Common Rider

Last updated
Common Rider
Origin Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres Punk rock, reggae, indie rock, ska punk
Years active1999–2003
Labels Lookout!, Hopeless
Members Jesse Michaels
Mass Giorgini
Dan Lumley

Common Rider was an American ska punk band, formed in 1999 by Jesse Michaels (guitar, vocals), Mass Giorgini (bass) and Dan Lumley (drums). The band's name is taken from a Japanese TV show, Kamen Rider (Kamen Rider means "Masked Rider" in Japanese.)

Contents

History

Michaels was formerly the lead vocalist for Operation Ivy, 1987 to 1989. [1]

The band released two full-length albums and one EP. Last Wave Rockers was released in 1999 on Lookout! Records. Thief In a Sleeping Town EP was also released on Lookout! Records in 2001 and featured Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day (guitar/backing vocals). The band released This Is Unity Music on Hopeless Records in 2002. The band toured the US extensively the same year, including the 2002 Plea For Peace tour, sponsored by Asian Man Records. On the tour, Phillip Hill (from Teen Idols and also a major contributor on the album This is Unity Music) played guitar, along with Joe Mizzi. The band's last release was a split with Against All Authority in April 2005, containing outtakes from 2002's This Is Unity Music.

The band broke up in 2003. In 2005, bassist and producer Mass Giorgini went to Australia to record an album for Brisbane-based reggae/ska outfit Scarred Hope; he has also performed with Dan Lumley in the band Squirtgun. Michaels has continued to perform sporadically and to produce art. In late 2008, Michaels emerged with a new band named Classics of Love, after the Common Rider song.

Discography

Albums and EPs

YearTitleLabelOther information
1999 Last Wave Rockers Lookout! Records / Panic ButtonDebut Album
2001Thief in a Sleeping Town EP Lookout! Records 7" vinyl with four songs, Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day played guitar
2002 This Is Unity Music HopelessPhillip Hill, Matt Demeester, Kevin Sierzega, Jimmy Lucido, Ray Moses, Joe Mizzi, members of Alkaline Trio, and many more, contributed to this record.
2005 Common Rider/Against All Authority splitHopelessSplit EP with punk band Against All Authority containing four songs from the This Is Unity Music sessions that did not make it onto the record.

Compilations

YearTitleLabelContributing Track(s)
2000Might As Well ... Can't Dance Adeline Records "Thief In A Sleeping Town"
2000Lookout! FreakoutLookout! / Panic Button"Carry On", "Signal Signal (Alternative Version)"
2001Lookout! Freakout - Episode 2Lookout! / Panic Button"Am I On My Own"
2002Every Dog Will Have Its DayAdeline Records"Blackbirds vs Crows"
2002Hopelessly Devoted To You - Volume 4Hopeless"Small Pebble"
20011157 Wheeler Avenue: A Memorial For Amadou DialloFailed Experiment"Longshot"
2002Plea For Peace / Take Action Volume 2Sub City"PSA" (Jesse Michaels only), "Longshot"
2003Operation: Punk Rock FreedomHopeless/Sub City"Firewall"
2004Hopelessly Devoted To You - Volume 5Hopeless"Where The Waves Are Highest"
2009Hopeless Records: 15 Year AnniversaryHopeless"Small Pebble"

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References

  1. "Jesse Michaels reflects on Operation Ivy and East Bay Punk 30 years later". Alternative Press Magazine. 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2022-03-01.