This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Pensacola , United States |
| Products | Folk punk music |
This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb was a folk punk ensemble originating from Pensacola, Florida, United States. Their debut recording debuted in 1997 under Ghostmeat Records. Subsequent albums were released through Plan It X Records and No Idea Records, with the band eventually overseeing their work via their own imprint, Plan-It X South. Initially formed as a new wave group featuring folk vocalist David Dondero on drums, they rapidly transitioned into a country-tinged punk style, emerging as a prominent act within the folk-punk scene. Their extensive touring spanned the United States—including a 2003 visit to Alaska—and Europe, with appearances at festivals such as Geekfest.
The band announced its dissolution on February 3, 2011. Following the breakup, members Rymodee and Terry have continued their musical partnership through the Chattanooga-based project Zippers To Nowhere.
Their songwriting is recognized for its politically charged content, focusing on themes of pacifism and racial justice, drawing inspiration from the ideals of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.
Band members
- Rymodee – guitar, vocals, harmonica
- Terry Johnson – bass guitar, vocals
- Teddy "Ted" Helmick – drums, vocals
- Occasional participants included zine creator Aaron Cometbus (drums) and producer Spot (fidola)
Discography
- S/T 7" Ghost Meat Records, 1997 (No longer available)
- Dance Party With... CD Plan-It-X Records, 1999
- Dance Party With... 10" Troy from Vancouver, 2004
- Of Chivalry and Romance in a Dumpster 10" Fab Records, 1999 (Out of print)
- Black Panther Party 7" Arkam Records, 2001
- This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb/The Devil Is Electric Split 7" Risk Records, 2001 (Unavailable)
- Front Seat Solidarity LP Plan-It-X Records, 2002 (Out of print; reissued by No Idea Records in 2007)
- Front Seat Solidarity CD Plan-It-X Records, 2002
- Songs Of Our Soil CD and accompanying zine (self-published), 2002
- This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb/Carrie Nations Split 7" Shake/Plan-It-X Records, 2004 (No longer in circulation)
- Three Way Tie for a Fifth CD Plan-It-X Records, 2004
- Three Way Tie for a Fifth LP No Idea Records, 2005
- Convertible CD Plan-It-X Records, 2008
- Convertible LP No Idea Records, 2009
- Radon/This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb/Vaginasore Jr./King Friday Split Fast Crowd Records, 2008 (includes track "Bright One")
Controversy regarding the band name
On March 2, 2006, an officer from Ohio University's police department spotted a bicycle at the Oasis restaurant displaying a sticker advertising the band with the phrase "This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb." Due to safety concerns, authorities secured the area and shut down part of the campus for several hours. Despite the owner's explanation that it was merely a sticker promoting the band, the local bomb squad in Athens destroyed the bicycle. The graduate student who owned the bike initially faced charges of inducing panic; these charges were dropped shortly thereafter. Subsequently, he received compensation for the damage caused.
A comparable event took place in 2001 during a peace demonstration in Austin, Texas, where a woman’s bicycle bore the band's sticker. She was briefly detained but released after officials confirmed the band's legitimacy.
On March 14, 2006, Bellarmine Hall at Saint Joseph's University, located in Philadelphia, was evacuated following reports of another bicycle painted with the band's name; no legal action was taken afterward.
On February 16, 2009, Terminal C at Memphis International Airport was cleared after a pilot reported spotting a bike adorned with the band's sticker nearby. Police deployed K9 units but found no explosives. The bicycle’s owner was briefly taken into custody but released without any charges. In response to these incidents, the band's lead vocalist advised fans to exercise caution when placing stickers in public spaces.
External links
- Ghostmeat Records
- This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb archive available at the Internet Archive's live music collection