AMG Says...
Punk's premier cover artists, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are a conglomerate of some of the most recognizable faces in new-school punk. Drawn together by a mutual love of '60s and '70s music, the Gimme Gimmes work exclusively as a cover band. Their repertoire include songs from such acts as Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, and John Denver.
Singer Spike Slawson formed the Gimme Gimmes in 1996, drawing in the talents of NOFX bassist Fat Mike, Lagwagon singer/guitarist Joey Cape, No Use for a Name guitarist Chris Shiflett, and Lagwagon drummer Dave Raun. Never originally aiming to put out a record, the band made appearances on punk compilation albums through much of the year. In 1997, however, the band began releasing singles named after the singer they had covered. They produced Billy, Diamond, Paul, Denver, and Barry in this manner. Finally, the group produced their first full-legth effort, Have a Ball, in late 1997. The band still performs whenever its members aren't busy with their other bands, and makes plenty of guest appearances on punk compilations.
The group's second full length CD, Are a Drag, came out in June 1999. This particular album was a hit at college radio thanks to the band's quirky renditions of popular show tunes. Two years later, they switched formulas and covered classics from the 1960s and 1970s for Blow in the Wind. Me First & The Gimme Gimmes energetic punk rock was infectious and pop kids loved it, so they opted to continue on with their signature covers. The R&B tailored album, Take A Break was released in July 2003, just in time for the band's umpteenth appearance on the annual Vans' Warped Tour.
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