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Biography
about|the band||Vandal (disambiguation)Infobox musical artist | name = The Vandals| image = The Vandals 2011-12-18 02.JPG| landscape = yes| caption = Left to right: Escalante, Quackenbush, Freese, and Fitzgerald in 2011| image_size =| background = group_or_band| origin = Huntington Beach, California , United States | genre = Punk rock , pop punk | years_active = 1980present| label = Epitaph Records|Epitaph , National Trust Records|National Trust , Restless Records|Restless , Triple X Records|Triple X , Nitro Records|Nitro , Kung Fu Records|Kung Fu | associated_acts = Oingo Boingo , Devo , A Perfect Circle , Sweet and Tender Hooligans | website = http://www.vandals.com/ www.vandals.com| current_members = Dave Quackenbush Warren Fitzgerald Joe Escalante Josh Freese | past_members = Stevo Jan Nils Ackermann Steve Pfauter|Steve "Human" Pfauter Brent Turner Chalmer Lumary Robbie Allen Doug MacKinnon The Vandals are an American rock band established in 1980 in Huntington Beach, California . They have released ten full-length studio albums and two live albums and have toured the world extensively, including performances on the Vans Warped Tour . They are well-known for their use of humor, preferring to use their music as a vehicle for entertainment and sarcasm rather than as a platform for more serious issues.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Vandals official FAQ | work =Vandals.com | publisher = | date = | url = http://www.vandals.com/html/faq.htm | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-05 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070823030434/ http://www.vandals.com/html/faq.htm |archivedate = 2007-08-23 They are currently recording for Kung Fu Records .
The band's lineup fluctuated significantly over their first nine years, though founding members Steven Ronald Jensen, guitarist Jan Nils Ackermann , and first consistent drummer Joe Escalante remained regular fixtures. Of the early members only Escalante has remained through all subsequent incarnations of the band. The current lineup of Escalante, Dave Quackenbush , Warren Fitzgerald , and Josh Freese has remained intact since 1990 and is generally considered far removed from the band's early 1980s incarnation. Since 2002 Escalante has released all of the band's albums through his Kung Fu Records label, with Fitzgerald generally producing.
Band history
Formation
The Vandals formed in 1980 in Huntington Beach, California . Vocalist Steven Ronald Jensen|Steven Ronald "Stevo" Jensen and guitarist Jan Nils Ackermann initiated the group, practicing and performing with a number of other members before the lineup coalesced to include bassist Steve Pfauter|Steve "Human" Pfauter and drummer Joe Escalante . The band quickly built a reputation in the Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles and Orange County, California|Orange County punk rock community which also included bands such as Bad Religion , Descendents (band)|Descendents , Black Flag (band)|Black Flag , T.S.O.L. , X (American band)|X , the Germs (band)|Germs , Suicidal Tendencies , The Dickies , and Social Distortion . The Vandals distinguished themselves in their scene by sticking to humorous subject matter rather than the typical social and political topics addressed by most punk bands of the time.
In 1984 the band appeared in the film Suburbia (film)|Suburbia by invitation of director Penelope Spheeris , who had also directed the influential The Decline of Western Civilization . They also played a benefit concert for the Cypress College Young Republicans, an action which prompted derision from the traditionally leftist and anarchist punk community. It would not be the last time the band's actions would draw criticism, with their music generally maintaining an apolitical position.
First album
Pfauter left the band in 1984 and Brent Turner was brought in to play bass guitar|bass on the recording of their first album, When in Rome Do as the Vandals . By the time of the album's release in 1985 on National Trust Records Chalmer Lumary had joined as the band's full-time bassist. The album explored different musical styles and contained several songs that would become fan favorites. "Ladykiller" incorporated scratching and dance beats, while "Mohawk Town" explored a mixture of punk rock and country music. Personality clashes between members led to Stevo's departure from the band shortly thereafter. He was replaced by Dave Quackenbush of the band Falling Idols , who has remained the Vandals' vocalist. In 1987 the band appeared in another Penelope Spheeris film, Dudes (film)|Dudes .
