Fifteen

Fifteen emerged in 1988 once the Bay Area punk group Crimpshine had broken up, immediately channeling its efforts into punk-pop material that carried pointed social themes. Jeff Ott, the band’s singer and guitarist, shaped lyrics around questions of social justice, addressing homelessness, drug misuse, environmental damage, and heavy-handed government measures. Much of this material drew directly from his background, which included childhood sexual abuse, leaving home at thirteen, and eleven years spent living on the streets as a gutter punk. Fellow members faced hardships of their own, reflected in the 1999 album Lucky, titled for a previous bassist who died by suicide following an amphetamine dependency. Across their career they issued three records apiece on Grass and Lookout, along with the self-produced Extra Medium Kickball All-Star. Sub City Records released the EP Hush in summer 2000, and several months later the band delivered the full-length Survivor. In fall 2003 Extra Medium Kickball All-Star was reissued in expanded form, with additional tracks included to benefit Any Positive Change and its work curbing the spread of HIV and hepatitis C through needle sharing.