Kaleo Wassman
Encyclopedia
Kaleo Wassman is an American
musician who serves as the lead singer and guitar
ist of reggae
, dub
bands Pepper
and Sabotage Soundsystem
.
of Hawaii
. In 1996, he started working with fellow bandmembers and bassist Brett Bollinger and Yesod Williams. The three of them have been friends sinces high school and started the band shortly after graduating. Kaleo said in an interview, "Everyone went to college and we went to the bars...{laughing}."
music and get signed by a major label. After releasing the band's debut demo Give'n It
in 2000, Pepper
were signed by Volcom Entertainment
. After signing in 2000, the band performed in their first major show at the Warped Tour
in 2001.
Following the Warped Tour, Wassman and his bandmates quickly hit the studio to produce their first album under Volcom
. This was done with the help of Less Than Jake
and blink-182
producer Steve Kravac. The album was completed by early 2002, and on March 26, 2002 the band's first album Kona Town
was released.
Some of Wassman and Pepper's songs started to appear on various Volcom
compilations, as early as 1999 with Summer Sampler and The Early Poems Of. After Volcom
released Kona Town
in 2002, Wassman and Pepper went on a few tours before returning to the studio. In with the Old
followed in 2004, and Pepper started touring with the likes of 311
and Snoop Dogg
.
Wassman and the band decided to leave Volcom
and they began their own record label, LAW Records. Its first release was a re-issue of their 2000 demo Give'n It
in 2003. A live DVD was issued in early 2006 before Pepper returned that fall with the full-length studio album No Shame
in 2006. After this Wassman and his bandmates began a subsequent tour alongside Slightly Stoopid
and also appeared at the Warped Tour
in 2007. After finishing this tour, Pepper returned to the studio and released Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations
on July 22, 2008.
s and demos as well as doing many live shows, the band signed to Volcom Entertainment
. Sabotage Soundsystem
released their seventeen track debut album on February 17, 2009 entitled The Boto Machine Gun
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician who serves as the lead singer and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist of reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
bands Pepper
Pepper (band)
Pepper is a rock band originally from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The band's music is often classified as a combination of reggae, dub and rock. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Kaleo Wassman, vocalist/bassist Bret Bollinger, and drummer Yesod Williams...
and Sabotage Soundsystem
Sabotage Soundsystem
Sabotage Soundsystem is a reggae, dub band from the Island of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii. The duo consists of surfers Remy “Dub” DeRochemont and Kaleo Wassman, who have been playing together since 1999. Wassman also is the lead singer and guitarist for the Kona based reggae band Pepper. The duo released...
.
Early life
Wassman was born in Kailua-Kona on the Big IslandHawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. In 1996, he started working with fellow bandmembers and bassist Brett Bollinger and Yesod Williams. The three of them have been friends sinces high school and started the band shortly after graduating. Kaleo said in an interview, "Everyone went to college and we went to the bars...{laughing}."
Career with Pepper
In 1999, his newly formed band, with friends Bret Bollinger and Yesod Williams, relocated to SoCal to pursue their interest in reggaeReggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
music and get signed by a major label. After releasing the band's debut demo Give'n It
Give'n It
Give'n It was originally a demo released by the band Pepper in 2000.The demo was released on Skunk records/ Cornerstone RAS. It was eventually reissued by the band's label LAW Records in 2003.-Track listing:# Unsafe Bridge# Feels Good# Regret Is...
in 2000, Pepper
Pepper (band)
Pepper is a rock band originally from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The band's music is often classified as a combination of reggae, dub and rock. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Kaleo Wassman, vocalist/bassist Bret Bollinger, and drummer Yesod Williams...
were signed by Volcom Entertainment
Volcom Entertainment
Volcom Entertainment, officially founded in 1995, in Newport Beach, California, and currently based in Costa Mesa, CA is the brainchild of Volcom founder Richard Woolcott and theLINE's singer/guitarist Ryan Immegart. Ryan being Volcom's first sponsored snowboarder and having a love for music...
. After signing in 2000, the band performed in their first major show at the Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
in 2001.
Following the Warped Tour, Wassman and his bandmates quickly hit the studio to produce their first album under Volcom
Volcom Entertainment
Volcom Entertainment, officially founded in 1995, in Newport Beach, California, and currently based in Costa Mesa, CA is the brainchild of Volcom founder Richard Woolcott and theLINE's singer/guitarist Ryan Immegart. Ryan being Volcom's first sponsored snowboarder and having a love for music...
. This was done with the help of Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio, the band evolved into a hybrid of ska punk. Less Than Jake have also been cited as showing influences from a wide variety of genres including post-grunge, heavy metal, alternative...
and blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
producer Steve Kravac. The album was completed by early 2002, and on March 26, 2002 the band's first album Kona Town
Kona Town
Kona Town is the debut album by reggae band Pepper.The town is Kailua-Kona onthe Big Island of Hawaii.- Track listing :# The Good Thing - 0:26# Stone Love - 4:14# Dry Spell - 3:55# Face Plant - 3:19# Tradewinds - 4:16# Stormtrooper - 5:27...
was released.
Some of Wassman and Pepper's songs started to appear on various Volcom
Volcom Entertainment
Volcom Entertainment, officially founded in 1995, in Newport Beach, California, and currently based in Costa Mesa, CA is the brainchild of Volcom founder Richard Woolcott and theLINE's singer/guitarist Ryan Immegart. Ryan being Volcom's first sponsored snowboarder and having a love for music...
compilations, as early as 1999 with Summer Sampler and The Early Poems Of. After Volcom
Volcom Entertainment
Volcom Entertainment, officially founded in 1995, in Newport Beach, California, and currently based in Costa Mesa, CA is the brainchild of Volcom founder Richard Woolcott and theLINE's singer/guitarist Ryan Immegart. Ryan being Volcom's first sponsored snowboarder and having a love for music...
released Kona Town
Kona Town
Kona Town is the debut album by reggae band Pepper.The town is Kailua-Kona onthe Big Island of Hawaii.- Track listing :# The Good Thing - 0:26# Stone Love - 4:14# Dry Spell - 3:55# Face Plant - 3:19# Tradewinds - 4:16# Stormtrooper - 5:27...
in 2002, Wassman and Pepper went on a few tours before returning to the studio. In with the Old
In with the Old
In With the Old is Pepper's third album, released on March 30, 2004 .-Track listing:# "Back Home" – 3:12# "Are You Down?" – 3:55# "Love Affair" – 3:23# "Use Me" – 4:07# "Seven Weeks" – 3:43# "Ashes" – 3:01# "Border Town" – 3:39...
followed in 2004, and Pepper started touring with the likes of 311
311 (band)
311 is an American rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. The band was formed in 1988 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Jim Watson , bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and drummer Chad Sexton...
and Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
.
Wassman and the band decided to leave Volcom
Volcom Entertainment
Volcom Entertainment, officially founded in 1995, in Newport Beach, California, and currently based in Costa Mesa, CA is the brainchild of Volcom founder Richard Woolcott and theLINE's singer/guitarist Ryan Immegart. Ryan being Volcom's first sponsored snowboarder and having a love for music...
and they began their own record label, LAW Records. Its first release was a re-issue of their 2000 demo Give'n It
Give'n It
Give'n It was originally a demo released by the band Pepper in 2000.The demo was released on Skunk records/ Cornerstone RAS. It was eventually reissued by the band's label LAW Records in 2003.-Track listing:# Unsafe Bridge# Feels Good# Regret Is...
in 2003. A live DVD was issued in early 2006 before Pepper returned that fall with the full-length studio album No Shame
No Shame
No Shame is the fourth album by Hawaiian band Pepper. Released on October 3, 2006, it features production from Nick Hexum of 311, Tony Kanal of No Doubt, and Sublime producer Paul Leary....
in 2006. After this Wassman and his bandmates began a subsequent tour alongside Slightly Stoopid
Slightly Stoopid
Slightly Stoopid is an American band based in Ocean Beach, San Diego, California, who describe their music as "a fusion of acoustic rock and blues with reggae, hip-hop, and punk". As a band, they have released eight albums with their sixth studio album, entitled Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat...
and also appeared at the Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
in 2007. After finishing this tour, Pepper returned to the studio and released Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations
Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations
Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations is the 5th studio album from Pepper released on July 22, 2008. The title is taken from a fictional album recorded by "Coconut Pete" in the Broken Lizard film Club Dread. The album is produced by Paul Leary...
on July 22, 2008.
Career with Sabotage Soundsystem
Kaleo and fellow surfer-musician Remy “Dub” DeRochemont also from Kona, started collaborating in 1999. After releasing many EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s and demos as well as doing many live shows, the band signed to Volcom Entertainment
Volcom Entertainment
Volcom Entertainment, officially founded in 1995, in Newport Beach, California, and currently based in Costa Mesa, CA is the brainchild of Volcom founder Richard Woolcott and theLINE's singer/guitarist Ryan Immegart. Ryan being Volcom's first sponsored snowboarder and having a love for music...
. Sabotage Soundsystem
Sabotage Soundsystem
Sabotage Soundsystem is a reggae, dub band from the Island of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii. The duo consists of surfers Remy “Dub” DeRochemont and Kaleo Wassman, who have been playing together since 1999. Wassman also is the lead singer and guitarist for the Kona based reggae band Pepper. The duo released...
released their seventeen track debut album on February 17, 2009 entitled The Boto Machine Gun
The Boto Machine Gun
The Boto Machine Gun is the full-length debut album by rock, reggae, dub band Sabotage Soundsystem, from Kailua-Kona. The 17 track album was released on February 17, 2009 by Volcom Entertainment and produced by Richard Woolcott.- Track listing :...
.