Early years (1992 - 2000)
In 1993, drummer Trevor Reilly, guitarist John Carvalho and bassist Jonathan Teves formed the band Adam's Crack and recorded a Nirvana-inspired demo cassette. In 1994 Reilly and Carvalho started a side band with Nuno Pereira on vocals, and others. The side band played one show before disbanding. Members from the two bands would merge into one, taking the name Koen. The lineup of Koen consisted of Pereira (vocals), Reilly (drums), Teves (bass), Carvalho (rhythm guitar) and friend Mat Demelo (lead guitar and trumpet). Under the name Koen, the band released one cassette titled "The Big Fall...", this time with their sound evolving more into skate punk and ska. In 1997, the band changed its name again, this time to Smackin' Isaiah, and released a cassette titled "Give Girls More Beer...". Mat Demelo left the band shortly after. During this time, Reilly would switch between drumming and guitar duties, with an unknown drummer playing in the band for a brief amount of time. Nicholas Angelini was eventually tapped to play drums on a permanent basis. In 1998, the band released another demo cassette, titled "Gets Eaten Alive".
Tank Records era (2000 - 2001)
The band's first CD release was on Tank Records, a record label created by Carvalho and Teves. The CD was a split release with the bands Moronique and Merrick, entitled "6:6:6" after the number of tracks each band contributed. Soon after, the band released its debut album, "The Way to a Girl's Heart Is Through Her Boyfriend's Stomach". The band considers this their first "real" release, as all the songs had been written after Angelini joined the band. In retrospect, they consider it their most cheerful record. It was reissued the following year on All About Records, but the band stayed with Tank Records to release its second album, "Benefits Of Thinking Out Loud. During the album's recording, the band members had a strained relationship as they argued over its production. Six outtakes from the album's recording sessions were compiled onto an EP entitled "The Champagne of Bands... We Know Sexy" released by Fork in Hand Records. Following its release, Carvalho left the band. Christopher Levesque quickly replaced him.
Final name change and move to Nitro (2002 - present)
With the band moving to a more serious style with Benefits, they decided to once more change their name, finally settling on A Wilhelm Scream. Signing with new label Jump Start Records, they re-released "Benefits of Thinking Out Loud" under their new name. After touring the United States and Canada a few times, they then began recording their next album, "Mute Print", with Jump Start Records. For the recording of the album, the band decided to put "as much shit as you can possibly fit into a song and pull off live" into the songs, to which they attribute their faster, more aggressive and more technical sound. The album was produced by Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore, whom the band looked up to. Although the album was finished while the band was signed to Jump Start Records, the rights to the album were then bought by Nitro Records, who released it in 2004.
Only a year after "Mute Print", the band released a second record on Nitro Records, again produced by Stevenson and Livermore. The record, entitled "Ruiner", was released on August 16, 2005. Following stress from touring, founding member Jonathan Teves left the band, and was replaced by bassist Curtiss Lopez. They then embarked on their first European tour with Lagwagon, and also toured with Less than Jake. Midway through the latter tour, Lopez abruptly quit the band. This left A Wilhelm Scream without a permanent bassist until Brian J. Robinson joined in April. The band continued to tour throughout 2006. They also released an 7-inch Extended play titled "Diver" on Jump Start Records. This was because the title track was recorded during the "Mute Print" sessions, but left off the album, and thus was not purchased by Nitro Records.
In 2007, the band returned to the studio with Stevenson and Livermore to record their third album with Nitro Records. The record, according to the band, was "very, very fast" and a few songs were dropped for not being fast enough. The record, "Career Suicide", was released on October 9, 2007. However, only two weeks before its street date, long-time guitarist Chris Levesque announced that he was leaving the band, elaborating with the following statement:
"I have maintained for the duration of my time in Smackin' Isaiah/A Wilhelm Scream that when it stopped being fun, I would give it up. The bottom line here is that I just don't enjoy the day-in, day-out grind of being on tour anymore.... There are no personal or creative differences between any of us. None of that bullshit. I still love this band and everything it stands for. The six years that I've spent in SI/AWS have been the best of my life. We've accomplished more than I ever expected, and I take with me with more amazing memories than most people experience in a lifetime."
The band began their tour in support of "Career Suicide" with several rotating guitarists, before Mike Supina, formerly of the Detroit-based band Alucard, was announced as Levesque's permanent replacement. The tour brought the band to over eighteen different countries, finishing in September 2008. Following its conclusion, guitarist Trevor Reilly announced in his blog that the band would take a break for the rest of the year, but implied that they would write new songs soon.
www.awilhelmscream.com
www.myspace.com/awilhelmscream
I Wipe My Ass With Showbiz
A Wilhelm Scream Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You dance with the man, shake his hand, shine his shoes
Your revolution rock hits sound like shit through your iPod
Put fists up like I got, not give me the loot
How I tried to buy my soul back
But the devil bent me over for it
Got me curled up in the shower, scratching the letters that read
Fog blasts will not mask a stage act unnatural.
