Blue Meanies

Blue Meanies

Blue Meanies are an American ska-core band from Carbondale, Illinois, with origins at Southern Illinois University. Formed in 1989 and active from 1990 to 2001, the group is associated with the Illinois ska-core scene and plays ska punk.

History and lineup

The band begins with a revolving membership and a long discography. Across its run, 22 musicians pass through the group. The members named with the band include Jay Vance, Billy Spunke, Dave Smith, Tony Aimone, Jim Cooley, Jimmy Flame, Chaz Linde, Sara P. Smith, John Paul Camp III, Mike Pearson, Dave Lund, Bob Trondson and Sean Dolan.

At one point the lineup includes John Paul Camp on saxophone and vocals, Sean Dolan on guitar, Jimmy Flame on trumpet and vocals, Chaz Linde on keyboard and vocals, Dave Lund on bass and vocals, Billy Spunke on vocals and megaphone, and Bob Trondson on drums. Despite the personnel changes, the band keeps a consistent sound.

Recordings

Blue Meanies debut in 1991 with the single “Grandma Shampoo” c/w “Dickory Dock”. Their early albums include Peace Love Groove and Pave The World, both released in 1991 and 1992 respectively. Later releases include Kiss Your Ass Goodbye in 1995, Full Throttle in 1997, and the live album Sonic Documentation Of Exhibition And Banter in 1998.

Their sixth full-length album, The Post Wave, is released in late 2000. It is described as the band’s most musically different album. The record is later taken back from MCA Records and reissued on Thick Records in August 2001.

Later period

After the change in sound on The Post Wave and the decline of the third-wave ska scene in the United States, the band stops touring soon afterwards. They do not issue an official breakup statement.