Ben Weasel
Encyclopedia
Ben Weasel is a punk rock
musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of bands Screeching Weasel
and The Riverdales
. He is also co-host of Weasel Radio, a weekly radio show formerly on ESPN 1070, which was relaunched as a podcast
.
and expelled
from three different high schools for unruly behavior. He was eventually sent to the Elan School
in Poland, Maine
to finish high school. Today Ben lives in Madison, Wisconsin
with his wife and twin daughters. He is a practicing Roman Catholic.
For a number of years, Ben suffered from panic attacks and bouts of agoraphobia
. On November 30, 2010, he appeared on "Last Call with Carson Daly
" to talk about these issues.
he got a job at a local movie theater, and formed the band Screeching Weasel with co-worker John Pierson.
After an initial break-up in 1989, Screeching Weasel broke up for a second time in 1994. Following the second breakup, Foster formed a new band, The Riverdales, with Dan Vapid
, and Dan Panic
.
In the early 1990s Foster founded The Gore Gore Girls with John Pierson, Glynis Johnson (also of Red Red Meat
) and Russ Forester (founder of Underdog Records). The Gore Gore Girls lasted only 3 shows and made an appearance on a compilation. He also played 2nd guitar in The Vindictives
, to be replaced by Billy Blastoff. Foster appeared on the first 4 EPs released by the band.
Foster reunited with Screeching Weasel again in 1996. The band lasted until 2001 before breaking up again. On March 27, 2009, Foster announced he was reforming Screeching Weasel. He and Danny Vapid are the only returning members.
Foster has also done work as a solo artist. In 2002, he released his first solo album, Fidatevi
. His second album, These Ones Are Bitter
, was released in June 2007.
Foster also ran his own Chicago
-based record label
, Panic Button Records
, which he also started in 1997 with Pierson. The label was purchased by Lookout! Records
.
performance. The first woman had thrown an ice cube at Foster, and following Foster joking about her performing a sex act on him, spat beer at him. Foster responded by punching her in the face. The club's owner, also female, then came on stage and grabbed him from behind. Foster turned to face her, then punched her twice in the neck and abdomen before being pulled to the other side of the stage by a bouncer, where he clapped his hands together over his head and gave the thumbs up; in reaction some of the crowd did applaud.
On March 20, Foster posted an apology on his website BenWeasel.com stating
Following the incident, several bands who were slated to appear at WeaselFest in Chicago dropped out, including Chinese Telephones, Chixdiggit, The Soviettes
, Teenage Bottlerocket
and Kepi Ghoulie. On March 23, 2011 the other four members of Screeching Weasel all resigned from the band citing the SXSW incident as the reason.
On March 31 it was announced that the entire Weaselfest had been cancelled. In August, Weasel issued a full article on Screeching Weasel's website describing his whole point of view on the situation.
, Non-Stop Banter, Jersey Beat, Hit List and 10 Things Jesus Wants You To Know. He also had a long-running column in MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL
, one of the most prominent punk rock fanzines. He wrote a novel in 2001 called Like Hell and put out a collection of his columns and articles in 2002 entitled Punk is a Four Letter Word. Both books were published by Hope and Nonthings, a small publishing house based in Chicago run by former bandmate John Jughead.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of bands Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Jughead.Since their formation, Screeching Weasel have broken up and reformed numerous times with numerous line-up changes. Ben Weasel has been the only constant...
and The Riverdales
The Riverdales
The Riverdales were an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois made up of rental Screeching Weasel members. Bassist Dan Vapid and guitarist, band owner, Ben Weasel are heavily influenced by the Ramones' sound and both serve as front-men, sharing lead vocals for the band. The Riverdales'...
. He is also co-host of Weasel Radio, a weekly radio show formerly on ESPN 1070, which was relaunched as a podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
.
