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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
Fathead
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don't you go away
You smelly butt
Why don't you go away
You're just a turd why
Don't you go away
Sit on it nerd
Why don't you go away
Dummy why don't you beat it
Why don't you go away
You little assface why
Don't you go away
Your mother's calling
Why don't you go away
Too cool for me
Why don't you go away
Punky the fathead
Why don't you go away
Baby baby baby baby baby baby
When you see me
Why don't you go away
You think we suck
Why don't you go away
Come to the show
Why don't you go away
We got your money
Why don't you go away so who's
The dope why don't you go away
Punky punky punky punky punky punky
Go fart in a puddle
Why don't you go away
Beat it scram go away
The lyrics to Screeching Weasel's "Fathead" seem to be directed towards a particular person whom the band seems to dislike or find annoying. The chorus is a repeated refrain of "Why don't you beat it, Why don't you go away," accusing the person of being smelly and a turd. They call the person a nerd and a dummy and tell them to sit on it. The lyrics then mention the person's mother calling, implying that they need to leave and go home. However, the band seems to mock the person, claiming they are too cool for them and referring to them as "Punky the fathead" in a taunting manner.
The second half of the song takes a more confrontational tone, with the band accusing the person of thinking they suck and instructing them to go fart in a puddle. They tell the person to leave and get out of their business, saying they've got their money and don't need them around. Overall, the lyrics seem to be a scathing rebuke towards someone whom the band finds irritating or offensive, delivering the message in a mocking and confrontational style.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don't you beat it
Please leave me alone
Why don't you go away
I would appreciate it if you could remove yourself from my vicinity
You smelly butt
Your body odor is unpleasant
You're just a turd why
You are an unpleasant person
Sit on it nerd
Please do something else with your time
Dummy dummy dummy dummy dummy
You lack intelligence
Dummy why don't you beat it
You are unintelligent and I wish you would leave me alone
You little assface why
You are unpleasant to look at
Your mother's calling
Your presence is not appreciated
Too cool for me
You are not interested in interacting with me
Punky the fathead
You are not intelligent
Baby baby baby baby baby baby
I am uninterested in listening to you
When you see me
I am present and near you
You think we suck
You do not like us or our music
Come to the show
You are welcome to attend our concert
We got your money
You have given us money for our performance
Why don't you go away so who's
I do not want to interact with you
The dope why don't you go away
You are not intelligent
Punky punky punky punky punky punky
You are not intelligent and I am uninterested in interacting with you
Go fart in a puddle
I do not want to interact with you
Beat it scram go away
Please leave me alone and do not come back
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN M. FOSTER, DAN P. SCHAFER, BENJAMIN M FOSTER, DAN P SCHAFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind