Biography
The sneering delivery from vocalist Daryl—simply known as Daryl—positioned the Bollweevils as successors in the Chicago hardcore lineage traceable to bands including Naked Raygun. Throughout the 1990s the quartet stirred excitement within the local scene while serving as a reliable opener for touring punk acts such as Rancid and the Queers. Their first full-length, Stick Your Neck Out, appeared on Dr. Strange Records in 1994. That recording surged forward on youthful energy, explosive drumming, and active bass lines, all framed by Daryl’s insolent vocals. Even so, the lyrics revealed a sharper edge; “John Doe,” for instance, traces the path that left a homeless individual on a dissecting table—an idea drawn from Daryl’s own medical training. A concealed bonus track rendered Tommy Tutone’s 1980s smash “867-5309/Jenny.” The follow-up, The History of the Bollweevils, Part One, gathered earlier EP and compilation cuts. The 1995 studio album Heavyweight reflected a more seasoned sensibility through denser arrangements and added vocal harmonies. Its closing section juxtaposes a version of the Bad Brains’ “Pay to Cum” with a tour-diary recording exceeding ten minutes. Weevilive surfaced in 1996, and the anthology The History of the Bollweevils, Part 2 arrived in 1999.
Albums
