Rancid (band)
Rancid |
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Rancid is a punk band, formed in 1991 in Albany, California, by Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong.
Rancid includes Armstrong on guitar and vocals, Freeman on bass and vocals, Lars Frederiksen on guitar and vocals, and Branden Steineckert on drums. The band was formed by Armstrong, Freeman, and former drummer Brett Reed, who left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Branden Steineckert. Frederiksen joined Rancid in 1993 when the band was searching for a second guitar player.
They are credited, along with fellow California punk bands The Offspring and Green Day with reviving mainstream popular interest in punk rock in the United States during the mid 1990s.[2]
Among mainstream audiences, Rancid is best-known for their hit songs "Ruby Soho", "Time Bomb", "Salvation", and "Fall Back Down". As of 2007, Rancid has been working on a studio album expected to be released sometime in 2008 on Hellcat Records.[3]
History
Pre-history
Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman had been playing together in the band Operation Ivy from 1987-1989. When Operation Ivy broke up they decided to form a new band, and started a Hardcore punk group called Generator[4], who would quickly break up. In 1991 Tim and Matt decided to try starting another band. They recruited drummer Brett Reed and formed Rancid.
Original Formation (1991-2003)
Rancid's first recorded release was a 1992 EP for Operation Ivy's old label Lookout! Records. Shortly after releasing this, the band was signed to Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz's label, Epitaph Records. Rancid would release their self titled debut album for Epitaph in 1993.
While Rancid was writing for a follow-up album, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, a friend of the band, joined them to co-write the song "Radio". This led to him playing a live show with the band. Tim Armstrong eventually asked Billie Joe to become a member of the band, but he Joe opted to stick with Green Day. Tim had previously asked Lars Frederiksen of the UK Subs to be Rancid's second guitarist, but he also turned down the request. After Billie Joe declined, Frederiksen changed his mind and decided to join Rancid.
Frederiksen played with the band on 1994's Let's Go. That year the bands label-mates, The Offspring, experienced a huge success with their album Smash. The Offspring took Rancid on tour with them[5], and helped Let's Go make it to #97 on Billboard's Heatseekers and Billboard 200 charts, respectively. With the success of the album the band was pursued by several major labels, including Madonna's Maverick Records.[6]
The band eventually decided to stay on Epitaph, and the next year released their third album ...And Out Come the Wolves. The new album quickly surpassed Let's Go in terms of success. Three of the album's singles, "Roots Radical", "Time Bomb", and "Ruby Soho" all charted on the North American Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, and the band performed two of these songs on Saturday Night Live.[7]
In 1998 Rancid released their fourth album Life Won't Wait. The album branched out from Rancid's previous musical styles, and combined punk rock with elements of roots reggae, rockabilly, dub, hip-hop, and funk. Do to this it was often compared to The Clash's Sandinista!".[8]
A second self-titled album was released in 2000 on Tim Armstrong's Hellcat Records (which was a division of Epitaph). The album failed to meet the success of Rancid's previous two albums and peaked at number 68 on the billboard charts.[9]
2002 saw Rancid's thee original members release three songs under the name Devil's Brigade, one on the Give 'Em the Boot III compilation, and two on a 12" vinyl record. Also that year, all four members of the band played on BYO Split Series, Vol. 3, a split album with NOFX in which Rancid covered NOFX songs and NOFX covered Rancid songs.
In 2003 Rancid released Indestructible. The album was again released by Hellcat Records, but this time was distributed by Warner Bros. records. Indestructible contained the hit song "Fall Back Down", and was Rancid's highest charting album ever, peaking at number 15.[10]
Hiatus (2004-2005)
In 2004, after a tour for Indestructible, Rancid went on an extensive hiatus. The band members spent time working with side projects, although they had not officially disbanded.
Armstrong continued to play with his side project the Transplants, who released their second album, Haunted Cities, in 2005. He also contributed guitar and backup vocals on Cypress Hill's hit single "What's Your Number?" from their tenth album Till Death Do Us Part.
Frederiksen continued working with his side band Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards and released its second album, Viking, in 2004.
Freeman briefly toured with Social Distortion in 2004 as John Maurer's replacement until they found their current bassist Brent Harding.
Reformation (2006-Present)
In early 2006, Rancid would reunite to embark on a successful tour and played several acoustic sets as part of Hellcat Records' Hellcat Nights concert series at The Echo. This was their first time the band had played together since the hiatus. On April 13, 2006, Rancid announced plans for a worldwide tour beginning in July 2006, and the release of a DVD compiling 31 of their music videos (Now scheduled for a spring 2007 release), as well as a tentative release date of Spring 2007 for a new as-of-yet-unnamed studio album.
Like many other bands once on the Lookout! Records roster, in September, 2006 Rancid pulled their self-titled EP from the Lookout! catalog.[11]
Armstrong released his much anticipated solo LP entitled A Poet's Life on May 22nd of 2007. Individual tracks are continuing to be released as free downloads on Epitaph's website and eventually the entire album will be available. However, it is also available for purchase in record stores and online.
The disc features 10 songs, and the album itself is packaged with a bonus DVD featuring a video for each song on the album.
On November 3, 2006, Reed left Rancid and was replaced by former Used drummer Branden Steineckert. Steineckert was let go from the Used for unknown reasons but announced he doesn't feel bitter about it and his new home is with Rancid, joining the band permanently. A full blog of this can be found at Steineckert's myspace.
According to a new blog by Steineckert, Rancid are expecting to get together in the fall of 2007 to begin writing the new album, and are planning on recording it in January 2008. This is their first album without the "classic" line-up, with Branden Steineckert replacing Brett Reed on drums.
Rancid currently has a one hour once a week XM radio show. The show is called Rancid Radio and is on "Fungus" channel 53 Saturday at midnight.
Lineups
Dates | Members & prominent instruments | Notes |
---|---|---|
(1991-1993) |
|
|
(1993-2006) The "classic" line-up |
|
First line-up featuring four members. |
(2006-present) |
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Collaborations
- Rancid collaborated with reggae artist Buju Banton on the song "Misty Days," which appeared on his album Unchained Spirit. This was considered a controversial move by some, due to Banton's history of extreme homophobia. The song also appeared on Give 'em the Boot II without the reggae lines that Banton delivers in the Unchained Spirit version.
- Rancid collaborated with Stubborn All-Stars on the song "I Wanna Riot" for the Beavis and Butt-Head Do America soundtrack.
- Rancid collaborated on Buccaneer's "Bruk Out" on the Give 'Em The Boot II compilation.
- Rancid collaborated with Iggy Pop on the song "No Fun" on the Give 'Em The Boot DVD.
Discography
Studio Albums
Year | Title | Label | US Billboard Peak[12] | Format | Other information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | Rancid ('93) | Epitaph | Uncharted | CD |
|
1994 | Let's Go | Epitaph | #97 | CD |
|
1995 | ...And Out Come the Wolves | Epitaph | #45 | CD |
|
1998 | Life Won't Wait | Epitaph | #35 | CD | |
2000 | Rancid (Skull Cover) | Hellcat | #68 | CD |
|
2003 | Indestructible | Hellcat | #15 | CD |
|
2008 | Untitled 7th Album | Hellcat | Not yet released | CD |
|
EPs
- Rancid (1992)
- Radio Radio Radio (1993)
- Let Me Go (2000) - Japan
Singles
Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK Singles Chart | |||
1992 | "I'm Not the Only One" | - | - | - | Rancid EP |
1993 | "Hyena" | - | - | - | Rancid (1993) |
1994 | "Nihilism" | - | - | - | Let's Go |
1995 | "Salvation" | 21 | - | - | Let's Go |
1995 | "Roots Radicals" | 27 | - | - | ...And Out Come the Wolves |
1995 | "Time Bomb" | 8 | - | - | ...And Out Come the Wolves |
1996 | "Ruby Soho" | 13 | - | - | ...And Out Come the Wolves |
1998 | "Bloodclot" | - | - | - | Life Won't Wait |
1998 | "Hooligans" | - | - | - | Life Won't Wait |
1998 | "Brad Logan" | - | - | - | Chef Aid |
2000 | "Let Me Go" | - | - | - | Rancid (2000) |
2000 | "GGF" | - | - | - | Rancid (2000) |
2003 | "Fall Back Down" | 13 | - | - | Indestructible |
2004 | "Red Hot Moon" | - | - | - | Indestructible |
2004 | "Tropical London" | - | - | - | Indestructible |
Other Releases
- BYO Split Series, Vol. 3 (2002) - split with NOFX
Official Live Recordings
At the end of 2006, Rancid started selling official live recordings on their official website. The following shows from the Summer Tour of 2006 were professionally recorded and sold in mp3 and FLAC format.
- Live in Canada Recorded: Dec 9, 2006 Venue: Montreal
- Live in the UK Recorded: Nov 20, 2006 Venue: Brighton UK
- Live in the UK Recorded: Nov 19, 2006 Venue: Bristol UK
- Live in the UK Recorded: Nov 16, 2006 Venue: London, UK
- Live in the UK Recorded: Nov 13, 2006 Venue: Newcastle UK
- Live in the UK Recorded: Nov 12, 2006 Venue: Nottingham, UK
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Oct 16, 2006 Venue: Live from San Diego
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Oct 11, 2006 Venue: Live from Anaheim
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Oct 6, 2006 Venue: Live from Salt Lake City
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Oct 5, 2006 Venue: Live from Salt Lake City
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Oct 1, 2006 Venue: Live from Calgary
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Sep 13, 2006 Venue: Live from Minneapolis
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Sep 12, 2006 Venue: Live from Chicago
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Sep 11, 2006 Venue: Live from Chicago
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Sep 9, 2006 Venue: Live from Detroit
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Sep 8, 2006 Venue: Live from Detroit
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Sep 7, 2006 Venue: Live from Columbus
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Sep 6, 2006 Venue: Live from Cleveland
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Aug 27, 2006 Venue: Live from New York City
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Aug 26, 2006 Venue: Live from New York City
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Aug 25, 2006 Venue: Live from New York City
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Aug 24, 2006 Venue: Live from New York City
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Aug 23, 2006 Venue: Live from Boston
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Aug 20, 2006 Venue: Live from Philadelphia
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Aug 19, 2006 Venue: Live from Philadelphia
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Aug 18, 2006 Venue: Live from Washington DC
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Aug 17, 2006 Venue: Live from Washington DC
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Aug 16, 2006 Venue: Live from Washington DC
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Aug 1, 2006 Venue: Live from Albuquerue
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Jul 21, 2006 Venue: Live from Miami
- Summer Tour 2006 Recorded: Jul 19, 2006 Venue: Live from Orlando
See also
- Rancid Gigography
- 1990s music groups
- List of alternative music artists
- List of musicians in the second wave of punk music
Reviews
- Live Review of October 1, 2006 Concert in Calgary, AB, Canada by Chris Andrade on October 4, 2006 at kMNR...Music News Weekly
Footnotes
- ^ *Punk Pop Music: A Guide
- ^ DeRogatis, Jim. Milk It!: Collected Musings on the Alternative Music Explosion of the 90's. Cambridge: Da Capo, 2003. Pg. 357, ISBN 0-306-81271-1
- ^ a b "Rancid posts update, plans to record in January 2008". Punknews.org. 2007-06-13. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ from BYO Split Series, Vol. 3 liner notes
- ^ http://www.offspring.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Offspring.woa/wa/tourArchive?year=1994
- ^ http://www.ticketmaster.ca/artist/763486?brand=none
- ^ http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/seasons/Season_21.shtml
- ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/rancid/albums/album/306290/review/5943740/life_wont_wait
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=33491&model.vnuAlbumId=589243
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=33491&model.vnuAlbumId=589243
- ^ http://www.lookoutrecords.com/bands/band.php3?sd=647996426&bnd_id=51
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=33491&model.vnuAlbumId=589243
- ^ "Rancid - Let's Go" (HTML). Discogs.com. Retrieved March 25.
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External links
- Musical groups established in 1991
- 1990s music groups
- Alternative musical groups
- American musical groups
- American punk rock groups
- Epitaph Records artists
- Hellcat Records groups
- Later punk groups
- California musical groups
- Streetpunk
- Quartets
- People from the San Francisco Bay Area
- Culture in the San Francisco Bay Area