Tim Armstrong

This article is about the musician. For other uses, see Tim Armstrong (disambiguation).

Tim Armstrong
Background information
Birth name	Timothy Lockwood Armstrong
Also known as	Lint, Tim Timebomb
Born	November 25, 1965 (1965-11-25) Berkeley, California, United States
Origin	Albany, California, U.S.
Genres	Punk rock, ska punk, street punk, hardcore punk
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, producer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, synthesizer, harmonica
Years active	1980–present
Labels	Lookout!, Hellcat, Epitaph
Associated acts	Rancid, Devils Brigade, Transplants, Operation Ivy, Dance Hall Crashers, Downfall, Basic Radio, Shaken 69, Box Car Racer, The Silencers, The LJs, Generator
Website	www.ratsinthehallway.com
Notable instruments
Hagström Viking Gretsch Country Club Gibson SG

Timothy Lockwood Armstrong (born November 25, 1965) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.

Personal life

Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was raised primarily by his mother. At the age of five, he met Matt Freeman while playing Little League Baseball in Albany, California. Freeman and Armstrong formed a band many years later based on their shared love of bands such as The Clash and the Ramones. They both went to Albany Middle and High School. Armstrong married musician Brody Dalle in 1997, when she was only 18 and the couple divorced in 2003. Many of the lyrics on the album Indestructible deal with Armstrong's feelings about his divorce.

Music career

Basic Radio

Basic Radio was founded in 1986 and included Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong. The band never released any albums or EPs, but recorded demos, and soon after its break-up, Operation Ivy was founded.

Operation Ivy

In 1987, along with singer Jesse Michaels and drummer Dave Mello, Armstrong and Freeman formed the ska punk band Operation Ivy and enjoyed modest success before the group disbanded in 1989, the same night the album was released. The band would go on to achieve worldwide cult success in the years following its break-up.

Downfall

Downfall was an aftershock of Operation Ivy. Armstrong, Freeman, and Mello were joined by Mello's brother Pat, and Jason Hammon. Pat and Jason would both play guitar, while Armstrong took up duties on vocals. They lasted three months (December 1989 to March 1990), playing only at a few parties and twice at Gilman St. They released one song on Maximumrocknroll's They Don't Get Paid, They Don't Get Laid, but Boy, Do They Work Hard! compilation, one song on David Hayes' Very Small World compilation, one song on Lookout! Records' Can of Pork compilation, and recorded a demo. It disbanded when Freeman joined MDC on bass while Armstrong was a roadie for the band, while Pat and Dave went on to form Schlong.

Rancid

After the demise of Operation Ivy, Armstrong (being severely depressed) began to suffer from alcoholism, and eventually became homeless. During this time, Freeman suggested the two start a new band together, partially in hopes of curbing Armstrong's alcohol addiction. Armstrong began writing songs that would appear on their first album. Their new band, Rancid would eventually go on to become one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful punk rock bands of all time.

The Transplants

In 1999, Armstrong invited roadie Rob Aston ("Skinhead Rob") to add lyrics to some solo material that Armstrong had been creating in his basement, and the two worked together writing and recording music. They formed the group Transplants with Travis Barker of Blink-182 and released their self-titled debut album on October 22, 2002. A second Transplants album, Haunted Cities, was released on June 21, 2005. The Transplants break-up was confirmed by Rob Aston on January 16, 2006, when he told a reporter that the group had split. However, Barker has recently announced that the trio is currently working on a new album. They played their first show since 2006 on Conan to promote the bands drummer, Travis Barker, new solo album by playing the song "Saturday Night" which is featured on Barker's solo album. It was announced in November 2011 on the Transplants official Facebook page that their new album would be "finished" in December 2011.

