SWMRS

SWMRS (formerly Emily's Army), pronounced 'swimmers', is an American punk rock band formed in Piedmont, California in 2004 by Cole Becker and Joey Armstrong, with Becker's brother Max Becker joining only a few weeks afterwards. They drew on a mix of influences ranging from the Beach Boys to the Ramones to create their own brand of rock. The band added Travis Neumann in 2009, who later left in 2014 due to creative differences. The band released a demo and a string of EPs from 2008 to 2010. The band released their first album, Don't Be a Dick, on June 14, 2011. The band's second album, Lost at Seventeen, was released on June 11, 2013. They added Sebastian Mueller as the bassist in 2014. The band's third studio album, and their first under the name SWMRS after dropping their former name, Drive North, was released February 12, 2016, via Uncool Records. Drive North was later re-released after the band was signed to record label Fueled by Ramen on October 13, 2016.

SWMRS
SWMRS in Milwaukee in 2019. Left to right: Jakob Armstrong, Max Becker, Joey Armstrong, Cole Becker, And Seb Meuller
Background information
Also known as
  • The Raining Souls
  • The Clocks
  • Emily's Army
  • Swimmers
OriginOakland, California, U.S.
GenresPunk rock,[1] pop punk,[2][3][4] surf punk[5]
Years active2004–present (currently inactive following allegations)
Labels
Associated acts
  • Frankenshark
  • DDG
  • Black Demarco
Websiteswmrs.com
Members
  • Cole Becker
  • Max Becker
  • Joey Armstrong
  • Seb Mueller
Past members
  • Travis Neumann

History

The band was formed by Cole Becker and Joey Armstrong after watching the movie School of Rock together in school.[6] Cole's brother, Max Becker, later joined the band to play bass. The band was originally named The Raining Souls, but they briefly changed to The Clocks.[7] After realizing there were already many bands with the same name, they changed it to Emily's Army in honor to Max's and Cole's cousin Emily, who suffers from cystic fibrosis and was diagnosed in 1998.[8] Their goal was to raise money and create more awareness for cystic fibrosis. In 2008, they released a set of songs on their MySpace page under the album name This Kid. Although This Kid is not an official studio album, a few of these songs appeared throughout their career, including "Burn Apollo" that was re-recorded on their debut album, Queens being played live in 2012, and "I Need to Be Fixed" played live during Warped Tour 2012.

The band played many small shows and festivals in California during this time. In 2009 the band added guitarist Travis Neumann whose first appearance was on the band's 2009 EP,[9] Goody Two Shoes. that was followed by the release of two more EPs, Broadcast This and Regan MacNeil.[10][11] The band spent all of 2010 working and recording their first studio album with Green Day frontman and Joey's father, Billie Joe Armstrong. In 2011, the band released their first full-length album, Don't Be a Dick, on June 14 through Adeline Records. The album featured six re-recorded songs from their earlier releases. The album was compared to Green Day's early work and had major punk influences.[12] In support of the album the band went on an East and West Coast tour in 2011.[8] In late 2011 and early 2012, the band resided in Tulsa OK, playing underground punk shows. In 2012 the band returned to touring, most notably on Warped Tour and a brief West Coast tour in late 2012.[13]

In 2013, the band once again worked with producer Billie Joe Armstrong, on their second record.[14] Lost at Seventeen, was released on June 11, 2013 via Adeline Records and Rise Records.[15][16] The band went on tour with Vans Warped Tour to support the album for the second time in their career.[17] They also toured for the very first time in Great Britain.[18] They played their final shows as Emily's Army during the Soundwave Festival in 2015 in Australia.[19] Since soundwave 2015 the band has stopped playing material released before Swim in favor of playing new music.

