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Dan Vapid & The Cheats
Photo by Katie Hovland
Dan Vapid is back with his latest musical endeavor, Dan Vapid & The Cheats. After Screeching Weasel’s abrupt breakup, Vapid reunited with two former Methadones members, guitarist Mike Byrne and drummer Mike Soucy. He also recruited bassist Simon Lamb to complete the band’s lineup. They plan on recording their debut album this fall and releasing it next year. We spoke with Dan about the band’s origins, their influences, songwriting, touring and what he hopes to achieve with The Cheats. Continue Reading…
The Black Sheep Band
Photo of Dan Schafer by Katie Hovland
The Black Sheep Sessions
Photos taken by Katie Hovland at Million Yen Studios.
Ben Weasel Interview, 2005
Screeching Weasel was hands-down one of the best punk bands of the ‘90s. Their music vividly captured the spirit of teenage angst and boredom. They had songs that were humorous as well as ones that were thought-provoking. They practically invented punk’s one-string guitar lead, thereby incorporating pop sensibilities at a time when that was far from customary. The band played by its own rules, but above all were great songwriters. As a result, they spawned a legion of devoted listeners. Fans weren’t content with one record; they wanted to hear them all. The infamous Screeching Weasel logo became a fixture on t-shirts in high school hallways, as singer Ben Weasel’s lyrics turned into anthems for the disenchanted youth of suburbia. Adding to the band’s mythical status was the fact that their popularity didn’t skyrocket until after they stopped playing shows. Tales of someone’s older brother allegedly seeing Screeching Weasel play a house party only helped to glorify their allure. The band’s cult-like following is yet another example of their importance to American punk rock. For many, Screeching Weasel provided not only a gateway to the realm of punk music, but also a soundtrack for surviving adolescence. Continue Reading…
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