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Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake is a pop-ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. They are currently on the roster of Warner Bros Records. Their current line-up includes Chris (vocals, guitar), Roger (bass, vocals), Vinnie (drums, lyrics), Buddy (trombone) and JR (saxophone).
The band is currently working on their next studio album, In With The Out Crowd, which will be released sometime in early 2006.
Miscellaneous Info
Vinnie is also the owner of the independent record label Fueled by Ramen, as well as a toy company called Monkey Vs. Robot. This label has signed bands such as Fall Out Boy, Punchline, The AKAs and Gym Class Heroes. Roger, meanwhile, is in a second band, called Rehasher, for whom he composes lyrics and plays guitar. JR works with a promoting company called the CT Mafia, as well as composing solo music. He contributed one track to the Drive-Thru compilation tribute to Bob Dylan, using the band name "The Stay At Home Joneses" (interestingly, Roger sang backup for this track).
Roger and Vinnie have an unexplained fondness for Pez candy and they reportedly have sizeable dispenser collections. This love for Pez goes so far as to name one of their albums "Pezcore" (parodying of the way in which many bands are described as [thing]-core, starting with hardcore) and Pez dispenser motifs are a common feature of their merchandise.
Roger's employment history includes a smoke shop in the band's hometown Gainesville, Florida known as Knuckleheads which has since been transformed into a similar establishment named Smoke. Band member haunts have included Eddie C's, the Hardback (which was transformed into the Lyric), and Insomnia (now known as Common Grounds).
The members of Less Than Jake also served as backup musicians for Asian Man Records owner Mike Park in the B.Lee Band (once called "the Bruce Lee Band", changed for legal reasons).
The track "Look What Happened" appeared on two of their albums, "Borders & Boundaries" (2000) and "Anthem" (2003). The Anthem version is completely rerecorded, and has eschewed the brass at the beggining of the song that was featured in the previous recording.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Pezcore (1995, Dill Records/Asian Man Records)
- Losers, Kings, and Things We Don't Understand (1995, No Idea Records)
- Losing Streak (1996, Capitol Records)
- Hello Rockview (1998,plus losing streak double cd released to Capitol Records)
- Borders & Boundaries (2000, Fat Wreck Chords and golf records)
- Anthem (2003, Sire Records)
- B is for B-sides (2004, Sire Records)
- In With The Out Crowd (2006)
Other
- Compilations, Live Records, Miscellaneous Releases
- Greased (1996, No Idea Records)
- Pesto (1999, Very Small Records)
- Live from Uranus ( 1999 EMI)
- Goodbye Blue and White (2002, Fueled By Ramen)
- The Pez Collection (2000, Moon Ska Europe and Rapido)
- Live in Minneapolis (2004, download only)
- B is for B-sides (Remixed) (2005, Fueled By Ramen)
- DVDs
- The People's History of Less Than Jake (2004, Fueled By Ramen)
- VHS
- Avant Tarde (2002)
- Song Contributed to Compilations and Soundtracks for Films and Games
- We're All Dudes (Good Burger)
- All My Best Friends Are Metalheads (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, Street Sk8er, Digimon: The Movie)
- Help Save the Youth of America From Exploding (Drive Me Crazy)
- Short Fuse Burning(Gran Turismo 4)
- That's Why They Call It A Union (Tony Hawk's Underground 2)
- Surrender (ATV Offroad Fury) (Cheap Trick cover)
- Motown Never Sounded So Good (ATV Offroad Fury)
- Look What Happened (Grind)
- The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out (Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1)
External links
- [http://www.lessthanjake.com/ Less Than Jake's official web site]
- [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB020404011907530320&sql=Brlud6jo771t0 All Music Guide entry for Less Than Jake]
- [http://www.brightest-bulb.com/ The Brightest Bulb - A less Than Jake Fansite With info and videos to check out more from the band]
- [http://lessthanjack.sofacandy.com/ Less Than Jack - Another Great Fansite]
- [http://www.purevolume.com/lessthanjake/ Less Than Jake's Personal Purevolume account]
- [http://www.lyricsdir.com/less-than-jake-lyrics.html Less Than Jake Lyrics]
- [http://www.punknews.org/article.php?sid=6186 A lengthy interview with Vinnie Fiorello]
Category:American musical groups
Category:Florida musical groups
Category:Fat Wreck Chords groups
Category:Third-wave ska groups
Category:punk rock groups
Category:1990s music groups
Category:2000s music groups
Ska punkSka punk or skacore is a musical genre derived as a fusion of Jamaican ska and British and American punk rock. It is a sub-genre of third-wave ska.
Ska Punk Bands
- Against All Authority
- The Aquabats - Originally a ska punk ensemble, The Aquabats have more recently grown into a pop-punk sound.
- Area-7
- Big D and the Kids Table
- Bim Skala Bim
- Buck-O-Nine
- Capdown
- Catch 22
- Choking Victim
- Citizen Fish
- Common Rider
- Crowned King
- Culture Shock
- Dance Hall Crashers
- E.m.i.l.
- Five Iron Frenzy - Christian ska punk band.
- Goldfinger
- The Hippos
- Just Called Charlie
- Leftover Crack
- Less Than Jake
- Link 80
- Long Shot Hero
- Mad Caddies
- Mighty Mighty Bosstones
- Mustard Plug
- No Doubt
- Operation Ivy
- Pilfers
- The Pietasters
- Pistol cu Capse
- Planet Smashers
- Rancid
- Reel Big Fish
- Rx Bandits
- Save Ferris
- SKA-P
- Skabba the Hutt
- Skankin' Pickle
- Smash Mouth - Fush Yu Mang, their first album, is thier only work commonly considered to fit the ska punk genre.
- [spunge]
- Streetlight Manifesto
- Sublime
- Suburban Legends
- The Suicide Machines
- The Toasters
- Voodoo Glow Skulls
Lyrics
[http://www.jamaicalyrics.com.ar/index.php?mod=search Ska Punk Lyrics]
Category:Ska
Category:Punk
Category:Punk rock groups
Category:Lists of musicians
Category:Musical groups by genre
Gainesville, FloridaGainesville is a city located in Alachua County, Florida. It is the county seat of Alachua County. Major sites include the Devil's Millhopper, the Florida Museum of Natural History and the historic downtown area. Gainesville is primarily known for being home to The University of Florida, the 4th largest University in the United States and one of the most prestigious public universities. Santa Fe Community College, one of the nation's largest 2-year colleges, is also located in Gainesville.
As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 95,447. Following a successful annexation in 2002, the population increased to 108,856 (U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates).
Geography
2004
Gainesville is located at 29°39'55" North, 82°20'10" West (29.665245, -82.336097).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 127.2 km² (49.1 mi²). 124.8 km² (48.2 mi²) of it is land and 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.87% water.
Gainesville is the southernmost deciduous city in America. There are deciduous trees farther south, but they are not as abundant as they are from Alachua County northward.
The North Florida area in which Gainesville is located is known to natives as the "end of the South." This is most likely due to the fact that south of Alachua County, starting at Ocala, there are fewer native Floridians (and effectively native Southerners) and the sprawling development that defines South and Central Florida begins.
Rural North Florida is a very stereotypically southern area with farms and pine forests dotting the landscape.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 95,447 people living within the city limits, 37,279 households, and 18,341 families residing in the city. The population of the metropolitan area as of the census of 2000 was 217,955. The population density is 764.9/km² (1,981.0/mi²). There are 40,105 housing units at an average density of 321.4/km² (832.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 68.36% White, 23.24% African American, 0.25% Native American, 4.49% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.46% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. 6.40% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Note: These population figures probably do not include the vast majority of the 75,000+ student population which are recorded for census purposes as living with their parents in their hometowns.
There are 37,279 households out of which 22.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% are married couples living together, 13.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 50.8% are non-families. 32.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.25 and the average family size is 2.90.
In the city the population is spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 29.4% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 26 years. For every 100 females there are 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,164, and the median income for a family is $44,263. Males have a median income of $31,090 versus $25,653 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,779. 26.7% of the population and 15.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Gainesville is informally called "Hogtown", after Hogtown Creek, which runs through the city. It was the center of the Gainesville Eight case in the 1960s, and is known to some as the Berkeley of the South. The city is characterized by its medium size, rural location, and large public university. Suburban sprawl has (as of late) become a concern for the city commissioners. However, the "New Urbanization" plan to revitalize run-down portions of the area between historic Downtown and the University of Florida may slow the growth of suburban sectors that have caused extensive westward sprawl, and catalyze a migration toward upper-level apartments in the inner-city. The area immediately north of the University of Florida is also seeing active redevelopment. Gainesville is served by the Gainesville Regional Airport.