In early 2014 the band started writing and recording new material. Travis Neumann officially left the band shortly after the release of their EP Swim, on July 18, 2014, consequently, bassist Sebastian Mueller joined the band while Max switched to lead guitar. In September 2014 the band officially changed their name to "Swimmers".[20][21] Before this change was made, Swimmers was the name that the band used as a low key name for a small UK tour with Matt Grocott & The Shrives and Wasters. The band released their first song as Swimmers, a cover of "Dancing on My Own", by Robyn in October 2014.[22][23] The band announced that they would be releasing an EP, Silver Bullets/Palm Trees on March 30, 2015.[24] In March 2015, the band announced that Silver Bullets/Palm Trees' release would be delayed and that Jakob Armstrong, brother of drummer Joey, would be filling in for, and subsequently replacing, bassist Seb Mueller, who had to take college exams. On March 28, 2015 at Burgerama, bassist Seb Mueller returned to the band. The release of Silver Bullets/Palm Trees was eventually shelved.

Their third studio album was produced by Fidlar lead vocalist Zac Carper.[25][26] On June 22, the band announced a September Tour along with Wavves and Twin Peaks. The band released four songs via SoundCloud in July 2015, two of which were uploaded by themselves, the other two, "Stink Eye", by Frankenshark—an early side-project that the band uses in live sets—and a leaked song, "Like Harry Dean Stanton".[27][28][29]

The band announced that they will be releasing two songs Miley/Uncool, on September 8, 2015 on their own indie label Uncool Records.[30] The EP's first single, "Miley", was released as a single on September 7, 2015.[31] The band would also start stylizing their name as "SWMRS" (instead of "Swimmers") in August 2015. Physical copies of the EP were made available on the band's tour with Wavves. After the release of the EP, SWMRS received mainstream media coverage due to the song "Miley".[32] The band announced their upcoming Drive North on November 6, 2015 and released single "Figuring It Out". The album released on February 12, 2016 via Uncool Records.[33]

As of October 13, 2016, SWMRS signed with pop punk label Fueled by Ramen. This announcement was made by Annie Mac on BBC1 Radio, along with the release of SWMRS' song, Palm Trees. The following day, Drive North was rereleased under Fueled by Ramen with two additional songs: "Palm Trees" and "Lose It".[34]

On February 15, 2019, they released their second album under the SWMRS name, Berkeley's on Fire. The band were nominated for 'Best International Newcomer' at the 2019 Kerrang! Awards,[35] ultimately going on to win the award.

On October 28, 2019, guitarist Max Becker along with two members of the road crew were involved in an accident while driving their van from Oakland to Denver, resulting in the cancellation of the rest of the band's 2019 shows.[36][37]

Sexual misconduct allegations

On July 20, 2020, Lydia Night of the Regrettes revealed she and drummer Joey Armstrong dated starting in 2017 when she was 16 and he was 22, accusing Armstrong of sexual assault, coercion, and other predatory behavior.[38] In the post, Night claimed that Armstrong initiated the relationship by messaging her on Instagram that his band SWMRS would be sending her band "some offers for some tours that year". Night shared the allegations after reading SWMRS' statement condemning a wave of sexual assault allegations related to several Burger Records artists.[39]

The following day, Armstrong responded on the SWMRS Instagram account, saying that while he disagreed "with some of the things [Lydia] said about me", that he had privately apologized to Night and asked for forgiveness.[40] Armstrong's six-sentence response was notably much shorter than the band's five-page statement made one day prior, as some outlets pointed out, as well as Night herself.[41][42] Night rejected the statement via Twitter, thanking Armstrong "for showing everyone exactly who you and your band of imposters are" with his response.[43][44]

Frankenshark Two songs, "TV Dinner" and "Stink Eye", were tweeted by the band as a Soundcloud link under the name of Frankenshark. To date, "Stink Eye", (later renamed "Tito, Don't Give Me Stink Eye") has been played live several times as SWMRS.[45]

Matt Grocott & The Shrives In 2014 two UK bands called Matt Grocott & The Shrives toured with Emily's Army. They booked these dates under the name "Swimmers", conceiving the name for Emily's Army. It was later announced Joey Armstrong would feature on drums for Matt Grocott & The Shrives' first EP; "Turn Me On" after the band had visited him in California.[46]

