Tim Armstrong

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Tim Armstrong

Background information
Birth name Timothy Lockwood Armstrong
Also known as Lint
Born November 25, 1966 (1966-11-25) (age 41)
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Origin Albany, California, U.S.
Genre(s) Punk, Reggae, Ska
Occupation(s) Musician, Songwriter, Producer, Director
Instrument(s) Guitar, Vocals, Drums
Years active 1984 - Present
Label(s) Hellcat, Epitaph
Associated acts Rancid
Transplants
Operation Ivy
Dance Hall Crashers
Downfall
Basic radio
Shaken 69
Solo-Artist
The Silencers
The LJs
Website Official Site

Timothy Lockwood Armstrong (born November 25, 1966) is an influential American musician and songwriter best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Dance Hall Crashers, and Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Personal life

Tim Armstrong was born in Oakland, CA November 25 in 1966. He is the youngest of three brothers. His family was poor, and Armstrong has said that his father was an alcoholic, which made for a difficult childhood. As a child, Armstrong met Matt Freeman while playing Little League Baseball in California at age 5. Freeman became one of his best friends and the bass player for Rancid. Armstrong and Freeman grew up together in Albany, California. Embracing punk culture during high school, Armstrong's favorite bands were the Clash and the Ramones. Armstrong was quoted in 'Maximum Rancid - The Unauthorized Biography Of Rancid', that: "If it wasn't for the Ramones, Rancid would have never become a band." After the demise of his first locally (and later internationally) successful band, Operation Ivy, Armstrong suffered from alcoholism, and eventually became homeless.[1] During this time, Freeman suggested the two start a band together, partially in hopes of curbing Armstrong's alcohol addiction. Armstrong began writing songs that would appear on their first album,Rancid.

[edit] Marriage to Brody Dalle

Armstrong met Brody Dalle of The Distillers while Rancid was playing Australia's Summersault Festival (Dalle was performing with her band Sourpuss). Although Armstrong is 12 years older than Dalle (she confesses that she had lied about her age when they met, claiming to be 19 when she was only 17,) the two began dating and corresponding.[2] Shortly after her 18th birthday, Dalle moved from her home in Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles, California and married Armstrong. She has said that their marriage was in decline for some time before its dissolution, and that the couple had considered marriage counseling. It is reported that Dalle ended the relationship over a long distance phone call. She filed for divorce in 2003. During their divorce, photographs of Dalle kissing Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme were published in Rolling Stone Magazine. Armstrong, who claims he knew nothing of Dalle's relationship with Homme, said in a Guitar One interview, that he broke down when he saw the photos. Armstrong is open about his hatred for Homme over the incident, and has accused Dalle and Homme of adultery.[3] Homme has received a series of death threats from loyal Armstrong fans.[4] Dalle has since married Homme.

It is rumored that Armstrong ghost-wrote both of The Distillers first two albums. Some songs on these albums bear similarities to Rancid songs, such as the "multi-voice sing, solo-voice sing" style chorus that is common in many Rancid songs ("Oh Serena", "City of Angels"), and similar chord progressions that are found in Rancid songs ("L.A. Girl", "The Young Crazed Peeling"). Neither Armstrong nor Dalle have acknowledged these rumors as true.

Tim Armstrong while in Operation Ivy
Tim Armstrong while in Operation Ivy

[edit] Hellcat Records

Armstrong started Hellcat Records in 1997 as a sub-label of Epitaph, owned by Armstrong's friend and Bad Religion member Brett Gurewitz. Armstrong acts as a talent scout for Hellcat, and has final say concerning what bands are signed to the label. Contrary to popular belief, Hellcat Records is not a lucrative venture for Armstrong, and is just a vanity label. Armstrong also owns the merchandise manufacturer Machete Mfg,[1]which provides merchandise for bands on Hellcat Records.

[edit] Musical history

One of the first bands that Armstrong played in was Basic Radio. After Basic Radio disbanded, he performed in the ska punk band Operation Ivy under the nickname "Lint" from their beginning in 1987 until they disbanded in 1989. Soon thereafter, Armstrong helped found the Dance Hall Crashers, but left the band after a brief period of time. He was also in Downfall with Matt Freeman. In 1991 Armstrong went on to greater fame with Rancid with bassist Matt Freeman (who had previously played with Armstrong in Operation Ivy, Downfall, and Dancehall Crashers). Brett Reed was a local skate punk who had only been playing drums for six months when Armstrong and Freeman asked him to join their band. Reed was later replaced by Branden Steineckert (formerly of The Used) in 2006. Steineckert has said that Rancid is one of his favorite bands and one of his biggest musical influences.

In 1999, Armstrong invited Rob Aston ("Skinhead Rob") to work on some solo material that Armstrong had been creating in his basement, and the two worked together writing and recording music. They formed the band Transplants with Travis Barker (of blink-182 fame)and released their self-titled debut album on October 22, 2002. Also in 2002, Armstrong contributed vocals to Tom Delonge's (also of blink-182 fame) side project Box Car Racer, on the track "Cat Like Thief". A second Transplants album, Haunted Cities, was released on June 21, 2005. The Transplants break-up was confirmed by Rob Aston on January 16, 2006, when he told a reporter that the band had split.

Tim co-wrote 8 songs with Pink for her 2003 album Try This, he has also collaborated with Gwen Stefani on her debut album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

Tim in 2006
Tim in 2006

In addition to his projects, Armstrong has also been known to pop up on others' albums in various roles. He's contributed vocals/guitar to tracks by bands including The Lordz, Box Car Racer, Bad Religion, Cypress Hill, Stubborn All-Stars, Head Automatica, Fefe Dobson, The Matches, NOFX, Time Again, Left Alone, and Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards, which is a side-project of his Rancid bandmate Lars Frederiksen. He's collaborated with P!nk, the Aggrolites, Gwen Stefani and Kelly Osbourne. He has also produced several albums, including the first album by AFI, Answer That and Stay Fashionable (1995), Viking by Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards and two tracks for the Matches, "You (don't) know me" on Decomposer and "Yankee in a Chip Shop" on A Band in Hope.

[edit] Recent history

Armstrong is still very active in the Berkeley scene that grew up around 924 Gilman Street. He has showcased his other artistic talents and created artwork for the INSAINTS logo. He has also done a solo album entitled A Poet's Life, giving fans the option to download the tracks for free on the internet. He has so far released 10 music videos. After much airplay of the song "Into Action" (featuring Skye Sweetnam on guest vocals), A Poet's Life was released with on May 22nd with bonus DVD containing video clips for each song.

An extract taken from Hellcat Records' website about the solo album -

Punk legend Tim Armstrong has announced plans to give his debut solo album, A Poet's Life, away for free on the internet beginning April 17th. Each Tuesday fans are encouraged to hunt down new songs and videos that will be made available for download on various blogs, sites and social networks. Additionally the album will also be available for sale on May 22nd with a bonus DVD containing 10 new videos. Never a stranger to having his music suddenly and widely embraced, as evidenced by the hit songs Armstrong has created for both Rancid and his side-project the Transplants, by March it was clear that the iconic singer/songwriter had another bona fide hit with the track "Into Action." The undeniably catchy dance song became an instant favorite of fans and critics alike, with support from everyone from Myspace users to the influential LA radio stations KROQ and Indie 103.1. Continuing to sweep the nation with its infectious groove, "Into Action" is guaranteed to be blasting from every car stereo and beach boom box this summer. Be the first one to find hot new songs and videos each Tuesday! Track Listing: 1. "Wake Up" 2. "Hold On" 3. "Into Action" 4. "Translator" 5. "Take This City" 6. "Inner City Violence" 7. "Oh No" 8. "Lady Demeter" 9. "Among The Dead" 10. "Cold Blooded"

Despite Armstrong's solo tour, drummer Branden Steineckert mentioned in June that Rancid would go back to the studio to resume work on their new album in January 2008.[5]

The LA Times reported in February 2008 that Rancid had booked 3 weeks at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch studio for recording their new album.[6] Brett Gurewitz, who produced the band's new album, recently reported that Rancid was finished mixing it.[7]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Operation Ivy

  • Hectic EP (1988) – (credited as Lint) guitar and backing vocals on entire album
  • Energy (1989, 1991) – (credited as Lint) guitar and backing vocals on entire album
  • Seedy (1996) – (credited as Lint) guitar and backing vocals on entire album

[edit] Downfall

  • Although no records by Downfall exist, the band did release a demo and a couple songs. It should be noted that essentially Downfall is Operation Ivy minus Jesse Michaels but adding Pat Mello (Dave Mello's brother) on guitar. They were featured on the compilation Can Of Pork with a song called "North Berkeley".[2]

[edit] Rancid

[edit] Transplants

[edit] Solo albums

[edit] Produced albums

[edit] Other

The following is a list of songs that Armstrong has appeared on where he was not a member of the band.

[edit] Filmography

  • Larry is dead (1995) Director, Actor, Producer

[edit] Guitars and Amplification

Armstrong uses Marshall Amplification. Here is a partial list of guitars he has been known to use: 1. Gibson SG, black finish with a black pickguard, rosewood fretboard. 2. Hagström Viking, pink finish, rosewood fretboard. 3. Epiphone ES 335, sunburst finish, rosewood fretboard. 4. Hagström Viking, red finish, rosewood fretboard. 5. Hagström Viking, black finish, rosewood fretboard. 6. Gretsch 1974 Country Club, originally natural, spray-painted black, rosewood fretboard. 7. Gibson Les Paul, black finish, rosewood fretboard. Switched to Mesa/Boogie amplification. 8. Schecter S-1, originally black finish, sanded off and spray-painted black, rosewood fretboard. 9. Gibson SG, originally red finish, spraypainted black, rosewood fretboard. 10. Fender Acoustic, natural with a brownish "pickguard, rosewood fretboard. 11. Gretsch White Falcon, white finish, rosewood fretboard.

During "Rancid": guitar 1. During "Let's Go": guitar 1, 2 and 3. During "And Out Come The Wolves": guitar 2, 3, 4 and 5. During "Life Won't Wait": guitar 2, 6, 7 and 8. During "Rancid 2000": guitar 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9. During "Transplants": guitar 6, 8, and 9. During "Indestructable": guitar 6, 8, 9 and 10. During "Haunted Cities": guitar 6, 8, 9 and 10. Solo, "A Poet's Life": guitar 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

[edit] Conflicts

Armstrong has had quite a few conflicts with other bands over the recent years.

  • The Queers mentioned Tim Armstrong in their song "Rancid Motherfucker".
  • Leftover Crack have had disputes with Tim Armstrong & many other artists on his label Hellcat Records over censorship issues and accusing them of being homophobic.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.eastbayexpress.com/2003-11-05/news/white-punks-on-warner-bros/3
  2. ^ LA Weekly - Music - Killing the Angel in the House - Judith Lewis - The Essential Online Resource for Los Angeles
  3. ^ Rancid - Tim Armstrong'S Rancid Feelings For Josh Homme
  4. ^ HOMME BLASTS RANCID SINGER OVER DALLE TREATMENT (03-21-2005) | qotsa-news.com
  5. ^ Rancid posts update, plans to record in January 2008
  6. ^ Inside George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch - Los Angeles Times
  7. ^ https://twitter.com/OblivionPact/statuses/774701074

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Rancid
Tim Armstrong • Lars Frederiksen • Matt Freeman • Branden Steineckert
Brett Reed
Studio albums
EPs
Rancid (EP) (1992) • Radio Radio Radio (1993)
Other albums
Singles
"I'm Not the Only One" • "Hyena" • "Nihilism" • "Salvation" • "Roots Radicals" • "Time Bomb" • "Ruby Soho" • "Bloodclot" • "Hooligans" • "Brad Logan " • "Let Me Go" • "GGF" • "Fall Back Down" • "Red Hot Moon" • "Tropical London"
Concert tours
Club Shows (1991-94) • Let's Go Tour (1994-95) • ...And Out Come the Wolves Tour (1995-97) • Life Won't Wait Tour (1998-99) • The Skull Album Tour (2000-01) • Indestructible Tour (2003-04)
Side projects
Related articles
v • d • e
Transplants
Official members: Tim Armstrong • "Skinhead Rob" Aston • Travis Barker
Touring members: Dave Carlock • Craig Fairbaugh • Matt Freeman • DJ Pone
Studio albums
Other releases
Singles
Related articles