Personal life
Foster was raised in Prospect Heights, IllinoisProspect Heights, Illinois
Prospect Heights is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, which is a suburb of Chicago. The population was 17,081 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Prospect Heights is located at ....
and expelled
Expulsion (academia)
Expulsion or exclusion refers to the permanent removal of a student from a school system or university for violating that institution's rules. Laws and procedures regarding expulsion vary between countries and states.-State sector:...
from three different high schools for unruly behavior. He was eventually sent to the Elan School
Elan School
Élan School was a private, coeducational, controversial residential behavior modification program and therapeutic boarding school in Poland, Androscoggin County, Maine...
in Poland, Maine
Poland, Maine
Poland is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,866 at the 2000 census. Home to Range Ponds State Park, Poland is a historic resort area...
to finish high school. Today Ben lives in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
with his wife and twin daughters. He is a practicing Roman Catholic.
For a number of years, Ben suffered from panic attacks and bouts of agoraphobia
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder defined as a morbid fear of having a panic attack or panic-like symptoms in a situation from which it is perceived to be difficult to escape. These situations can include, but are not limited to, wide-open spaces, crowds, or uncontrolled social conditions...
. On November 30, 2010, he appeared on "Last Call with Carson Daly
Last Call with Carson Daly
Last Call with Carson Daly is an American late night talk show that is broadcast on NBC. The show is hosted by Carson Daly, the half-hour show featuring celebrity interviews, documentary-style coverage of a topic, and musical performances. Last Call airs weeknights at 1:35 a.m. Eastern / 12:35 a.m....
" to talk about these issues.
Musical career
When Foster returned to IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
he got a job at a local movie theater, and formed the band Screeching Weasel with co-worker John Pierson.
After an initial break-up in 1989, Screeching Weasel broke up for a second time in 1994. Following the second breakup, Foster formed a new band, The Riverdales, with Dan Vapid
Dan Vapid
Dan Schafer is a punk rock musician from Chicago, Illinois best known for his participation in Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, The Methadones, and various other pop punk bands.-Generation Waste:...
, and Dan Panic
Dan Panic
Dan Sullivan, also known as Dan Panic or Danny Panic, is a punk rock drummer from Chicago.-Career:Dan Sullivan began his musical career with Ivy League, a quartet from Chicago's western suburbs who released one 7" EP in 1990. He then joined Screeching Weasel in 1991 and remained with the band until...
.
In the early 1990s Foster founded The Gore Gore Girls with John Pierson, Glynis Johnson (also of Red Red Meat
Red Red Meat
Red Red Meat was a '90s Chicago-area blues-influenced alternative rock band. After their break-up, frontman Tim Rutili went on to form Califone, for which many of Red Red Meat's former members, including producer Brian Deck, often record and perform...
) and Russ Forester (founder of Underdog Records). The Gore Gore Girls lasted only 3 shows and made an appearance on a compilation. He also played 2nd guitar in The Vindictives
The Vindictives
The Vindictives were a Chicago-based punk rock underground group during the 1990s. They were peers with Screeching Weasel and other bands from the era, they were also heavily-influenced by the Ramones. Joey Vindicitive's characteristic nasal melodies often told the story of alienation, psychosis,...
, to be replaced by Billy Blastoff. Foster appeared on the first 4 EPs released by the band.
Foster reunited with Screeching Weasel again in 1996. The band lasted until 2001 before breaking up again. On March 27, 2009, Foster announced he was reforming Screeching Weasel. He and Danny Vapid are the only returning members.
Foster has also done work as a solo artist. In 2002, he released his first solo album, Fidatevi
Fidatevi
Fidatevi is the first solo album released by former Screeching Weasel frontman Ben Weasel. The album was released on June 18, 2002 on Panic Button Records....
. His second album, These Ones Are Bitter
These Ones Are Bitter
These Ones Are Bitter is the second solo-album by former Screeching Weasel frontman Ben Weasel.The album also features musicians Dan Andriano , Mike Kennerty, and Chris Gaylor...
, was released in June 2007.
Foster also ran his own Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Panic Button Records
Panic Button Records
Panic Button Records was a record label which was formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1997. It was co-owned by Ben Weasel and John Jughead, both members of Screeching Weasel...
, which he also started in 1997 with Pierson. The label was purchased by Lookout! Records
Lookout! Records
-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
.
