All (band): Difference between revisions

File:ALL Promo.jpg

ALL Promotional Photograph (Epitaph Records)

ALL is a spin off punk band formed by members of the Descendents. After the departure of singer Milo Aukerman from the Descendents in 1987 to pursue a graduate degree in biochemistry, the three remaining bandmembers formed ALL, naming themselves after the Descendents' last record. (Milo Aukerman re-united with the Descendents in 1996, and both bands continue to co-exist.)

The instrumental lineup of ALL has remained constant and consists of guitarist Stephen Egerton, bassist Karl Alvarez, and drummer Bill Stevenson. (Only Stevenson, formerly of Black Flag, was an original member of the Descendents.)

ALL's first two albums, "Allroy Sez" (1988, Cruz/SST Records) and "Allroy for Prez" (1988, Cruz/SST EP) were recorded with vocalist Dave Smalley (formerly of East Coast hardcore and punk bands DYS, Dag Nasty and Down By Law). Scott Reynolds took over vocals until 1993, singing on the albums "Allroy's Revenge", "Trailblazer", "Allroy Saves", "Tony All/Old Girl New Story", "Percolater", and "Dot". When Reynolds left, he was replaced by current singer Chad Price for the 1993 album "Breaking Things."

ALL joined major label Interscope Records for 1995's "Pummel". Disputes over marketing and promotion of "Pummel" resulted in a departure from Interscope. "Mass Nerder" (1998), "Problematic" (2000), and "Live + One" (2002), which includes a live All CD and a bonus CD from the Descendents' reunion shows in 1996 were released on Epitaph Records.

ALL has two new albums in the works, but no scheduled release dates. One album, which was written and partially recorded at the same time as the The Descendents, album Cool To Be You (early 2002), is reported to consist of all new material with the familiar sound of ALL, while the other is expected to be more instrumental and experimental.

ALL is no longer under contract with Epitaph Records. In a 2004 interview, Bill Stevenson said that the new ALL material might be released on their own label Owned & Operated.

Perhaps the best introduction to ALL's work is "ALL," a best-of album released in 1998 on Stevenson's Owned & Operated label. The album contains remastered songs, an extensive booklet with lyrics, photos, a complex family tree of the Descendents/ALL, track selections by the fans, and an otherwise unavailable song with Aukerman.

The band members of ALL often express frusteration that the Descendents are so much more popular than ALL, despite the fact that the drumer, guitarist and bassist are the same in both bands, and the songs are sometimes very simlar (and, at times, the same). For example, the Descendents often records demo songs that end up as ALL songs, and vice versa. When the Descendents, play live they often play ALL songs in their set, and vice versa.

Discography

ALBUMS

• Allroy Sez (1988)
• Allroy's Revenge (1989)
• Allroys Saves (1990)
• Persolater (1992)
• Breaking Things (1993)
• Pummel (1995)
• Mass Nerder (1998)
• ALL (Greatest Hits) (1999)
• Problematic (2000)

EP/SINGLES

• Allroy For Prez(1988)
• She's My Ex(1989)
• Dot(1988)
• Shreen(1992)
• Guilty(1993)

LIVE

• Trailblazer(1989)
• Live Plus One(2001)