Conflict over ownership
| last =Hochman | first =Steve | author-link = | last2 = | first2 = | author2-link = | title =Credit Theft or Just Bad Blood Between Vandals? | newspaper = Los Angeles Times | pages =sec. E, p. 43 | date =April 6, 2003 | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/321738681.html? dids=321738681:321738681& FMT=ABS& FMTS=ABS:FT& type=current& date=Apr+6%2C+2003& author=Steve+Hochman& pub=Los+Angeles+Times& edition=& startpage=E.43& desc=POP+EYE | postscript = In any case, Escalante maintained legal control over the rights to the Vandals' name and catalogue and continued to perform with Quackenbush under the name, recruiting new members to continue the band. In 2003 several of the original members would initiate legal actions against Escalante claiming that they had never relinquished the rights and that he had concealed and withheld royalties and licensing fees from them.
Fitzgerald and Freese join
The departure of Ackermann and MacKinnon left Escalante and Quackenbush searching for a new guitarist and drummer. The Vandals had previously played shows with a band called Doggy Style and had been intrigued by the wacky antics of their guitarist Warren Fitzgerald , and they soon recruited him as their new permanent guitarist. Also around this time Escalante and Quackenbush made many visits to Disneyland , where they witnessed Josh Freese playing electronic drums in the children's cover band Polo on the Tomorrowland Terrace stage. They persuaded him to join, solidifying the Vandals lineup of Quackenbush, Fitzgerald, Escalante, and Freese which would remain constant throughout the rest of their career (with occasional substitutes filling in for Freese).
In 1990 the new lineup recorded Fear of a Punk Planet (album)|Fear of a Punk Planet , an album which established their presence amongst an emerging new crop of California punk rock bands including Pennywise (band)|Pennywise , Rancid (band)|Rancid , NOFX , the Offspring , and Sublime (band)|Sublime . It spawned their first music video , for the song "Pizza Tran," which received airplay on local punk and rock television shows. The following year the band recorded '' Sweatin' to the Oldies: The Vandals Live|Sweatin' to the Oldies , a live album and video which featured mostly performances of songs from Peace Thru Vandalism and When in Rome . From this point on the band would play fewer and fewer of these older songs in their live sets, concentrating instead on newer material.
In 1992 Escalante graduated from law school and became a television executive at CBS , using money from his job to finance the band and his television connections to allow them to play on late-night rock shows. At a New Year's Eve party at which Escalante was unable to play, actor Keanu Reeves filled in for him on bass. Fitzgerald and Freese, meanwhile, moved towards careers as professional musicians. Freese became a sought-after studio drummer, while Fitzgerald began a 3-year stint as guitarist for Oingo Boingo .
Nitro Records years
By 1995 punk rock had gained nationwide mainstream popularity in the wake of successful albums by the Offspring and Green Day , and the Vandals signed to Offspring singer Dexter Holland 's new label Nitro Records . They released the album Live Fast, Diarrhea to positive reception and supported it with tours throughout the United States and Europe , including a spot opening for fellow Orange County rockers No Doubt . The album and band garnered increased attention thanks to an episode of the popular television show The X-Files in which actor Giovanni Ribisi played a character who wears Vandals t-shirts and listens to their music.
1996 saw the release of The Quickening , a slightly more nihilistic and aggressive album that was supported by a music video for "It's a Fact." That year Escalante and Fitzgerald also founded the record label Kung Fu Records , initially created in order to release an album by the Riverside, California|Riverside band Assorted Jelly Beans . The label also released the soundtrack to the movie Glory Daze , which featured music from both the Vandals and Assorted Jellybeans and a theme written by Fitzgerald. At the end of the year the band also released a Christmas album, Oi to the World! , on Kung Fu. Although it remained the band's most obscure release for a several years, the title track became somewhat famous when it was covered by No Doubt in 1997. Their version was produced by Fitzgerald and made into a music video. Other than "Oi to the World!," songs from the album are generally not part of the Vandals' live setlist, except for their annual "Winter Formal" concert at which they generally perform the album in its entirety. ''Sweatin' to the Oldies was also re-released by Kung Fu in 1997 with bonus tracks.
