ninepoundnote's "really handsome/intelligent sax player"
On a global scale, those people are hidden in plain sight. John Feldmann frontman of Goldfinger is almost better known now for producing hits for everyone from Biffy Clyro, to Good Charlotte, to Black Veil Brides, to All Time Low.
The frontman of The Hippos – a ska punk band so obscure that even some ska fans haven’t heard of them – is a man called Ariel Rechtshaid, now regarded for his production, mixing and songwriting credits for Adele, Madonna, Usher, Charli XCX, Brandon Flowers and just about every household name artist in existence today.
Oh, and the former drummer of wackiest-of-the-wacky ska bands, The Aquabats… a band who dress as superheroes and sing songs about fighting sharks, is some bloke called Travis Barker. Throw in lead guitarist of The Blinking Underdogs, AKA Star Wars’ Oscar Isaac and more obvious success stories such as No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani and the list goes on and on.
So, next time you’re about take the piss out of someone’s secret ska punk past, remember this:
1. Yes, we know ska punk isn’t cool… and we don’t care.
2. You might find the music cheesy, but being in a ska band is a tough gig that deserves more respect than you’d think, least of all because we’ve been the butt of everyone’s jokes for 20 odd years.
3. You might just find yourself pointing and laughing in a crowd of closet ska punk fans. Fans who are now shaping the landscape of modern music. So maybe don’t laugh quite so loudly next time or you might find yourself suddenly looking down the wrong end of a concealed trombone.
Words: John Longbottom