Pinhead Gunpowder

American punk rock band From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pinhead Gunpowder is an American punk rock band that formed in East Bay, California, in 1991. The band currently consists of Aaron Cometbus (drums, lyrics), Bill Schneider (bass), Billie Joe Armstrong (guitar, vocals) and Jason White (guitar, vocals). The band's name comes from a brand of "high octane" green tea served at the Arcata co-op and discovered by Aaron Cometbus during one of his many dumpster diving adventures.

Quick Facts Origin, Genres ...
Pinhead Gunpowder
OriginEast Bay, California
Genres
Years active
  • 1991–present
LabelsLookout!, Adeline, Recess, 1-2-3-4 Go!
Members
Past members
  • Sarah Kirsch
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History

Summarize
Perspective

Pinhead Gunpowder was founded in Arcata, California in January 1991 by Aaron Cometbus and Jon Quittner.[2] Cometbus wanted the name "Pinhead Gunpowder", while Quittner wanted to call it "50 Foot Hesher". Along with vocalist Doug "Douggie Grime" Rogers and bassist David "Atlas" Kimmel, the band played once at a party where Cometbus snapped his bass pedal in half in the middle of the set. Shortly after the show, Cometbus moved back to Berkeley, taking the name of the band and some of the songs with him. Quittner stayed in Arcata with the band and they changed their name to 50 Foot Hesher and acquired a new drummer. A few months later, Quittner left the band and the remaining members changed the name to "Lank".[citation needed]

Back in Berkeley, Cometbus formed the second incarnation of Pinhead Gunpowder with Bill Schneider and Sarah Kirsch[3] of The Skinflutes, and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day.[4] In June 1991, they recorded their first EP, Tründle and Spring. It was not until April of the following year that the band played their first live show at Punks With Presses in Oakland along with Rancid and The Gr'Ups. The band then released their second EP, Fahizah. In 1993, Kirsch left the band. Rumors that the reason was differences with Armstrong's decision to sign to a major label with Green Day were debunked by the band on Damian Abraham's podcast Turned Out a Punk. Kirsch was replaced by Jason White of Chino Horde. White would later also become Green Day's touring guitarist. Shortly after, the band embarked on a week long tour of Northern California, Oregon, and Washington in the winter of 1994.[citation needed]

Pinhead Gunpowder performed for the first time in many years during February 2008, debuting three new songs, "Anniversary Song", "West Side Highway", and "On the Ave".[citation needed]

The band released their latest EP, West Side Highway through Recess Records on August 19, 2008. This marked the band's first new release in 5 years.[2]

Pinhead Gunpowder released a greatest hits album called Kick Over the Traces on June 19, 2009.[2][5] Also, Pinhead Gunpowder mentioned that in August or September Recess would re-release on vinyl and CD the albums Jump Salty, Carry the Banner, Goodbye Ellston Avenue, Shoot the Moon and Compulsive Disclosure.[6] All of the albums were re-released in assorted colors in early February 2010 through Recess Records, but quickly recalled and destroyed at the request of the band due to issues with the vinyl pressing. The band last performed at a benefit show at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, California, on February 12, 2010.[7][8]

Band member Sarah Kirsch died in 2012. She had been diagnosed with Fanconi anemia, a genetic disorder that can cause leukemia and other cancers.[3]

In March 2021, the band re-issued their entire discography on vinyl.[9][10]

On September 5, 2024, the band returned with a new single, "Unt".[11] A new album, also titled Unt, was released on October 18, 2024.[12]

Band members

Current members
Former members
  • Sarah Kirsch – guitar, vocals (1991–1994; died 2012)[3]
  • Jon "Quitty" Quittner – guitar (1991)

Songwriting

Aaron Cometbus is the primary writer of Pinhead Gunpowder's songs. During Pinhead Gunpowder's first incarnation, Cometbus and Quittner wrote a handful of songs together, including "In Control", "Losers of the Year", "Certain Things", "Brother", "I Used To", "Stab You in the Eye", and "Cuidado" (The last two songs released by Quittner and Cometbus under the band name "Mundt"). Cometbus often borrows songs recorded by his other bands to release as Pinhead Gunpowder songs, including "Train Station" from Shotwell Coho, "The Great Divide" from Redmond Shooting Stars, "Asheville" from Cleveland Bound Death Sentence, and "On the Ave" and "Landlords" from Astrid Oto. Only three Pinhead Gunpowder songs have been written by Billie Joe Armstrong, under the name "Wilhelm Fink": "27", "New Blood", and "Anniversary Song".[citation needed]

Influences

The bands influences are Ramones, Joni Mitchell, The Replacements, Generation X, Swiz, Code Of Honor, Avengers, and Cheap Trick. They have also done cover versions of many of the songs by these bands or artists.[13]

Discography

Studio albums

More information Year, Title ...
YearTitleLabel
1997Goodbye Ellston AvenueLookout/Recess/1-2-3-4 Go!
2024Unt1-2-3-4 Go!
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Extended plays

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Label
1991Tründle and SpringTake a Day/1-2-3-4 Go!
1992FahizahLookout/1-2-3-4 Go!
1994Carry the BannerToo Many/Lookout/Recess/1-2-3-4 Go!
1999Shoot the MoonAdeline/Recess/1-2-3-4 Go!
2000Dillinger Four / Pinhead GunpowderAdeline
2000Pinhead GunpowderTHD/1-2-3-4 Go!
20008 Chords, 328 WordsLookout/1-2-3-4 Go!
2008West Side HighwayRecess/1-2-3-4 Go!
2022At Your FuneralGO-82/1-2-3-4 Go!
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Compilation albums

More information Year, Title ...
YearTitleLabel
1994Jump SaltyRecess/1-2-3-4 Go!
2003Compulsive DisclosureLookout/Recess/1-2-3-4 Go!
2009Kick Over the TracesRecess[2]
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Compilation appearances

More information Year, Title ...
YearTitleLabelContributing track
1991Very Small WorldVery Small"Losers of the Year"
1992Can of PorkLookout"Benicia by the Bay"
1993BeniciaTake a Day"Benicia by the Bay"
1993Vinyl RetentiveVery Small"Beastly Bit"
1994Misfit HeartbeatTake a Day"I Wanna"
1996Lookout RecordsLookout"I Am the Stranger"
1997Humans as SewageBBT Tapes"Swan Song (live)", "Reach for the Bottle (live)", "Nigel Sings"
1997The Last Great Thing You DidLookout"Life During Wartime"
2000Faux Pas Potpourri – Very Small Records '93–'99Very Small"Reach for the Bottle (live)"
2000Might as Well... Can't DanceAdeline"Porch"
2001Down in FrontNo Idea"Beastly Bit (acoustic)", "Reach for the Bottle (live)", "Swan Song (live)"
2005Then Is the New NowLookout"At Your Funeral", "Life During Wartime"
2006Second-Hand Suit Jacket RacketLookout"Letter from an Old Friend"
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References

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