History
Gainesville's original inhabitants were the Timucua Indians. Spanish colonists began cattle ranching in the Payne's Prairie area using Timucua labor and the largest ranch became known as LaChua. Though the ranch was eventually destroyed by British raiders, it nevertheless gave its name to the Alachua band of the Seminole tribe who settled in the region in the 1700s under the leadership of the great chief Ahaya the Cowkeeper.
Gainesville was originally formed along the Florida Railroad Company's line stretching from Cedar Key, Florida to Fernandina Beach, Florida as part of a route eventually carrying cargo from New Orleans, Louisiana to New York. In 1854 Gainesville became the new Alachua County seat (moving from the more populated but inconveniently located Newnansville). The city is named for General Edmund P. Gaines, commander of U.S. Army troops in Florida during the Second Seminole War.
Gainesville was the scene of small-scale fighting in the Civil War. On February 15, 1864, a skirmish erupted when about 50 Union troops entered the city intending to capture two trains. The Second Florida Cavalry successfully repulsed this raid. The raiding party was eventually defeated at the Battle of Olustee five days later. Later that year, the Battle of Gainesville took place on August 17, 1864. Three-hundred Union troops occupying the city were attacked by the Florida Cavalry. The Federals were driven out of town and suffered significant casualties.
Gainesville's fortunes took a major turn when the University of Florida was created by the Florida Legislature in 1905. Gainesville was chosen as the site, beating out other cities who saw their colleges close, such as Lake City and Bartow. The university has brought the town a youthful population, cultural opportunities, and world class medical facilities. The sports drink Gatorade was invented in Gainesville as a means of refreshing the UF football team and UF still receives a share of the profits from the beverage.
Terror struck residents of Gainesville in August 1990 when five students were found brutally murdered in their apartments over a three day period. After extensive investigation, Danny Rolling was charged with the murders and convicted in 1994. The murders attracted national attention and heightened awareness of security issues at the University of Florida and elsewhere. A monument to the victims now exists along Southwest 34th Street, including five palm trees in the median and a painted wall.
Culture
Gainesville has a fairly well-known punk and ska music scene and has spawned a number of bands including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Less Than Jake, The Usuals, The Know How, Hot Water Music, Against Me!, Sister Hazel, and Roach Motel. It is also the location of the independent label No Idea Records.
Cultural facilities include the Florida Museum of Natural History, Harn Museum of Art, the Hippodrome State Theatre, Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and The Civic Media Center. Smaller theaters include the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre (ART) and the Gainesville Community Playhouse (GCP). GCP is one of the oldest community theaters in the State of Florida, having produced its first show in 1927. GCP's season consists of six shows annually. Numerous events are hosted continually at the university.
Gainesville is an expensive town in which to live—rent rates tend to be high off-campus, although the restaurants near the University of Florida tend to be inexpensive. The property taxes are high to offset the cost of the university, as the university's land is tax-exempt. The University of Florida is the major employer for the city.
The east side of Gainesville houses the majority of the African-American community within the city, while the westside houses a more diverse community.
Transportation
Gainesville has an extensive road system, which is served by Interstate 75, and several Florida State Routes, including State routes 20, 24, 25, and 26, among many others. Gainesville is also served by US 441, which gives a direct route to Ocala, Orlando, and south Florida.
Not only does Gainesville have an extensive road network, Gainesville is also served by Gainesville Regional Transit System, or RTS, which is the fourth largest mass transit system in the state.
Famous residents
Celebrities that live or have lived in Gainesville include:
- Don Felder, musician
- Robert Cade, inventor of Gatorade
- Bo Diddley, musician
- Nicholas Tishuk, Teacher and activist extradordinaire
- Rodney Mullen, Professional Skateboarder
- Buddy Ebsen, actor
- Ric Flair, professional wrestling personality
- Robert Frost, poet
- Joe Haldeman, science fiction author
- Bob Graham, Governor and U.S. Senator
- Marty Liquori, Olympic track & field athlete and TV announcer
- Tom Petty, musician
- River Phoenix, actor
- Joaquin Phoenix, actor
- Maya Rudolph, comedian
- Minnie Riperton, musician
- Forrest Sawyer, NBC anchor
- Steve Spurrier, football player and coach
- Stephen Stills, musician
- Emmitt Smith, professional football player
- John Thompson, mathematician, Fields medalist
- Less than Jake, band
- Hot Water Music, band
- Sister Hazel, band
- Against Me!, band
- Stephen Root, actor
- Bob Vila, television show host
- Jack Youngblood, professional football player & NFL Hall of Famer
Other celebrity ties to Gainesville include Faye Dunaway, who went to the University of Florida, and Malcolm Gets, who grew up there, graduated from the university, and wrote and performed at the Community Playhouse and the Hippodrome. Renee Richards lived in Gainesville for a time, Roger Maris had a distributorship and raised his family there, and the motion picture actor William H. Macy has visited his father there from time to time.
Points of interest
- Florida Museum of Natural History
- Harn Museum of Art
- Hippodrome State Theatre
- Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
- University of Florida
- Haile Plantation
- The Butterfly Rainforest
References
- History of Gainesville, Florida, 1854-1979. By Charles H. Hildreth and Merlin G. Cox. published by the Alachua County Historical Society, 1981. ISBN 0967278848
External links
- [http://www.cityofgainesville.org/ City of Gainesville] official site
- [http://www.go-rts.com/ Regional Transit System] - Bus system
Area newspapers
- [http://www.gainesvillesun.com/ The Gainesville Sun]
- [http://www.gainesvilleguardian.com/ The Gainesville Guardian]
- [http://www.alligator.org/ The Independent Florida Alligator]
- [http://www.sellgville.com/ Gainesville's Student Classifieds]
- [http://www.afn.org/~iguana The Gainesville Iguana]
- [http://gainesville4sale.com/ Gainesville Florida Classifieds]
- [http://www.satellitemag.com/ Satellite Magazine]
Educational institutions
- [http://www.ufl.edu/ University of Florida]
- [http://www.sfcc.edu/ Sante Fe Community College]
- [http://www.saintleo.edu/ Saint Leo University]
- [http://www.citycollege.edu/ City College/ Gainesville Campus]
- [http://www.sbac.edu/ The School Board of Alachua County]
- [http://ghs.sbac.edu/ Gainesville High School] - Gainesville High School
- [http://ehs.sbac.edu/ Eastside High School] - Eastside High School
- [http://bhs.sbac.edu/ Buchholz High School]
- [http://www.sbac.edu/~kms Kanapaha Middle School]
- [http://www.sbac.edu/~sfhs/ Santa Fe High School]
- [http://www.stfranciscatholichighschool.org/ Saint Francis Catholic High School]
Miscellaneous
- [http://gainesville.fl.us/ Gainesville Internet Namespace Authority]
- [http://www.civicmediacenter.org/ Civic Media Center] - Alternative library and non-corporate press
- [http://www.gainesvillebands.com/ GainesvilleBands.com]
- [http://www.kiss1053.com/ Kiss 105.3 FM, Your Gator Party Station]
- [http://www.1005thebuzz.com/ Buzz 100.5 FM, Alternative]
Category:Cities in Florida
Category:Alachua County, Florida
Category:University towns
Category:University of Florida
simple:Gainesville, Florida
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Brothers Records is a record label which was launched on March 19, 1958 by Warner Bros.. The label is now a subsidiary of Warner Music Group. Its sub-labels are Maverick Records, Nonesuch Records, Reprise Records, Sire Records, WB Jazz, WBR Nashville and Word Records.
The reason the record company was formed was because contract actor Tab Hunter had a #1 hit in 1957 with "Young Love" and to Warners' chagrin, reporters only wanted to ask about the hit record instead of Hunter's latest Warner movie.
