FROM: KRISTINE ASHTON

PENNYWISE
WRAP UP WORK ON NEW 17-SONG CD, 'STRAIGHT AHEAD,'
SET FOR RELEASE JUNE 8
AND PREPARE FOR VANS WARPED TOUR '99;
FIRST SINGLE IS "ALIEN"

PENNYWISE have just wrapped up mixing their new CD, STRAIGHT AHEAD, due out June 8 on Epitaph. The disc--which is the band's fifth full-length release--was produced by PENNYWISE and Darien Rundell and was recorded at the band's own Stall #2 studio, just outside their hometown of Hermosa Beach, CA. The band--JIM LINDBERG (vocals), FLETCHER DRAGGE (guitar), BYRON McMAKIN (drums) and RANDY BRADBURY (bass)--returned to Total Access in Redondo Beach, CA to mix, where local punk legends Black Flag, Circle Jerks and Sublime recorded.

On STRAIGHT AHEAD, PENNYWISE explore new ground lyrically and musically, while staying true to their trademark fast, aggressive SoCal hardcore sound. In a recent feature in allstar, FLETCHER explains: "We're trying to keep it Pennywise for all the kids, but at the same time give them something a little different.." JIM echoes: "We don't want it to sound so homogenized that every album, every song starts to sound the same...Avoid that trap and keep the energy going." The 17-track CD includes: "Greed," "My Own Country," "Can't Believe It," "Victim of Reality," "Might Be A Dream," "Still Can Be Great," "Straight Ahead," "My Own Way," "One Voice," "Watch Me As I Fall," "Just For You," "Can't Take Anymore," "American Dream," "Need More," "Never Know," "Badge Of Pride" and the first single "Alien" (written about millennial anxiety).

In other news, PENNYWISE return to the mainstage of the Vans Warped Tour `99 this summer. Dates kick off June 25 in San Antonio and wrap up July 31 in Miami. Fans in Australia and Hawaii got a taste of the new PENNYWISE songs when the band headlined the Australian leg of the Warped Tour earlier this year. While down under, the band also picked up Australian gold records for their two previous releases, FULL CIRCLE and ABOUT TIME. FULL CIRCLE has currently sold nearly 500,000 copies worldwide, ABOUT TIME has surpassed sales of 500,000 and UNKNOWN ROAD has scanned 370,000-plus.

While awaiting the CD release and upcoming tour dates, fans can check out www.pennywisdom.com for band information, three new songs in MP3 format, exclusive home video clips, lyrics, photos and more. Visitors can also post their own live and candid photos of the band on the site.

Current tour dates are as follows:

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