Other projects

Armstrong co-wrote eight songs with Pink for her 2003 album Try This. He has also collaborated with Gwen Stefani on her debut album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and has contributed guest vocals on songs for such bands as Bad Religion, Time Again, The Matches, Mest, Good Charlotte, Head Automatica, The Aggrolites and Box Car Racer. He and Matt Freeman also play in a psychobilly band called Devils Brigade. In 2007, he released his first solo album entitled A Poet's Life with The Aggrolites as his backing band. The track from that album "Into Action" was reported as the number one most played and requested in 2007 on then XM Satellite Radio channel Fungus 53. It was announced on August 12, 2011 that Tim Armstrong was working on an album with reggae artist Jimmy Cliff. Their first single, a cover of The Clash song "The Guns of Brixton", was released on October 4, 2011. Sacred Fire EP was released late November 2011 and they are planning to release a full length album in 2012.

Armstrong in Nashville, TN on 6/27/2008

Hellcat Records

Armstrong started Hellcat Records in 1997 as a sub-label of Epitaph, owned by Armstrong's friend and Bad Religion member Brett Gurewitz. Armstrong acts as a talent scout for Hellcat, and has final say concerning what groups are signed to the label. Armstrong also owns the merchandise manufacturer Machete Mfg, which provides merchandise for bands on Hellcat Records.

Signature model guitar

In 2010, Gretsch Guitars introduced the G5191BK Tim Armstrong Electromatic guitar. The single cutaway hollowbody electric guitar featured a 17" wide body in a flat-black urethane finish, parallel tone bars and sound post, two “Black Top” Filter'Tron pickups, Grover tuners, big block fretboard inlays, a harp tailpiece and gold-plated hardware. Gretsch advertising for the model prominently features Armstrong with the guitar. It is based on his 1970's-era Gretsch Country Club model which he spray-painted black and flipped to accommodate his left-handed playing. The signature model is available in both right and left-handed models. Fender also put out a signature acoustic model based on Tim's favorite 60's era Fender acoustic guitar. The "Hellcat" has hellcat inlays in the 3 5 and 7th fret positions and two skulls in the 12th fret. It is outfitted with a tortoise shell pick guard and Fishman brand electronics. It is available in right and left handed models.

Discography

Operation Ivy

Guitar and backing vocals. Credited as "Lint".

• Hectic (1988)
• Energy (1989)
• Plea for Peace (1992)
• '69 Newport (1993)

Special Forces

Bass Guitar. Credited as "Lint".

• Red White and Blue (Special Forces Single) (1991)

Box Car Racer

Vocals on "Cat Like Thief".

• Box Car Racer (2002)

Rancid

Guitar and vocals.

• Rancid (1993)
• Let's Go (1994)
• ...And Out Come the Wolves (1995)
• Life Won't Wait (1998)
• Rancid (2000)
• Indestructible (2003)
• Let the Dominoes Fall (2009)

Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards

• Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards (2001) - guitar, backing vocals
• Viking (2004) - vocals on "My Life to Live"

Transplants

Guitar and vocals.

• Transplants (2002)
• Haunted Cities (2005)

Travis Barker

• Give The Drummer Some (2011) - "Saturday Night"

Solo albums

Guitar and vocals.

• A Poet's Life (2007)

Devils Brigade

Guitar and backing vocals.

• Stalingrad/Psychos All Around Me (2003)
• Vampire Girl (2005)
• Devils Brigade (2010) - Lead vocals on "Bridge of Gold" and "Gentlemen of the Road".

Jimmy Cliff

Guitar and Production

• Sacred Fire EP (2011)

Produced albums

• Answer That and Stay Fashionable (1995) by AFI
• East los Presents (1997) by Union 13
• At Ease (1997) by The Gadjits
• F-Minus (2000) by F-Minus
• Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards (2001) by Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards
• Try This (2003) by Pink
• Viking (2004) by Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards
• The Stories Are True (2006) by Time Again
• Decomposer (2006) by The Matches
• Live Freaky! Die Freaky! (2006) by John Roecker
• Sound Soldier (2007) by Skye Sweetnam

Filmography

• Larry Is Dead (1995) director, actor, producer
• Live Freaky! Die Freaky! (2003) producer, narrator
• The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004) acting
• Give 'Em the Boot (2005) producer
• Punk's Not Dead (2007) producer
• "Rock N Roll Theater" (2011) Actor, Producer, Writer

External links

• Rancid official website
• Journey to the End: The TIM ARMSTRONG Fanlisting