The Mopes

The Mopes

The Mopes are a pop-punk group from Chicago, United States, active from 1997 to the present. They are associated with Lookout! Records and are described as drawing on pop punk, punk rock and garage punk, with a sound that also carries a 1960s R&B and garage influence. Their songs are noted for combining tunefulness with a tougher edge, alongside themes that range from lovelorn to goofy.

Formation and members

The band begins when singer and guitarist Dan Vapid, known for work with Screeching Weasel and the Riverdales, and bassist B-Face of the Queers write songs together while on the road. What starts as a side idea becomes a band a few years later, when they add drummer Dan Lumley and guitarist Jughead Pierson, both also associated with Screeching Weasel, to form a quartet. The verified membership lists Dan Lumley as a member of the group.

Recording and release history

The Mopes meet in Lafayette, Indiana in 1999 to record their first album, Accident Waiting to Happen. That album includes the track “Baby Doll.”

Associated acts

The Mopes have links to several established punk groups, including the Queers, Screeching Weasel, the Riverdales and Squirtgun. Their members’ earlier work gives the band an all-star character, even though they are presented as wanting to be heard on their own terms rather than only through those previous associations.