Camper Van Beethoven is an alternative rock band that was founded in 1983 i… Read Full Bio ↴Camper Van Beethoven is an alternative rock band that was founded in 1983 in Redlands, California, though the band soon moved to Santa Cruz, California. Camper Van Beethoven mixed elements of pop, ska, punk rock, folk, country, and acid rock into an eclectic, catchy and sometimes mysterious ensemble, years before the so-called alternative rock moniker came to mainstream attention.
The group's trademark violin-coated melodies and their ironic take on American culture put them one step away from being a novelty act in the eyes of many critics. But as the band would move from irreverently playful to experimental with their intricate, psychedelic pop meanderings they carved out their own niche in the music world. CVB consciously played with building a mystique about the band, using articles, liner notes and press interviews to weave a bizarre mythology about the band, to the point where it is still often difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.
CVB had roots in the earlier projects Sitting Duck and Estonian Gauchos, proto-CVB projects from which some of the earliest CVB songs originated. Original bandmembers from CVB's early recordings, including 'Telephone Free Landslide Victory,' included David Lowery, Chris Molla, and Anthony Guess, all of whom also did time in Eric Curkendall's project Box O'Laffs.
The core touring and recording contingent of this band consisted of David Lowery, Victor Krummenacher, Jonathan Segel and Greg Lisher with Anthony Guess on drums from early 1985 to fall 1985 for their first album, 'Telephone Free Landslide Victory'. Guess left the band in late 1985 following the tour and went on to collaborate with numerous other musicians and bands, including Pile of Disaster, World Entertainment War, Calm Down Juanita, the Hollywood Lightweights, Billy Dwayne & the Creepers, Travis Morrissey & The Good Ship, and his current project, I Die Everyday.
Chris Pedersen took over drumming in the late 80's and since reformation in 2000, with Cracker drummer, Frank Funaro. After signing to Virgin Records in 1988 and releasing two eclectic yet slightly more accessible LPs, they disbanded in 1990; singer David Lowery went on to found the band Cracker (with guitarist Johnny Hickman, a former member of Estonian Gauchos), while the other members - guitarists Greg Lisher and David Immerglück, bassist Victor Krummenacher and drummer Chris Pedersen - devoted themselves full-time to the Monks of Doom, which had begun several years earlier as a non-Lowery side project. Violinist Jonathan Segel went on to play with Granfaloon Bus, Dieselhed, Hieronymus Firebrain, Jack & Jill and more. Segel and Krummenacher also continue to release solo recordings. More recently Segel has been involved in experimental music, including collaborations with Fred Frith and Joelle Leandre. Krummenacher and Segel collectively run their own record label, Magnetic. Chris Pedersen moved to Australia and currently plays drums for the dub band Daktari.
In 2000, ex-members regrouped to compile the experimental rarity set Camper Van Beethoven Is Dead. Long Live Camper Van Beethoven. In 2002, they released Tusk. Allegedly recorded in 1987, it had all the same tracks as the Fleetwood Mac album of the same name, and a parody of the original album's cover art. A series of reunion tour dates followed with many of the band's former members. The group officially reformed in 2004 to record New Roman Times, their first official studio album in 15 years. A live concert disc was also released entitled In The Mouth of the Crocodile, capturing a 2004 reunion performance in Seattle. Also, segments of a 2004 performance in Chicago were released the following year as Discotheque CVB: Live In Chicago, which was only available at a limited number of record stores. The band continue to play live and co-host the Annual Cracker Camper Van Beethoven Campout, a 3-day alternative music festival in Pioneertown, CA held every September.
CVB's 1985 staple "Take the Skinheads Bowling" was covered by Teenage Fanclub and used as the title track for the 2002 Michael Moore film Bowling for Columbine. A portion of the original Camper Van Beethoven recording can be heard as an introduction to the DVD release of the film. The song has also been covered by many other artists, most notably Manic Street Preachers and Sugarlust, who play it in every show they do; they all have skinheads and it has become their signature cover song.
Members of Camper Van Beethoven collaborated with Eugene Chadbourne on a number of records under the name Camper Van Chadbourne.
The band's official site is campervanbeethoven.com
The group's trademark violin-coated melodies and their ironic take on American culture put them one step away from being a novelty act in the eyes of many critics. But as the band would move from irreverently playful to experimental with their intricate, psychedelic pop meanderings they carved out their own niche in the music world. CVB consciously played with building a mystique about the band, using articles, liner notes and press interviews to weave a bizarre mythology about the band, to the point where it is still often difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.
CVB had roots in the earlier projects Sitting Duck and Estonian Gauchos, proto-CVB projects from which some of the earliest CVB songs originated. Original bandmembers from CVB's early recordings, including 'Telephone Free Landslide Victory,' included David Lowery, Chris Molla, and Anthony Guess, all of whom also did time in Eric Curkendall's project Box O'Laffs.
