Presidents of the United States of America

  • Seattle, WA
    hometown
  • Alternative
    genre
  • 1993
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About Presidents of the United States of America


The Presidents of the United States of America were one of the most unlikely success stories of the post-grunge alternative rock scene in Seattle. Where the rest of their Seattle brethren traded in heavy guitars and heavy angst, the Presidents rejected torment for humor, writing short, simple, and absurd punk songs that relied more on goofy attitude than sludgy riffs and tormented screams. It was a formula that worked, as the group's self-titled debut album became a double-platinum record much to the surprise of many critics, music industry insiders, and the band itself.

Childhood friends Chris Ballew (lead vocals, two-string basitar) and Dave Dederer (three-string guitbass, backing vocals) played in a number of groups and projects before forming the Presidents of the United States of America around 1990. The duo recorded a demo tape, which began circulating around the Seattle musical community and, in the process, earned them a cult following. Drummer Jason Finn, a member of Love Battery, saw the duo in 1991 and, after a few years of persuading, joined the band in 1993. Within a year after Finn joined, the Presidents became one of the most popular bands in Seattle. In the spring of 1994, they released their eponymous debut album on Pop Llama Records. The record became an independent hit and the band attracted the attention of major record labels; the group eventually signed with Columbia Records, who re-released the Presidents' debut in the spring of 1995. By this time, Finn had left Love Battery to become a full-time President.

The Presidents of the United States of America became a hit in the summer of 1995, when MTV and modern rock radio began airing "Lump" frequently. "Lump," followed by the radio hit "Kitty" in the fall and the radio/video hit "Peaches" in the spring of 1996, propelled the album to a surprise Top Ten double-platinum status. The band quickly capitalized on their sudden success by releasing their second album, The Presidents of the United States of America: II, in November of 1996.

In December of 1997, the Presidents called it quits after Chris Ballew left the band to spend more time with his family. A farewell concert followed in February 1998 and a rarities album, Pure Frosting, was released in March. Rumors of a possible reunion and collaboration with fellow Seattle resident Sir Mix-a-Lot (under the collective name Subset) floated around in 1999, but the project never materialized. However, the band did reconvene in 2000 (without a rapper) under the officially shortened moniker the Presidents and released their third album, Freaked Out and Small. Another long hiatus preceded the release of Love Everybody in 2004. That same year the band reissued their debut album on their own label in "Super Bonus Thrillpack" edition featuring a DVD. Late in 2007 the Presidents announced a new album, These Are the Good Times People, would be delivered in the spring of 2008. Sporadic activity, including occasional one-off gigs, followed into the 2010s, although Ballew spent more time on his children's music project, Caspar Babypants. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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Music

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  • Mixed Up S.O.B.
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    Mixed Up S.O.B.
  • Mach 5
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    Mach 5
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    • On The Street Where You Live
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/2/5/2/0/2/135220252.mp3
    • You're Breaking My Heart
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/7/3/0/2/135220371.mp3
    • Almost Like Being In Love
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/3/5/9/1/135219539.mp3
    • Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/8/2/8/7/151378281.mp3
    • An Affair To Remember
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/7/3/8/2/6/106662837.mp3
    • Angela Mia (My Angel)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/8/3/3/9/1/135219338.mp3

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • B-Side: Presidents of the United States of America
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    B-Side: Presidents of the United States of America

Photos

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  • Presidents of the United States of America
    Courtesy of Girlie Action
  • Columbia
    Presidents of the United States of America
    Columbia
    Lance Mercer

News

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  • Presidents of the United States of America
    Kleefeld's Fanthropology #10: An Interview America's Greatest Otaku, Pt. 2
    MTV Geek
    May 17, 2013
    By Sean Kleefeld In the summer of 2010, Tokyopop founder Stu Levy took a cast of six American otaku and a film crew in order to explore otaku cultur...
    Read More
  • Presidents of the United States of America
    10 Years of 'Crazy In Love': 5 Things Beyonce Is Crazy About 10 Years Later
    MTV Act
    May 17, 2013
    Before she was Blue Ivy’s mom (with a second baby reportedly on the way!), before she was Mrs. Carter, Beyoncé was just a girl who was “ Crazy in ...
    Read More
  • Presidents of the United States of America
    Presidents of the United States of America to perform self-titled debut in full
    drownedinsound.com
    Over the last few years we've had the "Don't Look Back" style performances from many, many bands and despite what some might say, it's actually quite ...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • May 21 Tuesday
    Solana Beach, CA, US Belly Up Tavern
    Buy Ticket
  • May 22 Wednesday
    Santa Ana, CA, US The Observatory
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  • May 23 Thursday
    West Hollywood, CA, US House of Blues, Sunset Strip
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  • May 24 Friday
    San Francisco, CA, US The Independent
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  • May 25 Saturday
    San Francisco, CA, US The Independent
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  • Jun 27 Thursday
    Bend, OR, US Century Center Courtyard
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  • Jul 5 Friday
    Tonbridge, UK The Hop Farm
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  • Jul 6 Saturday
    Utrecht, Netherlands Tivoli Oudegracht
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  • Jul 7 Sunday
    Heerlen, Netherlands Parkstad Limburg Theater Heerlen Limburgzaal
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Discography

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  • These Are the Good Times People (2008)
    Presidents of the United States of America
    These Are the Good Times People (2008)
    TNL
  • Love Everybody (2004)
    Presidents of the United States of America
    Love Everybody (2004)
    Weatherbox
  • Freaked Out and Small (2000)
    Presidents of the United States of America
    Freaked Out and Small (2000)
    Music Blitz
  • The Presidents of the United States of America: II (1996)
    Presidents of the United States of America
    The Presidents of the United States of America: II (1996)
    Columbia
  • The Presidents of the United States of America (1995)
    Presidents of the United States of America
    The Presidents of the United States of America (1995)
    Sony Music Distribution
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