History The Vandals

1 history

1.1 years (1980-1984)
1.2 quackenbush, fitzgerald, , freese join (1984-1989)
1.3 role in 90s punk revival (1990-2000)
1.4 kung fu records years (2000-present)

history
early years (1980-1984)

the vandals formed in 1980 in huntington beach, california guitarist jan nils ackermann. vocalist steven ronald stevo jensen (1959-august 21, 2005) found , , ackermann practiced , performed rotating cast of other members before permanent lineup coalesced include bassist steve human pfauter , drummer joe escalante. other members included steve gonzalez on bass , vince mesa on drums.

the band built reputation in los angeles , orange county punk rock community included bands such bad religion, descendents, black flag, t.s.o.l., x, germs, suicidal tendencies, dickies, , social distortion. vandals distinguished in scene sticking humorous subject matter rather typical social , political topics addressed punk bands of time.

the vandals performing in tucson, arizona in 1984, showing original members stevo , jan nils ackermann (bassist chalmer lumary visible in background).

in 1982 group became second band sign epitaph records, los angeles label run bad religion s brett gurewitz, released first ep peace thru vandalism. record contained several songs become fan favorites , remained in band s live set 1990s, including urban struggle, became local hit after receiving airplay on kroq-fm s rodney on roq program.

most of record s subject material drawn directly band s own experiences in local punk rock scene. legend of pat brown told tales of substance-abusing friend of band notorious causing mayhem, while pirate s life dealt experience of riding disneyland s pirates of caribbean ride while taking lsd. aforementioned urban struggle dealt constant fights occur between punk rock fans congregated @ costa mesa club called cuckoo s nest , country music fans gathered @ nearby zubie s. anarchy burger (hold government) approached philosophy of anarchism, advocated many punk bands, humorous perspective , became 1 of band s popular songs throughout career.

in 1984 band appeared in film suburbia invitation of director penelope spheeris, had directed influential decline of western civilization. played benefit concert cypress college young republicans, along circle jerks, dickies, d.i., , plain wrap, action prompted derision traditionally leftist , anarchist punk community. not last time band s actions draw criticism, music maintaining apolitical position.

pfauter left band in 1984 , brent turner brought in play bass on recording of first album, when in rome vandals. time of album s release in 1985 on national trust records chalmer lumary had joined band s full-time bassist. album explored different musical styles , contained several songs become fan favorites. ladykiller incorporated scratching , dance beats, while mohawk town explored mixture of punk rock , country music. personality clashes between members led stevo s departure band shortly thereafter. replaced dave quackenbush of band falling idols, has remained vandals vocalist. in 1987 band appeared in penelope spheeris film, dudes.

quackenbush, fitzgerald, , freese join (1984-1989)

dave quackenbush replaced stevo vandals singer in 1985.

by 1989 lumary had left band , robbie allen joined them in studio play bass on album slippery when ill. album of departure punk rock formula of previous releases, fusing country , western styles humorous brand of punk sound band called cow punk, mocking resurgence in popularity of country music in native huntington beach. joking style confused many of fans , album remain in obscurity until 1999 re-release vandals play bad original country tunes. time of album s release band had recruited new drummer doug mackinnon , escalante had moved bass, position remain in rest of band s career.

after departure of band s members, bassist joe escalante retained rights vandals name , catalogue.

following release of slippery when ill band went through several lineup changes, drummer mackinnon , founding-guitarist ackermann both left group.

with escalante asserting control on band, stevo, ackermann, lumary, , t.s.o.l. drummer todd barnes played show billed vandals, later s.n.i.v. (stevo s new , improved vandals). escalante has stated older members relinquished control of band s name , rights him in exchange permission play show, others deny claim , point out escalante served injunction against them during performance preventing them further use of name , music.

the departure of ackermann , mackinnon left escalante , quackenbush searching new guitarist , drummer. vandals had played shows band called doggy style , had been intrigued wacky antics of guitarist warren fitzgerald, , recruited him new permanent guitarist. around time escalante , quackenbush made many visits disneyland, witnessed josh freese playing electronic drums in children s cover band polo on tomorrowland terrace stage. persuaded him join, solidifying vandals lineup of quackenbush, fitzgerald, escalante, , freese remain constant throughout rest of career (with occasional substitutes filling in freese).

role in 90s punk revival (1990-2000)

in 1990 new lineup recorded fear of punk planet, album established presence amongst emerging new crop of california punk rock bands including green day, nofx, offspring, rancid, pennywise, , sublime. spawned first music video, song pizza tran, received airplay on local punk , rock television shows.

in 1992 escalante graduated law school , became television executive @ cbs, using money job finance band , television connections allow them play on late-night rock shows. @ new year s eve party @ escalante unable play, actor keanu reeves filled in him on bass. fitzgerald , freese, meanwhile, moved towards careers professional musicians. freese became sought-after studio drummer, while fitzgerald began three-year stint guitarist oingo boingo.

in 1994 band released sweatin oldies, live album , video featured performances of songs peace thru vandalism , when in rome. point on band play fewer , fewer of these older songs in live sets, concentrating instead on newer material.

by 1995 punk rock had gained nationwide mainstream popularity, , vandals signed offspring singer dexter holland s new label nitro records. released album live fast, diarrhea positive reception , supported tours throughout united states , europe, including spot opening fellow orange county rockers no doubt. album , band garnered increased attention episode of popular television show x-files in actor giovanni ribisi played character wears vandals t-shirts , listens music.