The core touring and recording contingent of this band consisted of David Lowery, Victor Krummenacher, Jonathan Segel and Greg Lisher with Anthony Guess on drums from early 1985 to fall 1985 for their first album, 'Telephone Free Landslide Victory'. Guess left the band in late 1985 following the tour and went on to collaborate with numerous other musicians and bands, including Pile of Disaster, World Entertainment War, Calm Down Juanita, the Hollywood Lightweights, Billy Dwayne & the Creepers, Travis Morrissey & The Good Ship, and his current project, I Die Everyday.
Chris Pedersen took over drumming in the late 80's and since reformation in 2000, with Cracker drummer, Frank Funaro. After signing to Virgin Records in 1988 and releasing two eclectic yet slightly more accessible LPs, they disbanded in 1990; singer David Lowery went on to found the band Cracker (with guitarist Johnny Hickman, a former member of Estonian Gauchos), while the other members - guitarists Greg Lisher and David Immerglück, bassist Victor Krummenacher and drummer Chris Pedersen - devoted themselves full-time to the Monks of Doom, which had begun several years earlier as a non-Lowery side project. Violinist Jonathan Segel went on to play with Granfaloon Bus, Dieselhed, Hieronymus Firebrain, Jack & Jill and more. Segel and Krummenacher also continue to release solo recordings. More recently Segel has been involved in experimental music, including collaborations with Fred Frith and Joelle Leandre. Krummenacher and Segel collectively run their own record label, Magnetic. Chris Pedersen moved to Australia and currently plays drums for the dub band Daktari.
In 2000, ex-members regrouped to compile the experimental rarity set Camper Van Beethoven Is Dead. Long Live Camper Van Beethoven. In 2002, they released Tusk. Allegedly recorded in 1987, it had all the same tracks as the Fleetwood Mac album of the same name, and a parody of the original album's cover art. A series of reunion tour dates followed with many of the band's former members. The group officially reformed in 2004 to record New Roman Times, their first official studio album in 15 years. A live concert disc was also released entitled In The Mouth of the Crocodile, capturing a 2004 reunion performance in Seattle. Also, segments of a 2004 performance in Chicago were released the following year as Discotheque CVB: Live In Chicago, which was only available at a limited number of record stores. The band continue to play live and co-host the Annual Cracker Camper Van Beethoven Campout, a 3-day alternative music festival in Pioneertown, CA held every September.
CVB's 1985 staple "Take the Skinheads Bowling" was covered by Teenage Fanclub and used as the title track for the 2002 Michael Moore film Bowling for Columbine. A portion of the original Camper Van Beethoven recording can be heard as an introduction to the DVD release of the film. The song has also been covered by many other artists, most notably Manic Street Preachers and Sugarlust, who play it in every show they do; they all have skinheads and it has become their signature cover song.
Members of Camper Van Beethoven collaborated with Eugene Chadbourne on a number of records under the name Camper Van Chadbourne.
The band's official site is campervanbeethoven.com
No Krugerrands for David
Camper Van Beethoven Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Camper Van Beethoven:
(We're a) Bad Trip you know, you really shouldn't take yourself so seriously if…
51-7 I've been through all kind of changes Cut my hair, dyed…
A Love For All Time She comes into my mind Twisting through my nerve I don't und…
All Her Favorite Fruit I drive alone, home from work And I always think of…
Ambiguity Song Everything seems to be up in the air at this…
Angel Oh how I wish I was back in Georgia Maybe I…
Axe Murderer Song Why do lovers park down deserted lanes Near haunted houses…
Bad Trip you know, you really shouldn't take yourself so seriously if…
Beautiful Child Beautiful child beautiful child You are a beautiful child An…
Borderline I will sing I will be passed on over now Take the…
Brown Eyes When you look at me with those brown eyes What do…
Chain of Circumstance So I thought that you knew the question you were…
Change Your Mind Walk, oh walk away Put my head down on the table,…
Circles Elise ana chaionga, lisa de romati-yov (gnileef ynnuf that, …
Civil Disobedience When they come to your home You know they'll never leave…
club med I don't have to go to school for an entire…
Come On Darkness Come on slowly Won't you rise and come To the top of…
Come Out Come out to show them Come out to show them Etc.…
Cowboys From Hollywood Aren't y'all cowboys from Hollywood? Aren't y'all cowboys f…
Crossing Over Back in the woods under ashes, there is a stone.…
Day That Lassie Went to the Moon My little dog ran away the other day I can't believe…
Devil Song Hey, wanna start a fire One that'll never go out Burn a…
Down and Out Gonna move to the city Down and out Gonna read a lot…
Eye Of Fatima He's got the Eye of Fatima on the wall of…
Five Sticks We haven't lyrics of this song. Please, add these lyrics…
Flowers Flowers growing By the drunken river Flowers growing By the …
Folly She takes her stance outside (her) (name) She's wondering wh…
Form Another Stone Tied to the wind, she tries to whisper damage to…
Garden Grove We took a trip to garden Grove It smelled like lou-dog…
