Drive Like Jehu
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 in San Diego, California, United States |
| Defunct | 1995; reunited 2014–2016 |
| Headquarters | San Diego , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Drive Like Jehu was a post-hardcore group originating from San Diego, active initially between 1990 and 1995, and later from 2014 to 2016. The band was established by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rick Froberg together with lead guitarist John Reis, both formerly of Pitchfork. They were joined by bassist Mike Kennedy and drummer Mark Trombino, who had played in Night Soil Man. The formation of Drive Like Jehu occurred after the dissolution of their previous bands in 1990. Their musical style was characterized by emotive vocals, complex arrangements, indirect melodic lines, sophisticated guitar interplay, and deliberate tension-building techniques. This distinctive approach set them apart within the post-hardcore scene and played a role in shaping the transition of hardcore punk toward emo. The band's name is likely inspired by the biblical narrative found in 2 Kings 9:20.
After releasing their self-titled debut album in 1991 through local labels Cargo Music and Headhunter Records, Drive Like Jehu secured a contract with major label Interscope Records, concurrently with Reis’s other project, Rocket from the Crypt. Their sophomore effort, Yank Crime (1994), garnered a dedicated cult audience prior to the band’s breakup. Following this, Reis continued his work with Rocket from the Crypt; Trombino established himself as a notable record producer and audio engineer; meanwhile, Froberg and Kennedy stepped away from music careers. In 1999, Reis and Froberg reunited to form Hot Snakes, which remained active until Froberg’s passing in 2023. Reis also re-released Yank Crime through his own label, Swami Records.
Formation and debut album
Prior to Drive Like Jehu’s inception, vocalist Rick Froberg and guitarist John Reis collaborated in the band Pitchfork from 1986 until 1990. Concurrently, bassist Mike Kennedy and drummer Mark Trombino performed with Night Soil Man between 1987 and 1990. Both groups frequently shared stages and held mutual respect for each other’s work. Pitchfork disbanded due to creative disagreements and the departure of bassist Don Ankrom relocating; Night Soil Man also dissolved shortly thereafter for personal reasons. Reis bonded with Kennedy over their shared appreciation for Richmond punk band Honor Role, particularly influenced by guitarist Pen Rollings’ soulful playing style.
In 1990, Reis launched what he described as a "self-proclaimed party band," Rocket from the Crypt. Within a month, he brought together Froberg—also an admirer of Honor Role—Kennedy, and drummer Chris Bratton to establish Drive Like Jehu in August of that year. After Bratton’s replacement by former Night Soil Man drummer Mark Trombino, the lineup was solidified. The name Drive Like Jehu draws from the biblical account of Jehu’s furious chariot driving (2 Kings 9:20).
Froberg contributed rhythm guitar alongside Reis’ lead work, with compositions generally originating from Reis’ concepts that were refined through collaborative jam sessions. Their debut album, titled after the band itself, was issued in 1991 by Cargo Music and Headhunter Records, released simultaneously with Rocket from the Crypt’s Paint as a Fragrance. Produced by Donnell Cameron and featuring artwork created by Froberg, this record represented a notable evolution beyond the sound of Pitchfork. In 1992, Drive Like Jehu issued the single "Hand Over Fist"/"Bullet Train to Vegas" on Merge Records, and also contributed the track "Sinews" to the Cargo/Headhunter compilation Head Start to Purgatory.
Yank Crime Release and Disbandment
Drive Like Jehu and Rocket From the Crypt were signed by Interscope Records, which issued Drive Like Jehu's album Yank Crime in 1994. The record, engineered by Trombino with artwork crafted by Froberg, showcased extended, intricate tracks and received acclaim as a "relentless storm of technically sophisticated intensity" and "equally impressive and powerful as its predecessor."
In 1995, Drive Like Jehu dissolved so that Reis could dedicate his efforts to Rocket from the Crypt, which produced three albums that year and remained active until 2005. Although the group never formally declared a breakup, they ceased live performances. Trombino transitioned into a successful record producer role, working with artists such as Blink-182 and Jimmy Eat World. Kennedy departed from the music industry to pursue a career in chemistry. Froberg briefly joined Thingy, relocated to New York to focus on visual arts, and later reunited with Reis in Hot Snakes (1999–2005). In 2002, Reis reissued Yank Crime through his own Swami Records label, supplementing it with tracks from earlier releases. Presently, Reis performs with The Night Marchers, Froberg is active in Obits, and together they continue with Hot Snakes.
