Through the years, the band went through many line-up changes, with Ben and John being the only constant members since the band's inception. Screeching Weasel officially broke up for (roughly) the third - and allegedly final - time on July 6, 2001.
The band did a few surprise shows between 2001-2009.
Ben Weasel reformed the group in March 2009 with a new line-up, and without John Jughead. Ben had released solo albums that were the same just in his name. John finally settled for T-Shirt money for being an original member of the band and a royalties for a handful songs he co-wrote, and let Ben play as Screeching Weasel with the hundreds of song lyrics and music has written.
Former Members include renowned punk rock record producer Mass Giorgini on bass guitar, Dan Panic (born Dan Sullivan) on drums, and Danny Vapid (born Dan Schafer,on guitar or bass, depending on the band's necessity. Dan is currently fronting The Methadones and formerly of Sludgeworth)
Members of Screeching Weasel have gone on to form bands such as: The Methadones, The Mopes, Even in Blackouts, and Sweet Black And Blue.
Screeching Weasel has also included members of Green Day, Sludgeworth, Common Rider, Squirtgun, and Teen Idols.
During one of the band's many break-ups, Weasel and Vapid also formed the Riverdales. Additionally, Ben Weasel released a solo record in 2002 entitled Fidatevi.
In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout! Records in the wake of long-running financial and personal conflicts. The masters were subsequently licensed to and reissued by Asian Man Records.
On December 7, 2010, it was announced that Screeching Weasel will release a new album on March 15, 2011, the band's first album in eleven years. The album will be titled First World Manifesto and will be released on Fat Wreck Chords. It will contain 14 new songs and is produced by Mike Kennerty of The All-American Rejects. It was announced that the label will also be releasing the back catalogs of Screeching Weasel, the Riverdales, and Ben Weasel.
On March 18, 2011, during Screeching Weasel's South by Southwest Festival performance at the Scoot Inn in Austin, Texas, Foster reached from the stage and slapped a female audience member who had spit on him several times. This sent off a fire storm web frenzy from all of the self -righteous non Screeching Weasel fans. Ben apologized for his actions, but all of the perfect people who never loose there cool were not satisfied.
Ben and his hired band had a falling out. He found out who his true friends and fans were. After over a year of spending time with his family and raising a new baby, he released Carnival of Schadenfreude EP in 2011 with huge interest and has resumed his music career again full swing.
American Suicide
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Getting bruised in awe and honor
Running out of things to say
Machine chaos and custom fitted cancer
Searching for an answer
Suburban kiddies' fear
When your pager reads 911
Lost passion along a tombstone landscape
Cosmetic surgeon's out-take
Retching on the floor
Plastic pop stars and make believe romance
Not even given a chance
The joke's on everyone
When your pager reads 911
American suicide is so much fun
The song American Suicide by Screeching Weasel is a dark and introspective commentary on the state of American culture. The opening lines describe the monotony of modern life, with the singer cruising down endless asphalt highways. They feel trapped and beaten down, and as the lyrics continue, the sense of hopelessness only deepens. The phrase "custom fitted cancer" is particularly striking, suggesting that the singer sees American society as something that is slowly and insidiously killing them.
The second verse takes aim at the culture of superficiality and celebrity worship that dominates American media. The mention of plastic pop stars and cosmetic surgery creates a sense of disgust and desperation. The singer feels like they're drowning in a sea of false promises and empty ideals. The line "not even given a chance" is particularly poignant, suggesting that the singer sees the current system as rigged against them.
The chorus of the song is where things really take a dark turn. The phrase "American suicide is so much fun" is both shocking and chilling. It suggests that the singer sees society's self-destructive tendencies as almost gleeful. There's a sense of nihilism and despair that permeates the entire song, and the chorus drives that point home.
Line by Line Meaning
Black asphalt rolling mile after mile
The monotony of modern existence as we traverse endlessly on a bleak road
Getting bruised in awe and honor
We have lost our sense of direction to a point where we are failing even in the pursuit of glory
Running out of things to say
Our inability to cope with the world around us, we have nothing left to defend or lose
Machine chaos and custom fitted cancer
Mechanized frenzy of life and the disease of modern society
Searching for an answer
There is a constant search for meaning in life
Suburban kiddies' fear
The apathy and avoidance of the harsh realities of everyday life
When your pager reads 911
A call for help exemplified by a pager message
American suicide is so much fun
A sarcastic commentary on the dark reality of modern America
Lost passion along a tombstone landscape
A metaphorical reference to the death of passion in the presence of a bleak landscape
Cosmetic surgeon's out-take
Reference to the negative impacts of cosmetic surgeries on society
Retching on the floor
Physical and emotional sickness brought on by societal pressures
Plastic pop stars and make believe romance
The idea of fabricated lifestyles and unrealistic expectations
Not even given a chance
A sense of hopelessness pervading modern society
The joke's on everyone
Society has become farcical and disrespectful of life and living
American suicide is so much fun
A satirical condemnation of the state of America and the attitudes of its citizens
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN M. FOSTER, BENJAMIN M FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind