Fifteen (band)
Encyclopedia
Fifteen was a punk rock
band formed by Jeff Ott
. Ott was the group's main songwriter and only consistent member. According to Ott, the band had a total of fifteen members by the time it finally disbanded in 2000: Jack Curran, Mikey Mischief, Mark Moreno, Jean Repetto, Lucky Dog, Chris Flanagan, John Ogle, Jesse Wickman, Joe Cable, John Quintos, Scott Pierce, Jim Prior, Lisa D., Vanessa Bain and himself.
. Their early releases were similar in style to Crimpshrine, though with classic rock and pop influences which became more prominent as the band aged. Ott also began to use a more traditional singing voice in addition to the throaty growl for which he'd become known in Crimpshrine.
The band broke up for the first time in 1996, following the release of Extra-Medium Kickball All-Star
. Their last show was memorialized on the live record Allegra. Ott claimed that playing in a touring rock band was inconsistent with the hardline environmentalist stance he'd taken in Fifteen's lyrics. He began performing as an acoustic solo artist and released the split album Epithysial Union with Amanda Ketchum.
Fifteen reformed in late 1998 with Ott and several members of the original line-up. In 1999 they released Lucky on Subcity Records and participated in that label's first Take Action Tour
. The album featured electric versions of many of the songs on Ott's acoustic album and was a stylistic departure from the rough-edged pop-punk of Fifteen's earlier work. This line-up dissolved following the departure of bassist Scott Pierce
.
A new line-up existed briefly, recording the Hush EP and the album Survivor, but this version of Fifteen did not tour. Fifteen broke up again in 2000. Jeff Ott claimed on the skatedork.org website that the anti-commercial DIY ethics of punk rock made it too expensive for him to have a band while raising a family.
Ott returned to his solo career for several years, releasing another record, Will Work for Diapers. In 2007 he abandoned his solo career as well, saying simply that he was busy with school.
A running theme in Fifteen song titles is the "-tion" suffix, a nod to the overuse of this suffix in Crimpshrine song titles. Some Fifteen songs, such as "Run II" and "Liberation II", are often sequels to songs written by Ott or other artists.
Many Fifteen songs are tributes to friends of the band who have died, including "Front", "Chris' Song", and "Welcome to Berkeley". "Brian's Song" on the album Survivor refers to the death of Brian Deneke
.
Love song
s featured prominently on the first three Fifteen albums, but are completely absent from later releases. Ott addresses his stance towards love songs in the track "Liberation II", a song about codependency.
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...
band formed by Jeff Ott
Jeff Ott
Jeff Ott is an activist, musician, author, and longtime member of the Berkeley punk community, having fronted such bands as Crimpshrine, and Fifteen.-Partial history:...
. Ott was the group's main songwriter and only consistent member. According to Ott, the band had a total of fifteen members by the time it finally disbanded in 2000: Jack Curran, Mikey Mischief, Mark Moreno, Jean Repetto, Lucky Dog, Chris Flanagan, John Ogle, Jesse Wickman, Joe Cable, John Quintos, Scott Pierce, Jim Prior, Lisa D., Vanessa Bain and himself.
History
Fifteen formed in 1991 following the demise of Ott's previous band, CrimpshrineCrimpshrine
Crimpshrine was an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California. The group was formed in 1982 by Aaron Cometbus, founder of the seminal punk rock zine Cometbus, and a friend, Jeff Ott. Within D.I.Y...
. Their early releases were similar in style to Crimpshrine, though with classic rock and pop influences which became more prominent as the band aged. Ott also began to use a more traditional singing voice in addition to the throaty growl for which he'd become known in Crimpshrine.
The band broke up for the first time in 1996, following the release of Extra-Medium Kickball All-Star
Extra Medium Kick Ball Star (17)
Extra Medium Kick Ball Star is a mid-career album by California Punk Rock band Fifteen.-Tracklist:# Front# Chris' Song# Run II# Deal, The# Grow Up# Emancipation# Proclamation# Over & Over# Intelligence# Jesus# Rainbow Connection# Connection...
. Their last show was memorialized on the live record Allegra. Ott claimed that playing in a touring rock band was inconsistent with the hardline environmentalist stance he'd taken in Fifteen's lyrics. He began performing as an acoustic solo artist and released the split album Epithysial Union with Amanda Ketchum.
Fifteen reformed in late 1998 with Ott and several members of the original line-up. In 1999 they released Lucky on Subcity Records and participated in that label's first Take Action Tour
Take Action Tour
The Take Action Tour is an annual spring tour that not only hosts several bands, but also tries to get people alerted about the issues with teen suicide, and ultimately tries to prevent it. The tour was created by both Sub City and Hopeless Records...
. The album featured electric versions of many of the songs on Ott's acoustic album and was a stylistic departure from the rough-edged pop-punk of Fifteen's earlier work. This line-up dissolved following the departure of bassist Scott Pierce
Scott Pierce
Scott Pierce II is the youngest child of Marvin and Pauline Pierce, and brother of former First Lady Barbara Bush, wife of George Herbert Walker Bush and uncle of the 43rd President George W. Bush. Pierce is named for his grandfather, who was an insurance salesman in Dayton, Ohio. His father was...
.
A new line-up existed briefly, recording the Hush EP and the album Survivor, but this version of Fifteen did not tour. Fifteen broke up again in 2000. Jeff Ott claimed on the skatedork.org website that the anti-commercial DIY ethics of punk rock made it too expensive for him to have a band while raising a family.