In 1960, they signed the Everly Brothers (who were previously on Cadence Records) with the first ever million dollar contract in history. That was also the year that they released two albums by Bob Newhart which both won Grammy Awards, including the Album of the Year. In 1963 they purchased Frank Sinatra's label, Reprise Records. In 1967, Warner Bros. Records was sold for $85 million to Seven Arts Ltd. and renamed Warner Bros.-Seven Arts.
See also
- List of record labels
External link
- [http://www.warnerbrosrecords.com/ Official site]
Category:Record labels
Fueled by RamenFueled by Ramen is an independent record label from Gainesville, Florida started by Vinnie Fiorello, the drummer for Less Than Jake and John Janick.
Notable releases from bands like Jimmy Eat World, Less Than Jake, Recover, The Impossibles, Jersey, Swank, The ÆFFECT, Fall Out Boy, Punchline, Yellowcard, The Stereo, The Academy Is... and Gym Class Heroes have provided Fueled by Ramen with an excellent reputation amongst smaller labels. Pete Wentz started his record label Decaydance as an imprint of the Fueled by Ramen label.
Fueled by Ramen moved to Tampa, Florida in the latter half of 2004.
Bands
- The Æffect
- The A.K.A.s (ARE EVERYWHERE)
- The Academy Is...
- Animal Chin
- Ann Beretta
- Autopilot Off
- Blueline Medic
- Cadillac Blindside
- The Causey Way
- Days Away
- Discount
- Fall Out Boy
- Foundation
- Frodus
- Gym Class Heroes
- Home Grown
- The Hush Sound
- The Impossibles
- Jersey
- Jimmy Eat World
- Kissing Chaos
- Kane Hodder
- Less Than Jake
- Limp
- Mid Carson July
- October Fall
- Panic! at the Disco
- Paramore
- The Pietasters
- Pollen
- Punchline
- Recover
- Roy
- Slickshoes
- Slowreader
- The Stereo
- Swank
- Teen Idols
- Whippersnapper
- Yellowcard
See also
- List of record labels
- List of independent record labels
External link
- [http://fueledbyramen.com/ Official site]
Category:record labels
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is a pop-emo band from the suburbs of Chicago, that formed in 2001. While still unnamed, the band asked the audience at a show what their band should be called, and an audience member yelled out "Fall Out Boy," presumably referring to the sidekick to Radioactive Man, a comic book hero in The Simpsons.
The band started to achieve notable success with 2003's Take This to Your Grave (Fueled By Ramen), with singles such as "Grand Theft Autumn (Where Is Your Boy?)" and "Saturday," receiving airplay on Fuse and MTVU. The band signed to Island Records in 2003, and on May 3, 2005, released their major label debut From Under The Cork Tree (Island), which debuted on the Billboard charts at #9, selling over 70,000 copies in its first week. The album has since been certified as platinum. Their breakout single "Sugar, We're Goin' Down," peaked at #8 on the Billboard "Hot 100" charts, and reached #1 on MTV's TRL, where the video was retired. The video also won the MTV2 award at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards. Their next single was "Dance, Dance," which also topped MTV's TRL countdown. The video premiered on MTV2 on Oct. 15, 2005. The band has also been nominated for "Best New Artist" at the 2006 Grammy Awards.
Band Members
- Patrick Stump - lead vocals, guitar
- Pete Wentz - bass
- Joe Trohman - guitar
- Andy Hurley - drums
Discography
Albums
- Take This to Your Grave (2003)
- Take This to Your Grave: Director's Cut (2005)
- From Under The Cork Tree (2005)
EP
- Fall Out Boy/Project Rocket split EP [2002]
- Fall Out Boy's Evening Out With Your Girl (2003)
- My Heart Will Always Be the B-Side to My Tongue (2004)
External links
- [http://www.falloutboyrock.com Fall Out Boy Official Site]
- [http://www.brandnewfashion.com Brand New Fashion Fall Out Boy Fansite]
- [http://drop-a-heart.com/index2.php Drop-A-Heart Fall Out Boy Fansite]
- [http://www.crazewire.com/features/20050412476.php Fall Out Boy interview on Crazewire]
- [https://www.purevolume.com/falloutboy Fall Out Boy on PureVolume]
- [http://www.lyricinterpretations.com/lookat.php/bands/Fall-Out-Boy Fall Out Boy Song Meanings]
- [http://www.defectus-lunae.com/dance/ Dance, Dance - Fall Out Boy Graphics]
- [http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/fall_out_boy/ Fall-Out-Boy Online]
Resources
- The Fall Out Boy biography and discography at http://www.falloutboyrock.com
- Fueled By Ramen's biography and discography of Fall Out Boy at http://www.fueledbyramen.com/bands
- The DVD on the Fall Out Boy EP "My Heart Will Always Be the B-Side to My Tongue"
- http://www.amazon.com for the release dates that were not on any site.
- http://www.billboard.com for records sales, and chart info
Category:American musical groups
Category:2000s music groups
Punchline (band)
Punchline is a pop-punk band from Pennsylvania, formed in 1998.
The first conception of Punchline included current lead singer / guitarist Steve Soboslai, current bassist Chris Fafalios and current drummer PJ Caruso. As a young three-man band, Punchline recorded poppy punk and sometimes ska-influenced tunes in the form of the short CDs "How to Get Kicked Out of the Mall" and "Major Motion Picture," and the full-length "Punchline." The band came into their own when they were joined by now ex-guitarist/vocalist Paul Menotiades, and the four recorded "The Rewind EP" with producer Sean O'Keefe. In 2003 the band signed to Fueled By Ramen Records and the EP was re-released.
In the over-saturated world of pop-punk music, Punchline set itself apart with bright three-part harmonies and unique melodies, catchy riffs and a strong rhythm section, especially on their most recent release, "Action." Soboslai, Menotiades, and Fafalios all contributed vocals to the disc.
In January 2005, after 4 years of playing with the band, Menotiades left the band without notice or a reason in the middle of a tour, shortly before a show in Albany, New York. The remaining members of the band, however, proceeded on and enlisted a long-time friend from Connecticut, Greg Wood, to fill in on guitar and vocals for the remaining shows of the tour. He was a member of the now defunct West Beverly and has his own eponymous solo project. Wood later joined the band as a permanent member.
Fans of Punchline are referred to by the band and themselves as "Punchkids."
Punchline has toured the United States with bands such as Less Than Jake, Hidden In Plain View, Hellogoodbye, Mest, Bayside, and Hawthorne Heights. Punchline also went on tour with labelmates Fall Out Boy to Japan. The band embarked on their first headlining tour, "The Now Or Never Tour," in Spring 2005.
Discography
Japan
Japan
In 1999 the band self-released their self-produced and self-titled disc, "Punchline." In August 2001 the band released their co-produced (with Billy Rossi) CD, "Major Motion Picture." Punchline again collaborated with Billy Rossi on "The Rewind EP" in February 2003, which was remixed and remastered by Shelly Yakus for its Fueled By Ramen Records re-release after the band was signed to FBR. The early pressings included The Rewind Documentary DVD. Punchline's most recent release and first full length through Fueled By Ramen is "Action", released in February 2004 and produced by Sean O'Keefe. This release's early pressings also included a DVD, likewise titled The Action DVD.
How To Get Kicked Out Of The Mall (1998) track listing:
# Let You Know
# Problems
# Heart Attack
# Jarrod Isn't Funny
# As You Sleep
# Old Scratch
# Again
# Skee-Ball
# Lemon Pez Love
# Why
# She Still Loves Me
Punchline (June 1, 1999) track listing:
# Floor Creature
# Much More
# Fall A Little Harder
# My Turn
# Bingo
# Looking For Teen Friendship
# Three Months To A Lifetime
# Wait
# Arras
# A Sore Back And A Broken Heart
Major Motion Picture (August 1, 2001) track listing:
# Express
# I Don't Know
# Weekends
# Here Goes Nothing
# You Mean The World To Me
# Yearlong Winter
# Cold as You
# Lights Out
The Rewind EP (August 16, 2002) and (remastered) (February 25, 2003) track listing:
# Play
# Rewind
# Stop
# Power Off
Action (February 24, 2004) track listing:
# Open Up
# Not Afraid
# The World
# Heart Transplant
# Time In a Picture
# Coldest of Calendars
# Getting There Is Getting By
# Why Is He Right?
# Battlescars
# A Sharp Is A Flat
# A Beautiful Green
# Just Getting Started
References
-
-
-
PEZ
PEZ is the shortened name of PEZ Candy Inc.
it is also is also the name of two of its product categories, namely:
- pressed, dry candies, straight-edged and shaped like 3/8-inch- (1-cm-) long bricks, and
- pocket mechanical dispensers for such candy.
