The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were a ska-core band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in the mid 1980s. They are credited with the creation of the ska-core genre, a form of music that mixes elements of third-wave ska along with hardcore. The band would release seven full-length albums, three EPs and a live album while touring continuously before their announcement of a hiatus in December of 2003.

Early history

The band's roots lay in the hardcore scene of the early 1980s. Bassist Joe Gittleman played with local band Gang Green, while vocalist Dicky Barrett was a member of Impact Unit and, later on, the Cheap Skates. The Cheap Skates lineup constantly changed and would feature members of Gang Green on occasion. It was through the Cheap Skates that a lineup coalesced around a core of Barrett, Gittleman, Tim Burton (saxophone), Nate Albert (guitar), Josh Dalsimer (drums), Tim Bridewell (trombone) and Ben Carr (an eternal, but non-playing onstage presence, credited as the "Bosstone"). The group called itself the Bosstones, out of deference to their hometown. While some of the band members were influenced by bands such as AC/DC, Motorhead, The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers, Barrett had become enthralled with 2 Tone ska which was in the tail end of its existence.

In 1985, the Bosstones made their recorded debut, when they were featured on the Mash It Up ska compilation. The Bosstones' contribution was "The Cave." Another early recording, "Drums And Chickens," would appear on the 1989 ska compilation Mashin' Up The Nation.

Sometimes mistakenly viewed as simply a party band, the Bosstones were also fiercly idealistic, especially when it came to the issue of racism. Perhaps this was driven by both from their racially mixed lined -up and Barrett's Two-tone movement enthusiasm. Many Bosstones tours and shows promoted and or tied in with the Anti-Racist Action Group. The Bosstones also tackled the topic directly in their lyrics as well.

Name change

By the time Mashin' Up The Nation was released, the Bosstones had broken up. Albert and Gittleman needed to finish high school. After their graduation, the band reunited. It was brought to their attention that they were not the first band to christen itself the Bosstones. In the 1950's, a Philadelphia-based a cappella and doo-wop band had used the same name. In the search for a new name, a bartender friend arbitrarily suggested that they become the Mighty Mighty Bosstones to which the band agreed.

Taang! years

Despite not having a large draw at their live shows, the Taang! record label gave the band a record deal which would result in the Devil's Night Out album, produced by Paul Kolderie. The album was released to a lukewarm reaction during a time when ska was struggling to move out of the American underground. Ska fans did not like the band since they were not playing traditional ska while hardcore fans did not like the ska and heavy metal elements in the music. Despite the initial reaction, Devil's Night Out has gone on to become one of the band's most popular albums.

It was during this time that the band's trademark plaid clothing came to be. After a show where Barrett wore plaid, fans started to show up wearing it as well. It was noticeable enough that the band was approached by the Converse sneaker company to promote their new line of Chuck Taylor sneakers. The band accepted the proposal and were seen in several television commercials promoting the sneakers.

By this time, Tim Bridewell had left the band only to be replaced by Dennis Brockenborough (trombone) and Kevin Linear (saxophone). The band's next release was an EP entitled Where'd You Go. The EP featured the title track as well a cover versions of Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion", Metallica's "Enter Sandman", Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" and a new version of "Do Somethin' Crazy" from Devil's Night Out.

In 1991, the band set out on their first full American tour. It was during the first leg of touring that drummer Josh Dalsimer would leave the band to pursue a college education. He would be replaced by Joe Sirois who Barrett met at Bunker Hill Community College. Sirois would immediately join his new bandmates in the recording studio to start work on the band's second album.

Once again produced by Paul Kolderie, More Noise and Other Disturbances was released in 1992. The band would film a video for the song "Where'd You Go" which had previously been availble on the EP of the same name. It was during the band's touring for this album that their relationship with Taang! began to sour. The band toured relentlessly and sold more albums, but Taang! seemed to be keeping the money. The band's living situations became so bad that a second breakup was considered. Ultimately, the band decided to stay together and leave the Taang! label.

Mercury Records

The band signed to their first major label when they joined the Mercury Records roster. The first thing the band did was to record the Ska-core, the Devil and More EP. Released in 1993, it was largely a collection of cover songs. Four of the seven tracks paid homage to the band's heroes - The Angry Samoans' "Lights Out," Minor Threat's "Think Again," SS Decontrol's "Police Beat" and Bob Marley's "Simmer Down." Three live tracks were included as well. The EP contained one new studio track "Someday I Suppose" which would appear weeks later, on the band's third album.

