Camper Van Beethoven Lyrics

Camper Van Beethoven is an American alternative rock group formed in Redlands, California in 1983.

An eclectic band, Camper Van Beethoven mixes elements of pop, ska, punk rock, folk and alternative country, as well as various types of world music. Their aggressive musical pluralism created a multi-disciplinary sound that has rapidly evolved from record to record. The band initially polarized audiences within the hardcore punk scene of California's Inland Empire that birthed them before finding wider acceptance in their new home of Santa Cruz and, eventually, an international audience. Their strong iconoclasm and emphasis on Do It Yourself values proved to be influential to the burgeoning indie rock movement.

Released within an 18 month period, the band's first three, independent records enjoyed critical success, each placing in The Village Voice's 1986 Pazz and Jop Top 100 Albums list. Their debut single, "Take the Skinheads Bowling", remains a college rock radio staple. The group signed to Virgin Records in 1987, released two lauded albums and enjoyed chart success with their 1989 cover of Status Quo's "Pictures of Matchstick Men", a number one hit on Billboard Magazine's Modern Rock Tracks. They disbanded the following year, however, due to internal tensions. Individual members found greater success thereafter, with lead singer David Lowery forming Cracker, multi-instrumentalist David Immerglück joining the Counting Crows, and several other members playing in Monks of Doom. Beginning in 1999, the former members resumed their collaboration, resulting in a full-fledged reunion and several new releases.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camper_Van_Beethoven