The name PEZ was derived from the German word for peppermint, Pfefferminz. Pez was originally introduced in Austria, later exported, notably to the US, and eventually became available worldwide. The all-upper-case spelling of PEZ, besides its status as an acronym, echoes the trademark's style of type, on packaging and the dispensers themselves, drawn in perspective and looking as if the letters were built out of bricks.
Despite the world-wide recognition of the PEZ dispenser the company considers itself to be primarily a candy company, producing over 3 billion candy bricks each year in the U.S. alone . PEZ Dispensers are part of popular culture in many nations. Because of the large number of dispenser designs over the years, PEZ dispensers are collected by enthusiasts.
History
PEZ was first marketed as a compressed peppermint candy in Vienna, Austria. The candy was invented in 1927 in Vienna by a confectioner named Eduard Haas III. Haas invented peppermint candies using family owned baking powders, and decided to serve the mints in small, hand-size containers. He manufactured a small tin to hold the mints, similar to the modern Altoids tins. The first PEZ mint dispensers, known as "regulars", were similar in shape to a cigarette lighter, and dispensed an adult breath mint marketed as an alternative to smoking. Haas Food Manufacturing Corporation of Vienna, Austria, was the first to sell PEZ candies.
World War II slowed marketing and production. In 1945, manufacturers devised and promoted the PEZ Box Regular. In 1952 Eduard Haas introduced his product to the United States, and Curtis Allina headed PEZ's US business. In 1955, the PEZ company placed heads on the dispensers and marketed it for children. Santa Claus, Mickey Mouse and Spacetrooper were among the first character dispensers.
After being unavailable for several years, peppermint flavored PEZ candies were reintroduced in the late 1990's along with remakes of the "regulars".
The enthusiasm and nostalgia surrounding Pez are suggested by the existence of two single-block streets in the US, presumably both named "Pez" at the suggestion of Pez enthusiasts:
- Pez Way in Boulder City, NV (near Las Vegas) is a connector, approximately 100 yards (100 meters) in length, between two longer streets.
- Pez Court in North Haven, CT (near New Haven) is a dead-end street, approximately 500 feet (200 meters) in length.
Patents
There are several patents related to the PEZ dispenser. PEZ, Inc. has applied for and received patents related to the PEZ dispensers. Usually, the patent number is molded onto the stem changed every time PEZ, Inc. made a change in the design of the dispenser. Looking at the patent number the dispenser's age can be estimated. The patent number timeline related to PEZ and PEZ-like dispensers follows:
Dispensers can also be found with several non-US patents, such as the German "DBP 818.829" (Deutsches Bundes Patent), and the Mexican "Patent Nr 141,242."
PEZ dispenser tags
There are two types of tags on PEZ dispensers.
The first type is the patent number. The patent number can be used to determine how old the dispenser is.
The second tag type is the injection mold code [IMC]. It tells you what country it came from. A second number identified the specific facility within that country [which is denoted in brackets].
Characters
Toy character head dispensers were introduced in 1955, after the candy was introduced in the United States. There are over 450 unique dispenser heads with thousands of variations. Several different versions were made of many of the characters listed below, but each character is only listed once. Sites in the links section go into much more detail into the variations of Pez dispensers.
; Asterix: Asterix, Obelix, Muselix, Roman Centurion
; Bob the Builder: Bob, Wendy, Pilchard, Scoop, Spud
; Barnyard friends: Cow, Duck, Sheep, Donkey, pig
; Charity: Barky Brown (Animal Welfare League NSW), Breast cancer awareness
; Christmas: Angel, Elf, Polar Bear, Reindeer, Rudolph, Santa Claus, Snowman
; College Football: LSU Football
; DC Comics: Batman, Batgirl, Joker, Penguin, Wonder Woman
; Easter: Chick, Duck with Flower, Egg, Lamb, Rabbit, Rooster
; Garfield: Garfield, Arline, Odie, Nermal
; Harvey Publications: Casper, Green Hornet
; Hello Kitty: Kitty White, Corocoro Kuririn, My Melody
; The Incredibles: Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible, Dash, Jack-Jack; Bob Parr, Helen Parr, Dashiell Parr, Jack-Jack Parr (not in USA)
; Marvel Comics: Captain America, Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, Wolverine
; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: Tom, Jerry, Barney Bear, Droopy Dog, Spike, Tuffy, Tyke
; Misc: Bozo the Clown, Psychedelic Hand, Psydelic Flower, Bubble man, E.T., Jack in the Box, PIF, Zielpunkt
; Moomin: Only in Japan, five minis.
; Mr. Bean: Mr. Bean, Irma Gobb, Teddy, Mini Cooper
; The Muppets: Kermit the Frog with bow tie, Kermit the frog with green collar, Fozzie, Miss Piggy,Miss Piggy with eyelashes, Gonzo
; Nintendo: Diddy Kong, Koopa Trooper, Mario, Yoshi
; Olympic Games: Alpine Man, Olympic Snowman, Vucko Wolf
; Peanuts: Charlie Brown, Joe Cool, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy, Woodstock
; Pez-Pals: Boy, Bride, Doctor, Engineer, Fireman, Girl, Groom, Knight, Maharaja, Mexican Boy, Nurse, Pirate, Policeman, Ringmaster, Sailor, Sheik, Sheriff
; Pez-Pals 2: Alpine Boy, Aral Oil, BP, Mariner, Pilot, Shell Oil
; People: Astronaut, Cowboy, Footbal Player, Pilot, Spaceman, Stewardess
; Pez-a-saurs: He-saur, She-saur, Fly-saur, I-saur
; Pink Panther: Pink Panther, Inspector Clouseau, Ant, Aardvark
; Pokémon: Koffing, Meowth, Mew, Pikachu, Psyduck
; Popeye: Brutus, Olive Oyl, Popeye
; Sesame Street: Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster, Elmo, Zoe
; Shrek: Shrek, Princess Fiona, Puss-n-Boots, Donkey, silver Donkey
; PEZ Sourz: Pineapple, Green Apple, Watermelon, Blue Raspberry
; SpongeBob SquarePants: Spongebob, Patrick, Squidward, Embarrassed Spongebob
; Star Wars: Boba Fett, C-3PO, Chewbacca (IV-VI), Chewbacca (III), Clone Trooper, Darth Vader, Death Star, Emperor Palpatine, Ewok, Jango Fett, General Grievous, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2, Stormtrooper, Yoda
; The Flintstones: Fred Flintstone, Pebbles, Dino, Barney Rubble
; The Simpsons: Bart, Homer, Lisa, Maggie, Marge
; The Smurfs: Brainy, Gargamel, Papa, Smurf, Smurfette
; The Walt Disney Company
- Bambi, Thumper
- Bouncer Beagle, Chip, Daisy Duck, Dalmatian, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Donald Duck, Dumbo, Goofy, Gyro Gearloose, Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Scrooge McDuck, Webby
- Peter Pan, Captain Hook
- Baghera, Baloo, Kaa, King Louie, Mowgli, Shere Khan
- Mufasa, Nala, Pumbaa, Simba, Timon
- Mary Poppins
- Snow White, Dopey
- Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, Tinkerbell
- Lil' Wolf, Practical Pig
- Pooh Bear, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, Roo, Lumpy
- Zorro
; Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey Puck, Baseball Glove, Soccerball
; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael
; The Tweenies: Bella, Doodles, Fizz, Jake, Milo
; Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein, Wolfman
; Ultraman I: Only in Japan, five minis.
