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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
What We Hate
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way things go
I don't think so
The changes that alter us
Are a product of our own volition
And we become what we hate
It's not hard to figure out
That you're scared when
You're holding onto
Something we can't have
But hands still circle
You're still getting old
And we become what we hate
Do you believe in the lies
That shape your world
Do you believe in your
Own fictitious immortality
The world won't end while
You walk the earth
And when you realize that
Your life don't matter
You'll turn to something to help
You forget that you're
Only young once, old forever
The lyrics of Screeching Weasel's song What We Hate discusses the idea that destiny is not real and that we become what we hate. The changes that happen to us are a result of our own choices and actions, not some predetermined fate. The song asserts that people who act superior to others are likely just scared and holding onto something that they cannot have. The lines "Do you believe in the lies that shape your world? Do you believe in your own fictitious immortality?" suggest that the song is about the illusions that people create for themselves to ignore the harsh reality of their own mortality. The song also comments on the idea of aging, pointing out that while people may feel invincible in their youth, they will inevitably grow old and face the same mortality that they have been trying to avoid.
Overall, the message of the song seems to be that we should not hold onto illusions of invincibility or superiority over others because in the end, we will all become what we hate. This is a powerful message that encourages listeners to live in the present and focus on the things that truly matter.
Line by Line Meaning
There isn't destiny
The concept of destiny does not exist
The way things go
The course of events is not predetermined
I don't think so
The singer doubts the existence of destiny
The changes that alter us
Events that impact our lives
Are a product of our own volition
These changes are a result of our choices
And we become what we hate
We eventually become the very thing we dislike or despise
It's not hard to figure out
It's easy to understand
That you're scared when
The artist believes that the person is afraid
You act so much better
The person pretends to be superior
You're holding onto
The person is grasping onto something
Something we can't have
It's something that is out of reach or unavailable
But hands still circle
Time continues to move forward
You're still getting old
The person is aging
And we become what we hate
The idea that we eventually become the very thing we dislike or despise is repeated
Do you believe in the lies
The singer questions the person's belief in falsehoods
That shape your world
These falsehoods have influenced the person's worldview
Do you believe in your
The artist questions the person's belief in their own
Own fictitious immortality
The concept that they will live forever is unrealistic and false
The world won't end while
The existence of the world is not dependent on the person
You walk the earth
The person's presence on earth does not impact the fate of the world
And when you realize that
The artist expects the person to come to a realization
Your life don't matter
The person's life is insignificant in the grand scheme of things
You'll turn to something to help
The singer expects the person to seek out something to help them cope
You forget that you're
The idea that the person is not aware of
Only young once, old forever
The idea that youth is fleeting and that aging is inevitable
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN M. FOSTER, BENJAMIN M FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind