Ben Weasel

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ben Weasel

|right|thumb|200px
Img_capt = Ben Weasel (left) with a fan
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Ben Foster
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin =
Instrument = Vocals, guitar
Genre = Punk rock, pop punk
Occupation =
Years_active = 1986–present
Label =
Associated_acts = Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, The Vindictives
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Ben Weasel (born Ben Foster in Chicago, Illinois) is a punk rock musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of bands Screeching Weasel and The Riverdales. He is currently a solo artist, as well as co-host of "Weasel Radio" a weekly radio show on ESPN 1070. [ [http://www.espn1070.com/pages/weaselradio.html Madison's ESPN Radio 1070 ] ]

Early life

Ben grew up in Prospect Heights, Illinois where he was expelled from three different high schools for unruly behavior. He was eventually sent to the Elan School, a therapeutic community based school in Poland, Maine, to finish high school. [ [http://www.jimdero.com/OtherWritings/Other%20Weasel.htm Screeching Halt ] ]

Musical career

When Ben returned to Illinois from Maine, he got a job as an usher at a movie theater, and formed the band Screeching Weasel with fellow usher John Pierson.

After an initial break-up in 1989, Screeching Weasel broke up for a second time in 1994. Following the second breakup, Weasel formed a new band, The Riverdales, with Dan Vapid, and Dan Panic.

Weasel reunited with Screeching Weasel again in 1996. The band lasted until 2001 before breaking up again. Screeching Weasel would reunite again for a few shows in 2004, but have no plans to reunite again. The Riverdales also reformed in 2003, but are also now defunct again.

In 2002 Weasel released his first solo album Fidatevi. His second album, These Ones Are Bitter, was released in June 2007.

In addition to Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, and his solo work, Weasel frequently collaborates with the band The Queers co-writing many of their songs. Queers frontman Joe Queer recently stated he has a project in the works with Ben Weasel, Marky Ramone and B-Face. [ [http://www.sdcitybeat.com/article.php?id=4812 San Diego CityBeat - Where the hell is Tinkerbell? ] ]

Weasel also ran his own Chicago-based record label called Panic Button Records, which he also started in 1997 with Jughead. In 1998 the label was purchased by Lookout! Records when Screeching Weasel resigned to Lookout!. [ [http://www.eastbayexpress.com/gyrobase/kerplunk/Content?oid=289816&page=2 East Bay Express | News | Kerplunk ] ] Ben currently has a label called, "Mendota Recording Company", which is a digital download only record label. [ [http://www.myspace.com/mendotarecording MySpace.com - Mendota Recording Co. - MADISON, Wisconsin - Punk - www.myspace.com/mendotarecording ] ]

He has also played briefly with The Vindictives and Sweet Black And Blue.

Discography

*Screeching Weasel - Screeching Weasel (1987)
*Boogadaboogadaboogada!- Screeching Weasel (1988)
*My Brain Hurts- Screeching Weasel (1991)
*Ramones- Screeching Weasel (1992)
*Wiggle- Screeching Weasel (1993)
*Anthem For A New Tomorrow- Screeching Weasel (1993)
*How To Make Enemies And Irritate People- Screeching Weasel (1994)
*Riverdales - The Riverdales (1995)
*Bark Like A Dog- Screeching Weasel (1996)
*Storm the Streets - The Riverdales (1997)
*Television City Dream- Screeching Weasel (1998)
*Emo- Screeching Weasel (1999)
*Teen Punks In Heat- Screeching Weasel (2000)
*Fidatevi- Ben Weasel (2002)
*Phase Three - The Riverdales (2003)
*These Ones Are Bitter- Ben Weasel (2007)

Writing

In the early 1990s, Weasel published the fanzine "Panic Button", which focused on punk rock and hockey. He published two one off zines through Oyster Publications, "Brady Bunch Behemoth" (1991) and "Stab! Stab! Stab!" (1992). Weasel also wrote for other various zines, including "Razorcake", "Non-Stop Banter", "Jersey Beat", "Hit List", "10 Things Jesus Wants You To Know". He also had a long-running column in "MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL", one of the most prominent punk rock fanzines. Weasel wrote a novel in 2001 called "Like Hell" and put out a collection of his columns and articles in 2002 entitled "Punk is a Four Letter Word". Both books were published by Hope and Nonthings, a small publishing house based in Chicago run by former bandmate John Jughead.

References

External links

* [http://www.lookoutrecords.com/ Lookout Records]
* [http://www.asianmanrecords.com/ Asian Man Records]
* [http://www.fatwreck.com/ Fat Wreck Chords]

* [http://benweasel.mu.nu/ Ben Weasel's Weblog]
* [http://www.readjunk.com/interview.php?rv=240 A Recent Interview with Ben Weasel]