In 1998 the band released Hitler Bad, Vandals Good , their most popular album yet which focused more on lighthearted humor with songs such as "My Girlfriend's Dead" and "I've Got an Ape Drape." The band continued to tour, including stints on the Vans Warped Tour . In 1999 they re-released most of Slippery When Ill as The Vandals Play Really Bad Original Country Tunes on Kung Fu. The members also starred in the Kung Fu-produced internet television series Fear of a Punk Planet (series)|Fear of a Punk Planet , later released on DVD .
2000 saw a trio of releases from the band, beginning with a 10-year anniversary edition of Fear of a Punk Planet that was released by Kung Fu. This was followed by Look What I Almost Stepped In... , their final album under their contract with Nitro. Because of other musical commitments Freese was unavailable to play on the album, so substitute Brooks Wackerman filled in as drummer for the album's recording and some accompanying tours. At the end of the year Kung Fu re-released Oi to the World! , making it much more widely available than it had been in previous years. Escalante also launched the Kung Fu imprint Kung Fu Films in 2000 with the release of the film That Darn Punk , in which he starred and the other band members also appeared. The Vandals also contributed new songs to the film's soundtrack.
Move to Kung Fu Records
By the end of 2000 the Vandals had fulfilled their contractual obligations to Nitro Records, and moved their operations fully to Kung Fu. The Kung Fu label had grown since its founding in 1996 and was well-positioned to provide the recording, marketing, and touring support the band's popularity now necessitated, including marketing and touring opportunities in Japan . With Escalante acting as president of the label the band's operations could also run more smoothly. In 2001 the band performed on the entire run of the Vans Warped Tour.
The band's first new album for Kung Fu was Internet Dating Superstuds , released in 2002. They held an online contest in which the winners were each awarded a "date" with one of the band members. These "dates" were filmed and included on the CD-ROM portion of the album, which used an internet theme in its artwork. They once again performed on the Warped Tour, and would play select dates on subsequent Warped Tours over the next 3 years. The ''Sweatin' to the Oldies video was also re-released on DVD that year by Kung Fu.
Legal and political controversies
In 2003 ex-band members Steven Ronald Jensen, Jan Nils Ackermann , Chalmer Lumary, and Steve Pfauter initiated legal actions against Escalante, alleging that he had mismanaged the band's back catalogue and had withheld royalties that were owed them. Their allegations stemmed from Escalante's licensing of some of the band's early-1980s songs for use in films and commercials. "Urban Struggle" was used in the film SLC Punk and in an Adidas commercial, while a lyric from "Anarchy Burger (Hold the Government)" was used in the movie xXx . In each case the songs were credited to Escalante.cite video | people = Film credits |date = 1999 | title = SLC Punk | url = | format = DVD | medium = Film | publisher = Sony Pictures Classics | location = Culver City, California | accessdate=August 2007 | time = 1:36:45 | quote = cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = xXx soundtrack listing | work = The Internet Movie Database | publisher = | date = | url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0295701/soundtrack | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-18A CD re-release combining Peace Thru Vandalism and When in Rome Do as the Vandals had also been in print since 1989 through Time Bomb Recordings with the credit "all songs written by Joe Escalante."cite web | last =Hinds | first =Andy | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Peace Thru Vandalism/When in Rome Do as the Vandals | work = Allmusic | publisher = | date = | url =Allmusic|class=album|id=r56374|pure_url=yes| format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-18 The former members asserted that most of these songs had been written before Escalante joined the group, that he had misappropriated their intellectual property, and that he had not paid them royalties due from the licensing of these songs.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =For the Record: Quick News on R. Kelly and Jay-Z, Britney Spears, Deftones, Norah Jones, Stray Cats & More | work = MTV News | publisher = | date =April 8, 2003 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471126/20030408/kelly_r.jhtml | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-05 Lawsuits ensued, resulting in an undisclosed settlement which allowed Escalante to continue licensing the band's back catalogue. A subsequent licensing of the song "Urban Struggle" for the movie Jackass Number Two credited the group as a whole.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Jackass Number Two soundtrack listing | work = The Internet Movie Database | publisher = | date = | url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493430/soundtrack | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-18 Legal processes regarding the issue, however, are ongoing.
