The Lookouts
Encyclopedia
The Lookouts were an American
punk rock
band that existed from 1985 to 1990 on Iron Peak, a remote rural mountain community outside of Laytonville, CA. The members were Lawrence Livermore (more commonly known as Larry Livermore
) on guitar
and vocals
, Kain Kong (Kain Hanschke) on bass
and vocals and Tre Cool
on drums
and vocals. All three have contributed on songwriting. The band is most famous for being Tre Cool's first band before joining Green Day
.
The Lookouts recorded two LPs, One Planet One People and Spy Rock Road, and two EPs, Mendocino Homeland and IV which Billie Joe From Green Day played on, all released on Livermore's own label, Lookout Records. One Planet One People was the first release in the label's history.
In mid-1990, The Lookouts went into a period of inactivity, with the members living and studying in different locations. It was during this time that fellow Berkeley band Green Day asked Tré to join them, following the departure of their original drummer, John Kiffmeyer
(also known as Al Sobrante). This effectively meant the end of the Lookouts.
While Tre Cool continued as Green Day's drummer, Larry focused on Lookout Records and eventually sold the label to business partner Chris Appelgren
in the mid-1990s when Green Day's popularity exploded and albums sales increased. In August 2005, Green Day removed their pre-1993 catalogue from Lookout Records, including 1992's Kerplunk, which was Tre's debut with Green Day, due to apparently unpaid royalties. Not much is known about Kain Kong after The Lookouts but it has been confirmed that he is now a park ranger in California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 that existed from 1985 to 1990 on Iron Peak, a remote rural mountain community outside of Laytonville, CA. The members were Lawrence Livermore (more commonly known as Larry Livermore
Larry Livermore
Lawrence "Larry" Hayes , best known by the pseudonym Larry Livermore, is an American musician, record producer, and music journalist. He is best known as the co-founder of Lookout! Records.-Biography:...
) on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocals
Singing
Singing 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...
, Kain Kong (Kain Hanschke) on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and vocals and Tre Cool
Tre Cool
Frank Edwin Wright III, a.k.a. Tré Cool, is an American drummer, best known as the drummer for the punk rock band Green Day. He replaced the group's former drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990...
on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and vocals. All three have contributed on songwriting. The band is most famous for being Tre Cool's first band before joining Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
.
History
Looking to start a punk band, Livermore had trouble finding members, citing the majority of the local musicians being hippies and "completely uninterested in the music we wanted to make". Eventually, Livermore recruited a 12 year old neighbor, Frank Edwin Wright III to play drums and 14 year old Kain Kong On Bass. Although he had never played drums before, young Frank showed an instant affinity for them, possibly because, as Livermore said, "he loved making a lot of noise and getting everyone to look at him." Claiming that the members needed "punk rock names," Livermore began calling him "Tre," a play on the French word "très," or "very." The last name "Cool" was added later.The Lookouts recorded two LPs, One Planet One People and Spy Rock Road, and two EPs, Mendocino Homeland and IV which Billie Joe From Green Day played on, all released on Livermore's own label, Lookout Records. One Planet One People was the first release in the label's history.
In mid-1990, The Lookouts went into a period of inactivity, with the members living and studying in different locations. It was during this time that fellow Berkeley band Green Day asked Tré to join them, following the departure of their original drummer, John Kiffmeyer
John Kiffmeyer
John Kiffmeyer , was born on July 11, 1969. He was the first drummer of the punk rock/alternative rock band Green Day. He was given his nickname in reference to his hometown, El Sobrante.-Biography:...
(also known as Al Sobrante). This effectively meant the end of the Lookouts.
While Tre Cool continued as Green Day's drummer, Larry focused on Lookout Records and eventually sold the label to business partner Chris Appelgren
Chris Appelgren
Chris Appelgren has been owner and president Lookout! Records since 1997 when label founder Larry Livermore and partner Patrick Hynes retired. Appelgren began working at Lookout in early 1989, and ran the independent punk record label until the company discontinued releasing new albums and laid...
in the mid-1990s when Green Day's popularity exploded and albums sales increased. In August 2005, Green Day removed their pre-1993 catalogue from Lookout Records, including 1992's Kerplunk, which was Tre's debut with Green Day, due to apparently unpaid royalties. Not much is known about Kain Kong after The Lookouts but it has been confirmed that he is now a park ranger in California.
Albums
- One Planet One PeopleOne Planet One PeopleOne Planet One People is the debut album by the American punk rock band The Lookouts. It was released in 1987 through Lookout! Records and was the first ever release on Lookout!. One Planet One People is the first recording featuring Tré Cool of Green Day...
- Lookout! Records - Spy Rock RoadSpy Rock RoadSpy Rock Road is the second and final studio album by the American punk rock band The Lookouts. It was released in 1989 through Lookout! Records-Track listing:#"That Girl's from Outer Space" - 2:29#"Wild" - 3:37#"Alienation" - 4:35...
- Lookout! Records
EPs
- Mendocino HomelandMendocino HomelandMendocino Homeland is an extended play by the American punk rock band The Lookouts. It was released in 1989 through vocalist/guitarist Larry Livermore's label Lookout! Records...
- Lookout! Records - IVIV (The Lookouts album)IV was the final EP by the American punk rock band The Lookouts. It was released in 1990 through Lookout! Records. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day played lead guitar on "Story", "Agape" and "Out My Door" and sang backup vocals on "Story" and "Out My Door."-Tracklisting:All songs written by Larry...
- Lookout! Records
Compilations
The Lookouts have appeared on many compilations, some of which were:- More Songs About Plants and Trees - Allied Recordings (1990, out of print)
- Can of Pork Kick Me In The Head - Lookout! Records (1992)
- The Thing That Ate FloydThe Thing That Ate FloydThe Thing That Ate Floyd is a compilation album released in December 1988 by Lookout! Records. The album is a compilation of bands from the 924 Gilman St. punk rock scene. It includes bands such as Operation Ivy, No Use for a Name, Crimpshrine and The Mr...
Outside - Lookout! Records (2002)