Blue Meanies (Illinois band)

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The Blue Meanies
OriginCarbondale, Illinois, United States
Years active1989–2001, 2014
LabelsThick Records
Asian Man Records

Band formation and 5 first albums[]

Blue Meanies were an American ska-core band founded in Carbondale, Illinois, at Southern Illinois University, in 1989. They debuted in 1991 with the release of their first single, "Grandma Shampoo" c/w "Dickory Dock". This single would be the start of a lengthy discography and revolving line-up including. Although their personnel was continually changing, The Meanies' sound would remain consistent as they released the four albums (1991), (1992), (1995), (1997), and the live record (1998).

Signature to MCA Records and 6th album[]

Like many ska-influenced bands of the time, they eventually signed with MCA Records, towards the end of the commercially successful third wave of ska, with a line-up consisting of John Paul Camp (III) (saxophone/ vocals), Sean Dolan (guitar), Jimmy Flame (trumpet/ vocals), Chaz Linde (keyboard/ vocal), Dave Lund (bass/ vocals), Billy Spunke (vocals/ megaphone), and Bob Trondson (drums). A total of 22 musicians had passed through the band since their formation, including Jay Vance, as a bass player, who went on to form the one-man metal band Captured! By Robots.

Their sixth full-length album, , released in late 2000 on MCA Records, was the most musically different from their other five albums. This change in sound, as well as the title of the album, was likely a result from the crash of the third wave ska scene in the USA. In late 2001, the band took the rights to The Post Wave back from MCA records and reissued it on Thick Records, their original record label, in August 2001.

Soon afterwards the band ceased touring, though they never issued an official break-up statement.

Post-breakup[]

In the summer of 2004 it was confirmed that the Meanies would temporarily revive the old tradition of the Winter Nationals. For years the Blue Meanies would have a show on December 23 in their hometown of Chicago. On December 22, 2004 the band played its first show in three years at Double Door with The Tossers and Cougars supporting. The next day the band played an all ages show at The Metro with Mu330, The Methadones, and New Black supporting. The Metro show was filmed with multiple cameras but no plans for a release of the footage have been announced. Future plans for the band remain vague as well.

On August 16, 2006 it was announced that the Blue Meanies would reunite for Riot Fest 2006, an annual punk rock festival held in Chicago. Other high-profile reunions for the fest include Naked Raygun and The Bollweevils.

Since April 24, 2006, the band (primarily Sean Dolan) has kept somewhat in contact with their fanbase with their MySpace profile. On it, they have provided previously unreleased tracks (any songs pulled from the site can be obtained via email), largely from the recording sessions of The Post Wave.

On May 13, 2014, the organizers of Riot Fest and Blue Meanies revealed that the band will reunite and perform at the Chicago version of the 2014 festival.[1]

Discography[]

Albums

  • (1991) (live)
  • (1992)
  • (Fuse Records, 1995—re-released by Asian Man Records, 1999)
  • (THICK Records, 1997—special edition re-released THICK, 2005)
  • (THICK Records, 1999)
  • (Asian Man Records, 1999) (live)
  • (MCA, 2000—re-released by THICK Records, 2001)

Vinyl

  • (1992)
  • (1994)
  • (1996)
  • (1998)
  • split 7-inch picture disc (1999)

Compilations

Other

  • cassette (1991)

References[]

  1. ^ "(CHICAGO) Riot Fest & Carnival Lineup Announced & On Sale Now!". Riotfest.org. Retrieved 2020-03-16.

External links[]

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