In December 2004 the band traveled to Iraq and played several shows for US troops in the area, with drummer Byron McMackin of Pennywise (band)|Pennywise filling in for Freese. Some fans and contemporaries in the punk community criticized this decision, claiming that it implied the band supported the US-led war in Iraq. The band members defended their actions by pointing out that their music is deliberately apolitical and that whatever their individual political views might be, they were eager to show support for the troops. This was followed by a tour of Europe, on which some dates were cancelled due to protests and picketing by groups who felt the band's actions constituted a pro-war stance.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Club cancels Vandals show due to Iraq visit | work =Punknews.org | publisher = | date =February 2, 2005 | url = http://www.punknews.org/article/11539 | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-05cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Vandals boycotted in Greece | work =Punknews.org | publisher = | date =February 22, 2005 | url = http://www.punknews.org/article/11727 | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-05cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Come Out Fighting& #33; The Vandals Rock the Troops in Iraq! | work =vandals.com/war | publisher = | date = | url = http://www.vandals.com/war/ | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-05cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Vandals launch war site | work =Punknews.org | publisher = | date =April 2, 2005 | url = http://www.punknews.org/article/12114 | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-05
Recent activity
In 2005 the Shingo Japanese Remix Album was released, composed of versions of the band's songs remixed by Japan ese DJ Shingo Asari . That August the band played a benefit show for the legendary New York City|New York rock club CBGB . In the same month, original singer Stevo died of a drug overdose.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =In Memoriam: Steven "Stevo" Jensen of the Vandals (1959-2005) | work =Punknews.org | publisher = | date =August 25, 2005 | url = http://www.punknews.org/article/13578 | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-05 http://books.google.com/books? id=bMBf3TYZigQC& pg=PA554& dq=%22Steven+Ronald+Jensen%22+dead+OR+death+OR+died& lr=& as_brr=0& cd=1#v=onepage& q=%22Steven%20Ronald%20Jensen%22%20dead%20OR%20death%20OR%20died& f=false The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches By Jeremy Simmonds. Chicago Review Press p. 554.
In April 2006 the Vandals once again returned to the Middle East with McMackin to perform for US troops, this time in Afghanistan . They continue to tour when the members' schedules permit, as they also have other music-related obligations outside the band. Freese continues to act as a studio drummer for a multitude of recording artists. Fitzgerald writes and produces songs and albums for other artists as well as movie scores, and occasionally acts, having starred in the Kung Fu film Cake Boy . Escalante continues to own and operate Kung Fu Records and Kung Fu Films, signing bands and making films such as the Show Must Go Off! series and Cake Boy . He retired from legal practice in 2005 and hosted the call-in radio show Barely Legal Radio on KDLD|Indie 103.1 FM Broadcasting|FM , where he dispensed entertainment and legal advice to aspiring musicians.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Joe Escalante joins Indie 103.1 in Los Angeles | work =Punknews.org | publisher = | date =May 14, 2005 | url = http://www.punknews.org/article/12547 | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-05 In May 2006 he became the station's drive-time morning show host, replacing former The Mighty Mighty Bosstones|Mighty Mighty Bosstones singer Dicky Barrett .cite web | last =White | first =Adam | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Joe Escalante takes over Indie 103 morning show | work =Punknews.org | publisher = | date =May 19, 2006 | url = http://www.punknews.org/article/17605 | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-05 In 2007 The Vandals played the first four dates of the Warped Tour .