SXSW incident
On Friday, March 18, 2011 at Austin, TX's SXSW Festival, Foster was involved in an altercation with two women during a Screeching WeaselScreeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Jughead.Since their formation, Screeching Weasel have broken up and reformed numerous times with numerous line-up changes. Ben Weasel has been the only constant...
performance. The first woman had thrown an ice cube at Foster, and following Foster joking about her performing a sex act on him, spat beer at him. Foster responded by punching her in the face. The club's owner, also female, then came on stage and grabbed him from behind. Foster turned to face her, then punched her twice in the neck and abdomen before being pulled to the other side of the stage by a bouncer, where he clapped his hands together over his head and gave the thumbs up; in reaction some of the crowd did applaud.
On March 20, Foster posted an apology on his website BenWeasel.com stating
Following the incident, several bands who were slated to appear at WeaselFest in Chicago dropped out, including Chinese Telephones, Chixdiggit, The Soviettes
The Soviettes
The Soviettes are a punk rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 2001. The group was composed of Annie , Sturgeon , Susy , and Danny , all of whom switched off singing duties.-History:...
, Teenage Bottlerocket
Teenage Bottlerocket
Teenage Bottlerocket is a punk rock band formed in Laramie, Wyoming in 2001.The band was formed by twin brothers Ray and Brandon Carlisle, following the dissolution of their previous band, Homeless Wonders, in 2000...
and Kepi Ghoulie. On March 23, 2011 the other four members of Screeching Weasel all resigned from the band citing the SXSW incident as the reason.
On March 31 it was announced that the entire Weaselfest had been cancelled. In August, Weasel issued a full article on Screeching Weasel's website describing his whole point of view on the situation.
With Screeching Weasel
- Screeching WeaselScreeching Weasel (album)Screeching Weasel was the eponymous debut album by the American punk rock band Screeching Weasel. It was originally released with 27 tracks in 1987 through Underdog Records. According to Ben Weasel, Underdog's pressing of 1,000 copies sold out in 3 months, but the label was not interested in...
(1987) - Boogadaboogadaboogada!Boogadaboogadaboogada!-Personnel:* Ben Weasel - lead vocals, guitar* Jughead - guitar, backing vocals* Fish - bass* Steve Cheese - drums-Release variations:* The first 200 copies of the original pressing on Roadkill Records included an insert which featured pictures of the band bowling naked.* Roadkill Records...
(1988) - My Brain HurtsMy Brain HurtsMy Brain Hurts is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Screeching Weasel. It was released in 1991 through Lookout! Records. It was the band's first album released through Lookout! Records. The album marked a very distinct stylistic shift...
(1991) - RamonesRamones (Screeching Weasel album)Ramones is a cover album by the American punk rock band Screeching Weasel. It covers the Ramones' debut album Ramones in its entirety. The band was approached to cover the album at a party for the completion of their fourth album, Wiggle...
(1992) - WiggleWiggle (album)Wiggle is the fourth studio album by the American punk rock band Screeching Weasel. It was released in 1993 through Lookout! Records. Their previous album, My Brain Hurts, had seen a sharp rise in the band's popularity and a shift in sound towards mid-tempo pop songs. With Wiggle, the band shifted...
(1993) - Anthem for a New TomorrowAnthem for a New Tomorrow- Personnel :* Ben Weasel - lead vocals, guitar* Jughead - guitar* Danny Vapid - bass, backing vocals* Danny Panic - drums* Fat Mike - backing vocals on "Peter Brady"* Blake Schwarzenbach - backing vocals on "A New Tomorrow"...
(1993) - How to Make Enemies and Irritate PeopleHow to Make Enemies and Irritate PeopleHow to Make Enemies and Irritate People is the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band Screeching Weasel. It was released in 1994 through Lookout! Records. It was meant to be the band's last album. Shortly after the release of 1993's Anthem for a New Tomorrow, bassist/backing...
(1994) - Bark Like a DogBark Like A DogBark Like a Dog is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock band Screeching Weasel. It was released in 1996 through Fat Wreck Chords. It was the band's first album released through Fat Wreck Chords. It was also the band's first album since they disbanded for the second time...