Produced by Tony Platt, the band's third LP, Don't Know How To Party contained a cover of Stiff Little Fingers' song "Tin Soldiers" as well as a vocal appearance by Daryl Jennifer of the Bad Brains. A video was also filmed for "Someday I Suppose" and it received minor airplay on MTV. The band would also appear on the 1993 KISS My Ass tribute to Kiss album, covering "Detroit Rock City." Mercury Records was so impressed by the track that it was released as a single, appearing on 7-inch green vinyl and backed by the original Kiss version of the song. Soon after, the band found themselves personally invited by fellow Bostonian Steven Tyler, to open up for Aerosmith at their New Year's Eve concert in Boston. While not the most successful show the Bosstones ever played, it ensured that the Bosstones started 1994 on the road as they had intended.

Big Rig Records

Big Rig Records started when the band wanted to release their records on vinyl. While Mercury had no interest at first, they let the band start the label. Mercury continued to handle the conventional CD and cassette versions of the albums while Big Rig focused on the vinyl versions. The new label immediately issued re-releases of Don't Know How To Party and Ska-core, the Devil and More on colored vinyl. Later releases would also include re-releases by Barrett's band Impact Unit.

The band released their fourth LP, Question the Answers, in 1994. The album featured production work by the Butcher Brothers, Paul Kolderie and Ross Humphrey. The Big Rig vinyl version of the album contained "Pirate Ship" as an extra track. Besides touring, the band found itself making their network television debut on the "Jon Stewart Show." They also contributed a new version of "Where'd You Go?" to the Alicia Silverstone movie "Clueless." The band also made an appearance in the film. On top of their TV and film appearances, the band were added to the 1995 Lollapalooza tour. The media attention that the band was receiving prompted Taaang to re-release Devil's Night Out and More Noise and Other Disturbances with new artwork, in order to capitalize on the band's popularity. Mercury set about repromoting Question the Answers by adding a second disc comprised of five B-side tracks. The EP was titled Here We Go Again and it was compiled by Barrett at the request of Mercury.

After touring as part of the 1996 Warped Tour, the Bosstones began work on their next studio album. Released in 1997, Let's Face It, would prove to be the band's biggest break, mostly due to the first single "The Impression That I Get," which charted at number one on the Billboard charts. The album was followed by a compilation of the band's twelve music videos entitled "Video Stew." The mainstream exposure led to the band's appearance on Sesame Street's Elmopalooza album and television special. In it, the band performs the song "The Zig Zag Dance" with classic muppet, The Count. The band also made their Saturday Night Live debut performing the "The Impression That I Get". Capitalizing on the band's new found popularity, Mercury released the band's live album, Live From the Middle East in October of 1998. The album was recorded live in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub as part of the band's annual end-of-the-year "Hometown Throwdown". In 1999, the band contributed their cover version of the song, "Rudie Can't Fail," to the Burning London Clash tribute compilation. Shortly after all of these releases, Kevin Linear quit the band to work on his own material and was replaced by Roman Fleysher. Founding member Nate Albert also left in order to obtain a degree in political theory from Brown University. He also served as a member of Evan Dando’s re-formed Lemonheads before forming The Kickovers which focused more on a 1970's punk sound than ska. Albert's replacement on guitar was Lawrence Katz.

In 2000, the band released Pay Attention which failed to produce a hit single. One single, "So Sad To Say," was released but it never charted higher than twenty-two on the Billboard charts. As a result, the album did not sell as well as their previous release. This was the band's last album with Mercury Records who along with Island Records, Def Jam Records and Polygram, had become part of the Universal Music Group who subsequently merged Island Records and Def Jam Recordings forming the new Island Def Jam label. The band, unhappy with the way the newly formed label had been handling them, asked for a release from their contract, and the label agreed. "Pay Attention" was also the last album for Dennis Brockenborough who had already formed his own band, Chubby, for which he sang and played guitar. Brockenborough's replacement was former Spring Heeled Jack member, Chris Rhodes. Spring Heeled Jack had broken up in 2000 and Rhodes had recently taken a vacant trombone position with Bim Skala Bim when he received the invitation to join.

