Useless ID | |
---|---|
Origin | Haifa, Israel |
Genres | Punk rock, pop punk, skate punk |
Years active | 1994–present |
Labels | Falafel Records (1994–2000) Kung Fu (2000–2008) Suburban Home (2008–2011) Fat Wreck Chords (2011–present) |
Associated acts | Muki, Kill the Drive, Kids Insane, SPIT |
Website | [1] |
Members |
Yotam Ben-Horin Ishay Berger Guy Carmel Corey Ben Yehuda |
Past members | Ido Blaustein Ralph Huber Adi Alkabetz Yonatan Harpak Gideon Berger |
Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Middle Eastern punk bands worldwide.
The founders of Useless ID in 1996 were: Guy Carmel - vocal and guitar, Ralf Hober - drums, Adi Elkabets - lead guitar, Nadav Elkabets -Bass. At its first years, the band was mainly active in the Israeli punk scene, and released two studio albums independently, on its own label "Falafel Records", named after band member's favorite food, the falafel. The band's singer at the time was rhythm guitarist Guy Carmel.
Two years after the band's formation, the four members decided to play shows in the United States, and toured around the country for 6 months. This successful tour was followed by five more tours around North America, two around Europe and one in Japan. In 1996, upon returning to Israel from the tours, the band's bassist Adi Elkabets was replaced by Yotam Ben-Horin.
The band's international breakthrough happened in 1999, after The Ataris frontman, Kris Roe, heard the band and invited it to record a split album for Kung Fu Records. The album, titled Let It Burn, featured 9 songs by the Ataris and 7 songs by Useless ID. The song "Too Bad You Don't Get It" was also featured on Fat Wreck Chords' compilation, Short Music for Short People that same year. After the release of Let It Burn, the band was signed to Kung Fu Records, and in 2001 the band's third studio album, Bad Story, Happy Ending, was released. The album was produced by Kris Roe. This was the first album by the band to feature bassist Yotam Ben-Horin on lead vocals. Ben-Horin eventually became the band's frontman and main composer and lyricist.