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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
Speed of Mutation
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
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The lyrics of "Speed of Mutation" by Screeching Weasel portray the theme of memory and the fleeting nature of human connections. The singer describes a recurring experience that happens to them only at three or four in the morning, where a hazy image of a friend from the past appears in their mind. They struggle to hold onto the memory, as it feels like a half-formed picture, and they can't quite remember who the person was or what it was that meant so much to them.
The song's title "Speed of Mutation" refers to the ever-changing nature of memories, and how they can mutate over time due to various factors, including emotional distance, trauma, and the passage of time. The singer suggests that memories are elusive and can disappear without a trace, and that trying to hold onto them is a futile exercise. The lyrics also touch on the idea that even less-than-favorable people can have moments of kindness and goodness, reinforcing the notion that humans are complex beings with layers of nuance and depth.
Overall, "Speed of Mutation" can be interpreted as a reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of change. Memories come and go, and people move in and out of our lives in unpredictable ways. However, the song also suggests that there is something pure and beautiful about these fleeting moments, and that we should cherish them for what they are, rather than trying to make them into something they're not.
Line by Line Meaning
It only seems to happen at three or four a.m.
I have a habit of remembering half-forgotten things about old friends in the early hours of the morning.
some blurry half-formed picture of some half-forgotten friend becomes clear
In my half-asleep state, I can suddenly recall details about old friends that were previously hazy in my memory.
but I can't hold it
Unfortunately, as soon as the memory becomes clear, it quickly fades away again.
it happens in my dreams
These memories seem to come to me in my dreams, which is the only time I can really access them.
I can't remember what it was that meant so much
Even when I do remember something specific, I can't figure out why it was so important to me.
don't question speed of mutation
I know that memories fade and transform over time, so I try not to dwell on how unreliable they can be.
even a rotten creep can have moments sweet and pure
Even someone who is usually unkind or ungenerous can have moments of genuine kindness and goodness.
I lay there something missing
Sometimes after these memories, I feel like there's something important missing from my life.
what happened to that girl is she okay or is she just a face in the crowd
I can't help but wonder what happened to certain people from my past and if they're doing okay now or just lost in the crowd of life.
why can't I think of what it was that meant so much
I get frustrated with myself for not being able to remember the significance of certain memories or people.
why do I wake up feeling that I've lost something big
Sometimes after these memories, I feel a sense of loss or emptiness that's hard to shake off.
why do I try to hold on to things that don't exist
Despite knowing that memories can fade and change over time, I still try to hold onto them and make them meaningful.
I keep on asking myself what happened to that girl
Certain people from my past continue to haunt me, and I can't help but wonder what happened to them.
they're moments that I make up
Sometimes I realize that certain memories are just fantasies I've constructed in my own mind.
they're moments sweet and pure
Despite being made up, these memories can be comforting and enjoyable to think about.
don't ever try to find something you left behind
I try to remind myself not to get too caught up in nostalgic fantasies and to focus on the present instead of the past.
don't ever try to make a memory into something
I also try to avoid the temptation to romanticize my memories and instead accept them for what they were.
don't ever fool yourself it always disappears
Even the most vivid and meaningful memories will inevitably fade and change over time, so it's important not to become too attached to them.
don't ever kid yourself there's no girl of your dreams
The idea of a perfect girl or perfect memory is just a fantasy, and it's important to acknowledge the reality of life and human relationships.
don't question speed of mutation
Overall, I try to accept the fleeting nature of memory and not get too hung up on its unpredictability and fallibility.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN M. FOSTER, BENJAMIN M FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind