Operation Ivy (band)
933444
225022287
2008-07-11T14:35:53Z
The Shadow-Fighter
6953000
{{Refimprove|date=June 2008}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| Name = Operation Ivy
| Img = Opivy2.jpg
| Img_capt = Operation Ivy performing at the legendary Gilman
| Background = group_or_band
| Origin = [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], [[California]], [[United States|USA]]
| Genre = [[Hardcore punk]]<br>[[Ska punk]]<br>[[Ska-core]]
| Years_active = [[1987]]–[[1989]]
| Label = [[Lookout! Records]], [[Hellcat Records]]
| Associated_acts = [[Rancid (band)|Rancid]]<br />[[Transplants (band)|Transplants]]<br />[[Downfall (band)|Downfall]]<br />[[Big Rig]]<br />[[Common Rider]]<br />[[Isocracy (band)|Isocracy]]<br />[[Green Day]]<br />[[Dance Hall Crashers]]<br />[[Basic Radio]]<br />[[Shaken 69]]
| Past_members = [[Jesse Michaels]]<br>[[Tim Armstrong]]<br>[[Matt Freeman]]<br>[[Dave Mello]]<br>[[Pat Mello]] (unofficial 5th member)]
}}
'''Operation Ivy''' was an influential [[ska punk]] band formed in the [[East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|East Bay]] region of the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. The band consisted of [[frontman]] [[Jesse Michaels]] ([[vocals]]), [[Tim Armstrong]] ([[Credit (creative arts)#Credit in the arts|credited]] as "Lint") ([[vocals]]/[[guitar]]), [[Matt Freeman]] (credited as Matt McCall) ([[bass guitar|bass]]/[[backup vocalist|backing vocals]]), and [[Dave Mello]] ([[Drums]]/[[Backup vocalist|backing vocals]]). The band's name, previously abandoned by another Gilman group, [[Isocracy (band)|Isocracy]], was derived from the [[Operation Ivy]] series of [[nuclear test]]s. <ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ivy</ref>
==History==
The band existed between May of [[1987 in music|1987]] and May of [[1989 in music|1989]], as was chronicled in the lyrics of the [[Rancid (band)|Rancid]] song "Journey to the End of East Bay", which appeared on Rancid's ''[[...And Out Come the Wolves]]'':
<blockquote>Started in '87,
Ended in '89,
You got a garage, or an amp we'll play anytime.
It was just the four of us,
Yeah man, the core of us,
Too much attention unavoidably destroyed us.<ref>Rancid. "Journey to the End of East Bay." ''...And Out Come the Wolves.'' Epitaph, 1995.</ref></blockquote>
Their first show was performed on [[May 16]], [[1987]] in Dave Mello's garage. The next day began a tradition of performances at the [[Berkeley]] [[ska]]/[[Punk rock|punk]] collective center [[924 Gilman Street]]. They began playing a lot of gigs which led to their almost immediate cult-following. Later in 1987 they made their debut on a Maximum Rock'n'Roll compilation called ''Turn it Around''. In January [[1988 in music|1988]], they signed to [[Lookout! Records]], and released ''[[Hectic]]'', their first [[E.P.]], which became one of Lookout!'s strongest sellers. By this time, Operation Ivy (along with [[Crimpshrine]] and [[The Mr. T Experience]]) was one of the most popular Gilman/Berkeley Punk bands. They began getting many gigs and set out on a tour across the [[United States]]. By mid-1988, they began selling out larger venues and the pressure to sign to major labels began to rise.
They released the album ''[[Energy (album)|Energy]]'' on [[Lookout! Records]] in May 1989. The band broke up the same month, and their last official show was on [[May 28]], 1989. It was also [[Green Day]]'s first show with the name "Green Day" at Gilman, at what was supposed to have been their release party. They played one more show the following day, mainly for friends and family, in [[Robert Eggplant]]'s backyard in Pinole, [[California]]. In two years, the band had performed 185 shows and recorded a total of 32 songs (28 released officially, 4 on the bootlegged ''Plea For Peace'' EP), as well as songs which were recorded only as demos, such as "Hedgecore" (about a favorite pastime of the band which involved artfully jumping over manicured bushes), "Hangin' Out", "Sarcastic" and "Left Behind". Recordings from their aborted attempt to record the ''Energy'' LP live at Gilman also exist, and include some early versions of songs which appeared later on the final studio version of Energy, such as "6 to 10" which evolved into "Vulnerability", and an early version of "Unity" with horn accompaniment and a different chorus. All of their known demos and unreleased recordings are available on bootlegs.
The lyrics and tone of Operation Ivy's music portray a vociferous desire for [[social justice]] and a strong distrust of [[mainstream]] [[conformist]] culture.
