Save Ferris is an American ska punk band formed circa 1995 in Orange County, California, United States.[1] Their name is a reference to the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In 1995, the band began to perform underground venues in Southern California. In 1996, the band won a Grammy showcase award for best unsigned band and a contract with Epic Records. Their album It Means Everything from 1997 was their first full-length album. By 1999, the band moved from ska-pop into pop-punk. After a hiatus, in 2017, Save Ferris released the Checkered Past EP.
Save Ferris | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Save Ferris in the 1990s | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Orange County, California, United States |
| Genres | Ska punk |
| Years active | 1995–2003, 2013–present |
| Labels | Starpool, Epic, Withyn, Columbia |
| Spinoffs | Starpool |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | saveferris |
The band is best remembered for their 1997 cover of "Come On Eileen", originally by the British new wave band Dexys Midnight Runners.
History
edit1995–1996: Early years and Introducing Save Ferris EP
editThe band came together after the dissolution of a number of Orange County, California bands.[2] With the band working together under their own “Starpool” label, they began to book shows around Southern California to a great underground response.[3]
The band released their debut EP Introducing Save Ferris on their own label, Starpool Records in 1996, and ended up selling close to 20,000 copies of their EP “out of the trunks of their cars.” That year, Monique Powell provided vocals on the Reel Big Fish song "She Has A Girlfriend Now" from their album Turn the Radio Off (Mojo), which is considered one of RBF's most requested songs to date.
Riding a wave of support from fans all over Southern California, Save Ferris became favorites of KROQ radio's legendary “Rodney on the Rock”, which resulted in regular airplay on LA's world-famous KROQ radio station, possibly being the first unsigned band to do this in LA alternative radio history. Later that year, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gave the band a Grammy showcase award for best-unsigned band, earning them a recording contract with Epic Records (SONY).[4]
1997: It Means Everything and mainstream success
editThe band released their debut full-length album, It Means Everything, for Epic in 1997. The album featured several re-recorded tracks from the EP, some new songs, and a cover of Dexys Midnight Runners' "Come On Eileen",[5] which became the band's most successful single to date. It Means Everything also featured the single "The World is New," which was featured in the film The Big Hit starring Mark Wahlberg, and was later featured in the trailers for Senseless and Thomas and the Magic Railroad, as well as an episode of the TV series 7th Heaven.[6]
Save Ferris toured extensively in support of It Means Everything, opening for bands such as Sugar Ray, The Offspring, Goldfinger, and Reel Big Fish and two mainstage spots on the Vans Warped Tour in 1998 and 2000. In April 1998, they made their television debut on HBO's music series Reverb and made an on-screen appearance in the teen film 10 Things I Hate About You. The album sold over 400,000 copies, and spawned three Top Ten hits in both Japan and Mexico. With two singles in the Billboard top 100 and full rotation on alternative radio all over the world, It Means Everything was able to go Platinum internationally.[7]
1998–1999: Modified era
editAfter the departure of the band's first drummer, Marc Harismendy,[8] in 1998, Save Ferris regrouped and released their appropriately titled sophomore album for Epic records, Modified, in October 1999. The album saw the band moving away from their ska-pop roots and into pop-punk territory. The album also spawned three Top Ten hits in both Japan and Mexico.[9] The song "The Only Way to Be" was used in 2000 film Scary Movie.
Save Ferris supported Modified on tour throughout the next several years including a trek with Lit[10] in the U.S. and a headlining tour of the UK.
2000–2003: Hiatus, and For the Fans tour
editThe band performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics between the qualifiers and the finals of the Men's Halfpipe at the competition venue in Park City.
