album. The compilation was released in response to the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami crisis...
- Disc 2 Track 4, "Blingity Bling" (2005) - Dead Bands Party: A Tribute to Oingo BoingoDead Bands Party: A Tribute to Oingo BoingoDead Bands Party: A Tribute to Oingo Boingo is a tribute album by various artists to the band Oingo Boingo.-Track listing:# "Dead Man's Party" – 4:14# "Only a Lad" – 3:22# "Violent Love" –...
- Track 10, "On the Outside" (2005) - The Christmas Chronicles vol. 1 - Track 8, "I Wish Every Day Was Christmas" (2011)