; Warner Bros.: Bugs Bunny, Bugs Bunny (Back in Action), Cool Cat, Daffy Duck, Daffy Duck (Back in Action), Foghorn Leghorn, Henry Hawk, Merlin Mouse, Petunia Pig, Road Runner, Speedy Gonzales, Sylvester, Tazmanian Devil, Tazmanian Devil (Back in Action), Tweety, Tweety (Back in Action), Wile E. Coyote, Yosemite Sam, Yosemite Sam (Back in Action)
See also
- PEZ Card Game
- Less Than Jake
References
- 1 http://pezco.securesites.com/stuff/about.php
External links
- [http://www.pez.com/ PEZ official site]
- [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PEZheads/ Pez Collectors Email Discussion Group]
- [http://www.collectingpez.com/ Collecting PEZ]
- [http://www.popapez.com/ POP-A-PEZ]
- [http://www.spectrumnet.com/pez/ Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia]
- [http://www.pezcentral.com/ PEZ Central]
- [http://ideafinder.com/history/inventions/story037.htm The Great Idea Finder PEZ]
- [http://www.pezworld.com/ PEZ world]
- [http://www.pezhq.com/ PEZ headquarters: news about PEZ]
- [http://pezbase.beakerboy.com/ Pezbase, The Online PEZ Database]
- [http://www.bandai.co.jp/gashapon/sweets/index.html GASHAPON WORLD SweetsStation](Japanese mini-PEZ)
Category:Confectionery
Pezcore
Pezcore is the first full compact disc released by the Ska Punk band Less Than Jake, originally released on Dill Records. The album was later released on Asian Man, which was missing two tracks found on the Dill version ("Jeffersons" and "Laveren and Shirley").
In 2002 Less Than Jake re-released a 10th anniversary version of Pezcore. To make things clear, it's the 10th anniversary of the band, not the album itself. The album has been re-mixed and re-mastered and released on Fueled by Ramen, the record label owned by the Less Than Jake drummer Vinnie Fiorello.
Tracklisting
#"My Very Own Flag"
#"Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts"
#"Big"
#"Shotgun"
#"Black Coffee"
#"Throw the Brick"
#"Growing Up on a Couch"
#"Blindsided"
#"Downbeat"
#"Jen Doesn't Like Me Anymore"
#"Out of the Crowd"
#"Robo"
#"Where in the Hell is Mike Sinkovich?"
#"Process"
#"Three Quarts Drunk"
#"Boomtown"
#"Short on Ideas"
#"One Last Cigarette"
#"Jeffersons" (Dill release only)
#"Laverne & Shirley" (Dill release only)
10th Anniversary Edition tracklisting
#"Liquor Store"
#"My Very Own Flag"
#"Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts"
#"Big"
#"Shotgun"
#"Black Coffee"
#"Throw the Brick"
#"Growing Up on a Couch"
#"Blindsided"
#"Downbeat"
#"Jen Doesn't Like Me Anymore"
#"Out of the Crowd"
#"Robo"
#"Where in the Hell is Mike Sinkovich?"
#"Process"
#"Three Quarts Drunk"
#"Boomtown"
#"Short on Ideas/One Last Cigarette"
Category:Less Than Jake albums Category:1995 albums
Gainesville, FloridaGainesville is a city located in Alachua County, Florida. It is the county seat of Alachua County. Major sites include the Devil's Millhopper, the Florida Museum of Natural History and the historic downtown area. Gainesville is primarily known for being home to The University of Florida, the 4th largest University in the United States and one of the most prestigious public universities. Santa Fe Community College, one of the nation's largest 2-year colleges, is also located in Gainesville.
As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 95,447. Following a successful annexation in 2002, the population increased to 108,856 (U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates).
Geography
2004
Gainesville is located at 29°39'55" North, 82°20'10" West (29.665245, -82.336097).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 127.2 km² (49.1 mi²). 124.8 km² (48.2 mi²) of it is land and 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.87% water.
Gainesville is the southernmost deciduous city in America. There are deciduous trees farther south, but they are not as abundant as they are from Alachua County northward.
The North Florida area in which Gainesville is located is known to natives as the "end of the South." This is most likely due to the fact that south of Alachua County, starting at Ocala, there are fewer native Floridians (and effectively native Southerners) and the sprawling development that defines South and Central Florida begins.
Rural North Florida is a very stereotypically southern area with farms and pine forests dotting the landscape.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 95,447 people living within the city limits, 37,279 households, and 18,341 families residing in the city. The population of the metropolitan area as of the census of 2000 was 217,955. The population density is 764.9/km² (1,981.0/mi²). There are 40,105 housing units at an average density of 321.4/km² (832.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 68.36% White, 23.24% African American, 0.25% Native American, 4.49% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.46% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. 6.40% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Note: These population figures probably do not include the vast majority of the 75,000+ student population which are recorded for census purposes as living with their parents in their hometowns.
There are 37,279 households out of which 22.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% are married couples living together, 13.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 50.8% are non-families. 32.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.25 and the average family size is 2.90.
In the city the population is spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 29.4% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 26 years. For every 100 females there are 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,164, and the median income for a family is $44,263. Males have a median income of $31,090 versus $25,653 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,779. 26.7% of the population and 15.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Gainesville is informally called "Hogtown", after Hogtown Creek, which runs through the city. It was the center of the Gainesville Eight case in the 1960s, and is known to some as the Berkeley of the South. The city is characterized by its medium size, rural location, and large public university. Suburban sprawl has (as of late) become a concern for the city commissioners. However, the "New Urbanization" plan to revitalize run-down portions of the area between historic Downtown and the University of Florida may slow the growth of suburban sectors that have caused extensive westward sprawl, and catalyze a migration toward upper-level apartments in the inner-city. The area immediately north of the University of Florida is also seeing active redevelopment. Gainesville is served by the Gainesville Regional Airport.
History
Gainesville's original inhabitants were the Timucua Indians. Spanish colonists began cattle ranching in the Payne's Prairie area using Timucua labor and the largest ranch became known as LaChua. Though the ranch was eventually destroyed by British raiders, it nevertheless gave its name to the Alachua band of the Seminole tribe who settled in the region in the 1700s under the leadership of the great chief Ahaya the Cowkeeper.
Gainesville was originally formed along the Florida Railroad Company's line stretching from Cedar Key, Florida to Fernandina Beach, Florida as part of a route eventually carrying cargo from New Orleans, Louisiana to New York. In 1854 Gainesville became the new Alachua County seat (moving from the more populated but inconveniently located Newnansville). The city is named for General Edmund P. Gaines, commander of U.S. Army troops in Florida during the Second Seminole War.
Gainesville was the scene of small-scale fighting in the Civil War. On February 15, 1864, a skirmish erupted when about 50 Union troops entered the city intending to capture two trains. The Second Florida Cavalry successfully repulsed this raid. The raiding party was eventually defeated at the Battle of Olustee five days later. Later that year, the Battle of Gainesville took place on August 17, 1864. Three-hundred Union troops occupying the city were attacked by the Florida Cavalry. The Federals were driven out of town and suffered significant casualties.
Gainesville's fortunes took a major turn when the University of Florida was created by the Florida Legislature in 1905. Gainesville was chosen as the site, beating out other cities who saw their colleges close, such as Lake City and Bartow. The university has brought the town a youthful population, cultural opportunities, and world class medical facilities. The sports drink Gatorade was invented in Gainesville as a means of refreshing the UF football team and UF still receives a share of the profits from the beverage.
Terror struck residents of Gainesville in August 1990 when five students were found brutally murdered in their apartments over a three day period. After extensive investigation, Danny Rolling was charged with the murders and convicted in 1994. The murders attracted national attention and heightened awareness of security issues at the University of Florida and elsewhere. A monument to the victims now exists along Southwest 34th Street, including five palm trees in the median and a painted wall.
Culture
Gainesville has a fairly well-known punk and ska music scene and has spawned a number of bands including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Less Than Jake, The Usuals, The Know How, Hot Water Music, Against Me!, Sister Hazel, and Roach Motel. It is also the location of the independent label No Idea Records.
Cultural facilities include the Florida Museum of Natural History, Harn Museum of Art, the Hippodrome State Theatre, Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and The Civic Media Center. Smaller theaters include the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre (ART) and the Gainesville Community Playhouse (GCP). GCP is one of the oldest community theaters in the State of Florida, having produced its first show in 1927. GCP's season consists of six shows annually. Numerous events are hosted continually at the university.
Gainesville is an expensive town in which to live—rent rates tend to be high off-campus, although the restaurants near the University of Florida tend to be inexpensive. The property taxes are high to offset the cost of the university, as the university's land is tax-exempt. The University of Florida is the major employer for the city.
The east side of Gainesville houses the majority of the African-American community within the city, while the westside houses a more diverse community.
Transportation
Gainesville has an extensive road system, which is served by Interstate 75, and several Florida State Routes, including State routes 20, 24, 25, and 26, among many others. Gainesville is also served by US 441, which gives a direct route to Ocala, Orlando, and south Florida.
Not only does Gainesville have an extensive road network, Gainesville is also served by Gainesville Regional Transit System, or RTS, which is the fourth largest mass transit system in the state.
Famous residents
Celebrities that live or have lived in Gainesville include:
- Don Felder, musician
- Robert Cade, inventor of Gatorade
- Bo Diddley, musician
- Nicholas Tishuk, Teacher and activist extradordinaire
- Rodney Mullen, Professional Skateboarder
- Buddy Ebsen, actor
- Ric Flair, professional wrestling personality
- Robert Frost, poet
- Joe Haldeman, science fiction author
- Bob Graham, Governor and U.S. Senator
- Marty Liquori, Olympic track & field athlete and TV announcer
- Tom Petty, musician
- River Phoenix, actor
- Joaquin Phoenix, actor
- Maya Rudolph, comedian
- Minnie Riperton, musician
- Forrest Sawyer, NBC anchor
- Steve Spurrier, football player and coach
- Stephen Stills, musician
- Emmitt Smith, professional football player
- John Thompson, mathematician, Fields medalist
- Less than Jake, band
- Hot Water Music, band
- Sister Hazel, band
- Against Me!, band
- Stephen Root, actor
- Bob Vila, television show host
- Jack Youngblood, professional football player & NFL Hall of Famer
Other celebrity ties to Gainesville include Faye Dunaway, who went to the University of Florida, and Malcolm Gets, who grew up there, graduated from the university, and wrote and performed at the Community Playhouse and the Hippodrome. Renee Richards lived in Gainesville for a time, Roger Maris had a distributorship and raised his family there, and the motion picture actor William H. Macy has visited his father there from time to time.
Points of interest
- Florida Museum of Natural History
- Harn Museum of Art
- Hippodrome State Theatre
- Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
- University of Florida
- Haile Plantation
- The Butterfly Rainforest
References
- History of Gainesville, Florida, 1854-1979. By Charles H. Hildreth and Merlin G. Cox. published by the Alachua County Historical Society, 1981. ISBN 0967278848
External links
- [http://www.cityofgainesville.org/ City of Gainesville] official site
- [http://www.go-rts.com/ Regional Transit System] - Bus system
Area newspapers
- [http://www.gainesvillesun.com/ The Gainesville Sun]
- [http://www.gainesvilleguardian.com/ The Gainesville Guardian]
- [http://www.alligator.org/ The Independent Florida Alligator]
- [http://www.sellgville.com/ Gainesville's Student Classifieds]
- [http://www.afn.org/~iguana The Gainesville Iguana]
- [http://gainesville4sale.com/ Gainesville Florida Classifieds]
- [http://www.satellitemag.com/ Satellite Magazine]
Educational institutions
- [http://www.ufl.edu/ University of Florida]
- [http://www.sfcc.edu/ Sante Fe Community College]
- [http://www.saintleo.edu/ Saint Leo University]
- [http://www.citycollege.edu/ City College/ Gainesville Campus]
- [http://www.sbac.edu/ The School Board of Alachua County]
- [http://ghs.sbac.edu/ Gainesville High School] - Gainesville High School
- [http://ehs.sbac.edu/ Eastside High School] - Eastside High School
- [http://bhs.sbac.edu/ Buchholz High School]
- [http://www.sbac.edu/~kms Kanapaha Middle School]
- [http://www.sbac.edu/~sfhs/ Santa Fe High School]
- [http://www.stfranciscatholichighschool.org/ Saint Francis Catholic High School]
Miscellaneous
- [http://gainesville.fl.us/ Gainesville Internet Namespace Authority]
- [http://www.civicmediacenter.org/ Civic Media Center] - Alternative library and non-corporate press
- [http://www.gainesvillebands.com/ GainesvilleBands.com]
- [http://www.kiss1053.com/ Kiss 105.3 FM, Your Gator Party Station]
- [http://www.1005thebuzz.com/ Buzz 100.5 FM, Alternative]
Category:Cities in Florida
Category:Alachua County, Florida
Category:University towns
Category:University of Florida
simple:Gainesville, Florida
Mike Park
Mike Park is a Korean American who was originally a saxaphone player for Skankin' Pickle. After his time with Skankin' Pickle he went on to found Asian Man Records, a label which he has successfully run out of his garage in California since 1996. Asian Man Records supports mostly ska and punk bands. Park will support any band as long as it is "anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-prejudice". Among the many bands on Asian Man Records are Park's own bands The Chinkees and The Bruce Lee Band. Park strives to offer affordable music and rejects mega-chains who overcharge for CDs. Park's most important goal though is to end hate and hate crimes. Because of his strong convictions, in 1999 he formed the Plea for Peace Foundation an organization whose aim is "to promote the ideas of peace through the power of music", something which Park has been trying to do with his own bands and with the help of other groups.
Park recorded an acoustic solo album in January 2005 and in the fall of 2006 his Plea for Peace Foundation plans to open a youth center. The first venture undertaken by the charity that isn't a global or national music tour.
Discography
- North Hangook Falling (2005).
External links
- [http://www.asianmanrecords.com Asian Man Records]
- [http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/01.15.98/records1-9802.html Secret Asian Man]
- [http://www.mikeparkmusic.com Official Site]
- [http://www.pleaforpeace.com Plea For Peace Official Site]
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee (November 27 1940 — July 20, 1973) was a Chinese American martial artist and actor who is widely regarded among the most influential martial artists of the 20th century. Lee's few movies, especially his performance in the Hollywood-produced Enter the Dragon, elevated the traditional Hong Kong martial arts film to a new level of popularity, paving the way for future martial artists and martial arts actors such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Chuck Norris.
Nickname
Lee was given the nickname of Mo Si Tung, which, in Cantonese, means "never sits still."
Birth names
- Lee was named Lee Jun Fan in Cantonese (李振藩; Mandarin Pinyin: Lǐ Zhènfán; literally means invigorate [San] Francisco, paying homage to the Chinese name of his birthplace, 三藩市).
- At birth, Lee was given the English name Bruce by nurses at the hospital, a name he retained.
- Lee's mother initially gave him a name (李炫金; Mandarin Pinyin: Lǐ Xuànjīn), since Lee's father was away on a Chinese opera tour at the time. When Lee's father returned after some months, the name was abandoned due to a conflict with the name of Lee's grandfather; in Chinese culture, it is considered a taboo to give a child a name that is the same as an ancestor's. Lee was then renamed Jun Fan.
- Lee was also given a feminine name throughout his early childhood, Sai Feng (細鳳, literally Slender Phœnix, a typical feminine name), commonly used to hide the child from evil spirits.
Screen name
Lee Siu Lung in Cantonese or Li Xiao Long in Mandarin (李小龍; Cantonese pengyam: Ley5 Siw2 Long4; Mandarin Pinyin: Lǐ Xiǎolóng), literally Lee Little-dragon, first named by director 袁步雲 in the 1950 Cantonese movie 細路祥).
Biography
Bruce Lee was born at the Chinese Hospital in San Francisco to a Chinese father, Lee Hoi-Chuen (李海泉), and Chinese-German mother Grace Lee (何金棠). He received his early education and Kung Fu training in Hong Kong. Because of his father's fame as a Chinese opera actor, Lee had the opportunity to appear in several Chinese movies as a child. He studied the martial art known as Wing Chun for a few years and, at a young age, picked up the languages of English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
In 1959, Lee went to Seattle, to complete his high school education. He received his diploma from Edison Technical School and enrolled at the University of Washington as a Philosophy major. It was at the University of Washington that he met his future wife, Linda Emery, whom he would marry in 1964 after graduating. Lee has two children- a daughter, Shannon, and a son, Brandon, who was tragically killed during a film set accident. Some Chinese people believe this was a curse of sort.
Acting career
Due to his father's entertainment industry connections, Lee was a child actor in several 1950s Hong Kong movies.
After graduating from the University of Washington, Lee went on to star as Kato in the TV series The Green Hornet, which ran from 1966 to 1967 and afterward opened up his own Jeet Kune Do school.
In 1971, unable to find acting roles and faced with stereotypes regarding Asian actors, Lee returned to Hong Kong with his family. There, he starred in martial arts movies, earning $30,000 for his first two feature films and cementing his fame.
Yuen Wah, a member of the Seven Little Fortunes, and later to become a well known actor in his own right (notably starring in 2005's Kung Fu Hustle), was Lee's stunt double in Lee's last few films.
The Karate black belt champion, Chuck Norris, was introduced by Lee, portraying one of Lee's opponents in Return of the Dragon, aka Way of the Dragon. The fight with Chuck Norris in the Coliseum is widely regarded as the best martial arts fight ever filmed.
Martial arts training and development
Lee began his formal martial arts training at the age of 13 in Wing Chun Kung Fu under Hong Kong master Yip Man. Like most martial arts schools at that time, Yip Man's classes were often taught by the highest ranking student. Lee did not finish Yip Man's curriculum.
It would not be until his arrival in the United States, however, that Lee began the process of creating his own style, which he would later teach at the martial arts schools he opened first in Seattle, and then in Oakland and Los Angeles, California (named the Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute). After becoming dissatisfied with existing schools of martial arts, he later modified his style, which consisted mostly of elements of Wing Chun, with elements of Western Boxing and Fencing, and named it Jun Fan Gung Fu. Lee expanded this style over time, including elements from Muay Thai, Indo-Malay Silat, Panantukan, Sikaran, Bando, Catch Wrestling, Karate, Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido, and other arts. It would be much later that he would come to describe his style as Jeet Kune Do (Way of the Intercepting Fist) or JKD.
It took a violent confrontation to start Lee's adaptation of his art. Bruce was issued a challenge by Chinese elders in the region in response to his teaching Asian "secrets" to westerners. A contest was scheduled between him and another popular artist in the area to settle the dispute. According to Linda Lee (Cadwell), Bruce expected the fight to last 10 seconds, but it actually lasted a total of three minutes, most of which consisted of Lee chasing the man around the room until finally defeating him. This is contrary to what is shown (falsely) in the movie Dragon, where it is shown that the opponent knocks Bruce down when he's turned away after winning the fight. Although he won the duel, Bruce was forlorn, thinking that the fight had taken too long and that he had failed to live up to himself. At this point he decided to start training hard: weights for strength, running for endurance, stretching for flexibility, plus many other methods of training, which he constantly adapted as he grew as a martial artist.
During this time he developed his own combat techniques as well as the famous one inch punch, which comes from Wing Chun, which he demonstrated during a Karate tournament in Long beach.
Prior to his death, Lee told his then only two living instructors, Dan Inosanto and Taky Kimura (James Yimm Lee had passed away in 1972), to dismantle his schools. He no longer wished to call his art Jeet Kune Do or have his students associate what they were learning as Bruce Lee's style. His last wish was that Dan Inosanto never use the name JKD or Jeet Kune Do again. Though there are many who claim to teach Jeet Kune Do around the globe, Inosanto, following Lee's request, still refers to the Bruce Lee curriculum taught at his school as Jun Fan Gung Fu.
Today, there is often some controversy between Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu (a.k.a. "original Jeet Kune Do") and "Jeet Kune Do concepts", which explore other styles not previously incorporated into Jeet Kune Do by Lee. Depending on the instructor a person trains under, the name of "the style of JKD" is usually specific to a time period in Lee's process although many of the techniques are often the same. Perhaps a reason for Lee himself later regretting even giving a name to his philosophy/fighting style was that it became just another "martial art style." Lee saw loyalty to a particular martial arts style as being dogmatic and having limitations. This and Lee's other ideas about teaching martial arts made him many enemies in the martial arts community of the 1960s/70s. Yet, much of the dispute about Jeet Kune Do instruction is not about the names, but the credibility of the instructors teaching these Jeet Kune Do fighting systems.
There were three certified instructors: Dan Inosanto received the highest certification in Lee's art (a notable exception is Taky Kimura, senior most instructor in Jun Fan Gung Fu) and is widely regarded as the most senior JKD instructor. All other instructors (again except Taky Kimura and the late James Yimm Lee [no relation to Bruce Lee]) are certified under Inosanto, even Bruce's other original students. Kimura, to date, has certified only one person in Jun Fan Gung Fu, his son and heir, Andy Kimura. James Yimm Lee, a close friend of Lee's, never certified anyone before his untimely death. Inosanto often serves not only as the leading instructor and historian of Jeet Kune Do Concepts; he also teaches and practices other styles such as Kali, Silat, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jujitsu, some of which were already incorporated into the Jun Fan system.
Another student of Lee's at the Jun Fan Gung Fu institute in Seattle was Joseph Cowles, who was not certified by Lee as a Jun Fan Gung Fu instructor, but was encouraged by him to teach martial arts. Cowles then founded the Wu Wei Gung Fu system.
Lee used electric current as an aid to strength training, because of the alleged leanness the muscles gained in working against themselves. However, this muscle stimulator was only one of many pieces of equipment and exercise routines Lee used to achieve his on-screen physical appearance.
Lee's nutrition has for several years been the centre of some controversy. Some authors have stated that Lee took an interest in nutrition and developed an interest in health foods and high-protein drinks. Indeed, it has been claimed that "several times a day, he took a high-protein drink made up of powdered milk, ice water, eggs, eggshells, bananas, vegetable oil, peanut flour and chocolate ice cream; he also drank his own juice concoctions made from vegetables and fruits: apples, celery, carrots and so on, prepared in an electric blender." However, other commentators have suggested that Lee lived on a diet of rice and water, in order to gain the inner purity required for retaining his physique. It has been speculated that, ironically, it was this purity that was ultimately to blame for his death (see section below).
Upper Body
- strength trainingAt the invitation of Ed Parker, Lee appeared in the 1964 [http://www.longbeachikc.com/ Long Beach International Karate Championship] and performed repetitions of two-finger pushups (using the thumb and the index finger) with feet at approximately a shoulder-width apart.index finger
- index finger
In the same Long Beach event he also performed a so-called "one inch punch", the description of which is as follows: Lee stood upright, his right foot forward with knees bent slightly, in front of a standing, stationary partner. Lee's right arm was partly extended and his right fist approximately an inch away from the partner's chest. Without retracting his right arm, Lee then forcibly delivered the punch to his partner while largely maintaining his posture, sending the partner backwards and falling into a chair placed behind the partner to prevent injury.
- The weight training programme Lee used during a stay in Hong Kong in 1965, indicated bicep curls of 80 pounds and 8 repetitions for endurance. This translates to an estimated one-repetition-maximum of 110 pounds, placing Lee in approximately the 100th percentile for the 121 to 140 pound weight class.
- Lee typically exhibited a very lean and muscular appearance in his films, particularly in his upper body.
Death
Bruce Lee's death was officially attributed to cerebral edema.
On July 20, 1973, Lee was in Hong Kong, due to have dinner with former James Bond star George Lazenby, with whom he intended to make a film. According to Lee's wife, Linda, Bruce met producer Raymond Chow at 2 pm at home to discuss the making of the movie Game of Death. They worked until 4 pm, and then drove together to the home of Betty Ting Pei (丁珮), a Taiwanese actress who was to also have a leading role in the film. The three went over the script at her home, and then Chow left to attend a dinner meeting.
A short time later, Lee complained of a headache, and Ting Pei gave him a tablet of analgesic. At around 7:30 pm, he laid down for a nap. After Lee didn't turn up for the dinner, Chow came to the apartment but could not wake Lee up. A doctor was summoned, who spent 10 minutes attempting to revive him before sending him by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. However, Lee was dead by the time he reached the hospital. The ensuing autopsy found traces of cannabis. There was no visible external injury; however, his brain had swollen considerably, from 1,400 to 1,575 grams. Lee was 32 years old. On October 15, 2005, Chow stated in an interview that Lee was hypersensitive to equigesic, one of the three ingredients in the pain-killing medication, whose generic name is Flunixin Meglumine. It is thought that the reaction Lee suffered was exacerbated because of his strict diet and training regimen. His body was so pure because of the strict rice and water diet he followed that his body was unable to withstand the toxic effects of the analgesic.
