James William Lindberg (born July 26, 1965) is an American singer and
guitarist. Active since the 1980s, when he played in local bands in
his early career, Lindberg is best known for being the songwriter and
lead singer of the influential punk rock band Pennywise, which he
fronted from 1988 to 2009, and again since 2012. He also founded The
Black Pacific, who released a debut album in 2010.Jim became the main
lyricist for Pennywise, after the death of bassist Jason Thirsk, who
was responsible for encouraging the band's message of positive mental
attitude and self-reliance. A UCLA English major graduate, Lindberg
often cited American transcendentalist philosophers Ralph Waldo
Emerson and Henry David Thoreau as major influences on his lyrics.
With song titles such as "My Own Way", "It's Up to You", "Date With
Destiny", and "My Own Country", Lindberg's lyrics often reflected the
transcendentalist credo to live one's life by their own rules and not
adhere to the materialistic constraints of modern society or the
constraints of authority.After years playing in local bands, Lindberg
joined Pennywise in 1988 with Fletcher Dragge on guitar, Jason Thirsk
on bass and Byron McMackin on drums. Some of the members were
previously alums from two South Bay High Schools, Redondo Union High
School and Mira Costa (where Lindberg graduated in 1983). In 1989, the
band released two EPs, A Word from the Wise and Wildcard, that
attracted the attention of Epitaph Records, who signed the band a year
later. Lindberg left the band briefly after the release of their first
album, Pennywise, citing the escalating violence of the L.A. punk
scene and was married. Randy Bradbury filled in on bass while Thirsk
moved over to vocals. Lindberg returned however to record their
sophomore release, Unknown Road, after the band's music was featured
in a number of surfing and skateboarding videos attracting a less
violent following. After they released their third studio release,
About Time, Thirsk left the band in late 1995, and was again replaced
by Bradbury. They had moderate chart success, with the latter album
reaching the Billboard top 100. It was hoped that Thirsk would return
on bass, with Bradbury switching to rhythm guitar; unfortunately,
Thirsk died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on July 29 of that year
at the age of 28. Although Pennywise considered disbanding after
Thirsk's death, the band decided to continue on with Bradbury as his
permanent replacement. Since then, Pennywise continued to record and
perform, releasing six more studio albums and a live recording.
guitarist. Active since the 1980s, when he played in local bands in
his early career, Lindberg is best known for being the songwriter and
lead singer of the influential punk rock band Pennywise, which he
fronted from 1988 to 2009, and again since 2012. He also founded The
Black Pacific, who released a debut album in 2010.Jim became the main
lyricist for Pennywise, after the death of bassist Jason Thirsk, who
was responsible for encouraging the band's message of positive mental
attitude and self-reliance. A UCLA English major graduate, Lindberg
often cited American transcendentalist philosophers Ralph Waldo
Emerson and Henry David Thoreau as major influences on his lyrics.
With song titles such as "My Own Way", "It's Up to You", "Date With
Destiny", and "My Own Country", Lindberg's lyrics often reflected the
transcendentalist credo to live one's life by their own rules and not
adhere to the materialistic constraints of modern society or the
constraints of authority.After years playing in local bands, Lindberg
joined Pennywise in 1988 with Fletcher Dragge on guitar, Jason Thirsk
on bass and Byron McMackin on drums. Some of the members were
previously alums from two South Bay High Schools, Redondo Union High
School and Mira Costa (where Lindberg graduated in 1983). In 1989, the
band released two EPs, A Word from the Wise and Wildcard, that
attracted the attention of Epitaph Records, who signed the band a year
later. Lindberg left the band briefly after the release of their first
album, Pennywise, citing the escalating violence of the L.A. punk
scene and was married. Randy Bradbury filled in on bass while Thirsk
moved over to vocals. Lindberg returned however to record their
sophomore release, Unknown Road, after the band's music was featured
in a number of surfing and skateboarding videos attracting a less
violent following. After they released their third studio release,
About Time, Thirsk left the band in late 1995, and was again replaced
by Bradbury. They had moderate chart success, with the latter album
reaching the Billboard top 100. It was hoped that Thirsk would return
on bass, with Bradbury switching to rhythm guitar; unfortunately,
Thirsk died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on July 29 of that year
at the age of 28. Although Pennywise considered disbanding after
Thirsk's death, the band decided to continue on with Bradbury as his
permanent replacement. Since then, Pennywise continued to record and
perform, releasing six more studio albums and a live recording.
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