In August 2008 The Vandals played nine dates of the 2008 Warped Tour cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Warped Tour Bands | work =Warpedtour.com | publisher = | date = | url = http://www.warpedtour.com/warpedtour/bands.asp | format = | doi = | accessdate =2008-07-29 with Sum 41 drummer Steve Jocz filling in for Josh Freese, who was touring with Nine Inch Nails .cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Updates from Sum 41 | work =Punknews.org | publisher = | date =2008-08-08 | url = http://www.punknews.org/article/29986 | format = | doi = | accessdate =2008-08-08cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Stevo to appear with The Vandals for remainder of Warped | work =Kungfurecords.com | publisher = | date =2008-08-06 | url = http://www.kungfurecords.com/KungFuRecords/Home/Entries/2008/8/6_Stevo_to_appear_with_The_Vandals_for_remainder_of_warped.html | doi = | accessdate =2008-08-08 On August 12 the band released BBC Sessions and Other Polished Turds , a collection of rare songs and b-sides, exclusively as a digital release.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Rarities album from The Vandals | work =Punknews.org | publisher = | date =2008-07-29 | url = http://www.punknews.org/article/29868 | format = | doi = | accessdate =2008-07-29
Band members
Vandals lineups (only official members listed)>
(19801984) Peace Thru Vandalism
Steven Ronald Jensen|Stevo - Singing|vocals
Jan Nils Ackermann - guitar
Steve Pfauter - bass guitar
Joe Escalante - Drum kit|drums
(1984) When in Rome Do as the Vandals
Stevo - vocals
Jan Nils Ackermann - guitar
Brent Turner - bass guitar
Joe Escalante - drums
(1984) live shows only
Stevo - vocals
Jan Nils Ackermann - guitar
Chalmer Lumary - bass guitar
Joe Escalante - drums
(19841985) live shows only
Dave Quackenbush - vocals
Jan Nils Ackermann - guitar
Chalmer Lumary - bass guitar
Joe Escalante - drums
(19851989) Slippery When Ill
Dave Quackenbush - vocals
Jan Nils Ackermann - guitar
Robbie Allen - bass guitar
Joe Escalante - drums
(1989) live shows only
Dave Quackenbush - vocals
Jan Nils Ackermann - guitar
Joe Escalante - bass guitar
Doug MacKinnon - drums
Fear of a Punk Planet Sweatin' to the Oldies: The Vandals Live
Dave Quackenbush - vocals
Warren Fitzgerald - guitar
Joe Escalante - bass guitar
Josh Freese - drums
(2000) Look What I Almost Stepped In...
Dave Quackenbush - vocals
Warren Fitzgerald - guitar
Joe Escalante - bass guitar
Brooks Wackerman - drums
Live at the House of Blues Hollywood Potato Chip
Dave Quackenbush - vocals
Warren Fitzgerald - guitar
Joe Escalante - bass guitar
Josh Freese - drums
Current members
Dave Quackenbush Singing|vocals
Warren Fitzgerald guitar , backing vocals
Joe Escalante bass guitar|bass , backing vocals
Josh Freese Drum kit|drums
Past members
Steven Ronald "Stevo" Jensen vocals (19801985)
Jan Nils Ackermann guitar (19801989)
Steve Pfauter|Steve "Human" Pfauter bass (19801984)
Brent Turner bass (1984)
Chalmer Lumary bass (19841985)
Robbie Allen bass (19851989)
Doug MacKinnon drums (19881989)
Notable fill-ins
Due to Josh Freese's job as a full-time studio drummer he has sometimes been unable to join the band on tour. The band has often relied on a list of substitutes including:
Ty Smith ( Guttermouth , Bullets and Octane , Black President (band)|Black President , Jughead's Revenge )
Damon De La Paz ( Fenix TX , 30 Foot Fall )cite web
| last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Joe, Warren and Dave from the Vandals | work =punkupdates.com | publisher = | date = | url = http://www.punkupdates.com/punkviews.php? vid=20 | format =interview | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-16
Steve Jocz ( Sum 41 )
Actor Keanu Reeves also filled in on bass guitar|bass at a New Year's Eve show in 1993 that Escalante was unable to perform.
Discography
Main|The Vandals discography;Studio albums
When in Rome Do as the Vandals (1984)
Slippery When Ill (1989)
Fear of a Punk Planet (album)|Fear of a Punk Planet (1990)
http://www.myspace.com/thevandals Official MySpace profile
http://www.kungfurecords.com/ Kung Fu Records
The Vandals DEFAULTSORT:Vandals, The Category:The Vandals Category:American punk rock groups Category:Musical groups from Orange County, California Category:Nitro Records artists Category:Kung Fu Records artists Category:Epitaph Records artists