A similar incident had occurred a few months before. On May 10, during the final dubbing of Enter the Dragon, Lee suffered a sudden attack of seizures and a nonfatal cerebral edema.
cerebral edema
Lee's death was officially recorded as being the result of an abnormal reaction to painkillers he took for severe back pain, possibly in combination with the analgesic for a headache. Lee incurred this back problem when he was younger, after pinching a nerve in his lower back while doing good mornings (a lower back free-weight exercise) without properly warming up -- a condition that left him temporarily in a wheelchair. Fortunately, contrary to his doctor's prognosis that he would never kick again, Lee regained his range of motion and martial arts ability.
He is interred in Seattle's Lake View Cemetery.
Although he made only a handful of films and television appearances in his adulthood, Bruce Lee has become an iconic pop culture figure in his movies as an Asian man who became the epitome of what his fans see as the mental and physical perfection in martial arts.
His fame also sparked the first major surge of interest in Chinese martial arts in the West. The direction and tone of Bruce Lee's movies have forever changed and influenced martial arts and martial arts films in America.
Philosophy
Although he is best known as a martial artist and actor, Lee majored in philosophy at the University of Washington. His philosophy often mirrored his fighting beliefs, though he claimed that his martial arts were solely a metaphor for such teachings. His influences were largely Taoist, Buddhist, and philosophers such as Jiddu Krishnamurti.
See Wikiquotes for quotes by Lee.
Awards and Honors
- With his ancestral roots coming from Gwan'on in Seundak, Gwongdung province (广东顺德均安 Guangdong Shunde Jun'An), a street in the village is named after him where his ancestral home is situated. The home is open for public access.
- Lee was named by TIME Magazine as one of the greatest heroes & icons and among the most influential martial artists of the 20th century.
- In 1958, Lee was the Cha Cha Champion of Hong Kong. He worked part time as a Cha Cha instructor for a short time when he returned to San Francisco in April 1959.
- The 1993 film Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a fictionalized biography of his life/legend.
- In 2001, LMF, a Cantonese hip-hop group in Hong Kong , released a popular song called "1127" as a tribute to Lee. The lyrics include: "We only want you to become a Chinese you can be proud of. Learn from others; Need not copy. Use your heart to digest the knowledge of others. Try asking why there are so many failures here who do not support each other and always pretend to be like the Other. [Chorus] We had Bruce Lee teach us we are not the disease of Asia. Though having yellow skin, we can still be ourselves. Do not follow, copy, and be like the other Chinese. Do not look down upon ourselves.... The spirit of Bruce Lee will never die and the Chinese will never forget that."
- In 2004, UFC president Dana White credits Lee as the "father of mixed martial arts".
- In September 2004, a [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3620752.stm a BBC story] stated that the Herzegovinian city of Mostar was to honour Lee with a statue on the Spanish Square, as a symbol of solidarity. After many years of war and religious splits, Lee's figure is to commend his work: to successfully bridge culture gaps in the world. The statue, placed in the city park, was unveiled on 26 November 2005.
- In 2005, Lee is to be remembered in Hong Kong with a bronze statue to mark his 65th birthday. The bronze statue, to be unveiled in November, will honour Lee as "Chinese film's bright star of the century". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4711947.stm]
- Lee is one of the very few actors to have commercially released computer and console videogames named after themselves, not after a character they played. These games are as follow:
- 1984
- Bruce Lee, by Datasoft, for Commodore 64, PC Booter, and Apple II.
- Bruce Lee, by Ocean Software, for ZX Spectrum.
- 1989
- Bruce Lee Lives: The Fall of Hong Kong Palace, by The Software Toolworks, for DOS.
- 1993
- Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, by Acclaim, for SNES and Game Gear
- 1994
- Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, by Atari Corporation, for Jaguar.
- 1995
- Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, by Acclaim, for Sega Master System.
- 2002
- Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon, by Universal Interactive Studios, for Xbox.
- 2003
- Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend, by Vivendi Universal Games, for Game Boy Advance.
Characters based on Lee
- Lee Bailong (Lee Pai-Long) in Shaman King, essentially the manga's version of Bruce. The character was killed so that his body could be made into a Jiang Shi in service to the Tao family.
- Rock Lee from Naruto, resembles and is a tribute to Bruce Lee (as does his teacher Gai). In the anime and manga, the character is a martial arts master with a similar fighting style as Bruce Lee.
- The Pokémon Hitmonlee was named after Bruce Lee and uses primarily kicks. Similarly the Pokémon Hitmonchan was named after Jackie Chan and uses primarily punches.
- Spike Spiegel from the anime Cowboy Bebop uses the quote "be like water" and fights in a fashion similar to Lee's movie characters. Spike uses the nunchaku as Lee does and shares similar fighting stances. Cowboy Bebop incorporates many elements of Lee's Jeet Kune Do philosophy. Spike's innate fighting abilities and martial arts style (Jeet Kune Do) were borrowed from Lee, whose influence is seen many times in the series. The name of the bounty in the second episode is Abdul Hakim, borrowed from the Lee film Game of Death that co-starred Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who played a character called "Hakim". On two other separate occasions, Spike also makes mention of Enter the Dragon and Way of the Dragon, two more Lee films. The creator of Cowboy Bebop stated that Cowboy Bebop was a tribute to Lee.
- Kenshiro from the manga and anime Fist of the North Star got the same famous "cat screech" noise and "atatatah" battle cry whenever Kenshiro is punching his enemies. The creator Tetsuo Hara admits that he is a big fan of Lee's movies and his character Kenshiro is a tribute to Lee.
- Several fighting games have characters based on Bruce Lee, enough that it has become an archetype within the genre. Notable examples include:
- Fei Long in the Street Fighter series.
- K' (K Dash) and Kula Diamond from King of Fighters 2000/2001, the characters use Bruce Lee's fighting stance and even have a move that imitates Bruce Lee's One Inch Punch, the move is named One Inch.
- Marshall Law and his son Forest in the Tekken series. In the early Tekken games, one of Marshall's outfits was a yellow jumpsuit.
- Kim Dragon in the World Heroes series.
- Liu Kang in the Mortal Kombat series. In the game Mortal Kombat: Deception he fights with the style Jun Fan. Also he uses nunchakus as his weapon.
- Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance uses both nunchaku and Jeet Kune Do. He's also known for being a great martial artist and a movie star. His clothing in Deadly Alliance resembles Bruce Lee's clothing.
- Jann Lee in the Dead or Alive series.
- Maxi in the Soul Calibur series uses Bruce Lee's style of nunchakus and have a similar fighting stance as Bruce Lee.
- Ling Tong in Dynasty Warriors 5 uses a Nunchaku, moves quickly, and has similar physical characteristics and movements as Bruce Lee.
- Fei Fong Wong in Xenogears has a similar fighting style, techniques, and stance as Bruce Lee. Fei Fong Wong also wears simlar pants Bruce Lee wore in many of his movies.
- Reiji in Kakuto Chojin fights using Jeet Kune Do. Reiji's physical appearance also resembles Bruce Lee and wears sunglasses similar to Bruce Lee's
- In Double Dragon, Billy and Johnny Lee are a tribute to Bruce Lee (the surname Lee is a big give away). In the remake Double Dragon Advance, there are Bruce Lee posters during the China Town level and in the cutscenes Billy and Jimmy looks similar to Lee when angry.
- When Dante Sparda wields his three-pronged Nunchaku in Devil May Cry 3, his shouts emulate Lee's famous whoops and howls.
- Jacky Bryant in Virtua Fighter has Jeet Kune Do, listed as his fighting style. It is important to note that there is a difference between Jeet Kune Do and Bruce Lee's movie fighting style.
- In Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories a set of clothing you unlock is the jump suit he wore in Game of Death.
- Stephen Chow, Hong Kong actor and director, is a fan of Lee and has played and directed roles which are reminiscent of Lee, such as:
- Sing (Brother #4) in Shaolin Soccer (2001)
- Sing in Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
- David Carradine, American actor, played the characters written for Lee in the 1978 version of The Silent Flute.
- Lee from Rush Hour and Rush Hour 2 was named after Bruce Lee and has a similar fighting styles to Bruce Lee.
- In the Quentin Tarantino movie Kill Bill, Uma Thurman's yellow jumpsuit is a tribute to Bruce Lee from the movie Game of Death.
- In the film No Retreat, No Surrender, Bruce Lee's ghost trains a young Bruce Lee enthusiast.
See also
- Bruceploitation
- Bruce Li
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