The Teen Idols were a pop punk

Pop punk

Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...

 band originally from Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...

. They were formed in 1992 by Phillip Hill and originally broke up in 2003. The band reunited in 2008 in Chicago, Illinois with a retooled lineup before breaking up again in 2010.

History

The band was formed in 1992 in Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...

 and quickly gained local popularity while playing at venues such as Lucy's Record Shop

Lucy's Record Shop

Lucy's Record Shop was an independent, locally-owned record store and all-ages music venue in Nashville, Tennessee. During its five and a half years of operation, Lucy's supported a growing punk and indie music scene in Nashville, and even received national notoriety as a prominent underground...

 and receiving frequent airplay on Nashville college radio. During the mid-90s, they released several EPs under the local indie label, House O' Pain. In 1996, the Nashville Music Association nominated the band for their Independent Artist of the Year award. A year later, the Teen Idols released their first full-length album under the indie label Honest Don's Records

Honest Don's Records

Honest Don's Records was a subsidiary label based in San Francisco, California, set up along with Pink & Black Records by Fat Wreck Chords to release material by bands that didn't fit within the roster at Fat....

. They released two other albums under the Honest Don's label before signing to Fueled by Ramen

Fueled by Ramen

Fueled by Ramen is an American record label which operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records. The label, founded in Gainesville, Florida, is based in New York City...

 in early 2003. Around that time, Keith left the band and Kevin (formerly of Detroit-based P.T.'s Revenge) took over the vocals. Shortly thereafter, the band released the album Nothing to Prove in July, 2003, but broke up during the subsequent tour. During their heyday, the Teen Idols headlined many tours in the U.S. and played support with other notable bands such as NOFX

NOFX

NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...

, Anti-Flag

Anti-Flag

Anti-Flag is a punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States, formed in 1988. The band is well known for its outspoken political views. Much of the band's lyrics have focused on fervent anti-war activism, criticism of United States foreign policy, corporatism, U.S. wealth...

, 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 The Queers

The Queers

The Queers are a punk band formed in 1981 by Portsmouth, New Hampshire native Joe King . The band originally broke up in 1984, but reformed with Joe Queer and a new line-up in 1986. In 1990, the band signed with Shakin' Street Records and released their first album Grow Up...

.

After the breakup of the Teen Idols, Heather, Matt Yonker, and Kevin joined forces with Geis and Gui from Rehasher

Rehasher

Rehasher is a punk rock band based in Gainesville, Florida. They are currently signed to their vanity label, Moathouse Records and have released a second album...

 and have toured and recorded as the band Bullets to Broadway. The band released one album, Drink Positive, and supported Lagwagon and Lawrence Arms on US legs as well as Less Than Jake on their 2006 European tour. Matt has gone on to play with The Queers, Ben Weasel, The Methadones and now owns Drastic Sounds Recording Studio in Nashville. Phillip has done duty with many bands including The Queers, 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 Even in Blackouts

Even in Blackouts

Even in Blackouts, known occasionally by the acronym EiB, were an acoustic pop-punk band from Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 2002 by veteran pop-punk guitarist John 'Jughead' Pierson following the demise of the pop-punk band Screeching Weasel, for which Pierson had performed since 1986...

.

On December 26, 2008, the Teen Idols announced on their MySpace blog that they had decided to come out of retirement and would soon be making new records and playing shows again. In early 2009, the Teen Idols announced a tentative agreement to sign with Fat Wreck Chords

Fat Wreck Chords

Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....

 but an official contract never materialized. Later that year, guitar player Phillip Hill was hospitalized with four broken ribs and a collapsed lung after trying to break up a fight. Because he lacked health insurance, an account was set up to help raise money for his medical bills. The band broke up again in June 2010.

Final lineup

• Phillip Hill – guitar (1992–2010)
• Keith Witt – vocals (1995–2000), (2008–2010)
• Chris Mason – drums (2009–2010)
• Yvonne Szumski – bass (2009–2010)

Former members

• Jemima Kate – bass (2008–2009)
• Nathan Bice – drums (2008–2009)
• Kevin Sierzega – vocals (2001–2003)
• Heather Tabor – bass (1996–2003)
• Matt "Drastic" Yonker – drums (1996–2003)
• Wes White – drums (1994–1996)
• Roxsan Biggerstaff – bass (1995–1996)
• Keaton Sims – vocals (1994–1995)
• Janell Saxton – bass (1992–1995)
• Steve Saxton – drums (1992–1994)
• Matt Benson – vocals (1992–1993)
• Chris Trujillo – drums (1992)

Studio albums

• Teen Idols (1997)
• Pucker Up (1999)
• Full Leather Jacket (2000)
• Nothing to Prove (2003)

Singles and EPs

• Old Days, Old Ways (EP) (1993)
• Nightmares (EP) (1994)
• Let's Make Noise (EP) (1995)
• Teen Idols Split with Mulligan Stu (EP) (1996)
• V.M.Live Presents Teen Idols (EP) (1996)
• Teen Idols/Khrissy (split EP) (1996)
• Teen Idols/Spread (split EP) (1999)
• The Dysfunctional Shadowman Split CD (2003)

Compilation appearances

• I Can't Believe It's Not Water (1996)
• Four On the Floor
  Four on the Floor
  Four on the Floor was a sketch comedy series which aired on CBC Television in 1986. Consisting of only 13 episodes, the series was a showcase for The Frantics, a comedy troupe consisting of Paul Chato, Rick Green, Dan Redican and Peter Wildman...
  
  (1998)
• Short Music for Short People
  Short Music for Short People
  Short Music for Short People is a 1999 compilation album released on the Fat Wreck Chords record label. The title is a parody of the 1980s punk compilation Rat Music for Rat People...
  
  (1999)
• Honest Don's Greatest Shits (1999)
• Another Round of Golf, Vol 5 (2003)