DDG DDG is a band formed at school by Joey and Seb and a few friends. They released two EPs for free on Bandcamp Fact Check and A DDG Christmas. The Christmas record featured Max and Travis from Emily's Army on bass and rhythm guitar. It also featured a lead singer, which the first EP didn't have, Talya Swensen. Both EPs were released in 2013[47]

Black Demarco SWMRS merchandise seller Taifa, known by his stage name "Black Demarco" released his first song through Uncool Records and Burger Records on Soundcloud on November 26, 2015.[48] Drums were performed by Joey Armstrong while Guitar and Bass was done by Jakob Armstrong.

Family projects SWMRS drummer Joey Armstrong is the son of Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer and lead guitarist of punk rock band Green Day.[49] Drummer Joey and his family released a limited EP as "The Boo" for a one time Christmas special.[50] Joey played one gig with his father and Green Day guitarist Jason White called "Two and a Half Men" consisting mostly of Green Day covers.[51][52] Seb and Joey played bass and drums on Jakob Armstrong's first demos released online in June 2015. Jakob later released the songs on cassette through Burger Records.[53][54] Jakob currently performs with Enzo Malaspina, Chris Malaspina, and Kevin Judd in a full band under the name "Ultra Q"(formerly under the names, "Danger!" and "Mt. Eddy").[55][56][57][58]

Band members

Current lineup

  • Cole Becker – lead and backing vocals (2004–present); rhythm guitar (2009–present); lead guitar (2004–2009)
  • Max Becker – lead and backing vocals (2004–present); lead guitar (2014–present); bass guitar (2004–2014)
  • Joey Armstrong – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2004–present)
  • Sebastian "Seb" Mueller –  bass guitar, backing vocals (2014–present); saxophone (2013–2014; touring member)

Former members

  • Travis Neumann  – lead guitar, backing vocals (2009–2014)

Touring musicians

  • Henry Webb-Jenkins – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboard (2019–present)
  • Jakob Danger Armstrong – bass guitar, backing vocals (2015); rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards (2018–2019); lead guitar (2020–present)[59]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

  • Goody Two Shoes (2009) (As Emily's Army)
  • Broadcast This (2010) (As Emily's Army)
  • Regan MacNeil (2010) (As Emily's Army)
  • Swim (2014) (As Emily's Army)
  • Miley/Uncool (2015)

Demos

  • This Kid. (2008) (As Emily's Army)