Through the years, Save Ferris went through a number of changes in their lineup, most notably the departure of Brian Mashburn, the band's main songwriter, who quit Save Ferris in 2002. Soon to follow Mashburn were Eric Zamora and Bill Uechi, departing to start a new band. Save Ferris announced their break up in October 2002.[11]
Soon after the departure of Mashburn, Powell self-financed what she called the "For the Fans" Save Ferris US tour in 2003, which included a mainstage performance at Ska Summit in Las Vegas for over 10,000 fans.[12]
2004–2012: Post-breakup
editFrom 2004 to 2008, Powell appeared on albums by The Used, Lostprophets, Hilary Duff, Goldfinger and others.[13] She also started a now defunct band called The Mojo Wire in 2008, and toured in the LA area.[14]
In 2003, Bill Uechi, Brian Mashburn, T-Bone Willy, Eric Zamora, and Oliver Zavala started the band Starpool with Alan Meade original member of No Doubt on vocals and Phil Hanson on drums.[15]
2013–present: Revival
editSave Ferris, now led by Powell, went on indefinite hiatus from 2003 until the spring of 2013, in which Powell once again regrouped and headlined the Pacific Amphitheatre in Orange County, CA to a sold-out audience of over 7,000 fans, and another sold-out show at the El Rey theater in Los Angeles.[16]
The Pacific Amphitheatre performance resulted in a lawsuit being filed by the former members over the use of the band's name. The lawsuit stated that Powell never contacted or invited her former bandmates to perform at the show, although she stated this wasn't the case. Powell responded with her own countersuit in 2015. Ultimately, Powell won the rights to the band's name, brand and social-media pages. Powell was also awarded writing credits on several songs she had previously not been credited on.[17] In October 2015, a message indicating that the lawsuits between the members has been amicably resolved was posted to the band's official website although the message has since been removed.[18]
Also in 2015, ASCAP songwriting records were updated to represent Powell as co-writer on a number of Save Ferris songs not previously represented in the liner notes of the albums.[19]
In 2016, Save Ferris ran a successful Pledge Music campaign to raise money for what would be the first new album in over 15 years. Their financial goal was hit in only a couple of weeks, fully funded by their fans. They co-headlined Mexico City Ska Fest 2016 with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.[20]
On February 10, 2017, Save Ferris released the Checkered Past EP, their first release in 18 years.[21] The EP was produced by Oingo Boingo bassist John Avila and features a guest appearance by Neville Staple of The Specials on the EP's first single, "New Sound". The band toured the album in 2017, and took part in the US Warped Tour during the summer of 2017.[22]
Save Ferris released their first Christmas single, as well as their first single in six years, "Xmas Blue", to their official YouTube channel on December 14, 2023.[23] Another single, "Lights Out in The Reptile House", was released on July 19, 2024.[24]
Lineup
edit- Current[25]
- Monique Powell – lead vocals (1995–2003, 2013–present), keyboards (1995–2003)
- Justin Linn - guitars, vocals (2018–present)
- Alex Csillag – trombone and keyboards (2017–present)
- Tristan Hurd - trumpet (2023–present)
- Jamie Howell - drums (2023–present)
- Jake Courlang - bass (2023–present)
- Past
- Bill Uechi – bass (1995–2002)
- Eric Zamora – alto and tenor saxophone (1995–2002)
- Brian Mashburn – guitar and backing vocals (1995–2002)
- Jesse Tunnell – trombone (1995–1996)
- T-Bone Willy – trombone (1996–2002)
- José Castellaños – trumpet (1995–2000)
- Oliver Zavala – trumpet & backing vocals (2000–02)
- Adam Plost - Guitar (2000)
- Steve White – trumpet (2002)
- Steve Cordero – drums (1995)
- Marc Harismendy – drums (1995–98)
- Evan Kilbourne – drums (1998–2002)
- Denny Weston Jr. — drums (2013–2015)
- Joe Berry — saxophone, additional guitar and backing vocals (2013–2015)
- Gordon Bash — bass and backing vocals (2013–2017), trumpet (2013–2015)
- Patrick Ferguson — guitar (2013–2017)
- Erik Hughes — trombone (2013–2016)
- Alex Burke — keyboards (2013–2016)
- Scott Jones — trumpet (2015)
- Connor McElwain — trumpet (2015–2017)
- Richard Velzen – trombone (2016–2017)
- Jonathan Levi Shanes – keyboards (2016–2017)
- Alexander Mathias — saxophone (2016–2017)
- Jesse Stern – bass and backing vocals (2017–2018)
- Nate Light – bass and backing vocals (2018–present)
- Max O'Leary – trumpet (2017–present)
- Brandon Dickert — drums (2015–present)
- Adrienne Nolff - co-lead vocals (1995–1996)
Timeline
edit
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US [26][27] | ||
| 1997 | It Means Everything[28] | 75 |
| 1999 | Modified[29]
|
136 |
EPs
edit| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Introducing Save Ferris[30]
|
| 2017 | Checkered Past[31]
|
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
| Alternative Songs [27][32] | |||
| 1997 | "Come On Eileen" | 26 | It Means Everything |
| 1998 | "Goodbye" | 32 |
Other appearances
editThe following Save Ferris songs were released on compilation albums and soundtracks. This is not an exhaustive list; songs that were first released on the band's albums and EPs are not included.
| Year | Release details | Track |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Punk vs. Ska, Round I[33]
|
|
The Ska Parade: Runnin' Naked Thru the Cornfield[34]
|
| |
| 1998 | Santa's Swingin' Sack
|
|
| 1999 | 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack[35]
|
|
| 2000 | The Real Slim Santa
|
|
References
edit- ^ "Top 25 Greatest Orange County Bands of All Time: The Complete List | OC Weekly". Blogs.ocweekly.com. 2012-10-11. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ^ "The First Save Ferris Show Ever – Al... – Save Ferris Official Page". Facebook. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ^ Powell, Monique. "Band formation". Save Ferris Official. Save Ferris. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Rosen, Alison M. (2000-01-05). "Image Isn't Everything". The Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Save Ferris". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
- ^ "Thomas and the Magic Railroad – Theatrical Trailer". YouTube. 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2014-07-30.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ Powell, Monique. "Billboard Chart Position". Billboard charts. Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Save Ferris Biography, Sing365.com
- ^ "Band bio". Epic Records. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
- ^ "Save Ferris Concert Setlist at Madison Theater, Peoria on March 25, 2000". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ^ White, Adam (October 15, 2002). "Save Ferris breaks up". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- ^ Gonzales, Ramon (2003-05-15). "For the Fans". Houston Press. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ^ Powell, Monique (1975-08-20). "Monique Powell | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ^ "The MojoWire | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ^ "Orange Pop: Finally, an album from Starpool". Oc Register. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ^ Craig D. Lindsey (2003-05-10). "Monique Powell shines with Save Ferris set". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ^ Kohn, Daniel (2017-03-23). "Monique Powell Has Revived Save Ferris—But Not Everyone is Happy". OC Weekly. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
- ^ "Anne Carlini - Exclusive Magazine". www.annecarlini.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Save Ferris". Save Ferris. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Powell, Monique. "Pepsi Ska Fest". facebook page for Pepsi Ska Fest 2016. Pepsi. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "Save Ferris - Checkered Past -". mxdwn.com. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Warped Tour 2017 lineup: Andy Black, Save Ferris, Memphis May Fire & more | Eponymous Review". www.eponymousreview.com. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
- ^ "Save Ferris- "Xmas Blue"". YouTube.com. December 14, 2023.
- ^ "Save Ferris - "Lights Out in The Reptile House"". YouTube.com. July 19, 2024.
- ^ "Save Ferris — Official Site — About". Saveferrisofficial.com. 2003-03-29. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ^ "Save Ferris Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard charts. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ a b "Save Ferris Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "It Means Everything". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Modified". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Introducing Save Ferris". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Checkered Past". 3 March 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018 – via Amazon.
- ^ "Save Ferris Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard charts. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Punk vs. Ska, Round I". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "The Ska Parade: Runnin' Naked Thru the Cornfield". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-07-25.