Reel Big Fish
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| Reel Big Fish | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Orange County, California, United States |
| Genre(s) | Ska punk, alternative rock, third wave ska |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Label(s) | Mojo, Jive, Rock Ridge Music |
| Associated acts | The Littlest Man Band The Forces of Evil The Scholars Jeffries Fan Club Spring Heeled Jack USA Suburban Rhythm Nuckle Brothers |
| Website | http://www.reel-big-fish.com |
| Members | |
| Aaron Barrett Scott Klopfenstein Derek Gibbs Dan Regan Ryland Steen John Christianson |
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| Former members | |
| Ben Guzman Zach Gilltrap Lisa Smith Robert Quimby Adam Polakoff Andrew Gonzales Grant Barry Tavis Werts Carlos de la Garza Tyler Jones Justin Ferreira Matt Wong |
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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 album Turn the Radio Off. Since the band's founding in 1992 and their demo In the Good Old Days..., the only original member remaining is Aaron Barrett.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early success (1992-1999)
The band's debut album, Everything Sucks, was an underground hit and led to a deal with Mojo Records. The album Turn the Radio Off established the band in the ska punk scene, and they began touring throughout the United States. After the single "Sell Out" began breaking into the mainstream, including MTV, the album made an appearance on the charts. However, the ska revival was short-lived, and their 1998 album Why Do They Rock So Hard? did not lead the band into the mainstream. In 1998, the band appeared in the movie BASEketball, performing in the stands to pump up the crowd. Why Do They Rock So Hard? was the last album for three members of the band. Trombonist Grant Barry and trumpet player Tavis Werts were either fired or left the band voluntarily, depending on the source. Drummer Andrew Gonzales left the band to spend more time with his family. Reel Big Fish then had a rotating cast of drummers and trumpeters over the next six years.
[edit] Major label years (2000-2005)
In 2002 the band fared much better on the rock charts, particularly because of the single "Where Have You Been?", which did not prominently feature the horn section. Former Suburban Rhythm drummer Carlos de la Garza played drums and ex-Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A. Tyler Jones tracked trumpet for two songs on Cheer Up! (because Werts had already done the majority of recording before his departure). De la Garza's last concert with Reel Big Fish was on June 20, 2003 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California. That concert was later released as the DVD The Show Must Go Off! Jones played live in Reel Big Fish for some further time before being fired by Barrett for his excessive drinking. He was replaced by trumpeter John Christianson, formerly of The Forces of Evil.
On April 5, 2005, Reel Big Fish released their fourth album on Mojo; We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy. Justin Ferreira (who replaced De La Garza) was on drums for the recording, but left before the album's release to join the Orange County band Takota and subsequently is listed as an additional musician on the CD. He was replaced by Ryland Steen.
Aaron Barrett has stated that We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy was "the third record in a trilogy" that began with Turn the Radio Off. "The first one was about being in a band and trying to make it. Then Why Do They Rock So Hard? was like, 'we've made it, we're rock stars'. Cheer Up we made because we had to make it. But We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy is about us being old and jaded now."[1]
[edit] Independent work (2006-Present)
While on tour in early 2006, Reel Big Fish received a call from Jive Records, informing them that they had been dropped from the label, much to the band's delight. The band formed their own label and released a 3-disc live performance CD/DVD set, Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album. This package became available on July 18, 2006 on the Internet and in retail stores on August 22. Jive later released a Reel Big Fish greatest hits album, Greatest Hit...And More, because they owned the rights to all previous songs. The band did not approve of, or make any money from the album, and have spoken out against it.
On February 20, 2007, the band released Duet All Night Long, which is a split EP with Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer. It features six cover songs (three from each band), with the vocalist of each band performing in the other band's songs (except in the case of Scott Klopfenstein singing in the song, "Say Say Say".)
Reel Big Fish released their first studio album since leaving Jive Records; Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps For Free worldwide on July 10, 2007, on the Rock Ridge Music record label. On June 26, 2007, shortly before its release, the band announced in a Myspace blog that Matt Wong was leaving the band to spend more time with his wife and newborn child. He was replaced by Derek Gibbs who played bass in Jeffries Fan Club and Aaron Barrett's now defunct side project, The Forces Of Evil. Since Matt Wong was very popular with fans, some are skeptical of the new bassist's ability, but the band has stated that Derek is "Matt Wong Approved" and fans have nothing to worry about. Gibbs had been filling in for Wong on various tours since early 2002.