Ott returned to his solo career for several years, releasing another record, Will Work for Diapers. In 2007 he abandoned his solo career as well, saying simply that he was busy with school.
Songwriting and Politics
Fifteen was notable for their lyrical content and political beliefs as much as their music. Ott approached political issues in a more personal, "storyteller" mode than is typical of punk rock music. Fifteen addressed issues such as environmentalism, pacifism, homelessness, drug addiction, child abuse, racism and sexism. Ott's lyrics were often written in the first-person narrative style, as he himself was a victim of child abuse and was homeless for much of the band's early career. Jeff Ott is also a recovering alcoholic and drug addict.A running theme in Fifteen song titles is the "-tion" suffix, a nod to the overuse of this suffix in Crimpshrine song titles. Some Fifteen songs, such as "Run II" and "Liberation II", are often sequels to songs written by Ott or other artists.
Many Fifteen songs are tributes to friends of the band who have died, including "Front", "Chris' Song", and "Welcome to Berkeley". "Brian's Song" on the album Survivor refers to the death of Brian Deneke
Brian Deneke
On December 12, 1997, 19-year-old punk musician Brian Theodore Deneke was killed in a deliberate hit and run attack in Amarillo, Texas. He was intentionally run over by 17-year-old jock Dustin Camp....
.
Love song
Love song
A love song is about falling in love and the feelings it brings. Anthologies of love songs often contain a mixture of both of these types of song. A bawdy song is both humorous and saucy, emphasizing the physical pleasure of love rather than the emotional joy...
s featured prominently on the first three Fifteen albums, but are completely absent from later releases. Ott addresses his stance towards love songs in the track "Liberation II", a song about codependency.
Discography
| Year | Title | Label | Format and comments |
| Self-Titled | 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... | 7" | |
| 1992 | Swain's First Bike Ride Swain's First Bike Ride (album) Swain's First Bike Ride is the first full album by the Berkeley, California punk band Fifteen. The songs generally follow a metallic guitar and chorus vocals style which was phased out in later albums... | 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... | CD/12" |
| 1993 | Choice of a New Generation Choice of a New Generation (album) Choice of a New Generation is the second album by the Punk rock band Fifteen. It follows a similar style to the first album by the band.-Track listing:# Petroleum Distillation# The End of the Summer# Separation 2# Communication# Domination=Destruction... | 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... | CD/12" |
| Ain't Life a Drag | Iteration Records | 7" | |
| 1996 | Buzz Buzz (Fifteen album) Buzz is the 3rd studio album by California Punk band Fifteen. The album was originally released on CD, LP, and cassette by the now-defunct label Grass Records on August 27th, 1996... | Grass Records / Plan It X | CD/12" |
| 1996 | Surprise! Surprise! (Fifteen album) Surprise is the 4th album by California Punk band Fifteen, which came out "surprisingly" the same year as their previous album, Buzz. It is rumored that this album was originally titled "I'd Rather Kiss A Wookie," which is often listed as a "lost" album of the band from 1995.- Tracklist :# Middle#... | Grass Records / Plan It X | CD/12" |
| 1996 | There's No Place Like Home (Good Night) | 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... | CD |
| 1996 | Ooze | 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... | 7" (Contains only '924' and 'Landmine' from There's no Place Like Home |
| 1998 | Extra Medium Kick Ball Star (17) Extra Medium Kick Ball Star (17) Extra Medium Kick Ball Star is a mid-career album by California Punk Rock band Fifteen.-Tracklist:# Front# Chris' Song# Run II# Deal, The# Grow Up# Emancipation# Proclamation# Over & Over# Intelligence# Jesus# Rainbow Connection# Connection... | Cool Guy Records / Sub City Records Sub City Records Sub City Records is a record label which was created by Hopeless Records to raise funding and awareness for non-profit organizations. Sub City has been active for eleven years now, and has now over 30 releases.... | CD/12" |
| 1999 | Allegra | Cool Guy Records/Sub City Records Sub City Records Sub City Records is a record label which was created by Hopeless Records to raise funding and awareness for non-profit organizations. Sub City has been active for eleven years now, and has now over 30 releases.... | CD/12" |
| 1999 | Lucky Lucky (fifteen album) Lucky was a 1999 album by the punk band Fifteen, named after local musician "Lucky Dog", who had recently committed suicide. Lucky himself had been mentioned on Green Day's first two albums, wrote a blurb in the art booklet for 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours and was thanked in Kerplunk!... | Sub City Records Sub City Records Sub City Records is a record label which was created by Hopeless Records to raise funding and awareness for non-profit organizations. Sub City has been active for eleven years now, and has now over 30 releases.... | CD/12" |
| 2000 | Hush | Sub City Records Sub City Records Sub City Records is a record label which was created by Hopeless Records to raise funding and awareness for non-profit organizations. Sub City has been active for eleven years now, and has now over 30 releases.... | CD/12" |
| 2000 | Survivor Survivor (fifteen album) Survivor is the final album from punk band Fifteen released in 2000. The album is themed around tragedy and picking up the pieces, as can be seen in the title song, "Survivor", which starts out talking about how "America is a place where kids have broken hearts" and describing how member Jeff Ott... | Sub City Records Sub City Records Sub City Records is a record label which was created by Hopeless Records to raise funding and awareness for non-profit organizations. Sub City has been active for eleven years now, and has now over 30 releases.... | CD/12" |