Named after the small town of Riverdale from the Archie Comics, The Riverdales formed in 1994. The founding members, Foster (guitar), Dan Schafer (bass), and Dan Sullivan (drums), were all former members of Screeching Weasel, who had broken up earlier that year. Unlike Screeching Weasel, the members of The Riverdales would be credited under their real names. They released their self-titled debut album on July 7, 1995, on Lookout! Records. It was produced by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Squirtgun's Mass Giorgini. They toured extensively that year as the opening act for the Mr. T Experience, and then for Green Day. Playing off this synergy, the Riverdales supported Green Day's 1995 tour. Also that year, the bands song "Back To You" appeared in the movie Angus. Despite the reformation of Screeching Weasel in 1996, the Riverdales did not split until after recording a second album, Storm The Streets in 1997, and only reforming briefly in 2003 to record Phase 3.
In 2004, Ben Foster rescinded all of the Riverdales masters from Lookout! Records after being unable to resolve a breach of contract dispute over unpaid royalties with the label. All of these masters had then been licensed to Asian Man Records. Asian Man reissued the first Riverdales album in 2006 with re-mastered sound and a slew of bonus tracks including three unreleased tracks, "No Sense" from the Storm the Streets sessions, and live tracks from their tour with Green Day. The Label also re-issued Phase 3 on October 7th, 2008 with five bonus tracks.
On November 19th, 2008, on his ESPN radio show, Weasel Radio, Ben Weasel announced that he and Danny Vapid had been demoing songs for a new Riverdales album, and recording would begin in February of 2009. He also announced that The Riverdales will be playing live shows again and that Adam Cargin (of the Blueheels) would be the band's new drummer. The album, titled Invasion USA was released on July 14, 2009.
In September 2009, it was announced that Simon Lamb would be joining the band as second guitarist [5]. Prior to that, for live purposes, Dan Schafer was playing second guitar (with a notably louder amp) and singing while Justin Perkins, who had recorded Invasion U.S.A., played bass. A couple months later, in November, 2009, Mike Park of Asian Man Records announced that Ben had decided to sever his relationship with the label and that Recess Records would now be carrying the Screeching Weasel, Riverdales, and Ben Weasel solo back catalogs.
On December 13, 2009, Ben Weasel announced on his Twitter that the fifth Riverdales album would be called Tarantula. They began recording the next day. Ben has stated that if he had it his way, Invasion USA would have been a double LP and to consider Tarantula part 2 of Invasion USA. So the songs on this album will be similar to the songs on Invasion USA, having titles based on old, low budget sci fi and horror films, but with a sound closer to The Ramones album "Subterranean Jungle." Tarantula was released in July 2010.
In December 2010, the band announced they had signed to Fat Wreck Chords, and the label would be re-releasing some of their old material.
In March 2011, Ben Weasel was involved in an altercation with two female audience members at a Screeching Weasel show at the Austin, Texas SXSW Festival. This resulted in the other members of both Screeching Weasel and the Riverdales quitting the band. In the aftermath of this, former members Dan Vapid and Simon Lamb started a solo project called Dan Vapid and The Cheats with whom Vapid will be singing his Riverdales songs.
Discography
Studio Albums
* Riverdales (1995)
* Storm the Streets (1997)
* Phase 3 (2003)
* Invasion U.S.A. (2009)
* Tarantula (2010)
EPs
* Back To You/I Can't Pretend (1995)
* Fun Tonight/ I'm a Vegetable (1995)
* Blood On The Ice/No Sense (1997)
Blood on the Ice
Riverdales Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blood on the ice!
Blood on the ice
It's a puck flying into your head
Slam into the boards
And hit the deck
Get up and try and fight
It's time to drop your gloves
Blood on the ice
Feel like you're fraught
Do you want to try to check your tooth?
Get out of his way
Now the Crusher's coming after you
You slip trying to skate wide
And your stick goes up too high
It's time to drop your gloves
Blood on the ice
Feel like you're fraught
Do you want to try to check your tooth?
He's a one-man mission, a militia
And he's after you
You slip trying to skate wide
And your stick goes up too high
It's time to drop your gloves
Blood on the ice
Get up and try to fight
But your goal ain't 10 to 9
Down my shirt three drops of blood
Blood on the ice
Blood on the ice
Blood on the ice
Blood on the ice
The Riverdales' song "Blood on the Ice" is an energetic punk rock track that captures the raw energy and brutality of ice hockey. The song begins with the repeated chorus of "Blood on the ice!" which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics describe the physical nature of the game, with lines like "It's a puck flying into your head", "Slam into the boards and hit the deck", and "Get out of his way, now the Crusher's coming after you".
The song also touches on the competitive nature of ice hockey, with lines like "But your goal ain't 10 to 9" and "He's a one-man mission, a militia, and he's after you". The use of the phrase "time to drop your gloves" is a reference to the common practice of fighting in ice hockey, which can often lead to bloodshed. The song ends with the line "Down my shirt three drops of blood, blood on the ice", painting a vivid picture of the violent and intense nature of the game.
Overall, "Blood on the Ice" is a powerful punk rock anthem that celebrates the physicality and aggression of ice hockey, while also acknowledging the risks and dangers involved in the sport.
Line by Line Meaning
Blood on the ice!
The start of a chant or exclamation acknowledging violence in a hockey game.
Blood on the ice!
A continuation of the chant or exclamation acknowledging the violent nature of the game.
Blood on the ice
It's a puck flying into your head
Commenting on the physical nature of hockey where players can get hit in the head with a puck.
Slam into the boards
And hit the deck
Describing a player getting checked hard into the boards, causing them to fall down.
Get up and try and fight
But your goal ain't 10 to 9
Despite the natural reaction to fight back, winning the game is the ultimate goal, not getting revenge through violence.
It's time to drop your gloves
Blood on the ice
The moment when players decide to engage in a physical fight which can lead to blood being spilled on the ice.
Feel like you're fraught
Do you want to try to check your tooth?
Asking if the player wants to risk losing a tooth by trying to hit the opposition.
Get out of his way
Now the Crusher's coming after you
Warning a player to avoid confrontation with a known physical player, or else they will become a target.
You slip trying to skate wide
And your stick goes up too high
A mistake can lead to accidentally hitting an opponent with the stick, causing further aggression.
It's time to drop your gloves
Blood on the ice
Reiterating the moment of decision for a player to get into a physical fight.
He's a one-man mission, a militia
And he's after you
Describing a player who seems to be on a mission to take out other players.
Down my shirt three drops of blood
Blood on the ice
Blood on the ice
Blood on the ice
A vivid description of actually spilling blood on the ice, emphasizing the violent nature of the game.
Writer(s): Benjamin M. Foster, Dan P. Schafer
Contributed by Nathaniel A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
noias
on The Beginning of the End
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOWipWh-PAE
Most of their songs are inspired by MST3K's riffs
Linda Viencek
on Riverdale Stomp
These lyrics are just wrong!