Good Riddance (band)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Good Riddance (sometimes abbreviated GR) is 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
Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz (Spanish language, Spanish for "Holy Cross") is the largest city and the county seat of Santa Cruz County, California, Santa Cruz County, in Northern California. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city population ...
. They released seven full-length studio albums on
Fat Wreck Chords Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is an independent record label based in San Francisco focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) and his wife at the time, Erin Burkett in 1990. ...
, then disbanded after releasing a live recording of their farewell concert in 2007. They reformed in 2012 and released an eighth studio album, '' Peace in Our Time'', in 2015. The band released Thoughts and Prayers, their ninth full length album, on July 19, 2019. Led by vocalist Russ Rankin, the band's longtime lineup includes guitarist Luke Pabich, bassist Chuck Platt, and drummer Sean "SC" Sellers. Their sound is influenced by the hardcore punk scene and the band was known for their combination of fast
punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
with catchy melodies. Lyrical themes vary from political protests and critical analyses of American society to personal struggles and alienation.


History


State of Grace

Prior to Good Riddance, in the early 1990s Russ Rankin and Luke Pabich were members of Santa Cruz hardcore band State of Grace. State of Grace released one demo cassette, approximately 31 minutes long, in 1992; the nine tracks were recorded at "Lumberjack Studios" in "Haward" (presumably
Hayward, California Hayward is a city located in Alameda County, California, United States, in the East Bay subregion of the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of 162,954 as of 2020, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the Bay Area, and the third largest in ...
). They subsequently played dates on two short tours.


Good Riddance

Good Riddance was founded in 1986 by singer Russ Rankin, but did not coalesce into a functioning band until the addition of guitarist Luke Pabich several years later. With bassist Devin Quinn and drummer Rich McDermott the band released its debut EP, ''
Gidget Gidget () is a fictional character created by author Frederick Kohner (based on his teenage daughter, Kathy) in his 1957 novel, ''Gidget, the Little Girl with Big Ideas''. The novel follows the adventures of a teenage girl and her surfing friend ...
'', in 1993 through
Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...
record label Little Deputy Records. Devin Quinn left and was temporarily replaced by Tom Kennedy before Chuck Platt joined as the band's permanent bassist. Good Riddance signed to
Fat Wreck Chords Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is an independent record label based in San Francisco focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) and his wife at the time, Erin Burkett in 1990. ...
, releasing their debut album '' For God and Country'' and the ''
Decoy A decoy (derived from the Dutch ''de'' ''kooi'', literally "the cage" or possibly ''eenden kooi'', " duck cage") is usually a person, device, or event which resembles what an individual or a group might be looking for, but it is only meant to ...
'' EP in 1995. Rich McDermott left and was replaced by Sean Sellers for 1996's ''
A Comprehensive Guide to Moderne Rebellion ''A Comprehensive Guide to Moderne Rebellion'' is the second album by the Santa Cruz, California-based hardcore punk band Good Riddance, released June 4, 1996, through Fat Wreck Chords. It was the band's first album with drummer Sean Sellers, re ...
''. Sellers would continue to drum for Good Riddance until December 1999, a few month before the 2000 E.P. ''
The Phenomenon of Craving ''The Phenomenon of Craving'' is an EP by the Santa Cruz, California-based hardcore punk band Good Riddance, released May 23, 2000 through Fat Wreck Chords. A portion of the proceeds from this album benefit the Homeless Garden Project in Santa ...
'', which was recorded with Dave Raun from
Lagwagon Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, California, just outside Santa Barbara, California, Santa Barbara. They formed in 1989, went on hiatus in 2000, and reunited several times over the years. Their name comes from the ba ...
/
RKL Rich Kids on LSD (RKL) is a Californian hardcore punk band formed in 1982 in Montecito, California, a suburb of Santa Barbara, California, Santa Barbara. They were associated with Punk rock in California#Nardcore, the "Nardcore" scene of West Co ...
. Dave Wagenschutz, best known as the drummer for
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
melodic hardcore band Lifetime, then joined the band and recorded the next two albums and toured with Good Riddance. Sellers would later rejoin the band to play on their seventh studio record, "
My Republic ''My Republic'' is the seventh studio album by the Santa Cruz, California-based hardcore punk band Good Riddance, released June 27, 2006 through Fat Wreck Chords. It marked the band's return from an almost three-year period of inactivity, duri ...
" in 2006, and on their farewell live record, ''
Remain In Memory - The Final Show ''Remain in Memory: The Final Show'' is a live album by the hardcore punk band Good Riddance, recorded at their final performance May 27, 2007 in their hometown of Santa Cruz, California and released March 18, 2008 through Fat Wreck Chords. Re ...
'' in 2007. Every member of the band supports
animal rights Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all Animal consciousness, sentient animals have Moral patienthood, moral worth independent of their Utilitarianism, utility to humans, and that their most basic interests—such as ...
and is either
vegan Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products and the consumption of animal source foods, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who practices veganism is known as a ve ...
or
vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...
. The band is a vocal supporter of
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA; ) is an American animal rights nonprofit organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. Founded in March 1980 by Newkirk and animal rights ...
and the United States
Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice. Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...
. All of the members have played in other projects: Pabich and Sellers i
Outlie
Platt in "I Want Out" and Rankin in
Only Crime Only Crime is an American melodic hardcore group formed by Good Riddance singer Russ Rankin and Bane guitarist Aaron Dalbec in 2003. The band plays melodic but hard-hitting punk rock that borrows heavily from early-1980s hardcore bands such ...
. Sellers also plays drums in Celtic punk band,
The Real McKenzies The Real McKenzies is a Canadian Celtic punk band founded in 1992 and based in Vancouver, British Columbia. They are considered the founders of the Canadian Celtic punk movement, and were one of the first Celtic punk bands, albeit 10 years af ...
. The band have been influential with their combination of Skate Punk and 80s
Hardcore Punk Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...
, influencing bands such as
Phinius Gage Phinius Gage are an English underground skate punk/melodic hardcore band who started up in 2001. In 2015 they played a reunion tour and announced in 2024 they had reformed. The band's first new music in nearly 2 decades came out in 2025. The ...
and
No Trigger No Trigger is an American melodic hardcore band from Massachusetts. History The band formed in 2001, with a sound which takes cues from like-minded outfits such as Strike Anywhere and None More Black. The band self-released two demos, one of t ...
. On April 3, 2007, the band announced their break-up, and played their final show on May 27, 2007 in their hometown of
Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz (Spanish language, Spanish for "Holy Cross") is the largest city and the county seat of Santa Cruz County, California, Santa Cruz County, in Northern California. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city population ...
at The Catalyst. This show was recorded and released as ''
Remain in Memory - The Final Show ''Remain in Memory: The Final Show'' is a live album by the hardcore punk band Good Riddance, recorded at their final performance May 27, 2007 in their hometown of Santa Cruz, California and released March 18, 2008 through Fat Wreck Chords. Re ...
''.