Goleta Baby don't cha go don't cha go to Goleta Baby don't…
Good Guys & Bad Guys Well there are good guys and there are bad guys…
Heart Oh, watch what you say You're breaking my heart Oh, watch wh…
Hey Brother Hey brother we're on our way Hey sister we're on our…
Hippy Chix I see a winter scene inside a tiny plastic globe Old…
History of Utah He was a riverboat gambler He was the son of the…
Hoe Yourself Down (instrumental)…
Honey Hi Honey, honey, honey Who could be sweeter than you Honey, h…
Humid Press of Days What did it mean to fly A tremor in your soul To…
I Am Talking to This Flower I had to, like, open the blues up, and let…
I Don't See You You're under my sheets And you give me the creeps You won't…
I Hate This Part of Texas Terrestriales additionales ?Comprendo? Yo comprendo. ?Tu c…
I Love Her All the Time She comes into my mind Twisting through my nerve I don't u…
I'm Not LIke Everybody Else I don't take clothes that are hand-me-downs I don't smile 'C…
Ice Cream Everyday The lights went out In the abandoned house Your house…
Jack Ruby I remember his hat tilted forward His glasses are folded in…
Joe Stalin's Cadillac Joe Stalin's Cadillac This is Joe Stalin's We're just drivin…
June Are you weary of the lengthening days? Do you secretly wish…
Klondike Come on down the mountain We're waiting here for you Grey …
Lassie My little dog ran away the other day I can't believe…
Laundromat Down here on the north side [ ? ] Down here on…
Life Is Grand And life is grand And I will say this at the…
Love the Witch World turns around again and I can see her face in…
Lulu Land Pictures of movies stars fade and grow old The hot dogs…
Mao Reminisces About His Days in Southern China (Instrumental)…
Might Makes Right Yeah might makes right Yeah might makes right They say…
Militia Song Studied mathematics in Berkley Now I don't like society Go…
My Path Belated I could tell a story, but I cannot wake my…
Never Forget Come on baby, could you ever be Just a little close…
Never Go Back Never gonna go back to the Rat and play another…
New Roman Times buh-bah, buh-bah... I'm sitting in the sand staring at my…
No More Bullshit No more bullshit, no more mtv, no more rock starts,…
O Death My name is death and i excel I can open the…
Oh Death My name is death and I excel I can open the…
Oh No I sat on the porch Listened to the rain Smoked a cigarette A…
One Of These Days One of these days When you figure, figure it all out Well…
Opi Rides Again I don't have to go to school for an entire…
Opi Rides Again-Club Med Sucks Opi Rides Again instrumental Club M…
Opie Rides Again I don't have to go to school for an entire…
Over and Over Could you ever need me And would you know how Don't waste…
Peace & Love Restless, three days without sleep, his mind wrapped in bare…
Photograph Every time i see your face It reminds me of the…
Pictures Of Matchstick Men When I look up to the sky I see your eyes A…
Porpoise Mouth The white ducks fly All past the sun Their wings flap silver…
Sad Lover's Waltz One step for boys and one step for girls Step away One…
Sad Lovers' Waltz One step for boys and one step for girls Step away One…
Sara Wait a minute baby stay with me awhile Said you'd give…
Seven Languages I played this song for my love But she said to…
She Divines Water How can I believe that everything in this world is going…
Shut Us Down I've got a 'lectric guitar and half a bottle of…
Six More Miles Six more miles to the graveyard Six more miles, long and…
Skinhead Stomp (Instrumental)…
Sometimes Sometimes it seems to me that you don't say what…
Stairway to Heavan (sic) [instrumental] [this song consists of snatches of "…
Still Wishing To Course Wishing in the nightmare, thought's a possibility Realizing …
Surprise Truck Well some people say That it's the ice cream truck But it's…
sweet hearts Cause he's always living back in Dixon Stuck in 1949 And w…
Sweethearts Cause he's always living back in Dixon Stuck in 1949 And we'…
Take The Skinheads Bowling Everyday I get up and pray to Jah And he increases…
Tania Oh, my beloved Tania How I long to see your face Photograp…
That Gum You Like That gum you like is back in style, Again Haven't seen ya…
That's All for Everyone That's all for everyone that's all for me Last call for…
the day lassie went to the moon My little dog ran away the other day I can't believe…
The Gum You Like Is Back In St That gum you like is back in style, Again Haven't seen ya…
The History Of Utah He was a riverboat gambler He was the son of the…
The Humid Press Of Days What did it mean to fly A tremor in your soul To…
The Light From a Cake I'm alternating between heavy and light Between meaning and …
The Long Plastic Hallway Cigarettes and carrot juice Marijuana and lots of booze I th…
Think About Me All it took was a special look And I felt I…
Tina (God knows!!)…
Turquoise Jewelry Come down from your treehouse condominium Stop driving arou…
Une Fois (instrumental)…
Wasted I was so wasted I was a surfer I had a skateboard I…
We Love You Allah u'akbar Hare Krishna Praise the Lord and Merry Chri…
We Saw Jerry's Daughter We were walkin' down the road at night And all the…
When I Win The Lottery Well I lost an eye in Mexico I lost two teeth,…
Where the Hell Is Bill Where, where the Hell is Bill? Where, where the Hell is…
White Fluffy Clouds My baby's in the white fluffy clouds She's miles above but…
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