On December 19, 2007, the band announced that they would play the entire Warped Tour 2008.[2]
Reel Big Fish have announced that they will release a new studio album on January 20, 2009.[3] The name of the album will be Fame, Fortune and Fornication, and it will consist of 10 cover songs.[4] However, the band began selling the album at their merch booth as early as January 1, 2009 at the House of Blues San Diego. Another album, with original material, is planned for late 2009.[5] The band will also be recording a new live DVD at The Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim, California, on January 4, 2009.[6]
[edit] Band members
| (1992–1994) In the Good Old Days... |
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| (1994) Return of the Mullet |
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| (1994) Buy This! |
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| (1994–1995) Everything Sucks |
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| (1995–1998) Turn the Radio Off Keep Your Receipt Why Do They Rock So Hard? |
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| (1998–1999) live shows only |
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| (1999–2001) Cheer Up! |
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| (2001–2003) Live at the House of Blues |
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| (2003–2004) live shows only |
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| (2004–2005) We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy |
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| (2005–2007) Duet All Night Long Our Live Album is Better Than Your Live Album Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free |
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| (2007–present) Fame, Fortune and Fornication |
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[edit] Current members
- Aaron Barrett - guitar, lead vocals (1992–present)
- Dan Regan - trombone, backing vocals (1994–present)
- Scott Klopfenstein - trumpet, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1995–present)
- John Christianson - trumpet, backing vocals (2004–present)
- Ryland Steen - drums (2005–present)
- Derek Gibbs - bass guitar (2007–present)
[edit] Past members
- Ben Guzman - vocals (1992–1994)
- Zach Gilltrap - keyboards/synthesizers (1992–1994)
- Lisa Smith - guitar (1992–1994)
- Eric Vismantes - trumpet (1994)
- Stephan Reed - saxophone (1994)
- Robert Quimby - trombone (1994–1995)
- Adam Polakoff - saxophone (1994–1995)
- Grant Barry - trombone (1995–1998)
- Andrew Gonzales - drums (1992–1998)
- Tavis Werts - trumpet (1994–2001)
- Carlos de la Garza - drums (1999–2003)
- Tyler Jones - trumpet (2001–2004)
- Justin Ferreira - drums (2003–2005)
- Matt Wong - bass, backing vocals (1992–2007)
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[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
| Year | Album | Record Label | Chart Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 (Re-released 2000) | Everything Sucks | Piss-Off Records | -- |
| August 13, 1996 | Turn the Radio Off | Mojo Records/Jive Records | US #57 |
| October 20, 1998 | Why Do They Rock So Hard? | Mojo Records/Jive Records | US #67 |
| June 25, 2002 | Cheer Up! | Mojo Records/Jive Records | US #115 |
| April 5, 2005 | We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy | Mojo Records/Jive Records | US #155 |
| July 10, 2007 | Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free | Rock Ridge Music | US #106 UK #40 |
| January 20, 2009 | Fame, Fortune and Fornication | Rock Ridge Music | US # UK # |
[edit] Live album
| Year | Album | Record Label | Chart Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2006 | Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album (Sold with You're All In This Together DVD) | Rock Ridge Music | Never charted |
[edit] Band members' other projects
- Scott Klopfenstein and Dan Regan were also members of The Littlest Man Band.[7]
- Aaron Barrett, Derek Gibbs and John Christianson were also members of The Forces of Evil, along with former members of Jeffries Fan Club and other Orange County ska musicians. This band broke up in early 2005.[citation needed]
- Before they were members of Reel Big Fish, Aaron Barrett, Scott Klopfenstein, and Grant Barry were members of a band called The Scholars.[citation needed]
- Scott Klopfenstein was also a member of a ska band called the Nuckle Brothers.[citation needed]
- Dan Regan has a techno project called Black Casper. Notably, he remixed Reel Big Fish's cover of "Talkin' Bout A Revolution", incorporating different sound bites, including Ali Tabatabaee from Reel Big Fish's live DVD, You're All In This Together.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ In Music We Trust - INTERVIEW: Reel Big Fish: Aaron Barrett discusses 15 minutes of fame, new record, and SKA's next generation
- ^ Warped Tour 2007
- ^ "Reel Big Release Date." Absolutepunk.net. October 16, 2008.
- ^ http://www.livedaily.com/news/15091.html
- ^ http://www.livedaily.com/news/15091.html
- ^ http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=11034452&blogID=457180360
- ^ The Littlest Man Band Official Site
[edit] External links
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