Those timed jumps cause merch bumps, now guests list the suits
And past the smoke hangs the backdrop, crowd screams holy mackerel
Verse-chorus, verse-chorus, a solo, then boom
How I tried to buy my soul back
But the devil bent me over for it
Got you curled up in the shower, scratching the letters that read
Dear mother, I sold my soul for management
The opening line of these lyrics, "Live like a legend and die like an asshole," sets the tone for a scathing critique of the music industry and those who will do anything to achieve success within it. The following lines suggest that many artists are willing to compromise their own values in order to please the powers that be, dancing with and shining the shoes of the men in charge. The references to iPods and revolution rock hits that sound like shit highlight the sterility and corporate nature of modern music.
The second verse finds the singer lamenting the fact that he has lost his soul to the music industry, traded for the promise of fame and fortune. The reference to being "curled up in the shower, scratching the letters" suggests that this deal has left him feeling dirty and shameful. The final lines of the song repeat the image of the singer trying to buy his soul back from the devil, but being continually thwarted in his attempts to do so.
Overall, these lyrics are a scathing indictment of the music industry and the ways in which it exploits and corrupts those who seek to make a living within it. The imagery of a person literally selling their soul for success is a powerful metaphor for the compromises and sacrifices that many artists must make in order to achieve fame and fortune. The repeated refrain of "I sold my soul for management" is a gut-punch of a line that drives home the soulless, managerial nature of the industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Live like a legend and die like an asshole
Live a life worth remembering and leave a legacy, but don't be a jerk while doing it.
You dance with the man, shake his hand, shine his shoes
You buddy up to those in charge in hopes of getting ahead, catering to their needs and desires.
Your revolution rock hits sound like shit through your iPod
Your music, meant to inspire and incite change, loses its power and message when it's reduced to a digital file on a small device.
Put fists up like I got, not give me the loot
Don't just ask for handouts or expect to be given things, fight for what you believe in and earn it yourself.
How I tried to buy my soul back
The artist regrets choices they've made and wishes they could change them.
But the devil bent me over for it
The singer made deals with unsavory characters (like the devil), and the consequences they face are not what they expected.
Got me curled up in the shower, scratching the letters that read
The singer is filled with regret and guilt, and they find themselves trying to cleanse themselves of those feelings in isolation.
Dear mother, I sold my soul for management
The artist made a pact or pursued a path that they know was wrong, likely to further their career or gains, and are now paying a price for it.
Fog blasts will not mask a stage act unnatural.
Special effects and theatrics can't cover up a performance that feels forced or inauthentic.
Those timed jumps cause merch bumps, now guests list the suits
Calculated moves or gimmicks might bring in money, but it doesn't necessarily result in long-term fans or respect from peers.
And past the smoke hangs the backdrop, crowd screams holy mackerel
Through all the spectacle and distractions, there might still be a moment of awe or genuine respect from the audience.
Verse-chorus, verse-chorus, a solo, then boom
A predictable pattern in songwriting often leads to a big finale or climax, but it can also feel formulaic and lose its impact.
Contributed by Gianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maxim Chernykh
This band is awesome. Saw them live this march, the show was just amazing. Keep rocking guys, your music is superb!
bfulop
had these dudes at my house a few months back, nicest dudes ever
Serpentina Dahlhaus
Seeing these guys for the second time on the 1st. Fucking stoked! Had someone stage dive into my face when they played this song last time haha.
Logan Huber
I saw this music video when I just started listening to A Wilhelm Scream, and I didn't like it. But once you start listening to a band more and more, you realize how fucking awesome this song is.
BrokenClocks08
WOW. I randomly found this video and what an underrated band. This track is amazing.
rangersleadtheway10
Kickass band. Keepin' real punk alive!!!
yourtubesteak
Wait until you hear the new record! Shredding like you never heard from this band!
Harry Miller
I saw these guys at reading festival by accident as I was walking about the festival and I just gotta say that these guys were amazing and now I'm a big fan!
Logan Pochatko
This song is what got me into these guys! I heard it on pandora, and boom, I bought the album. I love the melodic punk mixed with the metal-esque hardcore. This song is a banger and is the perfect interlude for the whole career suicide album. I can't wait to see them live. A Wilhelm scream has made it to my top 5 favorite bands. Keep shredding dudes! And come to Vegas! Fuckin rutherford woodcock... "my friends call me swoops" Lmfao
Diego Luciano Anselmo
som muito foda mesmo, e ai Nuno quando que rola uma musica em portugues pra galera do Brasil?? abraço e sucesso!!!