Operation Ivy
Biography
One of the first bands to fuse revivalist ska with the energy and aggression of post-hardcore punk rock (after the Mighty Mighty Bosstones), Operation Ivy were also one of the few ska-punk bands to earn critical acclaim. Part of the reason was that they were one of the genre's innovators, possessed of a freshness that many of their imitators lacked, but their lyrics were often more intelligent and substantive as well. Thanks to their early breakup (the group was only together for two years), Operation Ivy became an enduring, even legendary influence in the neo-punk underground, especially after half of the band went on to hit it big in a new group, Rancid.
Operation Ivy were formed in Berkeley, CA, in May 1987 out of the ashes of several local bands. Lead singer Jesse Michaels, guitarist Lint (born Tim Armstrong), bassist Matt McCall (born Matt Freeman, renamed after the hero of the TV series The Equalizer), and drummer Dave Mello began playing extensively at the famed Gilman Street club, a center of the Bay Area's burgeoning punk revival scene. (Initially, they had no horn section, though sax player Paul Bae would later join them on selected recordings.) They quickly signed with the local punk label Lookout, and appeared on two compilations by the end of the year: the label sampler The Thing That Ate Floyd, and the Maximum Rock'n'Roll magazine sampler Turn It Around.
Selected Discography
Operation Ivy
1990
It's already been mentioned a few times, but Jesse Michaels went on to release two albums, a split, and an EP with Common Rider. Now he's in the band Classics of Love, touring throughout '09 and working on a full-length album. His whereabouts aren't really a mystery.
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Op Ivy and Rancid actually work for me, and I am a bitter old man, who can't stand much of third wave and on punk and ska.
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what was that loser's point? does he even listen to Op Ivy? This was the first band I ever took someones advice on, and i'm glad i did!
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hey screw you nobody called you a wiger k listen to your stupid rap homo.
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fun music that pumps you up and the words make you think or laugh. why do "punks" always have to argue and judge on what is considered punk or ska or whatever. get over it listen to what you like and f**k everyone else. I know i'm not "punk" and would probably be considered a "wigger" but I dont care I listen to what I want and dont care to fall into any of society's stereotypes. . . e x c e p t maybe the slacker one and that just cause Im lazy. music is great dont start a fight on that s**t too.
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operation ivy is where it's at. i think the kids who listen to highschool musical stuff should have that s**t confiscated and replaced with operation ivy cd's and sublime cd's.... the world would be a MUCH cooler place.
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I got a hold of some old OP IVY demos, they were mostly crap, but it was cool to here where everything was coming from, a lot of mixing songs together. If you can find it, check it out.
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Alan Cox used to play unity for his theme song.......1 0 5 . 9 The X Repin P.A.!!
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Absolutely love this band! Anybody who hasn't listened to Op Ivy - get up, go buy the CD, record, tape (whatever you can get your hands on) and listen! It will be your new favorite, guaranteed!
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probably one of the best bands to have ever graced the earth
amazing in all aspects |
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LOVE Op Ivy... would have killed to have seen them live... wish I was cooler in Middle School... couldve stole into the city... I was a Metalhead then though
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kick la @ss awsome band the most influeonal my favorite!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
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one of my absolute favorite bands of all time operation rocked i wish i had seen them but oh well
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Varying accounts? Jesse Michaels went on to become an artist in the Bay Area and lead singer of Common Rider.
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Fishbone...( ska ska ska Jamaican ska) How 'bout Citizen Fish? Hub City Stompers? MDC? What about Alton Ellis? Desmond Dekker? Jimmy Cliff? Burning Spear? Don Drummond? Let's play the name drop game! Listen to what you like, don't listen to what you don't. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Seek more. Embrace what allows you to expand, repel what encloses you.(Posi rhetoric.) live your life the way you want, don't let anyone stop you.Bless, One Love, Namaste!
Donate your organs to Science |
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to jc1313: I won't speak to your odd racial theories about them, but both Fishbone and Operation Ivy aren't exactly the Skatallites of the 60s. Fishbone has about as much Parliament style funk to their sound as ska, while Operation Ivy hearkens as much back to The Clash. Both are ska-influenc e d to be sure, but I'm not sure that either has to be called ska. I don't much care what you call them though. Both are fun to listen to.
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Um why is fallout boy on this list? They are the new incarnation of the boy band craze of the nineties. They don't want to make a change in society or have true punk rock values they just want to make a dollar.
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one of the all time best bands. they're just amazing. if you don't know who they are i way recommend this cd, even if yo don't like ska or punk. this band is amazing!!
and some people say that this album came out in 1990. it came out in 1989. not that it matters. i'm just saying... |
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at any food not bombs gathering-th e guys who work there eat all of the food and he homeless stay hungry
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The whole point of Op Ivy was to bring unity and conciousness of ideas to whomever would listen. They didn't care what color you were or what gender somebody was. Op Ivy like NOFX played for the people who would listen, not to impress, not for fiancial gain (although that would of been an added perk)but all they wanted to do was play music the way they knew how. If you don't like it fine move on you won't be missed. But I do agree Fall Out Boy is a long stretch to be in the genre as Operation Iv
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i hate fall out boy they are NOT punk rock and yes, pop-punk is an oxymoron
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sorry homes but this band suks just like rancid does. a full on rip off of much better orignal acts. listen to fishbone and the clash. not op ivy and rancid and get schooled on the real stuff! but to each his own my right? im sure theres plenty off folks who hate the stuff i like! maybe even you! peace!
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ska isnt black people music ska is getting away from racism and forgetting about what other people think
ska is for everybody black white brown tan pink or blue if you think that ska is about who is in the band then you have something missing |
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CRAP. there will always be something missing when white guys try to play black guys music. little richard and chuck berry shred all over elvis presley. nwa and ice cube rule over any white boy rapper and FISHBONE RULES over every so called "ska-punk" band or whatever you wanna call em. but of course as history proves, the racist music industry will embrace whitey before any brother or other brown guy.
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hell man i love this band. one of my favorite bands ever. jesse michaels is one of the best song writers of all time and the band along with jesse are just amazing. this is an awesome band and if you have never listened to this band i would go ahead and recommend that you buy their remastered album. and if you like ska or punk or if you don't like either I still highy recommend this band. this is one of the most influencial ska punk, punk bands of all time and they live up to that credit.
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oh my...was about to let loose with unparalleled vitriol when i saw FOB in this categorizati o n . thank jeebus that so many kindred spirits had already spoken up.
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