The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1983
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Products	Music albums, EPs, live albums

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones—also referred to as The Bosstones and stylized as The Mighty Mighty BossToneS—originated as an American ska punk ensemble from Boston, Massachusetts, established in 1983. Founding members prominently featured lead singer Dicky Barrett, bassist Joe Gittleman, tenor saxophonist Tim "Johnny Vegas" Burton, and stage performer Ben Carr. The group's final roster included drummer Joe Sirois, saxophonist Leon Silva, guitarist Lawrence Katz, keyboardist John Goetchius, and trombonist Chris Rhodes.

Acknowledged as trailblazers of ska punk and innovators of ska-core—a blend of ska with hardcore punk—the band launched their journey with the 1989 debut album Devil's Night Out. Throughout the 1990s, they toured extensively, shaping the American third-wave ska scene and reaching mainstream acclaim with their platinum-selling 1997 release Let's Face It and its notable single "The Impression That I Get". Their visibility expanded through a cameo as the fraternity party band in the 1995 movie Clueless. By the time they paused activities in 2003, their discography included seven studio albums, three EPs, and a live album. Following their 2007 reunion, they delivered four more studio records between 2009 and 2021. The band was also known for organizing the annual Hometown Throwdown festival from 1994 to 2002 and again from 2007 to 2019 in Cambridge and Boston.

On January 27, 2022, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones declared their official breakup.

Formation and early years (1983–1988)

The band's roots lie in the early 1980s hardcore punk movement, combined with significant inspiration drawn from the British 2 Tone ska wave of the 1970s. Bassist Joe Gittleman performed with local hardcore outfit Gang Green, while vocalist Dicky Barrett was active in Impact Unit before joining Cheapskates. This latter group evolved to include Barrett, Gittleman, Tim "Johnny Vegas" Burton on saxophone, Nate Albert on guitar, Josh Dalsimer on drums, Tim Bridwell on trumpet, and Ben Carr providing a distinctive non-musical stage presence later credited as "Bosstone." The name "the Bosstones" was adopted in reference to a nearby city. Their musical influences spanned AC/DC, Social Distortion, Motörhead, The Clash, and Stiff Little Fingers, with Barrett showing a particular affinity for the 2 Tone ska style.

In 1987, the Bosstones made their initial recording appearance on the Mash It Up ska compilation with tracks "The Cave" and "Ugly." Another early cut titled "Drums and Chickens" was featured on the 1989 compilation Mashin' Up The Nation. The band temporarily disbanded so Albert and Gittleman could complete high school but regrouped shortly thereafter. To circumvent legal conflicts with a 1950s a cappella group named The Bosstones, they modified their name to "Mighty Mighty Bosstones," a suggestion from an acquaintance.

Taang! Records period (1989–1992)

Although performing to relatively small crowds initially, Taang! Records signed them, resulting in their debut release Devil's Night Out, produced by Paul Q. Kolderie. Issued during a period when ska struggled for widespread acceptance, the album garnered favorable local reviews alongside more reserved national responses. Over time, it became one of their most celebrated works. This era also saw the emergence of their signature plaid clothing style, culminating in a promotional collaboration with Converse for Chuck Taylor sneakers that included print advertisements and television spots.

Personnel shifts occurred with Tim Bridwell's departure replaced by Dennis Brockenborough on trombone and Kevin Lenear on saxophone. They issued the EP Where'd You Go?, which contained the title track plus covers of Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion," Metallica's "Enter Sandman," Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love," along with an updated version of "Do Somethin' Crazy" from their debut.

In 1991, during their inaugural full-scale American tour, drummer Josh Dalsimer left to pursue college education and was succeeded by Joe Sirois—a connection made by Barrett at Bunker Hill Community College—who immediately contributed to recording their sophomore album.

Their second LP More Noise and Other Disturbances, again produced by Kolderie, was released in June 1992. Although a music video for "Where'd You Go?" was filmed during this timeframe, it was not finalized until several years later. Concurrently, the band distributed a fan newsletter titled 737.

Commercial breakthrough and Big Rig Records era (1993–2001)

In March 1993, the group secured a deal with Mercury Records and launched the Ska-Core, the Devil, and More EP, which combined influential cover songs with one fresh studio track, "Someday I Suppose," later featured on their third full-length album.

Their third studio album, Don't Know How to Party, produced by Tony Platt, included a rendition of Stiff Little Fingers' "Tin Soldiers" and featured guest vocals from Daryl Jennifer of Bad Brains. The track "Someday I Suppose" received limited rotation on MTV. Additionally, they recorded a cover of "Detroit Rock City" for the 1994 tribute compilation Kiss My Ass, which was also issued as a Mercury single. Early in 1994, they supported Aerosmith during a New Year's Eve show in Boston, marking a significant tour milestone.

October 1994 saw the release of Question the Answers, produced by the Butcher Bros., Paul Q. Kolderie, and Ross Humphrey. In collaboration with Mercury, the band established Big Rig Records, a vanity label designed to facilitate vinyl releases featuring bonus tracks. Alongside extensive touring, they made their network television debut on The Jon Stewart Show, hosted MTV's 120 Minutes, and contributed to the soundtrack of the film Clueless. Their presence at the 1995 Lollapalooza main stage further elevated their profile, while Mercury reissued Question the Answers accompanied by the EP Here We Go Again, curated by Barrett.

Following appearances on the 1996 and 1997 Warped Tour, the band released Let's Face It in 1997, which became their highest-selling album, propelled by the chart-topping single "The Impression That I Get" on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks. They also released Video Stew, a VHS collection featuring twelve music videos, and broadened their mainstream reach through performances on Sesame Street’s Elmopalooza special and soundtrack with "The Zig Zag Dance." Their television debut on Saturday Night Live included a performance of "The Impression That I Get."

Capitalizing on their rising fame, Mercury issued the live album Live From the Middle East in October 1998, recorded during their annual Hometown Throwdown at The Middle East nightclub. In 1999, they contributed a cover of "Rudie Can't Fail" to the Clash tribute album Burning London. Subsequently, Kevin Lenear departed to pursue solo projects and was succeeded by Roman Fleysher.

The 2000 release Pay Attention did not match prior commercial success; its lead single "So Sad to Say" reached No. 22 on Billboard charts. This album marked their last with Mercury Records following its integration into Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam division. Frustrated with insufficient label backing, the band sought release from their contract.

After Pay Attention, founding guitarist Nate Albert left to study political theory at Brown University. He later joined The Lemonheads and formed The Kickovers, adopting a 1970s punk style before transitioning into management roles for bands such as Bayside (band) and Lost City Angels. Lawrence Katz took over guitar duties and appeared in promotional content for Pay Attention. Trombonist Dennis Brockenborough exited to lead his own group, Chubby; his role was filled by Chris Rhodes from the recently dissolved Spring Heeled Jack (band), who joined following his time with Bim Skala Bim.

SideOneDummy era and hiatus (2002–2006)

The group shifted back to an independent label by signing with SideOneDummy Records. In July 2002, they released A Jackknife to a Swan, which included the single and accompanying video "You Gotta Go!". Their touring continued until December 2003, when they announced a break, opting out of that year's Hometown Throwdown. This pause was influenced by members engaging in separate projects and the demands of nearly nonstop touring since 1991, creating a need for rest.

Throughout the hiatus, band members explored different paths. Barrett took on the role of announcer for ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! and hosted the Mighty Morning Show on Los Angeles' Indie 103.1 FM until his departure in 2006.

Gittleman had started the side project Avoid One Thing, releasing two albums through SideOneDummy before that group also went on hiatus in 2005.

Sirois toured with Nate Albert's Kickovers and played drums for both the Street Dogs and Frank Black.

Rhodes performed with The Toasters until 2006, briefly joined Bim Skala Bim, and collaborated with Rick Omonte in The Mountain Movers. Additionally, he substituted for Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, and NOFX during various tours.

Fleysher earned a professional pilot’s license, initially working as a flight instructor before flying for CommutAir, a Continental Airlines regional partner. He later piloted charter flights around Los Angeles.

Burton moved to Los Angeles, where he became involved in the film industry as an assistant to a Hollywood agent, scriptwriter, and television project developer. He also contributed saxophone to a track by Cypress Hill and appeared in the 2007 movie Crazy, inspired by Hank Garland.

Katz formed the band Resistant and played guitar on soundtracks such as Aquamarine, The Good Night, and London, collaborating with The Crystal Method.

Reunion and disbandment (2007–2022)

Talk of a reunion gained momentum during the hiatus of Joe Gittleman's band Avoid One Thing. During an Alternative Press Acoustic Session, members of Boston ska group Big D and the Kids Table hinted at a Bosstones reunion for another Hometown Throwdown. Jerry Mattes, who created the band's bulldog mascot, confirmed he was designing a fresh logo.

On October 11, 2007, Dicky Barrett announced the band's comeback for their tenth Hometown Throwdown at Cambridge's Middle East venue in December but did not commit to long-term plans. Gittleman revealed intentions to record three new tracks for a compilation of unreleased songs and vinyl B-sides. This collection, titled Medium Rare, was released on December 18, 2007, marking their first new material since 2002's A Jackknife to a Swan.

Following the 2007 Throwdown, the band performed occasional gigs; Jimmy Kimmel made guest appearances playing bass clarinet during shows in March 2008. Former saxophonist Lenear returned to replace Fleysher due to his professional obligations. The band indicated plans to scale back touring and remained undecided about recording a new studio album.

In May 2008, the Bosstones announced a brief U.S. tour with the Dropkick Murphys, including performances at Boston Red Sox minor league stadiums. They also confirmed an eleventh Hometown Throwdown scheduled for December 2008. That year, they contributed a re-recorded version of "Where'd You Go?" to Rock Band 2. In November 2008, two new songs were streamed online alongside announcements of ongoing work on a new album; recording was completed by July 2009. The album Pin Points and Gin Joints was released on December 8, 2009.

Throughout summer 2009, the band toured extensively across major U.S. cities and participated in Canada’s Victoria Ska Fest. In summer 2010, they toured alongside Teenage Bottlerocket and the Flatliners while hosting their annual Hometown Throwdown event.

In August 2011, Chris Rhodes revealed that work had begun on another album. The Magic of Youth was released on December 6, 2011.

March 2017 marked their first release in six years: a limited vinyl 7" featuring a Burt Bacharach cover alongside an original track. Lineup changes included adding keyboardist John Goetchius in 2008 and Leon Silva replacing Kevin Lenear in 2016.

In September 2017, Tim Burton shared that they were working on an album planned for early 2018 release. Recording sessions commenced November 17 at Kingsize Soundlabs in Los Angeles. The album While We're at It, released June 15, 2018, completed a trilogy begun with Pin Points and Gin Joints (2009) and continued through The Magic of Youth (2011). Silva was temporarily substituted by Roman Fleysher and Peter "JR" Wasilewski during initial tour dates due to scheduling conflicts.

On January 25, 2021, the Bosstones signed with Hellcat Records and unveiled "The Final Parade," featuring guest musicians from notable punk and ska acts. By March 2021, they announced their Hellcat debut album When God Was Great, which was released May 7; singles included "I Don't Believe in Anything" and "The Killing of King Georgie (Part III)", addressing George Floyd's murder.

On January 27, 2022, after decades together, the band declared their breakup while expressing appreciation to their fans but without providing specific reasons. Speculation connected the split to Barrett's opposition to COVID-19 vaccines and his involvement in an anti-mandate rally video. In February 2022, Barrett acknowledged in an interview on The Highwire with Del Bigtree that his views had caused tension within the group.

Big Rig Records

Established in 1993, Big Rig Records began as a vanity label to distribute the band's albums on vinyl, a format their primary label had ceased producing. Through collaboration with Mercury, Big Rig concentrated on vinyl releases while Mercury managed CDs and cassettes. The label reissued colored vinyl editions of Don't Know How to Party and Ska-Core, the Devil, and More.

In addition to the band's own works, Big Rig issued the debut CD from Dicky Barrett's previous band Impact Unit, Boston punk group Mung's Vow of Poverty, and Sum 41's Half Hour of Power. The label also produced benefit compilations such as Safe and Sound: A Benefit in Response to the Brookline Clinic Violence and You Decide: Warped Tour 2000 Sampler. This partnership covered releases from Question the Answers through to Pay Attention, the band's last album under Island Def Jam Music Group following Mercury's merger with Island and Def Jam. After Mercury's involvement ended, vinyl editions like A Jackknife to a Swan were handled by SideOneDummy, the band's label at that time. Since their hiatus, Big Rig has functioned independently under the Mighty Mighty Bosstones' control, managing all new releases until the 2021 album When God Was Great, which was distributed via Hellcat Records.

Musical style

The group is chiefly recognized for their ska punk sound. According to the L.A. Times, their music combines ska’s brass-heavy rhythms with the intensity of hardcore punk, while the Tampa Bay Times described it as a unique blend of early ska preceding reggae paired with hardcore guitar elements. AllMusic credits them as trailblazers in fusing energetic ska with hardcore punk and hard rock influences, shaping the mid- to late-1990s ska movement toward a party-oriented style. The Boston Herald emphasized their significance in merging ska with hardcore punk and heavy metal components.

Final lineup

Dicky Barrett – lead vocals (1983–2004, 2007–2022)
Tim "Johnny Vegas" Burton – tenor saxophone, backing vocals (1983–2004, 2007–2022)
Ben Carr – dancer, backing vocals, percussion, tour manager and "Bosstone" (1983–2004, 2007–2022)
Joe Gittleman – bass guitar, backing vocals (1983–2004, 2007–2022)
Joe Sirois – drums, percussion (1991–2004, 2007–2022)
Lawrence Katz – guitar, backing vocals (2000–2004, 2007–2022)
Chris Rhodes – trombone, backing vocals (2000–2004, 2007–2022)
John Goetchius – keyboards (2008–2022)
Leon Silva – tenor saxophone, backing vocals (2016–2022)

Former members

Tim Bridewell – trombone (1983–1991)
Josh Dalsimer – drums (1983–1991)
Dennis Brockenborough – trombone (1991–2000)
Kevin Lenear – alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones (1991–1998; 2008–2016)
Nate Albert – guitar, backing vocals (1983–2000; 2015 live only; 2020–2022 studio only)
Roman Fleysher – tenor saxophone (1998–2004, 2007–2008; occasional appearances 2018–2021)

Additional personnel

Peter Wasilewski – saxophone (touring musician)
Davey Holmes – keyboards
Brian Dwyer – trumpet
Kevin P. Stevenson – guitar
Dave Aaronoff – keyboards
Sledge Burton – trumpet
Jon Nash – guitar

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:26 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:120 top:0 right:0 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1983 till:01/27/2022 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:4 start:1983 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1983

Colors =

 id:lvocals  value:red       legend:Lead_vocals
 id:bvocals  value:pink      legend:Backing_vocals
 id:guitar   value:green     legend:Guitar
 id:bass     value:blue      legend:Bass
 id:drums    value:orange    legend:Drums,_percussion
 id:tenor    value:tan2      legend:Tenor_saxophone
 id:sax      value:skyblue   legend:Alto_&_baritone_saxophone
 id:trombone value:coral     legend:Trombone
 id:manager  value:lavender  legend:Tour_manager,_dancer
 id:keys     value:purple    legend:Keyboards
 id:Lines    value:black     legend:Studio_Albums
 id:Lines2   value:gray(0.5) legend:Other_Releases
 id:bars     value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =

 at:08/22/1989 color:black  layer:back
 at:08/13/1992 color:black  layer:back
 at:05/18/1993 color:black  layer:back
 at:10/04/1994 color:black  layer:back
 at:03/11/1997 color:black  layer:back
 at:05/02/2000 color:black  layer:back
 at:07/09/2002 color:black  layer:back
 at:12/08/2009 color:black  layer:back
 at:12/06/2011 color:black  layer:back
 at:06/15/2018 color:black  layer:back
 at:07/01/1997 color:lines2 layer:back
 at:07/01/1998 color:lines2 layer:back
 at:05/07/2021 color:black  layer:back

BarData =

 bar:dicky     text:Dicky Barrett
 bar:burton    text:Tim Burton
 bar:kevin     text:Kevin Lenear
 bar:roman     text:Roman Fleysher
 bar:leon      text:Leon Silva
 bar:tim       text:Tim Bridewell
 bar:dennis    text:Dennis Brockenborough
 bar:chris     text:Chris Rhodes
 bar:nate      text:Nate Albert
 bar:katz      text:Lawrence Katz
 bar:goetchius text:John Goetchius
 bar:joe       text:Joe Gittleman
 bar:josh      text:josh Dalsimer
 bar:sirois    text:joseph Sirois 
 bar:bencarr   text:Bencarr

PlotData=

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:start shift:(10,-4)
  bar:dicky     from:start till:end color:red 
  bar:nate      from:start till:end color:guitar 
  bar:katz      from:start till:end color:guitar 
  bar:katz      from:start till:end color:pink width :3 
  bar:sirois    from:start till:end color :orange 
  bar:josh      from:start till:end color :orange 
  bar:katz      from:start till:end color :green 
  bar:dicky     from:start till:end color :red 
  bar:bencarr   from:start till:end color :lavender 
  bar:bencarr   from:start till:end color :pink width :3 
  bar:nate      from:start till:end color :pink width :3

</timeline>

Discography

Devil's Night Out (1989)
More Noise and Other Disturbances (1992)
Don't Know How to Party (1993)
Question the Answers (1994)
Let's Face It (1997)
Pay Attention (2000)
A Jackknife to a Swan (2002)
Pin Points and Gin Joints (2009)
The Magic of Youth (2011)
While We're at It (2018)
When God Was Great (2021)

External links