Reunion Events
On August 31, 2014, Drive Like Jehu reassembled for a concert at San Diego's Spreckels Organ Pavilion, featuring accompaniment by Civic Organist Dr. Carol Williams. This reunion was arranged by Dang Nguyen, co-owner of Bar Pink alongside Reis and a board member of the Spreckels Organ Society. Nguyen explained that the band members were inspired to reunite following recent reunions of Hot Snakes and Rocket from the Crypt. Reis highlighted the organ’s deep bass tones as an exceptional collaborative element connected to San Diego’s cultural heritage. Williams emphasized that the event aimed to expand musical boundaries while supporting the longevity of the organ tradition.
Despite members being spread across different cities—with only two residing in San Diego and others living in New York and Los Angeles—the unique prospect of performing with organ accompaniment drove the reunion. Some participants had not played together since their original tenure; notably, Mark Kennedy acquired a drum kit expressly for this occasion. The band delivered five songs: "Do You Compute," "Super Unison," "Sinews," "If It Kills You," and "Luau," with Rob Crow joining on stage to provide backing vocals during "Luau."
Drive Like Jehu planned several performances in 2015, including appearances at The Casbah in San Diego and venues in Pomona, as well as festivals such as Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, and All Tomorrow's Parties in Keflavík, Iceland. On October 18, 2015, they played at the Treasure Island Music Festival in San Francisco. Their reunion tour concluded in August 2016.
Rick Froberg passed away from natural causes on June 30, 2023.
Musical Style and Inspirations
Drive Like Jehu’s sound is generally categorized within punk, post-hardcore, and emo genres. Their foremost inspiration was punk group Honor Role, particularly guitarist Pen Rollings. Additional influences encompassed Mission of Burma, the Gories, Bastro, Slint, Sonic Youth, the Wipers, along with krautrock acts such as Neu!. Steve Huey of Allmusic characterizes them as "arguably the most progressive among key post-hardcore bands," recognized for their lengthy multi-part compositions featuring unconventional time signatures, carefully structured crescendos, elliptical melodies, and other inventive elements that forged a distinctively intense sound within post-hardcore music.
Legacy and influence
Drive Like Jehu, alongside peers like Fugazi and Quicksand, often eluded easy classification and was sometimes underappreciated by critics. Huey emphasizes their pivotal role in shaping emo, even though the genre's later iterations diverged from their sound. Their music reflected the original emo ethos: complex, challenging guitar-driven rock grounded in hardcore punk, featuring intense vocal delivery. Ned Raggett of Allmusic points to Yank Crime as a defining work that cemented their status as foundational figures in emo, capturing the genre’s initial raw energy and urgency.
At the Drive-In’s frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala acknowledged Drive Like Jehu as a crucial influence on his band’s sonic identity. Indie artist Isaac Brock has listed them among his preferred bands. The metalcore group Botch credited Drive Like Jehu with significantly shaping their songwriting style. British hardcore outfit Gallows also drew creative inspiration from them, with guitarist Laurent Barnard ranking John Reis among his top five guitarists.
Additional prominent musicians inspired by or expressing admiration for Drive Like Jehu include The Blood Brothers, Thursday, Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World, Justin Pearson from The Locust, Ben Weinman of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids, and J. Clark of Pretty Girls Make Graves. Bands such as Violent Soho, Unbroken, Akimbo, Sandrider, KEN Mode, and METZ have also recognized their influence. Their legacy further extends to artists like Matthew Bajda of Funeral Diner, Bryan Giles from Red Fang, Steven Roche of Off Minor, and the experimental ensemble Genghis Tron. The Bay Area hardcore band Super Unison took their name from a Drive Like Jehu track.
Members
- Final lineup
- Rick Froberg – rhythm guitar, lead vocals (deceased 2023)
- John Reis – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Mike Kennedy – bass guitar
- Mark Trombino – drums
- Past members
- Chris Bratton – drums (1990)
Discography
Drive Like Jehu’s recorded output consists of two studio albums and one single.
Studio albums
| Year | Album information |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Drive Like Jehu
|
| 1994 | Yank Crime
|
Singles
| Year | Single information |
|---|---|
| 1992 | "Hand Over Fist" / "Bullet Train to Vegas"
|
Other contributions
Drive Like Jehu appeared on various compilation albums, including:
| Year | Compilation details | Track featured |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Head Start to Purgatory
|
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