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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
Plastic Bag
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm stuck in the refrigerator of your ignorance well
I don't want to be here today
I don't want to be here anyway
I don't want to suffocate in a plastic bag
I'm stuck inside the hefty bag of your pedantic
Worldview now my eyes are bugging out and my lips
I don't want to be here anyway I don't want to suffocate
In a plastic bag you make a federal case out of the clothes
I wear I'm gagging on your dirty looks they're cutting
Off my air well I don't want to be here today
I don't want to be here anyway I don't want to suffocate
In a plastic bag I don't want to choke to death in a plastic bag
The lyrics to Screeching Weasel's song Plastic Bag are about feeling trapped and suffocated in a toxic relationship or situation. The singer is being criticized and judged by someone who thinks they need help and is constantly pointing out flaws in their appearance and behavior. The person in question is portrayed as close-minded and rigid, living inside a "hefty bag" of their own worldview, while the singer is struggling to breathe and remain true to themselves in the face of this criticism. The suffocating image of a plastic bag is used as a metaphor for the ways in which the singer feels trapped and unable to escape this stifling environment.
The overall message of the song is clear: the singer is not happy and wants out. They don't want to be suffocated by someone else's expectations or judged harshly for being themselves. The repeated refrain of "I don't want to be here today, I don't want to be here anyway, I don't want to suffocate in a plastic bag" drives home the sense of anxiety and desperation that the singer is feeling, as they try to find a way out of this oppressive situation.
Overall, the lyrics to Screeching Weasel's Plastic Bag are a poignant exploration of the ways in which we can feel trapped and suffocated by the expectations of others. Through vivid imagery and a powerful refrain, the song encourages listeners to break free from toxic relationships and environments, and to stay true to themselves even when faced with harsh criticism and judgment.
Line by Line Meaning
You say I need help you're gonna read me the riot act
You're judging and criticizing me for not conforming to your expectations.
I'm stuck in the refrigerator of your ignorance well
You're keeping me trapped and confined in your narrow-mindedness.
I don't want to be here today
I don't want to be in this situation or environment.
I don't want to be here anyway
I have no desire to be present at all.
I don't want to suffocate in a plastic bag
I don't want to be stifled or restrained by your control or expectations.
I'm stuck inside the hefty bag of your pedantic
You're forcing me to conform to your trivial and overly strict standards.
Worldview now my eyes are bugging out and my lips
Your worldview is causing me extreme discomfort and distress.
Are turning blue well I don't want to be here today
Your suffocating presence is causing me physical and emotional harm.
I don't want to be here anyway I don't want to suffocate
I have no interest in being in this situation and being constrained by your expectations.
In a plastic bag you make a federal case out of the clothes
You place excessive importance on trivial matters and use them to control me.
I'm gagging on your dirty looks they're cutting
Your judgmental stares and criticism are causing me pain and discomfort.
Off my air well I don't want to be here today
Your presence is smothering me and making it difficult for me to exist.
I don't want to be here anyway I don't want to suffocate
I am not willing to be in this situation and be constrained by your expectations.
In a plastic bag I don't want to choke to death in a plastic bag
I refuse to be suffocated or restrained by your control and will not allow it to lead to my demise.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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