Suburban Legends
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Suburban Legends | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Also known as | The No Tones, Bomb Squad | |
| Origin | Orange County, California | |
| Genre(s) | Third Wave Ska, Pop, Funk | |
| Years active | 1998–present | |
| Label(s) | Lobster Girl Records | |
| Members | ||
| Vince Walker Brian Klemm Derek Lee Rock Mike Hachey Brian Robertson Luis Beza Dallas Kruse |
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| Former members | ||
| Chris Batstone Aaron Bertram Dallas Cook Brent Figue Phillip Inzerillo Fred Johnson Josh Lander Chris Maurer Tim Maurer Justin Meacham Jimmy Sullivan |
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Suburban Legends are a seven piece third wave ska band from Orange County, California
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[edit] Band History
Suburban Legends' music is different from that of other ska bands, taking influence from ska as well as disco, funk, and pop. Live shows often involve synchronized dance moves performed by horn players (sometimes joined by the lead singer) as well as humorous banter between members. The band was formed in 1998 as The No Tones and then later the Bomb Squad due to line-up changes, eventually becoming Suburban Legends. Origin Edition was released in 1999 as a fun demo to sell at shows. Shortly after its release, lead singer Tim Maurer left the group and was replaced by Chris Batstone on vocals. Chris Batstone's only official recording with the band was in 2001, when the Suburban Legends EP was released on We The People Records. Chris Batstone left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Tim Maurer, who returned to the band on vocals and subsequently re-recorded the vocals on the EP to create the Suburban Legends (Tim Remix) EP. The line-up then went on to record the bands debut album Rump Shaker in 2003 with heavy touring to support it. Season One was released in 2004. The DVD featured a live set from Oakland, California as well as two music videos.
On May 12, 2006 the band released its first CD in 3 years since Rump Shaker. An EP, Dance Like Nobody's Watching. The EP is the first release by the band to feature Vince Walker on vocals. In a news update in January 2007 it was announced on the bands website that a new CD would be released in Japan entitled Dance Like Nobody's Watching Tokyo Nights. It will contain the tracks from Dance Like Nobody's Watching as well as an additional six tracks. No information was released as to what the tracks would be.
[edit] Line-Up
The band has suffered many line up changes in recent years. In late 2004, bassist Chris Maurer left the band to marry his fiancé and to focus on his education. He was replaced by Mike Hachey. Trumpet player Vince Walker also left the band in 2004 to focus on his education. He was not replaced and the band used only 3 horns until his return to the band on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon (see below). Similarly, in late May 2005, trumpet player Aaron Bertram left the band to marry his fiancé, Rachel Charest. He was replaced by trumpet player Luis Beza. In October 2006, while on the Fall Of Ska tour, Phillip Inzerillo was rumoured to have left the band as he was not seen playing with the band on the tour or in subsequent shows afterwards. He departure was never officially announced by the band but it is known he is no longer performing with the band. While on the Fall Of Ska tour in late 2006, keyboardist Dallas Kruse was seen playing with the band. While not an "official" member, not appearing on the band's website and yet to be announced by the band, he has been performing with the band since the tour.
The band appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for the third year in a row on September 4, 2005 . It was lead singer Tim Maurer's final performance with the band, as he left (for the second time as a member of Suburban Legends) in September 2005 to spend more time with his family. He was replaced by former trumpet player Vince Walker, who returned to the band in the same performance, oddly switching roles from horns to vocals.
[edit] Ryan Dallas Cook
At 12:25 AM on October 19, 2005, trombone player Dallas Cook was killed in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident on the Costa Mesa Freeway.
A few days after the incident, a large group of Suburban Legends' fans and Dallas' friends and family gathered nearby the ESPN Zone at Disneyland Resorts Downtown Disney, where the band played their many performances in the early 2000s, to share their memories of Cook. On November 29, 2005, former and current band members performed a benefit show for the Dallas Cook Memorial Fund, which was as set up in Cook's honor to donate money to the Huntington Beach High School instrumental music program.
Accident article from Orange County Register
[edit] The Van Fire & Robbery
At around 4:30 AM CDT on July 19, 2006, while they were on tour and in St. Louis, Missouri, Phillip Inzerillo woke up to notice the band's tour van was on fire. The fire destroyed the front driver's side of the van. The band's tour money had also been missing from the van. It is suspected that the fire and robbery was caused by an arsonist.
[edit] Trivia
- The name "Suburban Legends" is a reference to a quote in the Futurama episode "I Second That Emotion".
- Members of the band created the theme song for the popular podcast, Geekdrome.
- The band also has some connection to the old band Suburban Rhythm, referenced by Aaron Barrett in the "Live at the House Of Blues" DVD commentary.
- Former drummer Jimmy Sullivan, went on to help create the popular band Avenged Sevenfold, going by the name of The Rev.
- They are notable for their performances at the Disneyland Resort. In 2002, they played 962 performances at Downtown Disney, where they gained many new fans. They would later perform there for a Disney-organized 2002 World Series Anaheim Angels rally. They also performed on many occasions for the X Games Xperience promotion at Disney's California Adventure in 2003, and at the Club Buzz/Tomorrowland Terrace stage in 2005 and 2006. On Halloween of 2006 they played at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney along with fellow ska bands Westbound Train, Streetlight Manifesto, and Reel Big Fish while touring on the Fall of Ska Tour. As of April 2007, they are playing nightly shows in Disneyland's Tomorrowland.
- The band has been known to cover the song "Under the Sea" from the Disney movie The Little Mermaid live, usually as their closing number. More recently they have played this and other live covers of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" from the Disney film The Lion King, Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (with Brian Klemm singing lead) and Kool and the Gang's "Celebration." These covers are often regarded by fans as the proverbial "Coup De Grace," or a perfect finish to the show that "sells" the band to the audience. However, due to licensing issues, album releases of even live recordings of these covers are unlikely, the Disney covers in particular.
[edit] Members
- Vince Walker - Vocals (formerly Trumpet)
- Brian Klemm - Lead Guitar
- Derek Lee Rock - Drums
- Mike Hachey - Bass Guitar
- Brian Robertson - Trombone
- Luis Beza - Trumpet
- Dallas Kruse - Keyboard, Keytar
[edit] Former members
- Chris Batstone - Vocals
- Aaron Bertram - Trumpet
- Dallas Cook - Trombone
- Brent Figue - Lead Guitar
- Phillip Inzerillo - Trombone
- Fred Johnson - Drums
- Chris Maurer - Bass Guitar
- Tim Maurer - Vocals
- Justin Meacham - Bass Guitar
- Josh Lander - Lead Guitar
- Jimmy Sullivan - Drums
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
[edit] EPs
- Bomb Squad (1998)
- Suburban Legends (2001)
- Suburban Legends (Tim Remix) (2002)
- Suburban Legends Raw (Karaoke) (2002)
- Dance Like Nobody's Watching (2006)
[edit] DVDs
[edit] Singles
- Rose Tint My World (Download Only) (Unreleased Tribute Album) (2001) [1]
- Gimme, Gimme (CD single from Christmas 2004 shows) (2004)
[edit] Music videos
[edit] Compilations
- Supporting the Scene - Disc 1 Track 15, "All The Nights" (2000)
- Skratch Comp CD #6 - Track 5, "Gummi Bears" (2000)
- Fatty's Favorites - Track 14, "Waikiki" (2000)
- Because We Care: A Benefit for the Children's Hospital of Orange County - Track 11, "Gummie Bears" (2002)
- Skyboys vs Highscalers (2003) - Track 5, "Desperate", Track 19, "Alternative Is Dead" (2003)
- Dead Baby vs. Jesus - Track 22, "Zanzibar" (2003)
- Camp Ska (DVD) - Track 12, "High Fives" (2003)
- Sorry If It Isn't Cool Anymore! Vol. 1 - Track 2, "You" (2004)
- Casino Chips and Sunset Strips - Track 10 "Autumn in the Park", Track 11 "All the Nights", Track 12 "Bright Spring Morning" (2004)
- Of Hands and Hearts: Music for the Tsunami Disaster Fund - Disc 2 Track 4, "Blingity Bling" (2005)
- Dead Bands Party: A Tribute to Oingo Boingo - Track 10, "On the Outside" (2005)
