Aimee Allen
Aimee Allen | |
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Aimee Allen backstage before a concert in March 2019. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Aimee Allen |
Also known as | Aimee Interrupter |
Born | [1][2] Montana | February 2, 1982
Genres | Punk rock, ska punk, skate punk, hip hop, rock, indie pop |
Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 2002–present |
Labels | Hellcat Epitaph Side Tracked Elektra |
Website | http://www.wearetheinterrupters.com |
Aimee Allen is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. She is currently the lead vocalist for the ska-punk band The Interrupters under the moniker Aimee Interrupter.[3] As a singer-songwriter, she has collaborated with Sublime with Rome, Tim Armstrong of Rancid, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Linda Perry, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and Jimmy Cliff.[4]
Early life
Allen was born in Montana.[5] She has said that she had a "rough upbringing," and "ended up in a foster home at a young age and moved from school to school."[6] Growing up, Joan Jett was a big influence and inspiration for Allen.[6][7]
Career
Solo career (2000–09)
Allen began singing in bands in Montana, and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18 to pursue a career in music. In Los Angeles, she was lead singer of a punk band with members of No Motiv, called Forum; after the band's record deal with MCA fell through, Allen signed a solo deal with Elektra Records in 2002.[6]
Allen was signed to Elektra after producer Randy Jackson saw her band perform live and heard her demo.[8] Her debut album I'd Start a Revolution (If I Could Get Up in the Morning), featuring tracks produced by Mark Ronson and Don Gilmore, was recorded in 2003 but never released due to the label being absorbed by Atlantic Records in 2004.[8][9] The label did, however, release her first single "Revolution", which was the theme for the WB television series Birds of Prey.[9]
Allen contributed to the writing of Unwritten Law's 2005 album Here's to the Mourning, including the single "Save Me (Wake Up Call)", which was co-written and produced by Linda Perry and reached number 5 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.[10] A brief romantic relationship between Allen and Unwritten Law lead singer Scott Russo resulted in a side project called Scott & Aimee.[11][12] Their album Sitting in a Tree was released in 2007 by Side Tracked Records.[12]
In 2007, her song "Stripper Friends" was re-worked and recorded by Kevin Michael featuring Lupe Fiasco as "We All Want the Same Thing". That year, Allen sang the song "Cooties" on the soundtrack to the 2007 film Hairspray.[13]
In 2008, Allen supported presidential hopeful Ron Paul by recording "Ron Paul Revolution Theme Song", and performing at events during the 2008 campaign.[9] She sang backing vocals on Lee "Scratch" Perry’s 2008 album Repentance.[5] Also in 2008, she was co-host of the Suicide Girls radio show on Indie 103.1 FM in Los Angeles.[14]
Allen released her self-produced first solo album, A Little Happiness, on July 21, 2009, on Side Tracked Records with ADA/Warner Brothers. It debuted at #27 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.[15] In support of A Little Happiness, Allen opened for Sugar Ray on their 2009 tour.[16]
The Interrupters (2009–present)
In 2011, Allen formed the ska/punk band The Interrupters with brothers Kevin, Justin, and Jesse Bivona.[17] The four met in 2009 on a tour that had Allen, a solo artist at the time, and the Bivona brothers' band, The Telacasters, supporting Dirty Heads and Sugar Ray.[16][18] Allen and Kevin started writing songs together and brought Kevin's brothers, twins Jesse and Justin, in to play drums and bass leading to the formation of The Interrupters.[8][6][19]
Discography
Solo albums
Title | Album details | US Heat |
---|---|---|
I'd Start a Revolution If I Could Get Up in the Morning |
|
— |
A Little Happiness |
|
27 |
As Scott & Aimee
- Sitting in a Tree (2007) - Songwriter, Vocals
Solo singles
Title | Year | US AC | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Revolution" | 2003 | — | I'd Start a Revolution (If I Could Get Up in the Morning) | ||
"I'm Here" | 2008 | — | |||
"On Vacation" | 2009 | 49 | A Little Happiness | ||
"Calling The Maker" | — | ||||
"Wanderer" | 2013 | — | |||
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Guest appearances
- Here's to the Mourning - Unwritten Law (2005) - Songwriter on "Save Me (Wake Up Call)"
- Repentance – Lee "Scratch" Perry (2008) - Vocals
- Yours Truly – Sublime with Rome (2011) - Vocals on "Safe and Sound" (Deluxe Edition)
