The Presidents of the United States of America -- the Seattle rock band known for songs including "Lump" and "Peaches" -- are "no longer functioning as a band," frontman Chris Ballew announced Wednesday on Facebook.
“Call it what you will but we have quietly retired from the PUSA business since we are OLD PEOPLE NOW!” he wrote.
"'Never say never’ is a good motto in these cases. However, we wanted to let you all officially know what is up so you don't have to fret or wonder. Thanks for all the singing and clapping and happy times and WE LOVE YOU!”
But that doesn't mean Ballew is done performing. Known for kid's music as Casper Babypants, Ballew plays live on KEXP at 9 a.m. Friday and has CD release shows for "Winter Party" on Saturday and Sunday at Town Hall in Seattle.
The Presidents were formed in late 1993 by Ballew and Dave Dederer, who became friends at The Bush School in Seattle. With Jason Finn on drums, the trio first performed as the Presidents at the Romper Room on lower Queen Anne - the space that is now Hula Hula -- which is soon to be demolished to make room for a mixed use building.
The band’s self-titled 1995 album went triple-platinum and made them international stars.
They followed in 1996 with "II," and had four other studio albums. They also were known for the theme to "The Drew Carey Show" ("Cleveland Rocks") and a cover of "Video Killed the Radio Star" from "The Wedding Singer" soundtrack in 1998.
Sonics fans will remember their 1996 single "Supersonics," which was a basketball-based version of their song "Supermodel." In the late '90s the band also collaborated with longtime Seattle rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot, who had the Sonics anthem "Not in Our House," to form the rock/hip hop band Subset. They played shows, but did not release an album.
The band had its first final performance on Jan. 30, 1998, at Seattle's Paramount Theater after their label, Columbia Records, announced the band's breakup. The Paramount was packed, and the set list ended up in the Northwest section of Experience Music Project, which opened two years later. (On Tuesday, EMP was renamed MoPOP.)
The Presidents reformed in 2003 and the following year released a 10th anniversary version of their self-titled album. Andrew McKeag joined the band in 2004, taking Dederer's place. He played on their last two studio albums, "These Are the Good Times People" -- which had a CD release party at the Paramount where McKeag's 4-year-old son, Henry, joined the band during the encore -- and "Kudos To You."
Following his departure from the Presidents, Dederer teamed with Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan in bands The Gentlemen and Loaded.
Growing up as a kid in Yarrow Point, Ballew watched the J.P. Patches show daily on KIRO 7 and said he was a huge influence. Patches invited kids in to his world, and the TV set sort of melted away, Ballew recalled.
"I feel there's some sort of invitational dynamic I use to judge a song's effectiveness and success in the world that is directly related to my experience as a tiny child, feeling so included and invited into his world," Ballew told seattlepi.com in 2012.
"Part of the reason I love making music for kids is I get to kind of go back to being a kid myself.”
- Suspects arrested in robbery of Jake Harris of 'Deadliest Catch'
- Canadians invite California, Oregon and Washington to secede
- Police: 55-pound teen fighting for life after two years locked in basement
- Couple accused of kicking out adopted children after winning home makeover
- Protesters close Ballard Locks to stand with Standing Rock
- Get news updates anytime with push alerts from the KIRO 7 News App
Cox Media Group
