Pennywise
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Pennywise is an American punk band, formed in 1988; the name comes from a Stephen King horror novel, It, in which Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bob Gray) is a monster. In 1989, in the band's original incarnation, the band consisted of Jim Lindberg (vocals), Fletcher Dragge (guitar), Byron McMackin (drums) and Jason Matthew Thirsk (bass). They released two EPs, Wildcard (1988) and A Word From the Wise (1989)
Each of the band members had played in other bands in the Hermosa Beach, California area and attended the same high school. The group signed to Epitaph Records in 1990 and released Pennywise in 1991; the album quickly spread throughout the punk community, earning the band some nation-wide recognition. Lindberg left the band soon after the debut and Thirsk took his place on vocals, with Randy Bradbury taking Thirsk's place on bass. Lindberg married but returned to the group in 1992.
With Lindberg back, Pennywise released Unknown Road (1993), which was an underground hit and established the band as a force in punk music. By 1995, punk bands like the Offspring, Green Day and Rancid had hit the mainstream and Pennywise was invited to join several major labels. The band refused and stuck with Epitaph Records, releasing About Time in 1995; the album was another indie hit.
In 1996, Pennywise began recording their fourth album; Thirsk left to try to quit drinking; he was successful but then committed suicide after a relapse on July 29, 1996.
After Jason Thirsk's death, Full Circle (1997) and Straight Ahead (1999) were somewhat less popular than the last few albums. This was followed by a live LP, Live at the Key Club (2000) and Land of the Free? (2001). After that came From the Ashes (September 9, 2003).
After putting up From the Ashes, they re-released their video called Home Movies in 2004 for DVD, it was originally released in 1995 and was out of print since 1997. Sometime in early spring 2005, Pennywise announced that they are recently working on their eighth album The Fuse (working title), that will be released sometime in summer of the same year. Also during the year, they released digitally-remastered versions of their older albums: Pennywise, Unknown Road, About Time and Full Circle on March 8th.
Discography
- Wildcard (1988, EP)
- A Word from the Wise (1989, EP)
- Wildcard/A Word From the Wise (1990, compilation)
- Pennywise (1991, first Epitaph Records release) *
- Unknown Road (1993) *
- About Time (1995, last of bass player Jason Thirsk due to his death) *
- Home Movies (1995, VHS, re-released in 2004 for DVD)
- Full Circle (1997) *
- Straight Ahead (1999)
- Live @ the Key Club (2000, live)
- Land of the Free? (2001)
- From the Ashes (2003)
- The Fuse (to be released August 9th, 2005)
External links
- The Offical Website (http://www.pennywisdom.com/)
- All Music Guide entry for Pennywise (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?P=amg&sql=Pennywise&x=0&y=0&opt1=1&sourceid=mozilla-search)
- Pennywise Discography (http://www.discogs.com/artist/Pennywise) at Discogs
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