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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
Beat on the Brat
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beat on the brat with a baseball bat
Beat on the brat
Oh yeah, oh yeah, uh-oh
What can you do
With a brat like that always on your back
What can you do
What can you do (lose)
The Screeching Weasel's song "Beat on the Brat" is a fast-paced punk rock track with a raw, aggressive sound. The lyrics of the song are short and repetitive, focusing on the theme of frustration with an annoying "brat" who is always causing trouble. The title itself is reminiscent of The Ramones' song "Beat on the Brat" which was released in 1976.
The song begins with the line "Beat on the brat with a baseball bat," which sets the tone for the aggressive attitude of the song. The repetition of the line "Beat on the brat" throughout the song emphasizes the frustration the singer feels towards this difficult person. The line "What can you do with a brat like that always on your back?" suggests that the singer is at their wit's end dealing with this person's behavior. The repetition of the line "What can you do" highlights the hopelessness of the situation and how powerless the singer feels.
Overall, "Beat on the Brat" is a song that captures the angst and frustration of dealing with a difficult person who seems impossible to change. The fast-paced music and aggressive lyrics emphasize the singer's anger and resentment towards this person.
Line by Line Meaning
Beat on the brat
Advocating for violence towards a misbehaving child
Beat on the brat with a baseball bat
Suggesting physical punishment is necessary to discipline a disruptive child
Beat on the brat
Reinforcing the message of violence as an appropriate response to a difficult child
Oh yeah, oh yeah, uh-oh
Expressing enthusiasm for the idea of striking a child with a bat
What can you do
Rhetorically asking what actions can be taken to manage a troublesome child
With a brat like that always on your back
Acknowledging the constant challenge of dealing with a poorly-behaved child
What can you do
Reiterating the earlier question of what to do with a difficult child, suggesting a lack of solution or resolution
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEE DEE RAMONE, DOUGLAS COLVIN, JEFFREY HYMAN, JOEY RAMONE, JOHN (RAMONE) CUMMINGS, JOHNNY RAMONE, THOMAS ERDELYI, TOMMY RAMONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
thee synapse spark
we need more of this now more than ever!!!
Tuomo Hämäläinen
Tight!