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Mighty Mighty Bosstones
With a voice like a bulldog with throat cancer, Dicky Barrett and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones keep the roof raised with their tight blend of Boston-based Punk and Ska a la the Specials. Formed in 1985 and making their first recorded debut in 1989, the Bosstones (as they are informally called) were on the Third Wave Ska scene way early. They helped to shape the now wildly popular genre, Ska-Punk. Though they tone down once in a while to take on a more traditional, more subdued Ska style, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones mostly live up to (and beyond) their name and crunch through some serious Hardcore. Even when they're pushing up the pulse of their sound, the Bosstones never sacrifice the horn-rich Ska aspect of the band. Instead, the horn and the up-down guitar sound picks up both the pace and feet -- and sets the kids dancing.
Formed in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, during the mid-80s, by Nate Albert (guitar), Joe Gittleman (bass) and Ben Carr (vocals). They were joined by Dicky Barrett (vocals) and Tim 'Johnny Vegas' Burton (saxophone) completing the line-up of the original Bosstones. After a laconic lacuna during the Reagan years the band returned as the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, having enrolled Joe Sirois (drums), Dennis Brockenborough (trombone) and Kevin Leanear (saxophone). The change of name was justified by Barrett who claimed that 'any band can just be mighty'. The musicians built a solid foundation in the USA through their fusion of ska and punk, with influences from soul and funk as well as thrash and heavy metal. They played across America to packed venues consisting of various US youth cult followers, skinheads, punks, metal heads and college students. In 1992, they were recognized at the Boston Music Awards where they received accolades for Best Single, Best Album and Best Rock Band. Their early recordings surfaced through the independent Taang! label, including an EP featuring cover versions of hits by Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen.
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Artist Biography - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
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 Their increasing notoriety led to interest from the major labels with Mercury Records signing the band. The first release was an EP featuring 'Someday I Suppose', 'Lights Out', 'Police Beat' and a cover version of the Wailers' 'Simmer Down'. In 1992, the band began working on their debut album for Mercury with producer Tony Platt who, apart from his rock productions, had worked with Bob Marley in the early 70s. In 1993, Mercury promoted the band in the UK, releasing 'Ska-Core The Devil And More' and Don't Know How To Party. The band's success led to media interest in the USA which resulted in a cameo appearance in the movie Clueless, a ska version of Kiss' 'Detroit Rock City' - featured on the tribute compilation Kiss My Ass - and imaginative merchandising. By 1997, the band's high profile was elevated in America by an exhaustive promotional campaign and the release of the excellent Let's Face It. The following year they enjoyed a UK Top 20 hit with 'The Impression That I Get'.
After almost ten years involvement with a major label, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones returned to their independent roots in the new millennium. They signed a new recording contract with Los Angeles-based indie Side One Dummy Records, making their debut for the label in July 2002 with A Jackknife To A Swan.
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For more information , enjoy the official homepage of Mighty Mighty Bosstones
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