References
  1. Coven, Riley. "Punk rock band SWMRS releases debut single". SMU Daily Campus.
  2. "We're Living For This Pop Punk Band's Tribute To Miley Cyrus". Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  3. "Album Premiere: Emily's Army Carry the Punk Torch on 'Lost at Seventeen'". Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  4. "The Buzz On: Emily's Army". Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  5. "THE AGORA PRESENTS @ NTC: SWMRS (Oakland Surf Punk on Burger Records) / THE FRIGHTS / SWEEPYHEADS - Tickets - Now That's Class - Cleveland, OH - March 16th, 2016". Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  6. "How 'School of Rock' inspired SWMRS' garage-rock gems". Entertainment Weekly.
  7. "ALL AGES - SWMRS / The Frights / TBA". Lefty's Live Music.
  8. "The Buzz On: Emily's Army". MTV News.
  9. "Emily's Army - Goody Two Shoes (File, MP3)". discogs. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  10. "Emily's Army - Broadcast This (File, MP3)". discogs. February 25, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  11. "Emily's Army - Regan Macneil (Vinyl)". discogs. April 23, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  12. "Emily's Army - Don't Be A Dick - Reviews". Alternative Press.
  13. "Emily's Army". Adelinerecords.net. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  14. "Emily's Army Discuss Billie Joe Armstrong's Impact on 'Lost at Seventeen'". Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  15. "Album Premiere: Emily's Army Carry the Punk Torch on 'Lost at Seventeen'". Rolling Stone.
  16. "Emily's Army - Lost at Seventeen". discogs. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  17. "Warped Tour 2013: Emily's Army Excels Past Family Ties". Fuse.
  18. "Emily's Army (Rise Records) announce UK tour dates". Alternative Press.
  19. "Emily's Army talk Soundwave Festival and name change". SFmedia.
  20. "Emily's Army Change Name to Swimmers". AbsolutePunk.net.
  21. "Emily's Army". Bandsintown.com. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. "Emily's Army (Swimmers) Cover Robyn's 'Dancing on My Own'". Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  24. "- Swimmers announce new EP Palm Trees/Silver Bullet". listenherereviews.com. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  25. "SWMRS Stream New Song 'Miley' – Restless Press".
  26. Desk, BWW News. "SWMRS Announce Debut Album Drive North, New Single 'Figuring It Out' Out Now". Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  27. "Behance". Behance. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  28. ""LIKE HARRY DEAN STANTON" BY SWIMMERS". SoundCloud.
  29. "SWIMMERS & HEDI SLIMANE". Seilibrary.hatenablog.com. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  30. "SWMRS". Twitter.
  31. "swmrs wrote the most punk tribute to miley cyrus ever". i-D. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  32. "This Punk Band Loves Miley Cyrus So Much They Wrote A Song About Her". Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  33. "PREMIERE: Oakland's SWMRS Deal With Life Tomorrow on "Figuring It Out"". NOISEY. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  34. "remixed. remastered. rereleased. two new songs. out everywhere now. on @fueledby". Tumblr. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  35. "Kerrang! Awards 2019 Preview". Sound Mouth. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  36. Pereira, Alyssa; SFGATE (October 30, 2019). "SWMRS band member, crew in ICU following van crash on tour". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  37. "Instagram post by SWMRS • Oct 29, 2019 at 3:21 pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  38. "SWMRS' Joey Armstrong accused of sexual misconduct by The Regrettes' Lydia Night". Consequence of Sound. July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  39. "Burger Records Respond To Sexual Misconduct Allegations". Clash Magazine. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  40. Minsker, Evan. "SWMRS' Joey Armstrong, Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Regrettes' Lydia Night, Issues Statement". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  41. "Lydia Night Takes on SWMRS—And Starts a New Phase For #MeToo". KQED. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  42. Mahjouri, Shakiel (July 23, 2020). "Joey Armstrong, Son Of Green Day Frontman, Issues Statement After Sexual Misconduct Allegations". ET Canada. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  43. "The Regrettes on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  44. "SWMRS' Joey Armstrong Responds to Claims of Sexual Misconduct". Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  46. "Matt Grocott & The Shrives". Kerrang!.
  47. "Music". DDG.
  48. Archived December 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  49. "The Interrupters, SWMRS Energize Fonda Theatre with High Energy Show – California Rocker". Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  50. "Billie Joe Armstrong's Family Band the Boo Announce 7-inch". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  51. "Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Rocks With Son in Oakland". Loudwire.com. June 13, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  52. "Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong performs secret show with son". Alternative Press.
  53. "Jakob Danger - Jakob Danger - Cassette (PRE-ORDER)". 11spot.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  54. Lindsay, Cam (October 16, 2015). "Meet Burger Records' Newest Act: Billie Joe Armstrong's Son Jakob Danger | NOISEY". Noisey.vice.com. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  55. "Jakob Danger (@jakob_danger)". Instagram. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  56. "Jakob Danger (@Jakoozyy)". Twitter. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  57. "C.B(離) (@Danger_C)". Twitter. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  58. "UNCOOL FEST". Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  59. SWMRS (January 26, 2020). "Not sharing the stage with our conductor will be a weird feeling. Max is working with us to make sure we are ready to go & came up with a FIRE setlist. Cole, Seb, Henry & Joey will be there as usual and Jakob will be stepping in for Max for all upcoming shows until he's healed up". @swmrs. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  60. "SWMRS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM, BERKELEY'S ON FIRE". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
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