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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
Racist Society
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Screeching Weasel's "Racist Society" is a scathing critique of the systemic racism present in society. The song targets those who are privileged and unaware of the privileges they possess. The lyrics directly address the listener, and it questions whether they know they live in a racist society. The song suggests that privilege is enjoyed by the listener while others endure oppression. Screeching Weasel argues that there can be freedom and equality, but the current systems are not designed this way.
The song accuses the individuals of being taught to fear anyone who is not white enough, thus, contributing to a racist society. It suggests that the listener is getting easier to blame someone else for their mess and problems as they get older. It also addresses the role and impact of mainstream media, governments, and corporations in shaping people's thoughts and opinions on sensitive topics such as race, politics, and social issues. The lyrics call for listeners to take action, to educate themselves, and to fight against oppression.
The song ultimately argues that the listeners are on their own and should take responsibility for their actions if changes are to be made. Overall, Screeching Weasels make a powerful statement against institutionalized racism, bigotry, and oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
did you know that you live in a racist society
Are you aware that you are part of a society that is discriminatory towards people based on their race?
did you know you're the privileged class and everybody else is essentially taking it up the ass
Do you realize that you belong to a group that has been privileged for a long time, while other groups have been oppressed and still suffer the consequences of that?
did you know that you could be free
Do you understand that you have the power to free yourself from the cultural biases and oppression that you are part of?
did you know that's not the way it has to be
Are you aware that things don't have to remain the way they are, and that change is possible?
did you know you can still change everything
Do you realize that you have the power to bring about change and make things better for everybody?
did you know that there's no such thing as equality and there might be if you don't change
Do you understand that everyone is not treated equally in our society and that it is only through your willingness to change that equality can be achieved?
did you know that you live in a warzone (culturally)
Are you aware that the society you live in is rife with cultural tensions and conflicts?
did you know that your parents were fucked when they taught you how to fear anybody who wasn't white enough
Do you realize that the fear and prejudice you were taught by your parents has contributed to the racism that you are now a part of?
did you know that you could be free
Do you understand that you have the power to free yourself from the cultural biases and oppression that you are part of?
did you know that's not the way it has to be
Are you aware that things don't have to remain the way they are, and that change is possible?
did you know you can still change everything
Do you realize that you have the power to bring about change and make things better for everybody?
did you know that the older you get it gets easier to blame somebody else for your own mess
Are you aware that as you age, it becomes easier to deflect responsibility for your own circumstances and blame others for your problems?
did you know that the jews don't run the world and all black men aren't criminals
Do you understand that the stereotypes and prejudices that you have been taught are not true and contribute to injustice and oppression?
did you know there's a lot of money to be made from keeping you paranoid, suspicious, worried, frightened all wound up and tense inside
Are you aware that some people benefit financially and politically from keeping you anxious and divided, rather than united and empowered?
cause big business runs the government and it's not good business if we burn down the government
The government is influenced heavily by corporations and their profit interests, so it is unlikely that any meaningful change or rebellion can occur without significant consequences.
so they keep us occupied with moron tv shows and shitty beer that wipes out brain cells and whining about congress and stupid fucking income taxes
To distract us from the problems and injustices in our society, we are fed trivial entertainment and destructive substances, and are encouraged to waste our energy on pointless political debates.
and if that's not enough to keep your mind off of the way you're getting dicked around
If the distractions and propaganda are not enough to keep you from realizing the injustices and oppression that you are subject to,
they fill you with fear and hate give you someone to blame for all your problems
you are further manipulated and divided by being made to focus on fear and hatred towards scapegoats, rather than recognizing the systemic oppression and exploitation that are responsible for your problems.
why's the country going down the fucking toilet do you know what they think of you
The state of our society is deteriorating, and those in power see us as expendable and exploitable, rather than as deserving of justice and opportunity.
do you know how contemptuous they are of you
Those in power hold you in contempt and see you as a source of profit and labor, rather than as a person with inherent worth and dignity.
do you know how easy you are to fool you're like a dog going after a ball that was never thrown
It is easy for those in power to manipulate and deceive you, because you are conditioned to accept their authority and ideology, even when it is against your own interests and well-being.
well guess what you're on your own good luck
In order to bring about positive change and fight against oppression and injustice, you must take responsibility for your own actions and decisions, and rely on your own fortitude and resilience. Good luck.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Petroff, Esq.
Masterpiece of truth.
Noah Fehks
More people need to enjoy this song,...
Greg Valdez
This song reminds me of the movie I just watched called Bomb city about a punk kid that was condemned just for being different and him and his entire group of friends were constantly harrased by a literal legion of jocks .Everyone here should watch bomb city , our society is so fucked up we are living in a matrix and brainwashed that some would hate one another for either standing out in the crowd and looking different, or race ,skin color and nationality .
Hanging Fear
Best two minutes of music ever
Greg Valdez
Let's rise above !🤣💀
Milton Bradly
Your all way to late to play in this game. give up now *
TheTrueHappy
Happy 4th!
D P
Nicaragua era was better. This is forced and cringe
shonensaiyan
@Davey Boyd it's not anti white lmaooooooooooo
If you think that, you didn't listen or read the lyrics lmaooooooooooo
Davey Boyd
It's also inane, hypocritical, Anti-Wht garbage... So yeah, it's pretty cringe.