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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
Surf Goddess
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it happened to me
I fell in love with a west coast girl
An amazon in ripped jeans
Looking out at Lake Michigan
Wishing that I was there
She's hanging ten out in Hollywood
There's no doubt
That you're just about
The prettiest girl that I've seen
You look so cool
Hanging by the pool
You're the only girl for me
Surf Goddess I'm in love with you
I can't make all of the clubs with you
I can't make all of your shows
I gotta scrape the ice off the van
I gotta shovel the snow
But if you stop by the Montrose beach
Next time you're in Illinois
I swear I wouldn't tell anyone
Just don't walk away from your boy
The lyrics of "Surf Goddess" by Screeching Weasel depict a man who has fallen in love with a woman on the West Coast. Although he is currently in Illinois, he is mesmerized by this woman's beauty and spirit as she surfs the waves in Hollywood. The singer of the song wistfully watches Lake Michigan and wishes that he was with the Surf Goddess rather than where he is now. He knows he can't attend all her shows and party at all the clubs, but he promises to always be there for her, no matter what.
The song seems to convey a sense of longing and desire for what could have been, but like many long-distance relationships, it is fraught with difficulties. The singer describes the harsh realities of his everyday life, such as scraping ice off his van and shoveling snow, which stand in contrast to the glamour and fun the Surf Goddess gets to experience. However, despite the distance and challenges, the singer still has hope that the Surf Goddess will return to him one day and they can be together.
Overall, "Surf Goddess" by Screeching Weasel is a catchy, upbeat love song that captures the feelings of longing, distance, and devotion that many people experience in their relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
It could have happened to anyone
Falling in love with someone is a common occurrence
But it happened to me
The singer has fallen in love with someone
I fell in love with a west coast girl
The singer has fallen in love with a girl from the west coast
An amazon in ripped jeans
The girl has a strong and confident personality while wearing ripped jeans
Looking out at Lake Michigan
The singer is staring out at Lake Michigan and thinking of the girl
Wishing that I was there
The singer wishes he was with the girl in person
She's hanging ten out in Hollywood
The girl is surfing in Hollywood
Two thousand miles away
The girl is far from the singer
There's no doubt
The singer is sure
That you're just about
The girl is almost
The prettiest girl that I've seen
According to the singer, the girl is very pretty
You look so cool
The singer thinks the girl looks very cool
Hanging by the pool
The girl is hanging out by a pool
You're the only girl for me
The singer is in love with the girl and no one else
Surf Goddess I'm in love with you
The singer is confessing his love for the girl, whom he sees as a surfing goddess
I can't make all of the clubs with you
The singer cannot attend all of the same venues as the girl
I can't make all of your shows
The singer cannot make it to all of the girl's performances
I gotta scrape the ice off the van
The singer has to remove ice from his van
I gotta shovel the snow
The singer has to shovel snow
But if you stop by the Montrose beach
If the girl is in the area of Montrose beach
Next time you're in Illinois
If the girl comes to Illinois again
I swear I wouldn't tell anyone
The singer promises not to tell anyone if the girl comes to Montrose beach
Just don't walk away from your boy
The singer hopes the girl will not leave him behind
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN M. FOSTER, BENJAMIN M FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind