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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
Planet of the Apes
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Planet of the apes you're what I hate
This orangutan is a one man gang a big fat ass baboon
Planet of the apes you are so wrong
Planet of the dinks here comes King Kong ding dong
You're a simian
You're the missing link
And your gorilla buddies too
Planet of the Apes
Monkey see Monkey do
A shot upside the head for you
"Planet of the Apes" by Screeching Weasel is a song that criticizes the human nature of being apathetic and nonchalant towards the destruction of the world. The title of the song references the 1968 science fiction film "Planet of the Apes," in which humans are inferior to intelligent apes. The lyrics describe the unintelligent, rash, and animalistic nature of the human beings, particularly those who are responsible for the destruction of the planet Earth. The song starts with the lines, "Planet of the apes you're a primate, Planet of the apes you're what I hate," which alludes to the fact that humans have not evolved from their primate ancestors, and continue to engage in primitive behavior that is harmful to the environment.
The song also compares human beings to monkeys and apes, and criticizes their tendency to follow the herd rather than take action. The lines "Monkey see Monkey do, A shot upside the head for you" indicate that the singer is frustrated with people who are not willing to speak up and do something to save the planet. Overall, the song carries a message of calling out people for their lack of accountability and lack of responsibility towards environmental degradation. It is a reminder that we all have a responsibility to take care of our planet, and that we should act together to make a change.
Line by Line Meaning
Planet of the apes you're a primate
You reside in a world that's controlled by primitive beings.
Planet of the apes you're what I hate
Your whole existence disgusts me and you are the epitome of everything I detest.
This orangutan is a one man gang a big fat ass baboon
This particular orangutan is quite a formidable entity and the baboon is rather rotund.
Planet of the apes you are so wrong
Your ideology and actions are completely misguided and erroneous.
Planet of the dinks here comes King Kong ding dong
The dominance of small, insignificant creatures like you is short-lived as a larger force is on the way.
You're a simian
You belong to the group of primates that includes apes, monkeys, and humans.
You're the missing link
You're regarded as the evolutionary link between the apes and humans and are seen as a key figure in human evolution.
This club's a zoo thanks to you
You've turned this place into an absolute chaos with your rowdiness and bizarre behaviors.
And your gorilla buddies too
Your gorilla companions have also contributed towards this unruly and wild environment.
Planet of the Apes
A reference to the science fiction franchise that revolves around a world where apes have taken over from humans as the dominant species.
Monkey see Monkey do
You're more prone to imitating and copying others, rather than thinking and acting independently.
A shot upside the head for you
I'm considering violence against you and your associates.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind