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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
Phasers On Kill
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
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The opening line of "Phasers On Kill" by Screeching Weasel tells us that the singer is a victim of the crash of an unknown spaceship crew, among whom was the renowned Captain Kirk. The singer is angry with the space crew for picking his house as their landing spot and is resentful towards Kirk specifically for punching him in the mouth. The singer proceeds to subjugate the space crew that is now sleeping on his couch, demanding that they do what he commands. He then urges them to set their phasers on kill, indicating that he no longer loves someone that he used to. The song ends with the singer complaining about his broken record player, lack of sleep, and enjoining the space crew to disintegrate the unnamed "creep."
The song "Phasers On Kill" by Screeching Weasel was released in 1996 on the album "Bark Like a Dog." The song is a tribute to the popular science fiction franchise "Star Trek," and more specifically to its main character, Captain Kirk. The song features a prominent sample from the introduction of the original "Star Trek" TV series, which proclaims the mission of the starship Enterprise. The song is often considered a humorous tribute to science fiction by the punk rock band Screeching Weasel. In fact, the song was originally going to be an instrumental in which the band members would scream "Phasers on Kill!" repeatedly. The song borrowed many elements of punk rock and grunge, a popular musical style in the 1990s.
Line by Line Meaning
what to do a spaceship crew came crashing through my house
I was surprised to find that a crew from a spaceship had unexpectedly crashed into my home
captain kirk the stupid jerk punched me in the mouth
I was insulted and attacked by Captain Kirk, who I find to be foolish and disrespectful
why'd you pick this place you came from outer space
I don't understand why Captain Kirk and his crew decided to come to my home from outer space
if you're sleeping on my couch then you'll do what i say
If you expect to stay in my home and use my resources, you need to follow my rules
go! set the phasers on kill cause i don't love her anymore
I want you to destroy something for me because I am no longer in love with it
looking through my records all day on the phone all night
Captain Kirk and his crew have been obsessively searching through my belongings and using my phone without my consent
try to fix the beam without the help of miller lite
The crew is trying to repair something without the aid of alcohol, which they seem to rely on for problem-solving
i can't get no sleep you better earn your keep
I am unable to sleep due to the disturbance caused by the crew's presence and they need to prove their worth
take the safety off and go disintegrate that creep
I am instructing the crew to use a lethal weapon to eliminate an unwanted person
go! set the phasers on kill cause i don't love her anymore
I again urge the crew to destroy something for me because I have fallen out of love with it
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN M. FOSTER, BENJAMIN M FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind