The Riverdales
historyThe Riverdales are an American Punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois made up of ex-members of Screeching Weasel. Throughout their career, the band stuck with a Punk Rock sound very reminiscent of The Ramones. Bassist Dan Schafer and guitarist Ben Foster both served as frontmen, splitting time singing lead vocals for the group. The Riverdales original run lasted from 1994-1997 and they reformed in 2003 to record their final album, or so we thought. They plan to release a fourth album in 2009.
History
Named after the town of Riverdale from Archie Comics, the band formed in 1994. The founding members Ben Foster (guitar), Dan Schafer (bass), and Dan Sullivan (drums), were all former members of Screeching Weasel, who had broken up earlier that year. Unlike Screeching Weasel, the members of The Riverdales would be credited under their real names. Their first album was released July 7 1995 on Lookout! Records and was produced by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Squirtgun's Mass Giorgini. Playing off this synergy, the Riverdales supported Green Day's 1995 Insomniac Tour. That year the bands song "Back To You" appeared in the movie Angus.»Soundtrack to
Despite the reformation of Screeching Weasel in 1996, the Riverdales did not split until after recording a second album, Storm The Streets, in 1997. Ben would later say that the stress of the Green Day tour severely damaged the relationship between the band members and that, in turn, led to the break up and Schafer and Sullivan's subsequent departures from Screeching Weasel. In 2003, Foster and Schafer, who had since repaired their relationship, reformed the group with drummer Dan Lumley to record Phase Three. The band went on hiatus following the record's release.
In 2004, Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Riverdales masters from Lookout! Records after being unable to resolve a breach of contract dispute over unpaid royalties with the label. All of these masters have since been licensed to Asian Man Records. Asian Man reissued the first Riverdales album in 2006 with re-mastered sound and a slew of bonus tracks including 3 unreleased tracks, "No Sense" from the Storm the Streets session, and live tracks from their tour with Green Day.. The Label also re-issued Phase Three on October 7th, 2008. There are five bonus tracks on the reissue including a re-done version of the popular song "Mental Retard" from their Storm The Streets album. On his ESPN 1070 radio show, "Weasel Radio", Ben Weasel said that he and the existing Riverdales band members were contemplating a reunion show to promote the CD reissue of Phase Three.
On Weasel Radio on the 19th November, 2008, Ben Weasel announced that he and Danny Vapid had been demoing songs for a new Riverdales record, and recording would begin in February 2009. He also announced that The Riverdales would be playing some shows.»http://www.punknews.org/article/31344 In January of 2009, it was announced that Adam Cargin (of the Blueheels) would be the band's new drummer.»http://www.punknews.org/article/31787
Logo
The band's logo is the number 27 with a circle around it. Very few people actually know the meaning of it. All three of the original members of The Riverdales have the logo tattooed on their flesh as does Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Adam Woronoff from The Leftovers. There are no plans to ever reveal the meaning of the number. As Ben Weasel said, "What good’s a secret society if it’s not exclusive?"
Discography
Original Releases
- Back To You EP (1995)
- Fun Tonight EP (1995)
- Riverdales LP (1995)
- Blood On The Ice EP (1997)
- Storm the Streets LP (1997)
- Phase Three LP (2003)
- Untitled Album (2009)
Re-Releases
- Riverdales Reissue (2006)
- Phase Three Reissue (2008)