- Rebirth – Jimmy Cliff (2012) - Vocals (Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album)
- The Real Enemy - Noi!se (2016) - Vocals on "The War Inside"
- The Barstool Preachers - Choose My Friends (2018)
- Rat Boy (2019) - Vocals on "Night Creature"
Soundtracks
- Birds of Prey (2002-2003) - Songwriter, Vocals "Revolution" (Theme Song)
- Two for The Money (2005) - Songwriter "Save Me (Wake Up Call)" [20]
- Hairspray (2007) - Vocals on "Cooties" [21]
- Pretty Ugly People (2008) - Songwriter & Vocals on "I'm Here"; Vocals on "Lean Into Me" [22]
- Prom Night (2008) - Songwriter "We All Want The Same Thing" [23]
- Step Up 2: The Streets (2008) - Songwriter "We All Want The Same Thing (Acoustic Version)" [24]
- Sorority Row (2009) - Songwriter & Vocals on "Emergency" [25]
- Lucky (2011) - Vocals on "Crazy" [26]
- Mean Girls 2 (2011) - Vocals on "Days Like This" by Transcenders
- 22 Jump Street (2014) - Composer "Live Forever" [27]
- The Twilight Zone (2019) - Vocals on "Family" by The Interrupters
Filmography
As actress
- Undressed (1 episode, 2000)
- The Bold and the Beautiful (as Sam, 4 episodes, 2000)
References
- ^ The Interrupters [@Interruptweets] (February 3, 2017). "HAPPIEST of Birthdays to the voice and the heart of The Interrupters, Aimee Interrupter! Thank you @GreenDay❤️Thank…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Aimee Interrupter's Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ "Album Review: The Interrupters – "The Interrupters"". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ Distefano, Alex (August 24, 2018). "10 OF THE BEST CONTEMPORARY FEMALE-FRONTED PUNK BANDS". LA Weekly. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ a b Shoger, Scott (February 18, 2019). "Aimee Allen takes refuge in Carmel". Nuvo. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "ALBUM OF THE WEEK: THE INTERRUPTERS' FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT". Kerrang. June 29, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ McMahon, James (July 9, 2019). "The Interrupters: the new ska-punk band who might even win over the people who vomit at the phrase 'ska-punk'". NME. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ a b c Payne, Chris (July 25, 2018). "Meet The Interrupters, the First Female-Fronted Ska Band With an Alternative Radio Hit Since No Doubt". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ a b c Graham, David (February 8, 2012). "Video of the Day: Ron Paul's Theme Song". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ "Unwritten Law chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ Levitan, Corey (December 3, 2004). "Unwritten Law shakes off the past, moves forward in a classic direction". signonsandiego.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
- ^ a b Watanabe, Stephanie. "Scott (Unwritten Law) & Aimee". Punk Globe. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ Hernandez, Ernio (July 10, 2007). ""Hairspray" Film Soundtrack Released by New Line Records July 10". Playbill. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ "Aimee Allen". Independent Music Awards. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ "Billboard Heatseekers". Billboard.com. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ a b "Interrupters emerge from Sugar Ray". San Francisco Examiner. August 13, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ Tornow, Sam (July 27, 2018). "The Interrupters Give Explosive Performances of 'She's Kerosene' & 'Take Back The Power' on Kimmel". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ Coen, Jon (March 6, 2019). "The Interrupters: Riding the Third Wave of Ska". The Aquarian. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ Medina, Marcy (April 14, 2017). "Coachella on the Verge: Up-and-coming Musical Artists". WWD. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ "Two for the Money (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ "Hairspray (2007)". IMDb. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ "Pretty Ugly People (2008)". IMDb. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ "Prom Night (2008)". IMDb. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ "Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)". IMDb. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ "Sorority Row (2009)". IMDb. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ "Lucky (2011)". IMDb. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ "22 Jump Street - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
External links
- Aimee Allen discography at Discogs
- Aimee Allen on AllMusic
- Aimee Allen at IMDb