HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Crimpshrine was an American
punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
band from
Berkeley, California Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Anglo-Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland, Cali ...
. The group was formed in 1982 by
Aaron Cometbus Aaron Elliott (born May 20, 1968), better known as Aaron Cometbus, is an American musician, author, songwriter, roadie, and magazine editor, best known as the creator of the punk zine ''Cometbus''. Career Born in Berkeley, California, Cometbus ...
, founder of the seminal punk rock
zine A zine ( ; short for ''magazine'' or ''fanzine'') is, as noted on Merriam-Webster’s official website, a magazine that is a “noncommercial often homemade or online publication usually devoted to specialized and often unconventional subject ...
''
Cometbus Aaron Elliott (born May 20, 1968), better known as Aaron Cometbus, is an American musician, author, songwriter, roadie, and magazine editor, best known as the creator of the punk zine ''Cometbus''. Career Born in Berkeley, California, Cometbus ...
'', and future
Operation Ivy Operation Ivy was the eighth series of American nuclear tests, coming after '' Tumbler-Snapper'' and before '' Upshot–Knothole''. The two explosions were staged in late 1952 at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific Proving Ground in the Marshall I ...
vocalist
Jesse Michaels Jesse Michaels (born April 1, 1969) is an American songwriter, painter, illustrator, musician, singer, and author from Berkeley, California. His lyrics deal with politics, racism, and general social issues. He is most well known as the vocalist ...
. They grew out of the
East Bay The East Bay is the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area and includes cities along the eastern shores of San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay. The region has grown to include inland communities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Wi ...
scene, centered on
924 Gilman Street The Alternative Music Foundation located at 924 Gilman Street, almost exclusively referred to as "Gilman", is a non-profit, all-ages, collectively organized music club. It is located in the West Berkeley, Berkeley, California, West Berkeley ar ...
, and had an important influence on later East Bay bands such as Operation Ivy,
Green Day Green Day is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Rodeo, California, in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, with drummer Tré Cool joining in 1990. In 1994, their majo ...
and punk rock in general.


History


Establishment (1982–1986)

Crimpshrine originally formed in 1982 under the name S.A.G. with
Aaron Cometbus Aaron Elliott (born May 20, 1968), better known as Aaron Cometbus, is an American musician, author, songwriter, roadie, and magazine editor, best known as the creator of the punk zine ''Cometbus''. Career Born in Berkeley, California, Cometbus ...
playing guitar and
Jesse Michaels Jesse Michaels (born April 1, 1969) is an American songwriter, painter, illustrator, musician, singer, and author from Berkeley, California. His lyrics deal with politics, racism, and general social issues. He is most well known as the vocalist ...
(later of
Operation Ivy Operation Ivy was the eighth series of American nuclear tests, coming after '' Tumbler-Snapper'' and before '' Upshot–Knothole''. The two explosions were staged in late 1952 at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific Proving Ground in the Marshall I ...
) on vocals, both 13 years old.''Sleep, What's That?'' liner notes. Retrieved 2014-08-23 Michaels initially attempted to play guitar, but "didn't know any chords, so I played with my thumb." According to Cometbus, the band had a "serious lack of equipment" during this time, as they had one drum and only 3 strings on the guitar, which was tuned to a
barre chord In music, a Barre chord (also spelled bar chord) is a type of chord on a guitar or other stringed instrument played by using one finger to press down multiple strings across a single fret of the fingerboard (like a bar pressing down the stri ...
. They quickly added friend
Jeff Ott Jeff Ott (born June 24, 1970) is an activist, musician, author, and longtime member of the Berkeley punk community, best known for playing guitar and singing in the bands Crimpshrine and Fifteen. Early life Ott was born on June 24, 1970, in Oakla ...
, then 12, on drums initially but switched to guitar soon after and Cometbus took over drums. Regarding Ott's guitar skills, Michaels described him as "twenty times better than us". Michaels was kicked out of the band in 1984, which he said was for "smoking too much pot", and Ott and Cometbus changed the band's name to Crimpshrine. According to Ott, the name came from a nickname for a girl they knew who had "bleached-blond, burned, crimped hair." The group initially wanted a female singer, but could not find one so Ott took over on vocals in late 1984 and they then went through various different line-ups during 1985. Ott began experimenting with playing
synthesizer A synthesizer (also synthesiser or synth) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis a ...
and
piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...
, a man named Isaac joined on violin and
Tim Armstrong Timothy Ross Armstrong (born November 25, 1965) is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. Known for his distinctive voice, he is the singer/guitarist for the punk rock band Rancid (band), Rancid and hip hop/punk rock supergroup T ...
(then known as Lint) played bass for a brief period. Pete Rypins joined as the group's bassist in October 1986 and, according to Cometbus, "started to get out of Jeff's basement and play some parties and shows."