1996 saw release of quickening, more nihilistic , aggressive album supported music video s fact. year escalante , fitzgerald founded record label kung fu records, created in order release album riverside band assorted jelly beans. label released soundtrack movie glory daze, featured music both vandals , assorted jellybeans , theme written fitzgerald. @ end of year band released christmas album, oi world!, on kung fu. although remained band s obscure release several years, title track became famous when covered no doubt in 1997. version produced fitzgerald , made music video. other oi world!, songs album not part of vandals live setlist, except annual winter formal concert @ perform album in entirety. sweatin oldies re-released kung fu in 1997 bonus tracks.

in 1998 band released hitler bad, vandals good, popular album yet focused more on lighthearted humor songs such girlfriend s dead , ve got ape drape. band continued tour, including stints on vans warped tour. in 1999 re-released of slippery when ill vandals play bad original country tunes on kung fu. members starred in kung fu-produced internet television series fear of punk planet, later released on dvd.

2000 saw trio of releases band, beginning 10-year anniversary edition of fear of punk planet released kung fu. followed stepped in..., final album under contract nitro. because of other musical commitments freese unavailable play on album, substitute brooks wackerman filled in drummer album s recording , accompanying tours. @ end of year kung fu re-released oi world!, making more available had been in previous years. escalante launched kung fu imprint kung fu films in 2000 release of film darn punk, in starred , other band members appeared. vandals contributed new songs film s soundtrack.

kung fu records years (2000-present)

by end of 2000 vandals had fulfilled contractual obligations nitro records, , moved operations kung fu. kung fu label had grown since founding in 1996 , well-positioned provide recording, marketing, , touring support band s popularity necessitated, including marketing , touring opportunities in japan. escalante acting president of label band s operations run more smoothly. in 2001 band performed on entire run of vans warped tour.

the band s first new album kung fu internet dating superstuds, released in 2002. held online contest in winners each awarded date 1 of band members. these dates filmed , included on cd-rom portion of album, used internet theme in artwork. once again performed on warped tour, , play select dates on subsequent warped tours on next 3 years. sweatin oldies video re-released on dvd year kung fu.

the vandals performing troops in sadr city, baghdad in december 2004, substitute drummer byron mcmackin.

in july 2003 vandals filmed live concert album , dvd @ house of blues in anaheim part of kung fu s show must go off! series. released following year , featured songs written 1995 2002. 2003 saw release of hollywood potato chip, strayed bit pop-punk formula of 1990s work.

in december 2004 band traveled iraq , played several shows troops in area, drummer byron mcmackin of pennywise filling in freese. fans , contemporaries in punk community criticized decision, claiming implied band supported us-led war in iraq. band members defended actions pointing out music deliberately apolitical , whatever individual political views might be, eager show support troops. followed tour of europe, on dates cancelled due protests , picketing groups felt band s actions constituted pro-war stance.

in 2005 shingo japanese remix album released, composed of versions of band s songs remixed japanese dj shingo asari. august band played benefit show legendary new york rock club cbgb. in same month, original singer stevo died of drug overdose.

in april 2006 vandals once again returned middle east mcmackin perform troops, time in afghanistan. continue tour when members schedules permit, have other music-related obligations outside band. freese continues act studio drummer multitude of recording artists. fitzgerald writes , produces songs , albums other artists movie scores, , acts, having starred in kung fu film cake boy. escalante continues own , operate kung fu records , kung fu films, signing bands , making films such show must go off! series , cake boy. retired legal practice in 2005 , hosted call-in radio show barely legal radio on indie 103.1 fm, dispensed entertainment , legal advice aspiring musicians. in may 2006 became station s drive-time morning show host, replacing former mighty mighty bosstones singer dicky barrett. in 2007 vandals played first 4 dates of warped tour.

in august 2008 vandals played 9 dates of 2008 warped tour sum 41 drummer steve jocz filling in josh freese, touring 9 inch nails. on august 12 band released bbc sessions , other polished turds, collection of rare songs , b-sides, exclusively digital release.

in january 2015, band recorded version song m individual, recorded australian footballer mark jacko jackson, australian soundwave 2015 compilation, launched in february of year.

as of 2017, no albums or new material released, band remain active , performing live.