Ep. 158: The Blue Meanies w/ Billy Spunke

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The Blue Meanies made their recording debut in 1991 with the release of their first single, "Grandma Shampoo". Although their personnel was continuously changing, The Blue Meanies' sound would remain consistent throughout their first four albums.

The band signed with MCA Records towards the end of the commercially successful third wave of ska.

By this time, a total of twenty-two musicians had passed through the band since their formation, including Jay Vance, as a bass player, who went on to form the one-man metal band Captured! By Robots. Their sixth full-length album, The Post Wave, released in late 2000 on MCA Records, was the most musically different from their other five albums. In 2001, the band regained the rights to The Post Wave and reissued it on Thick Records, their original record label. The band ceased touring, though they never issued an official break-up statement.

Thank you Sean Dolan for giving me Billy’s info.

I got Billy on the Skype and this is what we chat about:

• Trying to play some reunion shows
• The Post Wave
• The show where I saw them in NJ
• Jay Vance
• Rick Bonde
• The Plea for Peace tour
• The megaphone
• Getting on MCA
• Snagging the last pressing of CDs
• And a ton more

This week’s sponsor is Mint 400 Records.

Mint 400 Records is an indie record label from NJ with bands across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The label features everything from Indie Rock & Folk to Post-Punk and Soul. Over 400 exciting releases. 

You can find Mint 400 Records releases streaming at Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and more or at all mp3 outlets worldwide. Visit www.mint400records.com for links and more info.

Here’s a clip from their band Reese Van Riper’s song “Well Runs Dry" from the album The Swamps Are Burning

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