Pissing off Scenesters Since 1995
Pennywise is giving back to the fans. The Hermosa Beach punk band will be distributing its latest CD free of charge to fans for two weeks through MySpace. Beginning March 25, 2008, fans around the world will be able to obtain a high quality, DRM-free download from MySpace for a period of two weeks. Longtime Pennywise fan and seasoned producer Cameron Webb (Social Distortion, Motorhead, Sum 41) has signed on to produce and mix the upcoming CD.
Sure, Radiohead can make fans pay what they wish, but this is the first time a band is just giving away a major release for nothing. On the same day, Pennywise and MySpace Records will also release an enhanced CD/DVD version of the as-yet-untitled disc to retail outlets for sale, with the CD containing the same songs as the downloadable version. There will also be a vinyl version available with two extra exclusive tracks.
To download the album for free beginning March 25, 2008, users simply have to add promotional partner “Textango” as a MySpace friend (anyone can create a MySpace account for free).
“We know that this will piss off a lot of people in the music industry,” stated guitarist Fletcher Dragge in a release, “and what do we say to that? ‘Who cares?’ We’ve been pissing people off for 18 years. Why stop now? We have been telling people to get our records by any mean necessary for 17 years. As a band, we decided that it was time to come to terms with the facts. There are a lot of people out there who want their music for free, so we got proactive and with the help of MySpace Records and Textango we found away to make it happen…we couldn’t be more stoked.”
Says lead vocalist Jim Lindberg, “I think for a band like ours that has put out eight albums already, it’s a great way to give back to our fans for their support over the years. We can also potentially expose our music and message to people around the world who may have never had the opportunity to hear it because they either couldn’t afford to buy a CD or they didn’t have access to music outlets or good distribution. It’s a way for us to instantly expand our music into places it’s never been before. Maybe there’s someone in Sri Lanka that is a huge Pennywise fan but just doesn’t know it yet.”
Adds Fletcher, “All on the same day–March 25–you will be able to go out and buy our new record, download it and then go buy it, or just download it for free and sit back and check it out. How cool is that…an option for all ways of thinking?”
“Getting it for free is like being able to take something for a test drive,” says Jim. “There will be some extras that come with the actual physical CD and a few bonus tracks on the vinyl version which we think will help get more people going into their local independent record stores.”
The band split from longtime label Epitaph Records, joining Rancid and The Dropkick Murphys in the ranks of Epitaph expats. Hopefully, Pennywise will have better luck on their own then Rancid or H2O did.
You guys are the hottest.
Your for real in a world of wannabe misfits.
I loved the book too…
Keep it up. Keep it hard… Keep it Real
Kick ass idea. I’m an alum from Redondo High “91″
Long time fan..from the start.
Can’t wait to hear it!
Patrick
pennywise is the fucking shit! i cant wait! fuck authority silent majority raised by the system now its time to rise against them!
been listening from the beginning! oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh !!!!
What is better than a new Pennywise album? Kick-ass idea giving it to fans for free! I can’t wait for it to come out – I’ve been a fan since I was 12 years old (and that was a LONG time ago!)
Right on!!! I was at a few of your concerts. The last time I saw you was in Pensacola at the Night Owl. I think that was like 12 years ago!!!
I appreciate the Free music! Man, thats awesome of you do give back to us fans!!!
Well, to take the other angle and play devil’s advocate, I’m certain that Pennywise gets a nice kickback from myspace/textango for every download because of all the site traffic this will generate, not to mention secondary traffic for myspace. Site traffic equals ad views, and click through, which generates ad income, which then turns into money. Not that anything is wrong with making a buck off your music, bands deserve to make a living as well, and Pennywise have certainly put their time in. Plus, in this case the end user/consumer actually wins because they get a record for free. As an evil PR person, I just have to point out that this isn’t completely altruistic.
Can’t wait to download and buy the new album!
FUCK emily dickenson!!! Knowing you’re an evil PR person is only half the battle, killing yourself is the other half!! Now get busy and go to hell, you go to hell and you die!!! … Long live PENNYWISE !!!
didnt know that you guys split from epitaph,dont understand?
I just wanted to let Pennywise know that you guys have a huge scene waiting for you to come down to South America.
Believe me when I tell you that in the life project I’m executing right now, you guys ideas and messages are the pillar of it. Please, never stop writing the songs you write and never stop spreading the message you spread in each song youguys have ever written and perform. This world needs it.
Cheers for Colombia, South America.
“better luck on their own then rancid did” what does that mean?
Cool. but they’re not the first band to do this, contrary to this article.
man what can l say have loved you guys from the start(in a pletonic kinda way)you guys filled the void cant wait to rock out in my loungeroom haha to who PENNYWISE PENNYWISE PENNYWISE.SORRY dudes my loss l know but l aint gunna download free album l gunna get off my arse and pay for it due to the KARMIC patterns of life ha peace and abundance of all things real