With the release of American Pie Reunion this month, it’s only fitting that the band so archetypal in providing the soundtrack to the decade that spawned so many “coming of age” films would resurface again for a fresh breath of air.
Wheatus were catapulted into the spotlight in 2000 when their song ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ first appeared on the soundtrack to the film Loser, starring Jason Biggs (also of American Pie fame) and Mena Suvari. March 2011 saw the band storm the charts for a second time, ten years after its initial release.
To the pubescent youths of the late nineties and early naughties, “Teenage Dirtbag” was not only an anthem, but the term became synonymous for anyone who had to endure the same all encompassing level of degradation and embarrassment as the “loser” championed in such films. It also became the most quickly adopted term coined since the conception of “MILF”. Wheatus spoke to and for a generation plagued by awkward father/son sexual awareness conversations, girls that lost out to the boy of their dreams at prom at the hands of the prettier cheerleader, and anyone just trying too hard to impress at a party and failing miserably. Since then, the band’s first record has sold more than five million copies.
Wheatus play the Relentless Garage in Islington on May 24th. Though Iron Maiden t-shirts and tube-socks are not necessarily a prerequisite, they’ll certainly aid the level of nostalgia the band are likely to bring. And speaking of nostalgia, fans that are old enough to remember Wheatus from their first outing will also be excited by news of the Faith No More gig at the Hammersmith Apollo on July 8th and MXPX at the Relentless Garage on August 8th.
