Crimpshrine

Pioneering Bay Area punk band

Punk band from Berkeley, California. The original incarnation of Crimpshrine consisted of Aaron Cometbus, Jeff Ott (12 years old at the time) and Jesse Michaels (who would later form Operation Ivy), and was formed in the summer of 1982. At that time, the group went by the name "S.A.G." A few demos from this period may survive on tape, and at least one track from this era was released on a compilation put out by Cometbus in the early 1990s. S.A.G. broke up with the departure of Jesse Michaels in 1984, and the band changed their name to Crimpshrine and went through lineup changes (including a brief stint with Tim Armstrong (pre-Operation Ivy) on bass). In 1986, the band began to play live shows, and in early 1987, their first demo was recorded. Crimpshrine released several 7" records, and an LP on Lookout! Records, as well as an LP on Musical Tragedies (a German label). They also were featured on many compilations. Crimpshrine disbanded in 1989 (although their last recordings would make their way onto a split 7" in 1990). Crimpshrine members would go on to play in, Fifteen, Operation Ivy, Rancid, Shotwell Coho, Pinhead Gunpowder, Sweet Babys, Tilt (2) and many other East Bay bands.