PENNYWISE RETURN WITH “THE FUSE” AUGUST 9 ON EPITAPH; FIRST SINGLE “DISCONNECT” TO HIT RADIO NEXT WEEK

DATE:                        JUNE 16, 2005

FROM:            KRISTINE ASHTON MAGNUSON/LIBBY HENRY

PENNYWISE
RETURN WITH “THE FUSE”

AUGUST 9 ON EPITAPH;
FIRST SINGLE “DISCONNECT” TO HIT RADIO NEXT WEEK

Over the course of their 15-year career, the Los Angeles-based punk band PENNYWISE has come to define the Southern California hardcore sound. PENNYWISE return August 9 with one of their most powerful offerings to date, THE FUSE (Epitaph)–a fusion of punk rock intensity and metal-edged aggression. The group’s first single “Disconnect”–a punk rock rant lambasting our media/technology-obsessed culture–will hit radio next week as the band launches a two-week European tour.

PENNYWISE–JIM LINDBERG (vocals), FLETCHER DRAGGE (guitars), BYRON MCMACKIN (drums) and RANDY BRADBURY (bass)–re-grouped with longtime studio collaborator Darian Rundall to co-produce and engineer THE FUSE, the follow-up to 2003’s critically acclaimed From The Ashes and the band’s eighth studio album. Recorded at the band’s own studio in Hermosa Beach, THE FUSE proves PENNYWISE have no intention of compromising their trademark unflinchingly aggressive sound. Throughout the album, PENNYWISE delivers songs of anthemic self-empowerment and politically charged wake-up calls.

            “I think over the last few albums we’ve tried to keep a balance of both types of songs,” says PENNYWISE lead vocalist/songwriter LINDBERG of their songwriting process. “On this record there are blatantly political songs like ‘Premeditated Murder’ and ‘18 Soldiers,’ which are obvious criticisms of our current administration’s foreign policy.” In contrast, LINDBERG says, ”Songs such as ‘The Kids’ and ‘Take A Look Around’ are more about personal politics and self-reliance. I think we’ve now come to the point where we can do both and the album sounds cohesive.”

The title and artwork for THE FUSE were chosen due to “the current atmosphere present in the world of no one knowing when, where and if the next catastrophe will occur. It addresses the underlying anxiety and tension in society today,” LINDBERG explains. “Sometimes the planet feels like a bomb with a slow burning fuse.”

            THE FUSE confronts one of the most universal problems facing society today in ‘Competition Song,’ which LINDBERG describes as, “our animalistic fight for survival gone berserk.” “I was trying to approach subjects that are somewhat more tangible than some of my previous songs. Reading the newspaper everyday gives me plenty of things to write about.”

            PENNYWISE tour dates are as follows:

Date                            City                                         Venue

Tue      6/21                Berlin, Germany                    Fete de la Musique

Wed    6/22                Schweinfurt, Germany          Alterstadtbahnhof

Fri       6/24                Greenfield, Switzerland        Greenfield Festival

Sat      6/25                Paris, France                         Furia Festival

Sun     6/26                LeMans, France                    Fury Festival

Mon     6/27                London, UK                            Astoria

Tue      6/28                Manchester, UK                    Academy

Thu      6/30                Amsterdam, Netherlands     Melkweg

Fri       7/1                   Muenster, Germany              Skateboard W.M.

Sat      7/2                   Werchter, Belgium                Rock Festival

For more information log onto www.pennywisdom.com and www.epitaph.com.

CONTACT MSO:

818-380-0400

Kristine Ashton-Magnuson ext. 233 kashton@msopr.com

Libby Henry ext. 224 lhenry@msopr.com

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