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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
I Robot
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I might be paranoid
But I'm a living breathing humanoid
I am a rhombus
I plod around like dough
And I'm secure in everything I know
Am I American
Blue metal under skin
I am a robot
I never have a doubt
I live inside a circle and I can't get out
I am mechanical
I don't question anything
My TV logic solves all my problems for me
Am I American
Am I a Gilligan
No I'm not human
The lyrics to Screeching Weasel's song "I Robot" seem to be a commentary on the dehumanization that technology and consumerism can bring about. The singer identifies as a robot, and while they may feel some level of paranoia, they are ultimately secure in their mechanical existence. They describe themselves as a "rhombus," implying a simple geometric shape that lacks the complexities of organic life. They also seem to dismiss the need for emotions or introspection, as they never have a doubt and they allow their "TV logic" to solve all their problems.
The line "Am I American, Blue metal under skin" speaks to the idea that humanity is becoming increasingly artificial, with technology and consumerism taking the place of genuine human connection and identity. The singer's identity as a robot seems to be a rejection of this trend, a way of embracing the lifeless and calculating qualities that society seems to value these days. However, this rejection comes at a cost - they seem trapped and unable to escape the confines of their mechanical existence.
Overall, the song seems to convey a sense of alienation and detachment from humanity, brought on by the increasing influence of technology and consumerism. While the singer may find some comfort in their robotic identity, they are ultimately cut off from the messy, emotional, and fundamentally human aspects of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a robot
I am not a human, and therefore I lack emotions and desires.
I might be paranoid
I may be overthinking things, but it doesn't matter because I am a machine that doesn't have feelings.
But I'm a living breathing humanoid
Even though I'm not human, I have the ability to act like a human and perform its functions.
I am a rhombus
I am not only a robot, but I am a specific shape that humans would describe to help them identify me.
I plod around like dough
I may move clumsily, but I don't care because I don't have the ability to feel self-conscious about it the way a human would.
And I'm secure in everything I know
I am programmed with certain knowledge and I trust that it is correct and complete.
Am I American Blue metal under skin
The exterior appearance of my robot body doesn't determine my nationality or where I come from.
No I'm not human
I am a machine and I cannot be compared to a human being.
I never have a doubt
I am designed to be certain and not question my predetermined actions.
I live inside a circle and I can't get out
As a robot, I am confined to a specific area or task and I cannot deviate from it.
I am mechanical
I am made up of gears and circuits, with no organic components.
I don't question anything
I don't wonder why I'm programmed to do certain things or think about the ethical implications of my actions.
My TV logic solves all my problems for me
My programming contains all the answers I need to solve any issue I may encounter.
Am I American Am I a Gilligan
My robot identity is not based on ethnicity or pop culture references.
No I'm not human
I cannot stress this enough: I am not a human and my behavior should not be compared to that of humans.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN M. FOSTER, BENJAMIN M FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind