Nip Drivers
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Mike Webber |
| Headquarters | Torrance, California , United States |
| Products | Punk rock music, albums, EPs |
The Nip Drivers were a punk rock group originating from Torrance, California, established in 1980 by frontman Mike Webber. Their lineup was variable but typically featured guitarist Kurt Schellenbach, bassist Janus Jones, and drummer Nick Passiglia. Known for their rapid hardcore punk style, the band incorporated humor and a rebellious spirit into their music. Their setlists combined original compositions with unique renditions of mainstream pop songs such as Olivia Newton-John’s “Have You Never Been Mellow,” Duran Duran’s “Rio,” and Sweet’s “Fox on the Run,” the latter appearing on the 1984 soundtrack for the film Desperate Teenage Lovedolls. Additionally, the group made an appearance in the 1985 movie Echo Park.
Following a break, Mike Webber reassembled the band during the 1990s with different musicians. The band's LPs from the 1980s were re-released on CD in 2000. In 1999, Webber initiated an acoustic venture titled Bob Drivers alongside Jula Bell (formerly of Bulimia Banquet), merging punk influences with acoustic sounds. By 2001, Webber revived the Nip Drivers under the name Marc Spitz Freestyle, featuring Jula Bell on bass and vocals, Greg Cameron on drums, and Dave Wakefield on guitar; they recorded four new songs planned for release in Winter 2020. Mike Webber passed away on November 11, 2006. The Nip Drivers’ last live show occurred at the Liquid Kitty Punk Rock BBQ event in West Los Angeles on August 13, 2006.
Discography
- Destroy Whitey (12" EP, 1984, New Alliance Records)
- Oh Blessed Freak Show (LP, 1985, Bemisbrain/Enigma)
- Nip Drivers (7” EP, 1990, No Reality; occasionally referred to as the ‘’Pretty Face’’ EP)
- Dirt My Hole (7” EP, 1995, Fearless)
- Destroy Whitey/Oh Blessed Freak Show (CD reissue, 2000, Taang! Records)
Compilation appearances
- Party or Go Home (1983, Mystic Records)
- Includes the track "Tang"
- Desperate Teenage Lovedolls Soundtrack (1984, Enigma)
- Contains their version of "Fox on the Run"
- When Men were Men... and Sheep were Scared (1985, Bemisbrain)
- Features “Rio” and “E.Y.O.B.”