The Vindictives

The Vindictives
Background information
OriginChicago, Illinois
GenresPunk rock
Years active1991–1996, 1999, 2012–present
LabelsVML, Lookout! Records, Liberation Records, Selfless Records
MembersJoey Vindictive
Past membersBen Weasel, Erik Elsewhere, Dr. Bob, Billy Blastoff, P.J. Parti, Angel Ledezma, Mike Byrne, Johnny Personality
Websitevindictivesmusic.com

The Vindictives are an American, Chicago-based punk rock group, founded by singer and songwriter Joey Vindictive in 1991, releasing 12 EPs and albums by July 1996.[1][2]

History

They began their career in 1991, cutting their first 7-inch record later that year with the lineup of Joey Vindictive (vocals), Johnny Personality (bass), Ben Weasel (guitar), Dr. Bob (guitar), and Erik Elsewhere (drums).[1] Weasel was soon to be replaced by Billy Blastoff on guitar, and Elsewhere was soon to be replaced by P.J. Parti on drums.[3]

The band broke up in 1996 due to Joey Vindictive's health issues. They would re-form in 2000.[1]

Guitarist Robert "Dr. Bob" Nielsen died of a heroin overdose on February 22, 2003.[4] After Dr. Bob's death, The Vindictives released a pair of records containing material previously unavailable on CD and two new re-recordings; Muzak for Robots which was quirky electronic instrumental versions of their songs and Unplugged soft and toned-down acoustic versions of their works. The Razorcake review read "This really is muzak. No, really".[5]

In 2004, Billy Blastoff left the Vindictives of his own accord, took a year off music, joined Lucky Savage in Chicago as their drummer, formed the Gornys and switched over to bass in 2005,[6] eventually renamed them the John Doh's in 2010, and is currently on hiatus.

In 2006, Shot Baker and Vacation Bible School released a limited edition of 500 split 7-inch singles on Chicago's Underground Communique Records featuring The Vindictives' "Future Homemakers of America", "Glad to Be", "Assembly Line", and "Automaton".[7]

In 2006, Joey Vindictive and Johnny Personality started to demo material under Joey Vindictive & The Personality Crisis. The two performed under the name Faerie Wunderpuss, releasing a split 12-inch LP with Chicago's own Alla, an experimental heavy rock psychedelia band, and is said to be in the vein of Queens of the Stone Age. In addition to possible new material surfacing, Joey Vindictive launched a new theatre art program called The 1901 Gallery Theatre with wife, Jenny, and bandmate, Johnny Personality.[8] In 2011, Billy Blastoff joined Magatha Trysty, a culmination of power pop and punk rock sensibility, as their bass player.[9]

On December 4, 2012, the Vindictives released their first new material in 13 years with an EP titled "Mono Flexi".[10][11]

In 2013, the Vindictives digitally released a Halloween EP entitled "Jerk-O-Lantern" which featured 13 songs recorded on Friday the 13th, 2013 and is a total of 13 minutes and 13 seconds in length.[12]

Members

  • Joey Vindictive (Joey Volino) - vocals (1990–1996, 1999–Present)[13]
  • Johnny Personality (John Stockfisch) - bass (1990–1996, 1999–2018)[13]
  • Dr. Bob (Robert Nielson) - guitar (1990–1996)[13]
  • Billy Blastoff (Bill Sullivan) - guitar (1992–1996, 1999-2004)[13]
  • P.J. Parti (Pat Buckley) - drums (1991–1996)[13]
  • Ben Weasel (Ben Foster) - guitar (1990–1992)[13]
  • Erik Elsewhere - drums (1990-1991)[13]
  • Angel Gabriel Ledezma - drums (1999)[13]
  • Mike Geek (Mike Byrne) - guitar (1994-1996)[13]

Discography

Singles and EPs

  • Basket Case, V.M.L. Records, 1991[13]
  • The Invisible Man, V.M.L. Records, 1991[13]
  • Ugly American 7-inch, V.M.L. Records, 1992[13]
  • Assembly Line 7-inch, V.M.L. Records, 1992[13]
  • This Is My Face 7-inch, V.M.L. Records, 1993[13]
  • Disturbia 7-inch, V.M.L. Records, 1993[13]
  • Rocks In My Head 7-inch, V.M.L. Records, 1994[14][13]
  • Seventeen b/w No Feelings 5", Selfless Records/V.M.L. Records, 1994[13][15]
  • Johnny Where Are You? b/w Eating Me Alive Picture Disk 7-inch, Lookout! Records/V.M.L. Records, 1995[14][13]
  • Alarm Clocks b/w Left For Dead 7-inch, Lookout/V.M.L. Records, 1995[13]
  • Pervert At Large b/w Sloppy Seconds Split 7-inch, V.M.L. Records, 1997[13]
  • Nuttin' for Christmas b/w Jingle Bells 7-inch, Stardumb Records, 2002[13]
  • Mono-Flexi EP 7-inch, Sexy Baby Records, 2012[13]
  • Jerk-O-Lantern EP, 2013[12]

Studio albums

Compilation albums

  • The Many Moods Of The Vindictives Double LP, Lookout/V.M.L. Records, 1995 Reissue: Liberation Records 1995[13]
  • Curious Oddities and the Bare Essentials, TEAT, 2003[18]
  • Original Masters (1990–1992), TEAT, 2003[19]

References

  1. ^ a b c Torreano, Bradley. The Vindictives Biography at AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  2. ^ Jughead, John (December 19, 2014). "The Vindictives' Hypno-Punko". Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Prested, Kevin (December 1, 2014). Punk USA: The Rise and Fall of Lookout Records. Microcosm Publishing. ISBN 9781621066125. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Heisel, Scott (February 25, 2003). "In Memoriam: Dr. Bob of The Vindictives: 1954-2003". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Carswell, Sean (June 5, 2008). "VINDICTIVES, THE: Muzak for Robots: CD". Razorcake. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  6. ^ "The Gornys with William Sullivan (Billy Blastoff)". The Gornys. February 20, 2009. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  7. ^ "Shot Baker/Vacation Bible School - Vindictives Tribute - Split". Interpunk. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  8. ^ "The Vindictives - About". The Vindictives Official Homepage. Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  9. ^ "Magatha Trysty Bio". Magatha Trysty Facebook page. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  10. ^ Yancey, Bryne (October 30, 2012). "The Vindictives announce 'Mono Flexi' EP, stream new song". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  11. ^ "Mono Flexi EP". Sexy Baby Records. December 4, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Aubin, Paul (October 17, 2013). "The Vindictives: "Jerk-O-Lantern"". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "The Vindictives". Spirit of Rock. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Warwick, Kevin (January 26, 2015). "The Reader's Kevin Warwick on an Instagram hashtag for vinyl fans, and more". Chicago Reader. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  15. ^ Minishak, Frank (March 5, 2018). "Full Albums: Never Mind the Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols". Cover Me Songs. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  16. ^ Trauma, Tom (September 12, 2016). "The Vindictives Leave Home". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  17. ^ Wasoba, Ryan (March 27, 2012). "The Six Best Songs Over Thirty Minutes Long". River Front Times. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  18. ^ Carswell, Sean (December 1, 2009). "VINDICTIVES, THE: Curious Oddities and the Bare Essentials: CD". Razorcake. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  19. ^ The Vindictives - Original Masters 1990-1992 at AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-10-03.