Pinhead Gunpowder
| Pinhead Gunpowder | |
|---|---|
| Origin | East Bay, California |
| Genres | Punk rock |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | Lookout!, Adeline, Recess |
| Associated acts | Green Day, Foxboro Hot Tubs, The Network, The Influents, Crimpshrine, Monsula |
| Members | Billie Joe Armstrong Aaron Cometbus Bill Schneider Jason White |
| Past members | Mike Kirsch |
Pinhead Gunpowder is an American punk rock band that formed in East Bay, California, in 1990. The band has consisted of Aaron Cometbus (drums, lyrics), Bill Schneider (bass), Billie Joe Armstrong (guitar, vocals) and Jason White (guitar, vocals) for the majority of its existence. Mike Kirsch (guitar, vocals) was the original guitarist, in place of White, but left the band citing personal differences with Green Day (the band for which Billie Joe Armstrong is most famous) and their major label debut album Dookie (1994). The band's name comes from a brand of "high octane" green tea served at the Arcata co-op and discovered by Aaron Cometbus during one of his many dumpster diving adventures.
Cometbus, who releases the Cometbus fanzine, has played in many East Bay area bands such as Crimpshrine. Schneider is now Green Day's guitar tech and tour manager. Jason White plays additional guitar for Green Day; along with founding the seminal punk rock band Chino Horde. White has played in The Influents as well as The Big Cats. Mike Kirsch has also been an active member in several East Bay bands such as Fuel, Torches to Rome, Bread and Circuits and many others.
The vast majority of Pinhead Gunpowder's songs were written by Cometbus, although a few songs such as "27", "Anniversary Song" and "New Blood" were written by Billie Joe Armstrong under the pseudonym "Wilhelm Fink".
Contents |
Current
Pinhead Gunpowder performed for the first time in many years during February 2008, debuting three new songs, "Anniversary Song", "West Side Highway", and "On the Ave" .
The band released their latest EP, West Side Highway through Recess Records on August 19, 2008. This marked the band's first new release in 5 years.
Pinhead Gunpowder released a greatest hits album called Kick Over the Traces on June 19, 2009. Also, Pinhead Gunpowder mentioned that in August or September Recess would re-release on vinyl and CD the albums Jump Salty, Carry the Banner, Goodbye Ellston Avenue, Shoot the Moon and Compulsive Disclosure,.[1] All of the albums were re-released in varying colors in early February 2010 through Recess Records. The band performed a benefit show at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, California on February 12, 2010.[2][3]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Carry the Banner 2 | Too Many/Lookout!/Recess1 |
| 1997 | Goodbye Ellston Avenue | Lookout!/Recess1 |
Extended plays
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Tründle and Spring | Take a Day |
| 1992 | Fahizah | Lookout! |
| 1999 | Shoot the Moon | Adeline/Recess1 |
| 2000 | Dillinger Four / Pinhead Gunpowder | Adeline |
| 2000 | Pinhead Gunpowder | THD |
| 2000 | 8 Chords, 328 Words | Lookout! |
| 2008 | West Side Highway | Recess |
Compilation albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Jump Salty | Lookout!/Recess1 |
| 2003 | Compulsive Disclosure | Lookout!/Recess1 |
| 2009 | Kick Over the Traces | Recess |
12010 Re-release label version
2Originally released on vinyl by Too Many Records and later released on CD by Lookout! Records
Compilation appearances (incomplete)
| Year | Title | Label | Contributing track |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Can of Pork 2xLP/CD | Lookout! | "Benicia by the Bay" |
| 1992 | Very Small World 2xLP | Very Small | "Losers of the Year" |
| 1994 | Misfit Heartbeat 2x7" | Take A Day | "I Wanna" |
| 1997 | The Last Great Thing You Did CD | Lookout! | "Life During Wartime" |
| 2000 | Might as Well... Can't Dance CD | Adeline | "Porch" |
Band members
- Current members
- Billie Joe Armstrong - guitar, vocals (1990–present)
- Aaron Cometbus - drums (1990–present)
- Bill Schneider - bass, vocals (1990–present)
- Jason White - guitar, vocals (1994–present)
- Former members
- Mike Kirsch - guitar, vocals (1990–1994; died 2012)
References
- ^ "Green Day Authority". Green Day Authority. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- ^ "Pinhead Gunpowder album reissues". Greendayauthority.com. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- ^ "Pinhead Gunpowder show recap". Greendayauthority.com. Retrieved 2011-11-01.