Active years (1987–1989)

After Rypins joined, they played shows sporadically during its early years, with vocalist Ott living on the streets of Berkeley for a time."Crimpshrine,"
''Maximum Rocknroll,'' whole no. 63 (Aug. 1988).
In February 1987, the group recorded their first demo tape at
924 Gilman Street The Alternative Music Foundation located at 924 Gilman Street, almost exclusively referred to as "Gilman", is a non-profit, all-ages, collectively organized music club. It is located in the West Berkeley, Berkeley, California, West Berkeley ar ...
, which received enough circulation that ''
Maximumrocknroll ''Maximumrocknroll'', often written as ''Maximum Rocknroll'' and usually abbreviated as ''MRR'', is a not-for-profit monthly online zine of punk subculture and radio show of punk music. Based in San Francisco, ''MRR'' focuses on punk rock and ...
'' asked the band to record songs for the magazine's upcoming compilation ''
Turn It Around! ''Turn It Around!'' is a punk rock compilation album by '' Maximumrocknroll''. Originally released as two 7-inch records in October 1987, it served as a benefit to raise money for the Berkeley, California DIY punk scene (known as the Gilman Stree ...
'', to which the band agreed and recorded "Another Day" and "Rearranged" in August. Shortly after, they went to Dangerous Rhythm in
Oakland, California Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, California, Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major We ...
to record songs for their debut EP with producer/engineer Kevin Army. David Hayes, co-founder of
Lookout Records Lookout Records (stylized as Lookout! Records) was an independent record label, initially based in Laytonville, California, and later in Berkeley, focusing on punk rock. Established in 1987, the label is best known for having released Operatio ...
, was impressed with the band and offered to release the tracks recorded at Dangerous Rhythm. The group agreed and their debut EP ''
Sleep, What's That? ''Sleep, What's That?'' is the debut EP by the Berkeley, California-based punk rock band Crimpshrine. It was released on January 30, 1988 through Lookout Records on 7-inch vinyl with the catalog number LK 004. After the EP went out of print in 19 ...
'' was released in January 1988. Idon Bryant, a friend of the band's, joined on second guitar soon after and they went to Dancing Dog Studios in
Emeryville, California Emeryville is a city located in northwest Alameda County, California, in the United States. It lies in a corridor between the cities of Berkeley, California, Berkeley and Oakland, California, Oakland, with a border on the shore of San Francisc ...
to record their debut album in April.''Lame Gig Contest'' liner notes. Retrieved 2014-08-23 Although the recordings were turned down by Lookout, the band added tracks from previous sessions and released ''
Lame Gig Contest ''Lame Gig Contest'' is the only full-length studio album by the Berkeley, California-based punk rock band Crimpshrine. After previously being rejected by the band's label Lookout Records, it was finally released in January 1989 in Germany on Musi ...
'' in Germany on the label Musical Tragedies. Crimpshrine then embarked on their only United States tour in September 1988. The tour was a contentious one, with Idon Bryant and Pete Rypins abruptly leaving the band in
Gainesville, Florida Gainesville is the county seat of Alachua County, Florida, United States, and the most populous city in North Central Florida, with a population of 145,212 in 2022. It is the principal city of the Gainesville metropolitan area, Florida, Gainesv ...
and heading home.Al Kowalewski, "Crimpshrine," ''Flipside,'' whole no. 57 (Fall 1988), pp. 59-60. Stuck in Florida without a bassist, friends
Ben Weasel Benjamin Foster (born April 8, 1968), also known as Ben Weasel, is an American musician best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the punk rock band Screeching Weasel. Early life Foster was born in 1968, and was raised in Prospect Heigh ...
and
John Jughead John Pierson, known also by the stage name Jughead and by the pseudonym Ian Pierce, is an American musician, writer, actor, and podcaster. Biography In 1986, Pierson and Ben Weasel co-founded the punk rock band Screeching Weasel in Chicago, Illino ...
of
Screeching Weasel Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band consisting of Ben Weasel (vocals), Mike Kennerty (guitar), Mike Hunchback (guitar), Zach "Poutine" Brandner (bass) and Pierre Marche (drums) founded in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Pierson (music ...
drove out from
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
to help them out and the former played bass with the band for two shows. A bit later when Screeching Weasel was without a drummer, Cometbus played drums with them for two shows around Chicago. Paul Curran was then courted to join Crimpshrine on bass, so he and his brother Jack drove out in a
Ford Pinto The Ford Pinto is a subcompact car that was manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company in North America from 1970 until 1980. The Pinto was the first subcompact vehicle produced by Ford in North America. The Pinto was marketed in three bo ...
and finished the tour with the band.''Quit Talkin' Claude...'' liner notes. Retrieved 2014-08-24 After the tour in January 1989, they went to Dancing Dog Studios again and recorded what would end up being their final release, the '' Quit Talkin' Claude...'' EP.


Break-up and legacy

The group broke up in May 1989 shortly after the release of the ''Quit Talkin' Claude...'' EP. Cometbus went on to perform in
Pinhead Gunpowder Pinhead Gunpowder is an American punk rock band that formed in East Bay, California, in 1991. The band currently consists of Aaron Cometbus (drums, lyrics), Bill Schneider (bass), Billie Joe Armstrong (guitar, vocals) and Jason White (guitar, ...
among many other bands, Ott went on to front Fifteen, Curran joined
Monsula Monsula was an American punk rock band from the San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States. The band was conceived in 1988 by Pete Zetterberg and Paul Lee in an art class at Benicia High School. With many member changes over the years, t ...
and Rypins became the bassist for
Tilt Tilt may refer to: Music * Tilt (American band), a punk rock group, formed in 1992 * Tilt (British band), an electronic music group, formed in 1993 * Tilt (Polish band), a rock band, formed in 1979 Albums * ''Tilt'' (Cozy Powell album), 1981 ...
and later The Tantrums. In recent years, the band has been regarded as influential by many of their peers, including Operation Ivy,
Green Day Green Day is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Rodeo, California, in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, with drummer Tré Cool joining in 1990. In 1994, their majo ...
, Jawbreaker,
Screeching Weasel Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band consisting of Ben Weasel (vocals), Mike Kennerty (guitar), Mike Hunchback (guitar), Zach "Poutine" Brandner (bass) and Pierre Marche (drums) founded in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Pierson (music ...
and
Less Than Jake Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida, formed in 1992. The band consists of Chris DeMakes (guitars, vocals), Roger Lima (bass, vocals), Buddy Schaub (trombone), Peter "JR" Wasilewski (saxophone) and Matt Yonker ...
, among others. A tribute album to both Crimpshrine and Fifteen, called ''Can You Spare a Dime?'', was released in 1998 by
Microcosm Publishing Microcosm Publishing is an independent publisher and distributor based in Portland, Oregon. History Microcosm Publishing was founded in 1996 by Joe Biel and business partneElly Blueas a distributor of books and records. Initially based iBiel's C ...
. Crimpshrine is featured in the 2017 documentary '' Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk''. Although closely associated with the
Gilman Street Project The Alternative Music Foundation located at 924 Gilman Street, almost exclusively referred to as "Gilman", is a non-profit, all-ages, collectively organized music club. It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California. Gilman is ...
, Cometbus was quick to note in a 1988 interview with '' Flipside'' magazine that they were not a direct product of Gilman, having been established as a band years before the launch of the club. "We helped them as much as they helped us because we are a part of it just as much," Cometbus said.


Band members

Main members *
Aaron Cometbus Aaron Elliott (born May 20, 1968), better known as Aaron Cometbus, is an American musician, author, songwriter, roadie, and magazine editor, best known as the creator of the punk zine ''Cometbus''. Career Born in Berkeley, California, Cometbus ...
 –
drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...
(1984–1989), guitar (1982–1984) *
Jeff Ott Jeff Ott (born June 24, 1970) is an activist, musician, author, and longtime member of the Berkeley punk community, best known for playing guitar and singing in the bands Crimpshrine and Fifteen. Early life Ott was born on June 24, 1970, in Oakla ...
 –
lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...
,
guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...
(1984–1989), drums (1983–1984) * Pete Rypins –
bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...
,
backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...
(1986–1988) * Idon Bryant – guitar (1988) * Paul Curran – bass (1988–1989) Other members *
Jesse Michaels Jesse Michaels (born April 1, 1969) is an American songwriter, painter, illustrator, musician, singer, and author from Berkeley, California. His lyrics deal with politics, racism, and general social issues. He is most well known as the vocalist ...
 – lead vocals (1982–1984) * Lint – bass (1984)


Discography

Studio albums * ''
Lame Gig Contest ''Lame Gig Contest'' is the only full-length studio album by the Berkeley, California-based punk rock band Crimpshrine. After previously being rejected by the band's label Lookout Records, it was finally released in January 1989 in Germany on Musi ...
'' (1989) EPs * ''
Sleep, What's That? ''Sleep, What's That?'' is the debut EP by the Berkeley, California-based punk rock band Crimpshrine. It was released on January 30, 1988 through Lookout Records on 7-inch vinyl with the catalog number LK 004. After the EP went out of print in 19 ...
'' (1988) * '' Quit Talkin' Claude...'' (1989) Split EPs * ''Closed Up, Caught Up and Fucked Up'' (with Mutley Chix) (1989) * ''Burning Bridges'' (with G-Whiz) (1989) * "Better Half" / "Sanctuary" (with Jawbreaker) (1993) Compilation albums * ''Duct Tape Soup'' (1992) * ''The Sound of a New World Being Born'' (1998) Other appearances * "I Don't Know Why" on ''Bay Mud'' – Not on Label (1986) * "2nd Generation Junkies" on ''Lethal Noise'' – Not on Label (1986) * "Rearranged" on ''Lethal Noise, Vol. 2'' – Not on Label (1987) * "Another Day" and "Rearranged" on ''
Turn It Around! ''Turn It Around!'' is a punk rock compilation album by '' Maximumrocknroll''. Originally released as two 7-inch records in October 1987, it served as a benefit to raise money for the Berkeley, California DIY punk scene (known as the Gilman Stree ...
'' – ''
Maximumrocknroll ''Maximumrocknroll'', often written as ''Maximum Rocknroll'' and usually abbreviated as ''MRR'', is a not-for-profit monthly online zine of punk subculture and radio show of punk music. Based in San Francisco, ''MRR'' focuses on punk rock and ...
'' (1987) * "Trying Too Hard", "Sanctuary" and "Construction" on ''Caution'' –
Skene! Records Skene! Records was an American DIY punk rock record label founded in Connecticut in 1988 by Jeff Spiegel, then later based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. An early album release was ''Better Yet Connecticut Hardcore'', featuring bands such as Bug Gulp, F ...
(1988) * "Pick Up the Pieces" on ''The World's in Shreds: Volume 1'' – Shredder Records (1988) * "Summertime" on ''
The Thing That Ate Floyd ''The Thing That Ate Floyd'' is a compilation album released in December 1988 by Lookout! Records as a double LP, and in 2002 as a double CD. The album is a compilation of bands from the 924 Gilman St. punk rock scene. It includes bands such as ...
'' –
Lookout! Records Lookout Records (stylized as Lookout! Records) was an independent record label, initially based in Laytonville, California, and later in Berkeley, focusing on punk rock. Established in 1987, the label is best known for having released Operatio ...
(1988) * "Pretty Mess" on ''The World's in Shreds: Volume 2'' – Shredder Records (1989) * "Free Will" on ''Make the Collector Nerd Sweat'' –
Very Small Records Very Small Records was an independent record label, formed in 1989 by David Hayes, co-founder and former co-owner of Lookout Records. The name of the label was changed to Too Many Records around 1994, but was changed back around 1997. The label ter ...
(1990) * "Walk Away" and "I Don't Know Why" on ''Lest We Forget'' – BBT Tapes (1991) * "Tomorrow" and "
INXS INXS (a phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian rock band, formed as the Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney. The founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, gu ...
/Going Home" on ''Benicia'' – Take a Day (1993)


References


External links


Crimpshrine: Pick Up the Pieces fan site
{{Authority control Punk rock groups from California Bands associated with 924 Gilman Musical groups from Berkeley, California Musical groups established in 1982 Musical groups disestablished in 1989 Musical trios from California Musical quartets from California 1982 establishments in California