Throwback HIP Spotlight: Pennywise

Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of meeting up with some of our cherished clients to film a video interview that helps viewers get to know the artist as well as learn more about their new music video. Previously called “The HIP Clip,” these videos allow us to help connect artists with the world, as we give some insight and inside information into who they are and the music and videos they make.

Southern California has long been home to a plethora of punk rock bands, and Pennywise have been fighting the good fight for 32 years now: in Hermosa Beach in 1988, singer Jim Lindberg, guitarist Fletcher Dragge, drummer Byron McMackin and bassist Jason Thirsk came together to form Pennywise. They released two EPs in 1989 and signed to Epitaph Records the following year.

In March 2008, Pennywise released their ninth studio album, Reason to Believe, and it became their first release to chart on the Billboard Top 100 (it reached #98). Lead single “The Western World”, released that February, hit #22 on the Modern Rock charts. That summer we worked with Pennywise to promote the “Western World” video, and were able to meet up with Dragge and bassist Randy Bradbury to film this HIP Clip video interview. Here, Dragge and Bradbury talked about how punk rock went from an underground movement to something that’s been commercialized, what “The Western World” is about, and why they stay true to what they believe in.

Don’t forget to watch the “The Western World” video:

Pennywise continue to write and release music; their twelfth album Never Gonna Die, came out in 2018 on Epitaph. Currently, the band’s lineup consists of Lindberg, Dragge, Bradbury, and McMackin. They tour the world regularly, having hit Australia earlier this year. Check out www.Pennywisdom.com to see what they’re up to!

Written by HIP Director of Marketing and Communications Molly Hudelson.