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Pennywise Information
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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 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 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. Lyrics in the album endorsed a positive mental attitude, helping promote progressive ideals for Generation X. 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 (2003).
"Rise Up", in From the Ashes is featured in Burnout 3.
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 were recently working on their latest album The Fuse, which was released in Europe on June 27th and in North America and Canada on August 9th 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.
A source () reported that the band will record a post-Fuse album in 2006 and release it in 2007. The band may not be recording it unless The Fuse tour ends.
Discography
Albums
| 'Year' | 'Title' | 'Label' | 'US Peak' | 'Other information' | 1988 | Wildcard | Self-released | DNC* | EP | | 1989 | A Word from the Wise | Self-released | DNC* | EP | | 1990 | Wildcard/A Word From the Wise | Theologian | DNC* | Compilation, contains material of their self-released EPs | | 1991 | Pennywise | Epitaph | DNC* | First release on Epitaph Records.
Was remastered on March 8th, 2005. | | 1993 | Unknown Road | Epitaph | DNC* | Was remastered on March 8th, 2005. | | 1995 | About Time | Epitaph | 96 | Last release to feature bassist Jason Thirsk, due to his death on July 29th, 1996.
Was remastered on March 8th, 2005. | | 1997 | Full Circle | Epitaph | 79 | Dedicated to fallen bassist Jason Thirsk. It was the first release to feature their current bassist Randy Bradbury.
Was remastered on March 8th, 2005. | | 1999 | Straight Ahead | Epitaph | 62 | | | 2000 | Live @ the Key Club | Epitaph | 198 | Live | | 2001 | Land of the Free? | Epitaph | 67 | | | 2003 | From the Ashes | Epitaph | 54 | | | 2005 | The Fuse | Epitaph | 78 | |
* Did not chart on Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart (because they were never main-streamed)
Singles
| 'Year' | 'Title' | 'Chart positions' | 'Album' | | US Hot 100 | US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK | | 1993 | "Homesick" | - | - | - | - | Unknown Road | | 1995 | "Same Old Story" | - | - | - | - | About Time | | 1997 | "Society" | - | - | - | - | Full Circle | | 1999 | "Alien" | - | - | - | - | Straight Ahead | | 2000 | "Victim of Reality" | - | - | - | - | Straight Ahead | | 2001 | "Fuck Authority" | - | - | - | - | Land of the Free? | | 2001 | "Divine Intervention" | - | - | - | - | Land of the Free? | | 2002 | "My God" | - | - | - | - | Land of the Free? | | 2003 | "Yesterdays" | - | - | - | - | From the Ashes | | 2005 | "Disconnect" | - | - | - | - | The Fuse |
Filmography
| 'Year' | 'Title' | 'Format' | 'Other information' | 1995 | Home Movies | VHS/DVD | Was re-released on November 9th, 2004 for the DVD version.
Was unavailable since 1997. |
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