Watershed (American band)

Watershed
Watershed in 2002. L-R: Colin Gawel, Dave Masica, Joe Oestreich
Background information
Origin	Columbus, Ohio, United States
Genres	Rock, power pop
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Idol, Carney, Thunder Creek, Epic, B Minus, Palas, Bravo
Associated acts	Twin Cam, The League Bowlers, Dead Schembechlers
Website	http://www.watershedcentral.com http://waterpukes.squarespace.com/
Members	Colin Gawel Joe Oestreich Dave Masica Joe Peppercorn
Past members	Herb Schupp Mark "Poochie" Borror

Watershed is an American rock band based in Columbus, Ohio, consisting of Colin Gawel (guitar, vocals), Joe Oestreich (bass, vocals), Joe Peppercorn (piano, guitar), Dave Masica (drums). Their songs have appeared in several television shows, including Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Laguna Beach, and The Dudesons. Several members of Watershed formed The Dead Schembechlers, a punk band based on the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. Watershed has appeared on tour with several other bands, including the shock-rap group Insane Clown Posse. Watershed is managed by Thomas O'Keefe, a longtime fan of the band.

Current members:

Former members:

The group formed in 1987 when the four founding members were still teenagers. After being signed to Epic Records in the mid-1990s, they were dropped by the label in favor of Silverchair. In 1998, Watershed toured with controversial shock-rap duo Insane Clown Posse, with Gawel saying that "It's a really harsh crowd, but they like us because we're rock and roll survivors."

A lyric from Watershed's song "Black Concert T-Shirt" provides the title for Pulitzer Prize finalist Lee Martin's novel Break the Skin. The band also makes an appearance in the book itself.

In 2012, Oestreich released Hitless Wonder, a memoir about his years in Watershed. Although the band had largely faded from popularity, the book received national media attention.

The band released a single in 2016 featuring two new songs produced by Tim Patalan. As of this time, original drummer Herb Schupp had rejoined the band and longtime collaborator Rick Kinsinger replaced Joe Peppercorn, who was involved in his own band.

In 2004, two of the original Watershed members, Gawel and Oestreich, joined with vocalist Lou Brutus and Twin Cam guitarist Mike Sammons on drums to form the punk band Dead Schembechlers based on the Ohio State-Michigan football game and rivalry. The side project's name, a play on the Dead Kennedys, was a lighthearted jab at former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, who upon hearing about the band name was reportedly quite amused. The four members go by the pseudonyms of Bo Vicious (after Sex Pistols frontman Sid Vicious), Bo Biafra (after Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys), Bo Scabies (after Rat Scabies of The Damned), and Bo Thunders (after Johnny Thunders). The group quickly gained more popularity than Watershed itself.