The Stiffs reunion: Glad it happened

When I was approached this summer by Scott Wasserman to see if The Stiffs would reform for a benefit show, I had a feeling it would turn out well.

Once every few years I'd listen back to The Stiffs' demo tape, "Dance of the Dead," and imagine what it would be like if we got back together. It turns out that all it took to make that happen was for someone to ask!

Everyone was keen on the idea and starting with the very first rehearsal back in July 2009, it has been an awesome journey.

The reunion for Rich, Rick, Kurt and myself hasn't really been about nostalgia or a walk down memory lane. It's been more about reconnecting on the bond we all shared playing punk rock as kids and growing up the punk scene as it evolved.

The reunion has been a great reminder of just how much fun it was to start your own band, write your own songs, make fliers and play out to your friends. It also made us all realize just how supportive a scene can be with long lost friends, fans and diehard scenesters coming out again to show their support for the Stiffs reunion.

Perhaps the most gratifying thing about The Stiffs reunion is not that people still remember us, but that people will still go out of their way to support their friends in their endeavors, no matter what they are. It is awesome to know that so many of the people we grew up with and played music with and for still have that punk rock spirit inside them.

The Stiffs - Reunion Show full set (video)

Here's the full set from The Stiffs reunion show, Sept. 5, 2009 in Wilmington, DE.

In video #3 you will see some unruly slamdancers knock the camera out the videographer's hand.









I'm bored: Let me watch more Stiffs reunion video

The Stiffs - Reunion show video

Video from The Stiffs' reunion show
Sept. 5, 2009, Wilmington, DE
The Spot, Punk for Change 2009

"The Creeps"




Your Worst Nightmare covers:
"War Mad World," "11:55"

The Stiffs 2009 photo shoot

Here are a few promo pics The Stiffs took at a recent rehearsal for the reunion show. We are playing Saturday, Sept. 5 in Wilmington DE at the Punk for Change 2009 show.

It's $10 at the door and benefits Faithful Friends, the animal rescue me, my wife and my dogs do pet therapy through.







-Photos by Tim Owen. Editing by Kelly Carter.

Stiffs 2nd reunion show likely Thanksgiving weekend; Your Worst Nightmare songs

The Stiffs are working on a lining up a second reunion show for Thanksgiving weekend in Delaware.

It's very likely to happen at this point -- Saturday, November 28, 2009.

More details as they are confirmed.

In other reunion news, The Stiffs have been playing a few Your Worst Nightmare songs at rehearsals.

Looks like we'll play a few at the reunion show(s). You can listen to a few of them on The Stiffs MySpace page.

As you may know, Rick, Rich and Kurt were in the original line up of YWN.

I was inspired to learn how to play drums after seeing them play. Their intense energy and unbridled enthusiasm really opened my mind to what was possible playing punk rock.

When YWN's original drummer Schleppy moved away, I ended up becoming drummer in the second lineup of YWN.

It's great to play these songs nearly 25 years after the fact. They are some of the very first songs I heard that inspired me to start playing music.

The Stiffs reunion show details

I have some more details about The Stiffs' reunion show.

I don't have the exact time we'll play yet, but I'll let you know once I find out.

What: Punks for Change
Why: Benefit show for Faithful Friends and the Pit Stop (Pitbull rescue)
When: Sept. 5, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Where: The Spot, 1908 Market St., Wilmington, DE, 19802

All Ages! BYOB! Plenty of space to tailgate!
$10 Donation

Band list so far:
Bad Luck 13 (Philly)
The Stiffs (Old school Wilmington punk)
Unyoung Heroes (Baltimore)
The Bullbuckers (Wilmington)
King Snake (West Chester)
Algernon Cadwallader (Philly)
The Dark Lords of Stonehurst (Philly)
Hard Response (Wilmington)
Dragons Never Tire (Newark)
AND More TBA

Sponsored by:
Switch
Frolic
Creep Records
PJ's Sports Bar and Grill (Aston, PA)
Olde City Tattoo
Transmogrify

McG on Stiffs reunion

Why have The Stiffs gotten back together after 22 years? Because someone asked us to play a show. It seemed like a reasonable idea and getting in the same room with Rick, Rich and Kurt has turned out to be a real blast. It's flattering that two decades later there are people that still even remember us!

Rick still plays regularly with Tube Dutch and Kurt is playing with The Barons. Rich hasn't been behind the mic in a long time, but he's still got "entertainer" in his blood. And after nearly a decade of not playing, I'm rediscovering the joys of wailing away on the drums.

So far we've (re-) learned all the songs from our demo, "Dance of the Dead." We also have begun learning some other stuff that will hopefully be a pleasant surprise. The reunion show is Saturday, Sept. 5th in Wilmington, DE. More show details once they're confirmed.

The Stiffs reunion

My band from circa 1986-1987, The Stiffs, have reunited. We had our first rehearsal in late June.

It was a blast and we all had a great time laughing and catching up.



More details to come, but our reunion show is tentatively set for Sept. 5th in Wilmington, DE.

Check our obligatory MySpace page for all the tracks from the cassette, "Dance of the Dead," available to stream and d/l.