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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
Used Cars
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No money down sounds good to me
Got monthly payments til I'm 93
Used cars [x4]
I stopped to look and now I own
A school bus and a '71 Olds
SCREAMS OF DISBELIEF
Zero percent financing
Then my transmission dropped, I hit a cop
Oh God! Why did I make this deal?
Used cars [x4]
Whooaahh!!!! Used Cars!
The song "Used Cars" by Screeching Weasel seems to be a commentary on the rampant consumerism in American society. The repetition of "used cars" throughout the song reflects the prevalence of purchasing material goods and the constant desire for more and better things. The first two lines, "No money down sounds good to me, Got monthly payments til I'm 93," highlight the allure of consumer debt and the illusion of affordability. The singer is convinced that they are getting a good deal, but the reality is that they will be paying for the item for their entire life.
The lines "I stopped to look and now I own, A school bus and a '71 Olds" demonstrate the haphazard nature of consumer purchases. The singer did not have any intention of buying a school bus or a '71 Olds, but they were somehow convinced to make the purchase. The screams of disbelief that follow suggest regret and frustration with the consumerist mindset.
The final lines are a sarcastic commentary on the entire concept of "used cars." The singer screams "Used Cars!" as if it is something to be celebrated or desired, when in reality it is a symbol of society's wastefulness and insatiable desire for material possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
Used cars
Repetition of the title for emphasis and catchy effect
No money down sounds good to me
The idea of making a purchase without paying upfront seems attractive
Got monthly payments til I'm 93
Being committed to installment payments for a long time, feeling stuck
I stopped to look and now I own
The impulsive urge to buy something just by seeing it
A school bus and a '71 Olds
Examples of the weird, unwanted things one could end up buying
SCREAMS OF DISBELIEF
Represents feeling of regret and surprise caused by a bad purchase
Zero percent financing
An offer that seems too good to be true, yet is taken up anyway
I thought I had a steal
Feeling of having made a great purchase deal, initially thinking it was a bargain
Then my transmission dropped, I hit a cop
Facing the consequences of buying a used car that's prone to accidents and mechanical issues
Oh God! Why did I make this deal?
The regret over making a poor purchase decision, wishing it had never happened
Whooaahh!!!! Used Cars!
Repetition of the title with an added exclamation, almost like a warning to avoid used cars
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind