Pennywise

A new generation is being introduced to the dancing clown known as It from Stephen King's 1986 novel of the same name, better known as Pennywise. It is a name that punk rockers assumed when they formed in Hermosa Beach, California in 1988 and despite a couple bumps on the road for band members, it still contains most its original line up.

Since 1996, the original group consisting of Jim Lindberg, vocalist, guitarist Fletcher Dragge, bassist Randy Bradbury and drummer Byron McMackin has been together. Prior to that year, Jason Thirsk served up the bass, replaced by Bradbury when he died in 1996.

Every two years since 1991 the group has released a new studio album which is making fans anxious for a new 2007 release of their ninth effort. With most of its original band members still on the stage, Pennywise is considered a classic, having played together for going on 20 years. Singer Lindberg left the group for short time shortly after the debut self-title album in 1997 but rejoined the band in 1992, after getting married and in time for their second album Unknown Road.

The inaugural Album Pennywise on Epitaph Records, spread quickly through the punk rock genre with lyrics professing a positive attitude, a distancing from many punk rock bands at the time, and made them noticed among national punk rock music lovers. Their second album in 1993 cemented their position in the punk rock scene and with the arrival of other mainstream bands such as Green Day and Offspring, they received numerous invitations from major labels, refusing to leave their independent company, releasing another hit in 1995, About Time.

In 1996 Thirsk, left the band, replaced by Bradbury, to battle a problem with alcohol and while conquering the disease died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Making the decision to continue with their music, Bradbury had a permanent position on bass and the group released Full Circle in 1997 followed by Straight Ahead in 1999. Live at the Key Club was their first live album, released in 2000, with Land of the Free in 2001 and 2003's release of From the Ashes.

Originally released in 1995, the band's only video, Home Movies, was re-released in 2004, after seven years of being out of print. Their eighth album, The Fuse, was released in 2005 in Europe and with their history of a new album every two years and fans waiting for the next release, a cancellation of the band's Australian tour sparked vehemently denied rumors of a break-up. As recently as the fall of 2006 Dragge made it known the band was still together and working on music for their next release, tentatively scheduled for a 2007 release.

Their first two albums charted limited success, but their third effort, About Time rose to number 96 on Billboard and 1997"s Full Circle peaked at number 79. About Time was the last album recorded with bassist Thirsk before his 1996 suicide.

When Full Circle was released it was the first for new bassist Randy Bradbury and contained a re-recording of Bro Hymn in memory of Jason Thirsk, titled Bro Hymn Tribute.

As their touring success continued to climb, their commercial success also continued to grow with each subsequent release. 1999's Straight Ahead reached number 67 on Billboard and Land of the Free climbed to number 67 in 2001. Climbing all the way to number 54 on Billboard was From the Ashes released in 2003 and 2005's effort The Fuse reached up to number 78. Their still-untitled ninth album is rumored to be released sometime in 2007.

All of their mainstream releases have been on Epitaph Records, with two extended play LPs from 1989 released on the Theologian label, A Word from the Wise and Wildcard, both released in 1992 on Wildcard/A Word from the Wise.

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