88 Fingers Louie

Infobox musical artist
Name = 88 Fingers Louie


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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genre = Punk rock
Years_active = 1993-1996
1998–1999
Label = Fat Wreck Chords
Rocco Records
Hopeless Records
Sub City Records
Associated_acts = Alkaline Trio
Break The Silence
The Moneychangers
Rise Against
The Story So Far
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members = Denis Buckley
Dan Wlekinski
Joe Principe
John Carroll
Dominic Vallone
Glenn Porter

88 Fingers Louie (sometimes referred to simply as 88 or 88 Fingers) were a punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois.

Career

88 Fingers Louie formed in spring 1993, with the intention of playing sloppy, fun punk music for themselves. They took their name from a character from an episode of "The Flintstones", who sold Fred a stolen piano. In the later part of 1993, 88 self-released their first EP and appeared on a couple of local compilations before attracting the interest of renowned punk label Fat Wreck Chords in 1994 and appearing on the 1994 Fat Wreck compilation Fat Music For Fat People.

1994 and onwards

Their early EPs, "Go Away" and "Wanted", rendered them a typical "Fat Wreck Chords band" by critics, due to their fast, melodic sound, but suitable for skateboarding music. Their next record, the 10" "Totin' 40s and Fucking Shit Up", was released by Rocco Records in 1994, until their first full-length release came under Hopeless Records, entitled "Behind Bars". By 1996, a tour across North America and Europe ensued following the release of their next EP, "Chicago Vs. Amsterdam".

However, several months into the tour, tour stress and band turmoil began, with 88 subsequently splitting up in July 1996, and abruptly ending the tour, despite a bunch of US tour dates left over. With the absence of 88, Fat Wreck released "The Teacher Gets It EP" and "The Dom Years" 10" in 1997, whilst Hopeless Records released 88's vinyl-only material and rarities, on the 88 compilation "88 Fingers Up Your Ass".

After a year and half of being on hold, Dan Wlekinski (guitarist), Denis Buckley (vocals) and Joe Principe (bassist) revived 88 Fingers Louie in 1998, adding drummer John Carroll to the rhythm section. Their "comeback" album, "Back on the Streets", was released in the same year.

Final breakup and aftermath

88 Fingers Louie broke up for good in 1999.
*Joe Principe and Dan Wlekinski (under the moniker of "Mr. Precision") went on to form the widely successful Rise Against.
*Dan left shortly after the release of their debut album, later appearing in the band Break The Silence.
*Denis Buckley went on to The Story So Far, and later the band Zero to Sixty.
*Glenn Porter went on to Alkaline Trio, and currently plays in Portland, Oregon band The Moneychangers.
*In early September 2007, a new project from founding members of the band was unveiled under the name Zero To Sixty. The lineup consists of Denis Buckley on vocals, Mr. Precision on guitar and vocals, Mirek of 1dickens on bass and vocals, Mike Ford from Break The Silence on drums, and Chris and Lukas from 1dickens playing guitar and contributing to vocals as well.
*Dom refocused his life's work into marriage and parenthood, while continuing his passion for music and drumming. He currently plays drums for the rock outfit known as Living Struggle, with fellow artists Tito and Rocco Renghini, and Jason Fumo.
*John is currently an elementary music teacher in the city of Chicago. He plays in a experimental punk band called Paper Mice, an instrumental rock/jazz group called Maurice, and is one half of the heavy rock duo the Hammer Brothers.

Members

*Denis Buckley - Vocals
*Dan Wlekinski - Guitar
*Joe Principe - Bass
*John Carroll - Drums
*Dominic Vallone (original drummer)
*Glenn Porter

Discography

*Debut self-distributed EP (unknown title) - 1993
*"Go Away" EP (Fat Wreck Chords) - 1993
*"Wanted" EP (Fat Wreck Chords) - 1993
*"Totin' 40s and Fucking Shit Up" 10" (Rocco Records) - 1994
*"Behind Bars" (Hopeless Records) - 1995
*"The Teacher Gets It" EP (Fat Wreck Chords) - 1997
*"The Dom Years" 10" (Fat Wreck Chords) - 1997
*"88 Fingers Up Your Ass" (Hopeless Records) - 1997
*"Back on the Streets" (Hopeless Records) - 1998
*"88 Fingers Louie/Kid Dynamite" split EP with Kid Dynamite (Sub City Records) - 1999

External links

* [http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/88_fingers_louie/bio.jhtml 88 Fingers Louie] biography at VH1.com