(1996) - Television City DreamTelevision City DreamTelevision City Dream is the eighth studio album by the American punk rock band Screeching Weasel. It was released in 1998 through Fat Wreck Chords. It was the band's last album released through Fat Wreck Chords. The album is the first to feature new members Mass Giorgini, Zac Damon, and Dan...
(1998) - EmoEmo (album)Emo is the ninth studio album by the American punk rock band Screeching Weasel. It was released on May 18, 1999 through Ben Weasel's and John Jughead's label Panic Button Records. It was their first album released through Panic Button Records. The album was recorded in Chicago during the blizzard...
(1999) - Teen Punks In HeatTeen Punks in HeatTeen Punks In Heat is the tenth studio album by the American punk rock band Screeching Weasel. It was released in August of 2000 through Panic Button Records...
(2000) - First World ManifestoFirst World ManifestoFirst World Manifesto is the twelfth full-length studio album by the American punk rock band Screeching Weasel. It was released on March 15, 2011, on Fat Wreck Chords and is the band's first album in eleven years...
(2011) - Carnival of Schadenfreude (2011)
With Riverdales
- RiverdalesRiverdales (album)-Personnel:* Dan Schafer - bass, lead vocals* Ben Foster - guitar, lead vocals* Dan Sullivan - drums, backing vocalsProduction* Mass Giorgini - producer, recording* Billie Joe Armstrong - producer, mixing* Stephen Marcussen - mastering...
(1995) - Storm the StreetsStorm the StreetsStorm the Streets is the second studio album by the American punk rock band the Riverdales. After a dispute with Lookout! Records, the band signed to Honest Don's Records for this release. It is the only Riverdales album still available from its original label...
(1997) - Phase 3Phase ThreePhase 3 is the third studio album by the American punk rock band The Riverdales. It was released in 2003 through 1-4-5 Records. It was the first new Riverdales album in five years. It was also the first Riverdales album to feature drummer Dan Lumley. It was re-released on October 7, 2008 by Asian...
(2003) - Invasion U.S.AInvasion U.S.A. (Album)Invasion USA is the fourth studio album by the American punk rock band The Riverdales. It was the first Riverdales album in six years. The album's song titles are almost exclusively taken from titles of old sci-fi and horror movies of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly of those featured on the...
(2009) - TarantulaTarantula (Riverdales album)Tarantula is the fifth studio album by the American punk rock band the Riverdales. It was released digitally on June 8, 2010 and was released on CD and vinyl on June 22, 2010 through Recess Records. It was the first Riverdales album to be released through Recess, as well as their first album...
(2010)
Solo
- FidateviFidateviFidatevi is the first solo album released by former Screeching Weasel frontman Ben Weasel. The album was released on June 18, 2002 on Panic Button Records....
(2002) - These Ones Are BitterThese Ones Are BitterThese Ones Are Bitter is the second solo-album by former Screeching Weasel frontman Ben Weasel.The album also features musicians Dan Andriano , Mike Kennerty, and Chris Gaylor...
(2007) - The Brain That Wouldn't Die (2009)
Writing
In the early 1990s, Foster published the fanzine Panic Button. He published two chapbooks through Oyster Publications, Brady Bunch Behemoth (1991) and Stab! Stab! Stab! (1992). Weasel also wrote for other various zines, including RazorcakeRazorcake
Razorcake is a 501 non-profit organization that publishes the Razorcake fanzine, a DIY punk rock fanzine published bi-monthly out of Los Angeles, California...
, Non-Stop Banter, Jersey Beat, Hit List and 10 Things Jesus Wants You To Know. He also had a long-running column in MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL
Maximum RocknRoll
Maximum rocknroll is a widely distributed, monthly not-for-profit fanzine based in San Francisco, USA. It features interviews, columns, and reviews from international contributors...
, one of the most prominent punk rock fanzines. He wrote a novel in 2001 called Like Hell and put out a collection of his columns and articles in 2002 entitled Punk is a Four Letter Word. Both books were published by Hope and Nonthings, a small publishing house based in Chicago run by former bandmate John Jughead.