2012 Reunion

On February 16, 2012, Good Riddance announced on their website that they had reunited, with their usual lineup (Rankin, Pabich, Platt and Sellers). '' Peace in Our Time'', the eighth studio album and first since their 2007 breakup and 2012 reunion was released April 21, 2015 through
Fat Wreck Chords Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is an independent record label based in San Francisco focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) and his wife at the time, Erin Burkett in 1990. ...
. On July 19, 2019, Good Riddance released their ninth studio album ''
Thoughts and Prayers "Thoughts and prayers" is a phrase commonly used by politicians, public figures, and celebrities, particularly in the United States, as a condolence after a deadly event such as a natural disaster or mass shooting. The phrase "thoughts and pr ...
'' through Fat Wreck Chords.


Band members


Current members

* Russ Rankin – vocals (1986–2007, 2012–present) *Luke Pabich – guitar (1990–2007, 2012–present) *Chuck Platt – bass guitar (1994–2007, 2012–present) *Sean Sellers – drums (1996–1999, 2006–2007, 2012–present)


Former members

*Rob Land – guitar (1986–1990) *John Burnett – bass (1986–1991) *Devin Quinn – bass (1991–1993) *Tom Kennedy – bass (1993–1994) *Rich McDermott – drums (1986–1989, 1993–1995) *Andrew Jackson – drums (1990–1991) *Jade Dylan – drums (1991–1993) *Dave Raun – drums (1999–2000) *David Wagenschutz – drums (2000–2005)


Timeline


Discography

;Studio albums *'' For God and Country'' (1995) *''
A Comprehensive Guide to Moderne Rebellion ''A Comprehensive Guide to Moderne Rebellion'' is the second album by the Santa Cruz, California-based hardcore punk band Good Riddance, released June 4, 1996, through Fat Wreck Chords. It was the band's first album with drummer Sean Sellers, re ...
'' (1996) *'' Ballads from the Revolution'' (1998) *'' Operation Phoenix'' (1999) *''
Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit ''Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit'' is the fifth album by the Santa Cruz, California-based hardcore punk band Good Riddance, released July 10, 2001 through Fat Wreck Chords. It was their only release ever to chart, reaching #32 on ''Billboards Ind ...
'' (2001) *''
Bound by Ties of Blood and Affection ''Bound by Ties of Blood and Affection'' is the sixth studio album by the Santa Cruz, California-based hardcore punk band Good Riddance, released May 20, 2003 through Fat Wreck Chords. Like their previous two studio albums it was recorded at The ...
'' (2003) *''
My Republic ''My Republic'' is the seventh studio album by the Santa Cruz, California-based hardcore punk band Good Riddance, released June 27, 2006 through Fat Wreck Chords. It marked the band's return from an almost three-year period of inactivity, duri ...
'' (2006) *'' Peace in Our Time'' (2015) *''
Thoughts and Prayers "Thoughts and prayers" is a phrase commonly used by politicians, public figures, and celebrities, particularly in the United States, as a condolence after a deadly event such as a natural disaster or mass shooting. The phrase "thoughts and pr ...
'' (2019)


Videography

* ''Exposed! 1994-1999'' VHS (
Fat Wreck Chords Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is an independent record label based in San Francisco focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) and his wife at the time, Erin Burkett in 1990. ...
, July 31, 2001)


References


External links


Official Site

Fat Wreck Chords Profile
*
Good Riddance on Punknews.org


{{Authority control Musical groups established in 1986 Musical groups disestablished in 2007 Hardcore punk groups from California Fat Wreck Chords artists 1986 establishments in California Skate punk groups Melodic hardcore musical groups from California