SideOneDummy

The band soon announced their return to an independent label when they signed with SideOneDummy Records. In July of 2002, the band released A Jackknife to a Swan and from it the song "You Gotta Go" was released as a single and video. The band continued to tour America and Europe but in December of 2003 they announced, through their website, that the band would be taking a hiatus. Several members were busy with other bands and side projects and the band had been touring, almost non-stop, since 1991. While an actual breakup was never officially announced, it seems like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones have called it a day.

Hiatus

Since the hiatus annoucement, several members have gone on to work on other projects and bands. Barrett is now an announcer on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" late night talk show. In 2005, he became the host of the "Mighty Morning Show" on Los Angeles radio's Indie 103.1 FM. In March of 2006, he was dismissed from the radio station ^*.

Before the hiatus announcement, Gittleman had formed a second band named Avoid One Thing. The band released two albums on SideOneDummy, before announcing their own hiatus.

Sirois recorded and toured with Nate Albert's Kickovers and has also played drums for the Street Dogs and Frank Black.

Rhodes is currently playing with The Toasters. Chris Rhodes has also performed with former Spring Heeled Jack bandmate Rick Omonte in The Mountain Movers.

Fleysher continued his pursuit of a professional pilot's license. He took classes near his home in South Florida and worked as a flight instructor in his spare time.

Burton and his family moved to Los Angeles where he has become active in the movie business. Besides working with a Hollywood agent, he has written several scripts. He has also contributed saxophone for a Cypress Hill song.

Reunion rumors

Due to the fact that the band left the possibility of playing together again open, rumors and speculation have circulated that a reunion is inevitable. The recently announced hiatus from Joe Gittleman's band, Avoid One Thing, has added to speculation of such a reunion. There has been no actual reunion announcement and the rumors remain unfounded.

EP's

1991 Where'd You Go?
1993 Ska-Core, The Devil, and More
1994 Simmer Down (promotional only)
1995 Here We Go Again (packaged with later pressings of Question the Answers)
1997 So Far, So Good (promotional only)
1997 A Sample (promo cassette only)
1998 Wake Up Call (promotional only)
1998 Selections From The Middle East (promotional only)
2000 Toe Tapping Treats (promotional only - also includes one Sum 41 track)

Singles

1991 Where'd You Go?
1993 Someday I Suppose (promotional only)
1993 Don't Know How To Party (promotional only)
1993 A Man Without (promotional only)
1993 Almost Anything Goes (promotional only)
1993 Last Dead Mouse (promotional only)
1994 Detroit Rock City
1994 Kinder Words
1994 Pictures To Prove It
1995 Hell Of A Hat
1997 The Impression That I Get (variations exist with different B-sides)
1997 The Rascal King (variations exist with different B-sides)
1997 Royal Oil (promotional only)
1997 Wrong Thing Right Then (promotional only)
1998 Every Trick In The Book (Germany only)
2000 So Sad To Say (promotional only)
2000 She Just Happened (promotional only)
2001 Fabled Barney And The Population (promotional only)

Live albums

1997 Live From The Pit (radio promo only)
1998 Live From the Middle East

Compilations and soundtracks

The band has appeared on many compilations and soundtracks but the ones listed here feature exclusive songs or versions not found on the regular albums.

1990 Mashin' Up The Nation: Best Of American Ska Volumes 1 & 2
1994 Mash It Up: Volume 3
1994 KISS My Ass
1995 Ska-Ville USA: Volume 2
1995 ''Clueless Soundtrack
1997 Meet The Deedles Soundtrack
1997 Music For Our Mother Ocean 2 (with the Pietasters)
1997 A Home For The Holidays
1997 A Family Christmas In Your Ass
1997 Tibetan Freedom Concert
1998 Elmopalooza Soundtrack
1998 Mashin' Up The Nation: Best Of American Ska Volumes 3 & 4
1999 Boston Retroactive
1999 Burning London - The Clash Tribute
2000 The Movie Soundtrack
2006 A Full Tank of Rock Volume 2

External links

Massachusetts musical groups | Third-wave ska groups | American musical groups

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones | Mighty Mighty Bosstones

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