Del.icio.usLess Than Jake
Fact Sheet
| Musical genre: | Ska, Punk |
| City | Gainesville, Florida, USA |
| Years active | 1992- |
Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida, originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio with heavy punk rock influences. The band is known among fans for a high sense of humor and a fixation with Pez candy.
Less Than Jake metamorphosed into a ska-inspired punk band with the addition of several members from 1993 to 1995. Vocalist and guitarist Chris Demakes, bassist Shaun Grief and drummer Vinnie Fiorello were the first incarnation of the group. However, Grief later became the group's roadie, and was eventually replaced by Roger Manganelli, who picked up bass just to join the band. During the years 1993-1994, the group added their first horn player, Jessica Mills, and soon after came trombone player Buddy Schaub. Right before their first tour, however, Schaub went to Europe with friends, so saxophonist Derron Nuhfer filled in for shows during his absence.
With various 7" releases under their belt, Less than Jake debuted in 1994 with the album Pezcore, on Dill Records. Losers, Kings and Things We Don't Understand and Greased followed on No Idea Records until the group signed with Capitol Records for their major label debut, 1996's Losing Streak. The album was full of the band's wry, fast-paced brand of ska-punk anthems, producing such fan favorites as "Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts" and "Jen Doesn't Like Me Anymore." Upon the album's completion, Jessica Mills left to pursue teaching. Jessica later played guitar and drums in the Gainsville all-girl hard core band Reina Aveja (Queen Bee). Later (ex-Slapstick trombonist) Pete Anna came on board. Around this time, Vinnie Fiorello also started his own record label, Fueled by Ramen, with friend John Janick. Hello Rockview followed in 1998, and spawned a minor college radio hit with "History of a Boring Town." In the fall of 2000, the band released Borders & Boundaries on Fat Wreck Chords, as well as landing the opening spot on Bon Jovi's North American tour.
Derron Nuhfer left the band after the album's recording (and later went on to join Gunmoll), and Less Than Jake found his replacement in ex-Spring Heel Jack horn player Pete Wasilewski-- though to avoid any name confusion within the band, the second Pete was dubbed JR, and he is still called JR even after the first Pete decided to leave soon after the 2001 Warped Tour. Over the years, Less Than Jake has issued more 7" and limited-edition vinyl releases than most people can keep track of, so the bandmembers compiled some of their favorite tracks on one record for 2002's Goodbye Blue and White, named in honor of their original tour van. Anthem followed in 2003 for Sire; B Is for B-sides was issued a year later, comprised of tracks that did not make it to Anthem's final cut. The DVD retrospective People's History of Less Than Jake appeared a month later.
Most recently, the band released its four-song Absolution for Idiots and Addicts (EP) in April 2006, with their next full-length, In with the Out Crowd, following a month later on Warner Brothers Records. The latter album was also issued in a limited edition that came in a leather-bound case complete with bonus multimedia discs that contained a plethora of music videos, bonus tracks and an elaborate photo gallery.
Members
Current members
* Chris Demakes - guitar, vocals
* Roger Manganelli - bass, vocals, second guitar (occasionally live and while recording)
* Vinnie Fiorello - drums, lyrics
* Buddy Schaub - trombone, bass (whenever Manganelli plays second guitar live), vocals (occasionally live)
* Peter "JR" Wasilewski - saxophone, vocals (occasionally live)
Past members
* Shaun Grief - bass
* Jessica Mills - alto saxophone
* Derron Nuhfer - tenor and baritone saxophones
* Pete Anna - trombone
* Chris Campisi - bass
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