[[Green Day]] did a cover of the Operation Ivy song "Knowledge" on the ''[[1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours]]'' compilation and have continued to play the song live. Several other artists have covered Operation Ivy songs, many of which are included on Glue Factory Records' 1997 Operation Ivy tribute album, titled ''Take Warning: The Songs of Operation Ivy.'' The most notable bands on this tribute are: [[Reel Big Fish]] covering "Unity" (track 2), [[Blue Meanies (band)|Blue Meanies]] covering "Yellin' In My Ear" (track 5), [[Cherry Poppin' Daddies]] covering "Sound System" (track 6), [[The Hippos]] covering "Freeze Up" (track 10) and [[The Aquabats]] with a campfire-style cover of "Knowledge" (track 13). Other bands to cover Operation Ivy songs include a rendition of "Healthy Body" by [[Area-7]], "Sound System" by [[Big D and the Kids Table]], "Caution" by [[No Trigger]] and more covers of "Knowledge" by both [[Millencolin]] and [[Evergreen Terrace (band)]]. Many local bands from around the country are keeping the spirit of 87' alive, covering Operation Ivy songs. Additionally, it is not uncommon for [[Rancid (band)|Rancid]] to play a few Operation Ivy songs at their shows.
In [[1991]], two years after their breakup, [[Lookout!]] put together a compilation consisting of the ''Energy'' album, the ''[[Hectic]]'' EP, and songs from compilations. It was released as a complete discography (sometimes referred to as a re-release of the ''[[Energy (album)|Energy]]'' album). It contains 27 songs, following the band's recorded history.
==Post-Operation Ivy careers==
Two of the band's members, Armstrong and Freeman, also perform(ed) with the bands [[Rancid (band)|Rancid]] (their current and biggest project), [[Dance Hall Crashers]], [[Basic Radio]], [[Downfall (band)|Downfall]], [[Devil's Brigade (band)|Devil's Brigade]], [[Shaken 69]] and [[Transplants (band)|Transplants]]. Additionally, Freeman has performed with [[Auntie Christ]], [[Generator (band)|Generator]], [[MDC (band)|MDC]] and [[Social Distortion]].
There was a great deal of speculation regarding the fate of Michaels. He revealed in an interview that he became a [[Buddhist]] [[monk]] for about 6 months in 1992 [http://www.operationivy.com/interviews.php]. Legend had it that he had moved to [[Nicaragua]]. Michaels eventually resurfaced into the music world with a project band, [[Big Rig]] who only released a 4 song EP titled Expansive Heart, and later with a more active band, [[Common Rider]], which included bassist [[Mass Giorgini]] (producer and bassist for [[Squirtgun]] and occasionally [[Screeching Weasel]]) and drummer [[Dan Lumley]] (of Squirtgun and Screeching Weasel). Common Rider released a 7" EP and two full-length albums and did some nationwide touring in the United States before eventually disbanding. There were slight plans for a third album, but it never came to fruition. B-sides from their second album [[This Is Unity Music]] were used in a split EP with the Florida Skacore band [[Against All Authority]].
During Rancid's 2006 US tour, Operation Ivy alumni Armstrong and Freeman were playing a select few tracks from their previous bands catalog. At a stop at San Francisco's Warfield Theatre on December 17th 2006, Jesse Michaels reunited with his two former bandmates to perform the tracks "Unity" as well as "Sound System". It was his first time on stage with the two in over 15 years.<ref>http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/16268081.htm</ref>
==Leaving Lookout!==
On [[4 May]] [[2006]], it was announced that ''[[Energy (album)|Energy]]'' had officially been removed from [[Lookout! Records]]' catalog. The album had been, after [[Green Day]]'s first two albums, the label's biggest-selling album. Following such bands as [[Green Day]], [[Screeching Weasel]], [[The Queers]] and [[Ted Leo and the Pharmacists]], Operation Ivy is the latest in a series of bands who have left Lookout! in recent years and taken back the rights to their back catalog due to unpaid royalties [http://www.eastbayexpress.com/issues/2005-09-14/news/feature_1.html].
''[[Energy (album)|Energy]]'' was later reissued on [[November 6]] [[2007]] by [[Epitaph Records]] subsidiary [[Hellcat Records]] as a self-titled compilation album. [[Hellcat Records]] is former band member [[Tim Armstrong]]'s label. While the Epitaph reissue's tracklist is identical to the 1991 Lookout! release, the 2007 re-release features remastered audio and new [[Digipak]] packaging.
A reunion of the band is not planned for anytime in the future. Michaels addressed reunion issues in a Myspace blog<ref>[http://www.punknews.org/article/22284 "Jesse Michaels addresses Common Rider and Operation Ivy reunion questions."] [[Punknews.org]]. [[February 17]], [[2007]].</ref> citing the legal and logistic difficulties in getting the 4 members together for a reunion, as well as the fact that the band "never belonged in a big rock club in a one to two thousand seat joint." He concluded the post with the following:
{{cquote|[Will] it happen? The most honest answer is probably not."}}
==Discography==
====LPs and EPs====
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
| '''Year'''
| '''Title'''
| '''Label'''
| '''Other information'''
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Hectic]]'' || [[Lookout! Records]] || Debut EP
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Energy (album)|Energy]]'' || [[Lookout! Records]] || Original 19-song LP
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Energy (album)|Energy]]'' || [[Lookout! Records]] || 27-song reissue including "Hectic" and "Turn it Around" tracks
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Plea for Peace (album)|Plea for Peace]]'' || M & E Records || Posthumous EP, featuring ''Uncertain'', ''Troublebound'', ''Someday'', and ''Plea for Peace''
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Operation Ivy (album)|Operation Ivy]]'' || [[Hellcat Records]] || A remastered reissue of 1991 "Energy" album
|}
====Compilations====
''Note: these are compilation albums featuring multiple artists. Most of them contain only one or two Operation Ivy songs.''
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
| '''Year'''
| '''Song Title'''
| '''Album Title'''
| '''Label'''
| '''Other information'''
|-
| 1987 || "Officer", "I Got No" || ''Turn It Around'' || [[Maximum Rocknroll]] || 2 7" [[Compilation album|Vinyl compilation]]
|-
| 1988 || "Hangin' Out" || ''The Thing That Ate Floyd'' || [[Lookout! Records]] || [[Compilation album|Compilation]]
|-
| ? || "Officer" || ''Gilman St. Block Party'' || For the Fans by the Fans || [[Compilation album|Compilation]]
|-
| 2004 || "Unity" || ''[[Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2]]'' || [[Fat Wreck Chords]] || [[Compilation album|Compilation]]
|}
====Live/Rare Recordings====
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
| '''Year'''
| '''Title'''
| '''Label'''
| '''Other information'''
|-
| ? || ''[[Unreleased Energy]]'' || [[Red Robin Records]] || Live demo tracks from original Energy LP recordings, collecting some bootleg 7-inches such as Plea For Peace and 69 Newport.
|-
| 1987 || ''[['69 Newport (album)|'69 Newport]]'' || Very Small Records || 7" Vinyl of unreleased songs.
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Ramones (EP)|Ramones]]'' EP || Metropolis Records || One-sided 12" Vinyl Bootleg of 6 [[Ramones]] covers, only 500 copies pressed by an obscure German label. Notorious for being the rarest bootleg, yet having repulsive recording quality.
|-
| 1988 || ''Technical Difficulties'' || Peacock Records || Features live recordings of the band playing at the Gilmore on Feb. 21 1988 and on June 24 1988 during ''Rock Against Racism''
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Lint Rides Again]]'' || Slashout! || Operation Ivy's last show at Gilman St.
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Plea for Peace (EP)|Plea for Peace]]'' EP || Fanclub || First Operation Ivy "Bootleg," put out by friends of the band. Contains four outtakes from the "Hectic" sessions.
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Lint: The King of Ska]]'' || Squamosal || This features a live track and two demos. First pressing has [[Foghorn Leghorn]] on side A, black label on side B. Later pressings have blank white labels on both sides.
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Live at Gilman]]'' || Berkeley Archive || A live 7" bootleg EP, containing an [[Isocracy]] cover.
|-
| 1995 || ''[[East Bay (EP)|East Bay]]'' EP || 57 Ink || A bootleg 7" of live recordings.
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Seedy (album)|Seedy]]'' || Karma Kredit || A posthumous collection of unreleased material released by David Hayes of Very Small Records.
|-
| 1996 || ''Unity: The Complete Collection'' || Berkeley Archive || Compilation of several 7" Bootlegs and the rare Ramones EP 12".
|-
| 1999 || ''Radio Daze'' || Spiked Belts and Beer || Live KSPC Radio recording from March 17, 1988 and April 21, 1988
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Sound System]]'' || Gilman St. Records || Live Radio Show recording, Feb. 1988
|-
| ? || ''[[Smell Rancid]]'' || Confusion Records || Live at the River Theatre, 1988 recordings
|-
| 2004 || ''There's a Place'' || Baltan-69 || 2xCD-R collection of live recordings and studio outtakes taken from original analog sources and master tapes with no mixing, noise reduction, or equalization.
|}
==Members==
*[[Jesse Michaels]] vocals
*[[Tim Armstrong]] (Lint), guitar, lyrics and vocals
*[[Matt Freeman]] (Matt McCall), bass and vocals
*[[Dave Mello]] drums and vocals
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
*{{MusicBrainz artist|id=931e1d1f-6b2f-4ff8-9f70-aa537210cd46|name=Operation Ivy}}
*[http://www.operationivy.com/ Fan Site]
*[http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/flipsidedeoperationivy.html Flipside Interview] - Operation Ivy interview from 1988
*[http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/maximumrocknrolloperationivy.html Maximumrocknroll Interview] - Operation Ivy interview from 1988
[[Category:American ska punk musical groups]]
[[Category:American punk rock groups]]
[[Category:Punk rock groups]]
[[Category:Third-wave ska groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1987]]
[[Category:California musical groups]]
[[Category:People from the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[bg:Оперейшън Айви (група)]]
[[de:Operation Ivy (Band)]]
[[es:Operation Ivy]]
[[fr:Operation Ivy]]
[[it:Operation Ivy]]
[[nl:Operation Ivy]]
[[pl:Operation Ivy]]
[[ru:Operation Ivy]]
[[sv:Operation Ivy]]