Screeching Weasel

Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel performing in Chicago in 2010
Background information
Origin	Prospect Heights, Illinois, United States
Genres	Punk rock, pop punk, skate punk
Years active	1986–89, 1991–94, 1996–2001, 2004, 2009–present
Labels	Underdog, Roadkill, Lookout!, Selfless, Fat Wreck Chords, Panic Button, Asian Man, Recess
Associated acts	Riverdales, The Queers, Squirtgun, Common Rider, Sludgeworth, The Vindictives, Crimpshrine, Green Day
Website	ScreechingWeasel.com
Members	Ben Weasel Zac Damon Mike Hunchback Pierre Marche Zach "Poutine" Brandner
Past members	John Jughead Vinnie Bovine Steve Cheese Warren Fish Aaron Cometbus Brian Vermin Douglas Ward Dave Naked Scott "Gub" Conway Dan Panic Johhny Personality Mike Dirnt Mass Giorgini Dan Lumley Phillip Hill Simon Lamb Dan Vapid Drew Fredrichsen Justin Perkins Adam Cargin Dave Klein

Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band originally from the Chicago suburb of Prospect Heights, Illinois. The band was formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Jughead. Since their formation, Screeching Weasel have broken up and reformed numerous times with numerous line-up changes. Ben Weasel has been the only constant member, though Jughead was present in every incarnation of the band until 2009. Other prominent members include guitarist/bassist Dan Vapid and drummer Dan Panic, who have each appeared on six of the band's studio albums, and Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt who was briefly a member of the band.

Screeching Weasel recorded 13 studio albums, splitting time between a number of famous independent record labels such as Lookout! Records and Fat Wreck Chords. Despite never achieving mainstream success, a number of largely popular acts cite them as influential.

The band originally called themselves All Night Garage Sale but changed their name to Screeching Weasel, a variation of a name a friend had suggested, Screaming Otter, which was a reference to a T-shirt that read, "I'VE GOT A SCREAMING OTTER IN MY PANTS!". Shortly after their formation, Weasel decided that it was too difficult to play bass and sing at the same time, so Vince Vogel, who took the stage name "Vinnie Bovine" joined as the band's bassist. The band recorded their debut album, Screeching Weasel, in one night for $200 and released it on Chicago label Underdog Records in 1987.

In 1988, Bovine was fired from the band and was replaced with Warren Fischer, better known as Fish, and former member of the band Ozzfish. The band recorded their second studio album, Boogadaboogadaboogada!, which featured Weasel playing second guitar (he would later state that he only played on about a quarter of the songs) and made a name for themselves by opening a show for Operation Ivy at 924 Gilman Street. Steve Cheese was fired from the band shortly after the recording due to his unwillingness to tour outside of Chicago. He was replaced by Aaron Cometbus for two shows who then was replaced by Brian Vermin. Boogadaboogadaboogada! was released in late 1988 on Roadkill Records, a label formed by investor David Best and managed by Ben Weasel following an introduction of the two by producer Mass Giorgini.