SUBURBAN LEGENDS

'Suburban Legends' are a seven piece pop/funk/third wave ska band from Orange County, California.

Contents

Band History

Ryan Dallas Cook

The Van Fire & Robbery

Line-Up

Covers

Studio recordings

Live covers

Members

Former members (Listed in order of departure)

Discography

Albums

EPs

DVDs

Singles

Music videos

Compilations

External links

Band History

Suburban Legends' music is different from that of other ska bands, taking influence from ska as well as disco, funk, and pop. Live shows involve synchronized dance moves performed by horn players (sometimes joined by the lead singer) as well as humorous banter between members. The band was formed in 1998 as 'The No Tones' but the name later changed to the 'Bomb Squad' due to line-up changes, eventually becoming 'Suburban Legends' (created from a quote in the Futurama episode "I Second That Emotion"). Their first album, Origin Edition was released in 1999 as a fun demo to sell at shows. Shortly after its release, lead singer Tim Maurer left the group and was replaced by Chris Batstone on vocals. Chris Batstone's only official release with the band was in 2001, when the ''Suburban Legends'' EP was released on We The People Records. Chris Batstone left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Tim Maurer, who returned to the band on vocals and subsequently re-recorded the vocals on the EP to create the Suburban Legends (Tim Remix) EP. It was around this time the band started playing at the Disneyland Resort. In 2002, they played 962 performances at Downtown Disney, where they gained many new fans. They would later perform there for a Disney-organized 2002 World Series Anaheim Angels rally. They also performed on many occasions for the X Games Xperience promotion at Disney's California Adventure in 2003, and at the Club Buzz/Tomorrowland Terrace stage in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The line-up then went on to record the bands debut album ''Rump Shaker'' in 2003 with heavy touring to support it. Season One was released in 2004. The DVD featured a live set from Oakland, California as well as two music videos.
On May 12, 2006 the band released its first CD in 3 years since ''Rump Shaker''. An EP, entitled ''Dance Like Nobody's Watching''. The EP was the first release from the band to feature Vincent Walker on vocals and was supported by heavy touring over the next year. Following the EP, in early 2007 the band announced that a new CD would be released in Japan entitled ''. It contained the original tracks from ''Dance Like Nobody's Watching'' as well as an additional five tracks which include a cover, 2 new songs and remixed songs from Rump Shaker with a new vocal tracks from Vincent Walker.
The band's MySpace has confirmed that the band is currently finishing up a new album, ''Infectious''. Videos are to be released on the bands YouTube account showing the recording process. Dallas Kruse has stated the album will be for sale at the bands show at the HOB on July 29th."

Ryan Dallas Cook

At 12:25 AM on October 19, 2005, trombone player Dallas Cook was killed in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident on the Costa Mesa Freeway.
A few days after the incident, a large group of Suburban Legends' fans and Dallas' friends and family gathered nearby the ESPN Zone at Disneyland Resorts Downtown Disney, where the band played their many performances in the early 2000s, to share their memories of Cook. On November 29, 2005, former and current band members performed a benefit show for the 'Dallas Cook Memorial Fund', which was as set up in Cook's honor to donate money to the Huntington Beach High School instrumental music program.
Accident article from Orange County Register

The Van Fire & Robbery

At around 4:30 AM CDT on July 19, 2006, while they were on tour and in St. Louis, Missouri, Phillip Inzerillo woke up to notice the band's tour van was on fire. The fire destroyed the front driver's side of the van. The band's tour money had also been missing from the van. It is suspected that the fire and robbery was caused by an arsonist.

Line-Up

The band has suffered many line up changes over the years. Early drummer Jimmy Sullivan left around 1999. He went on to help create the popular band Avenged Sevenfold, going by the name of The Rev along with former Suburban Legends bassist Justin Meacham who left around the same time. In late 2004, bassist Chris Maurer left the band to marry his fiancé and to focus on his education. He was replaced by Mike Hachey. Trumpet player Vincent Walker also left the band in 2004 to focus on his education. He was not replaced and the band used only 3 horns until his return to the band on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon (see below). Similarly, in late May 2005, trumpet player Aaron Bertram left the band to marry his fiancé, Rachel Charest. He was replaced by trumpet player Luis Beza. In October 2006, while on the Fall Of Ska tour, Phillip Inzerillo was rumoured to have left the band as he was not seen playing with the band on the tour or in subsequent shows afterwards. His departure was never officially announced by the band but it is known he is no longer performing with the band. While on the Fall Of Ska tour in late 2006, keyboardist Dallas Kruse was seen playing with the band. While not an "official" member, not appearing on the band's website and not announced by the band, he has been performing with the band since the tour at local shows. He also produced the Japan only CD .
The band appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for the third year in a row on September 4, 2005 . It was lead singer Tim Maurer's final performance with the band, as he left (for the second time as a member of Suburban Legends) in September 2005 to spend more time with his family. He was replaced by former trumpet player Vincent Walker, who returned to the band in the same performance, oddly switching roles from horns to vocals.

Covers

Studio recordings

The band has made studio recordings of Oingo Boingo's "On the Outside", found on the tribute CD '', "Rose Tint My World" from ''Rocky Horror Picture Show'' for an unrelased tribute album, The Jackson 5's "Dancing Machine" on '' and the theme song from ''Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears'' found on a compilation CD, ''Because We Care: A Benefit for the Children's Hospital of Orange County''.

Live covers

The band has been known to cover the song "Under the Sea" from the Disney movie ''The Little Mermaid'' live, usually as their closing number. More recently they have played this and other live covers of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" from the Disney film ''The Lion King'', Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (with Brian Klemm singing lead), The Foundations' "Build Me Up Buttercup," Kool and the Gang's "Celebration," and Elvis Presley's "Rubberneckin'." These covers are often regarded by fans as the proverbial "Coup De Grace," or a perfect finish to the show that "sells" the band to the audience. However, due to licensing issues, album releases of even live recordings of these covers are unlikely, the Disney covers in particular.
For the live songs that Brian Klemm sings lead on, Vincent Walker plays lead guitar.

Members

★ Vincent Walker - Vocals (formerly Trumpet but still occasionally plays it live)

★ Brian Klemm - Lead Guitar

★ Derek Lee Rock - Drums

★ Mike Hachey - Bass Guitar

★ Brian Robertson - Trombone

★ Luis Beza - Trumpet
Additional Member

★ Dallas Kruse - Keyboard, Keytar (Local shows only)

Former members (Listed in order of departure)

★ Brent Figue - Lead Guitar

★ Fred Johnson - Drums

★ Josh Lander - Lead Guitar

★ Jimmy Sullivan - Drums

★ Justin Meacham - Bass Guitar

★ Chris Batstone - Vocals

★ Chris Maurer - Bass Guitar

★ Aaron Bertram - Trumpet

★ Tim Maurer - Vocals

★ Dallas Cook - Trombone

★ Phillip Inzerillo - Trombone

Discography

Albums

★ ''Origin Edition'' (1999)

★ ''Rump Shaker'' (2003)

★ '' (2007) (Japan only)

★ ''Infectious'' (2007)

EPs

★ ''Bomb Squad'' (1998)

★ ''Suburban Legends'' (2001)

★ ''Suburban Legends Raw (Karaoke)'' (2002)

★ ''Suburban Legends (Tim Remix)'' (2002)

★ ''Dance Like Nobody's Watching'' (2006)

DVDs

★ ''Season One'' (2004)

Singles

★ ''Rose Tint My World'' (Download Only) (Unreleased Tribute Album) (2001) [1]

★ ''Gimme, Gimme'' (CD single from Christmas 2004 shows) (2004)

Music videos

★ ''I Want More'' (2001) [2]

★ ''High Fives'' (2003)

★ ''Up All Night'' (2004) - animated

★ ''Come Back Home'' (2007) - features cameos by Justin Mauriello (formerly of Zebrahead) and Aaron Barrett (Reel Big Fish)

Compilations

★ ''Supporting the Scene - Disc 1 Track 15, "All The Nights"'' (2000)

★ ''Skratch Comp CD #6 - Track 5, "Gummi Bears"'' (2000)

★ ''Fatty's Favorites - Track 14, "Waikiki"'' (2000)

★ ''Because We Care: A Benefit for the Children's Hospital of Orange County - Track 11, "Gummie Bears"'' (2002)

★ ''Skyboys vs Highscalers (2003) - Track 5, "Desperate", Track 19, "Alternative Is Dead"'' (2003)

★ ''Dead Baby vs. Jesus - Track 22, "Zanzibar"'' (2003)

★ ''Camp Ska (DVD) - Track 12, "High Fives"'' (2003)

★ ''Sorry If It Isn't Cool Anymore! Vol. 1 - Track 2, "You"'' (2004)

★ ''Casino Chips and Sunset Strips - Track 10 "Autumn in the Park", Track 11 "All the Nights", Track 12 "Bright Spring Morning"'' (2004)

★ ''Of Hands and Hearts: Music for the Tsunami Disaster Fund - Disc 2 Track 4, "Blingity Bling"'' (2005)

★ '' - Track 10, "On the Outside"'' (2005)

External links

★ Official website

★ Official Japanese website

★ Official MySpace webpage

★ Official YouTube video account