Jim Lindberg
| Jim Lindberg | |
|---|---|
Lindberg (right) on stage with Pennywise in 2006.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James William Lindberg |
| Born | July 26, 1965 |
| Origin | Hermosa Beach, California, United States |
| Genres | Punk rock, Melodic hardcore, Skate punk, Hardcore punk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Vocalist, Author |
| Instruments | Vocals, Guitars |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Labels |
Epitaph Records MySpace Records SideOneDummy Records |
| Associated acts |
Pennywise The Black Pacific |
James William Lindberg (born July 26, 1965) is an American singer and guitarist. Active since the 1980s, when he played in local bands in his early career, Lindberg is best known for being the frontman and songwriter of the influential punk rock band Pennywise, where he had remained as a member from 1988 and 2009 before he rejoined in 2012. He also fronts and plays guitar in The Black Pacific, who released a debut album in 2010.
As the main lyricist for Pennywise along with deceased bassist Jason Thirsk, Lindberg was responsible for encouraging the band's message of positive mental attitude and self-reliance. A UCLA English major graduate, Lindberg often cited American transcendentalist philosophers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau as major influences on his lyrics. With song titles such as "My Own Way", "It's Up to Me", "Date With Destiny", and "My Own Country", Lindberg's lyrics often reflected the transcendentalist credo to live one’s life by their own rules and not adhere to the materialistic constraints of modern society or the constraints of authority.
After years playing in local bands, Lindberg joined Pennywise in 1988 with Fletcher Dragge on guitar, Jason Thirsk on bass and Byron McMackin on drums. Some of the members were previously alums from two South Bay High Schools, Redondo Union High School and Mira Costa (where Lindberg graduated in 1983). In 1989, the band released two EPs, A Word from the Wise and Wildcard, that attracted the attention of Epitaph Records, who signed the band a year later. Lindberg left the band briefly after the release of their first album, Pennywise, citing the escalating violence of the L.A. punk scene and was married. Randy Bradbury filled in on bass while Thirsk moved over to vocals. Lindberg returned however to record their sophomore release, Unknown Road, after the band’s music was featured in a number of surfing and skateboarding videos attracting a less violent following. After they released their third studio release, About Time, Thirsk left the band in late 1995, and was again replaced by Bradbury. They had moderate chart success, with the latter album reaching the Billboard top 100. It was hoped that Thirsk would return on bass, with Bradbury switching to rhythm guitar; unfortunately, Thirsk died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on July 29 of that year at the age of 28. Although Pennywise considered disbanding after Thirsk's death, the band decided to continue on with Bradbury as his permanent replacement. Since then, Pennywise continued to record and perform, releasing six more studio albums and a live recording.
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